Effects of excessive fluoride exposure on astrocytes and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in vitro and in vivo
10.3760/cma.j.cn231583-20211101-00370
- VernacularTitle:过量氟暴露对体内外星形胶质细胞及其胶质纤维酸性蛋白表达的影响
- Author:
Xiaoli FU
1
;
Xiao ZHOU
;
Li BO
;
Bin LI
;
Dongling HE
;
Zhizhong GUAN
;
Yanjie LIU
Author Information
1. 贵州医科大学附属医院病理科，贵阳 550004
- Keywords:
Fluoride poisoning;
Glial fibrillary acidic protein;
Astrocytes;
Primary cell culture
- From:
Chinese Journal of Endemiology
2022;41(9):722-728
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effects of excessive fluoride exposure on astrocytes and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in vitro and in vivo. Methods:(1) In vivo experiment: 24 SPF SD rats, half male and half female, were randomly divided into control and fluoride exposed groups according to sex and body weight, 12 rats in each group. Rats were fed with < 1 mg/L and 50 mg/L sodium fluoride solution prepared by tap water for 6 months, respectively. The expression levels of GFAP protein in rat brain tissue were measured by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. (2) In vitro experiment: adult (6-month-old) rat cortical astrocytes were extracted and cultured in primary culture (4 mmol/L sodium fluoride solution for 24 h), and the astrocytes were identified by immunofluorescence, and GFAP mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively, and astrocytes apoptosis and calcium ion content were detected by flow cytometry. Results:(1) In vivo experiment: the results of immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed that the GFAP protein expression level in brain tissue of rats exposed to fluoride was higher than that of control group (0.440 ± 0.200 vs 0.250 ± 0.120, t =-5.93, P = 0.027; 0.270 ± 0.020 vs 0.240 ± 0.050, t =-4.87, P = 0.040; 1.017 ± 0.001 vs 0.486 ± 0.006, t =-52.48, P = 0.001). (2) In vitro experiment: GFAP positive cells were identified as astrocytes by immunofluorescence; GFAP mRNA expression level was higher in fluoride exposed group than that of control group by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (2.780 ± 0.120 vs 0.134 ± 0.005, t =-37.84, P = 0.001). The Western blotting results showed that the GFAP protein expression level was higher in fluoride exposed group than that of control group (2.76 ± 0.10 vs 1.38 ± 0.05, t =-20.44, P = 0.002). Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rate of astrocytes was higher in fluoride exposed group than that of control group (%: 55.0 ± 1.0 vs 3.5 ± 0.6, t =-10.28, P = 0.009) and the calcium ion content was lower than that of control group (%: 54 ± 9 vs 72 ± 13, t = 4.64, P = 0.043). Conclusion:Excessive fluoride exposure causes increased GFAP expression in astrocytes in vitro and in vivo, promotes apoptosis, and affects calcium signaling pathways.
