[Effects of neuregulin-1β1 on CD44, TNF-α and IL-1β of astrocytes after oxygen-glucose deprivation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the stress responses and protective effects of neuregulin-1β1 (NRG-1β1) on astrocytes after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).

METHODS: Rat cerebral cortical astrocytes from 3-day-old newborn SD rats were propagated. They were divided into control, OGD, 10 ng/ml NRG-1β1 and 20 ng/ml NRG-1β1 groups. Immunohistochemical results of GFAP, S100β and CD44 markers were analyzed to observe their changes before and after OGD. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in different groups before and after OGD.

RESULTS: Under OGD, NRG-1β1 showed no protective effects on maintenance of cell morphology. Expression and distribution of GFAP and S100β did not change while there was no expression of CD44 in any group before and after OGD. Secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β significantly decreased in the 20 ng/ml NRG-1β1 protection group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The morphological changes of astrocytes undergo swelling to shrinking. NRG-1β1 has no protective effects on maintenance of cell morphology under OGD. And it can significantly decrease the secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β. Thus the reduction of TNF-α and IL-1β may explain the mechanism of protective effects of NRG-1β1 on astrocytes under stress.