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Isolation and Direct Neuronal Reprogramming of Mouse Astrocytes
Published on: July 7, 2022
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CREB Regulates Distinct Adaptive Transcriptional Programs in Astrocytes and Neurons
Luis Pardo1, Luis Miguel Valor2, Abel Eraso-Pichot3
1Institut de Neurociències and Unitat de Bioquímica, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain. luis.pardo82@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|July 27, 2017
Summary
Cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) regulates distinct gene networks in astrocytes and neurons. This study reveals unique CREB-driven functions in astrocytes, including gene expression and mitochondria, crucial for brain adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) is vital for neuronal activity-driven gene expression, controlling plasticity, neurogenesis, and survival.
- The specific gene networks governed by CREB in astrocytes remain largely uncharacterized, despite its known activity-dependent and neuroprotective roles in these cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and compare the transcriptional programs regulated by CREB in astrocytes versus neurons.
- To elucidate the distinct functions orchestrated by CREB in astrocytic cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized transcriptome databases from astrocytes treated with CREB activators and publicly available neuronal culture transcriptomes.
- Employed Gene Ontology, Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP)-generated adult-brain gene lists, and CREB-target gene repositories to extract functional CREB signatures.
Main Results:
- Identified minimal overlap in CREB-regulated gene signatures between astrocytes and neurons.
- In astrocytes, CREB primarily regulates 'Gene expression,' 'Mitochondria,' and 'Signalling.'
- In neurons, CREB targets 'Neurotransmission,' 'Signalling,' and 'Gene expression,' utilizing different genes than those in astrocytes.
Conclusions:
- CREB coordinates distinct transcriptional cascades in astrocytes and neurons, highlighting cell-type-specific roles.
- The findings provide novel databases for exploring CREB's impact on adaptive brain functions mediated by astrocytes.
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