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Effects of Microenvironment on Morphology and Function of the Microglial Cell Line BV-2

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Abstract

Effects of microenvironmental changes were examined in the microglial cell line BV-2. In serum supplemented medium cells were ameboid shaped and exhibited thin cytoplasmatic processes at lower concentration or in absence of serum. High levels of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and of phagocytic and proliferative activity were detected. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the neuropeptide substance P (SP) induced secretion of interleukin-6. Low interleukin-3 secretion was detected only occasionally and was not influenced by LPS and SP. In defined medium, “process-bearing” cells were evident. Compared to cultures in serum supplemented medium, the cells expressed lower acetylated LDL-binding and phagocytic activity while actively proliferated, the response to LPS was reduced and to SP absent. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor increased the number of process-bearing cells, of acetylated LDL-binding and of IL-6 secretion induced by LPS. Cell morphology was not influenced by neurotrophins like nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The described phenotypical and functional plasticity makes the BV-2 cell line a useful model to investigate mechanisms of microglial activation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Division of Physiology and Biophisyc, University of Perugia, Via Pascoli, 06123, Perugia, Italy

    Maria Assunta Laurenzi, Cataldo Arcuri, Ruggero Rossi, Pierfrancesco Marconi & Virginia Bocchini

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  1. Maria Assunta Laurenzi
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  2. Cataldo Arcuri
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  3. Ruggero Rossi
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Laurenzi, M.A., Arcuri, C., Rossi, R. et al. Effects of Microenvironment on Morphology and Function of the Microglial Cell Line BV-2. Neurochem Res 26, 1209–1216 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013911205494

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