De novo Neurosteroidogenesis in Human Microglia: Involvement of the 18 kDa Translocator Protein.

ABSTRACT: Neuroactive steroids are potent modulators of microglial functions and are capable of counteracting their excessive reactivity. This action has mainly been ascribed to neuroactive steroids released from other sources, as microglia have been defined unable to produce neurosteroids de novo. Unexpectedly, immortalized murine microglia recently exhibited this de novo biosynthesis; herein, de novo neurosteroidogenesis was characterized in immortalized human microglia. The results demonstrated that C20 and HMC3 microglial cells constitutively express members of the neurosteroidogenesis multiprotein machinery-in particular, the transduceosome members StAR and TSPO, and the enzyme CYP11A1. Moreover, both cell lines produce pregnenolone and transcriptionally express the enzymes involved in neuroste

SUBMITTER: Germelli L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8003294 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature