Secretogranin III is an astrocyte granin that is overexpressed in reactive glia

Astrocytes release peptide and nonpeptide transmitters that influence neuronal development, function, and plasticity. However, the molecular components of the astroglial secretory pathways in vivo are largely unknown. Here, we analyze in astrocytes the production, expression regulation, trafficking, and release of secretogranin III (SgIII), a member of the multifunctional granin family. We show that astroglial cells in culture synthesize and release a nonprocessed form of SgIII. In vivo studies show that many neuronal populations produce and transport SgIII. In particular, the highest SgIII expression in the cerebral cortex in vivo is present in astroglial cells. Both SgIII protein and mRNA are abundantly detected in cortical astrocytes and in Bergmann glial cells. Moreover, the levels of SgIII mRNA and protein in reactive astrocytes, induced by perforating injury increase dramatically. These results implicate SgIII in the astrocyte secretory pathway in vivo and show that its expression is finely regulated during glial activation. The robust expression of SgIII in astrocytes and its regulation in the injured brain suggest both intracellular and extracellular roles for this glial granin in the physiology and repair/damage of neuronal circuits.