Laquinimod Modulates Human Astrocyte Function and Dampens Astrocyte-Induced Neurotoxicity during Inflammation.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes greatly participate to inflammatory and neurotoxic reactions occurring in neurodegenerative diseases and are valuable pharmacological targets to support neuroprotection. Here we used human astrocytes generated from reprogrammed fibroblasts as a cellular model to study the effect of the compound Laquinimod and its active metabolite de-Laquinimod on astrocyte functions and the astrocyte-neuron interaction. We show that human iAstrocytes expressed the receptor for the inflammatory mediator IL1 and responded to it via nuclear translocation of NFκB, an event that did not occur if cells were treated with Laquinimod, indicating a direct anti-inflammatory activity of the drug on the human astrocyte. Similarly, while exposure to IL1 downregulated glial glutamate transporters GLAST and GL

SUBMITTER: Colombo E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7699283 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature