Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Mechanism of Kemeng Fang's Inhibition of Podocyte Apoptosis in Rats with Membranous Nephropathy through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
07:15

Mechanism of Kemeng Fang's Inhibition of Podocyte Apoptosis in Rats with Membranous Nephropathy through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Published on: August 23, 2024

950

MFG-E8 reverses microglial-induced neurotoxic astrocyte (A1) via NF-κB and PI3K-Akt pathways

Xiaotian Xu1, Aiwu Zhang1, Yingting Zhu2

  • 1Guangdong Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Journal of Cellular Physiology
|August 5, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) suppresses harmful A1 astrocytes, offering potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) by modulating neuroinflammation and neuronal death.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Neuroinflammation and ischemia activate reactive astrocytes (A1 and A2 types).
  • A1 astrocytes contribute to neuronal and oligodendrocyte death in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) in regulating A1/A2 astrocytic activation.
  • To explore MFG-E8's potential therapeutic effects in Alzheimer's disease models.

Main Methods:

  • Constructed an Aβ42-activated microglia-conditioned medium to induce A1 astrocytic activation in vitro.
  • Assessed the impact of MFG-E8 on A1/A2 astrocytic balance.
  • Investigated the molecular pathways involved: nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and PI3K-Akt signaling.

Main Results:

  • Induced A1 astrocytic activation using Aβ42-activated microglia-conditioned medium.
  • Demonstrated that MFG-E8 downregulates NF-κB and upregulates PI3K-Akt signaling.
  • Showed that MFG-E8 suppresses the activation of detrimental A1 astrocytes.

Conclusions:

  • MFG-E8 plays a regulatory role in modulating A1/A2 astrocytic balance.
  • MFG-E8 exhibits neuroprotective properties by suppressing A1 astrocyte activation.
  • MFG-E8 holds significant therapeutic potential for treating Alzheimer's disease.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseAβ42MFG-E8astrocytemicroglia

More Related Videos

A Neuronal and Astrocyte Co-Culture Assay for High Content Analysis of Neurotoxicity15:04

A Neuronal and Astrocyte Co-Culture Assay for High Content Analysis of Neurotoxicity

Published on: May 5, 2009

25.8K
Nerve Excitability Assessment in Chemotherapy-induced Neurotoxicity07:42

Nerve Excitability Assessment in Chemotherapy-induced Neurotoxicity

Published on: April 26, 2012

18.6K

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
5.6K
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
10.1K
C4 Pathway and CAM01:27

C4 Pathway and CAM

Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
49.2K
Reversible and Irreversible Processes01:14

Reversible and Irreversible Processes

The thermodynamic processes can be classified into reversible and irreversible processes. The processes that can be restored to their initial state are called reversible processes. It is only possible if the process is in quasi-static equilibrium, i.e., it takes place in infinitesimally small steps, and the system remains at equilibrium However, these are ideal processes and do not occur naturally. An ideal system undergoing a reversible process is always in thermodynamic equilibrium within...
5.8K
Diode: Reverse bias01:14

Diode: Reverse bias

A diode is reverse-biased when the positive terminal of an external voltage source is connected to the n-type material and the negative terminal to the p-type material. This configuration opposes the natural direction of current flow through the diode, effectively increasing the width of the depletion region and the barrier potential. The reverse bias condition produces a minimal leakage current, primarily due to minority charge carriers. This leakage becomes significant when the reverse...
2.0K
Other Glycolytic Pathways01:24

Other Glycolytic Pathways

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) operates in parallel with glycolysis, facilitating the metabolism of both pentoses and glucose. This pathway consists of two distinct phases: the oxidative and non-oxidative phases. While it does not directly generate ATP, the intermediates formed during the process can integrate into glycolysis, contributing to cellular energy metabolism when required.Oxidative Phase: NADPH ProductionThe oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway is primarily...
922