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PKCε induces astrocyte stellation by modulating multiple cytoskeletal proteins and interacting with Rho A signalling pathways: implications for neuroinflammation
Author(s) -
Burgos Miguel,
Calvo Soledad,
Molina Francisca,
Vaquero Cecilia F.,
Samarel Allen,
Llopis Juan,
Tranque Pedro
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05364.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , astrocyte , cytoskeleton , protein kinase c , intermediate filament , glial fibrillary acidic protein , actin , moesin , biology , microtubule , chemistry , signal transduction , ezrin , neuroscience , cell , biochemistry , immunology , immunohistochemistry , central nervous system
Despite the importance of stellation to maintain astrocyte functionality, the intracellular signals controlling morphology in these cells are poorly characterized. Our goal was to examine the implication of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) in astrocyte stellation. We found that the morphological transformation of astrocytes induced by exposure to the pro‐inflammatory agent lipopolysaccharide is enhanced by adenoviral expression of wild‐type PKCε, and that activation of PKCε is sufficient to trigger a dramatic stellation. Such an effect is mediated by the rearrangement of microtubules and filaments of glial fibrillary acidic protein, disorganization of stress fibres, and formation of new actin filaments within growing cellular processes. Furthermore, PKCε regulates actin‐interacting elements such as non‐muscle myosin and proteins of the ezrin/radixin/moesin family. We also observed that at least part of the actions of PKCε depend on its catalytic activity. Finally, stellation by PKCε could be blocked by the expression of a constitutively active form of Rho A implicated in the stability of the flat astrocytic morphology. In summary, PKCε stands out as a key intracellular regulator of morphological plasticity in astrocytes, affecting a large range of cytoskeletal elements and inactivating Rho A‐dependent pathways. These morphological effects of PKCε may play essential roles during the course of neuroinflammation.