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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Obtaining Human Microglia from Adult Human Brain Tissue
Published on: August 30, 2020
Effects of oxaliplatin and oleic acid Gc-protein-derived macrophage-activating factor on murine and human microglia
Jacopo J V Branca1, Gabriele Morucci1, Francesca Malentacchi2
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
Abstract:
The biological properties and characteristics of microglia in rodents have been widely described, but little is known about these features in human microglia. Several murine microglial cell lines are used to investigate neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions; however, the extrapolation of the results to human conditions is frequently met with criticism because of the possibility of species-specific differences. This study compares the effects of oxaliplatin and of oleic acid Gc-protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (OA-GcMAF) on two microglial cell lines, murine BV-2 cells and human C13NJ cells. Cell viability, cAMP levels, microglial activation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were evaluated. Our data demonstrate that oxaliplatin induced a significant decrease in cell viability in BV-2 and in C13NJ cells and that this effect was not reversed with OA-GcMAF treatment. The signal transduction pathway involving cAMP/VEGF was activated after treatment with oxaliplatin and/or OA-GcMAF in both cell lines. OA-GcMAF induced a significant increase in microglia activation, as evidenced by the expression of the B7-2 protein, in BV-2 as well as in C13NJ cells that was not associated with a concomitant increase in cell number. Furthermore, the effects of oxaliplatin and OA-GcMAF on coculture morphology and apoptosis were evaluated. Oxaliplatin-induced cell damage and apoptosis were nearly completely reversed by OA-GcMAF treatment in both BV-2/SH-SY5Y and C13NJ/SH-SY5Y cocultures. Our data show that murine and human microglia share common signal transduction pathways and activation mechanisms, suggesting that the murine BV-2 cell line may represent an excellent model for studying human microglia.
Insights
Murine BV-2 and human C13NJ microglia share common pathways. Oleic acid Gc-protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (OA-GcMAF) reversed oxaliplatin-induced damage, supporting BV-2 as a human microglia model.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microglia are crucial immune cells in the central nervous system.
- Rodent microglia models are widely used but may not fully represent human responses.
- Species-specific differences limit the extrapolation of findings from murine to human microglia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of oxaliplatin and OA-GcMAF on murine (BV-2) and human (C13NJ) microglia.
- To investigate conserved signal transduction pathways and activation mechanisms between species.
- To validate the utility of the BV-2 cell line as a model for human microglia research.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of BV-2 and C13NJ cells with oxaliplatin and OA-GcMAF.
- Assessment of cell viability, cAMP levels, and microglial activation (B7-2 protein expression).
- Evaluation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and coculture apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Oxaliplatin decreased cell viability in both cell lines; OA-GcMAF did not reverse this effect.
- Both oxaliplatin and OA-GcMAF activated the cAMP/VEGF pathway in both cell types.
- OA-GcMAF significantly increased microglia activation (B7-2 expression) without increasing cell number.
- OA-GcMAF treatment nearly completely reversed oxaliplatin-induced cell damage and apoptosis in cocultures.
Conclusions:
- Murine and human microglia share conserved signal transduction pathways and activation mechanisms.
- The BV-2 cell line demonstrates functional similarities to human microglia, supporting its use as a model.
- OA-GcMAF exhibits protective effects against oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in both murine and human microglia models.
