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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
11:25
Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes
Published on: January 19, 2013
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Melatonin Modulates Astrocyte Inflammatory Response and Nrf2/SIRT1 Signaling Pathways in Adult Rat Cortical Cultures
Ester Rezena1, Matheus Sinhorelli Cioccari1, Aline Daniel Moreira de Moraes2
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, RS, Brazil.
Biomedicines
|December 30, 2025
Summary
Melatonin reduces inflammation in adult rat astrocytes by modulating protective pathways like Nrf2/SIRT1, suggesting a role in mitigating age-related neuroinflammation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging impairs cerebral cortex functions, affecting astrocyte roles in neurotransmitter balance and antioxidant defenses.
- Astrocytes, crucial for brain health, exhibit age-related declines in physiological functions.
- Melatonin, an antioxidant and neuroprotective molecule, was investigated for its effects on aging astrocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of melatonin on mature rat cortical astrocytes.
- To assess melatonin's influence on astrocyte viability, metabolism, and inflammatory markers.
- To explore melatonin's modulation of key signaling pathways related to oxidative stress and inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Primary cortical astrocyte cultures from neonatal and 90-day-old Wistar rats were treated with melatonin.
- Assessed cell viability, metabolism (MTT, lactate), glutamine synthetase activity, and glutathione content.
- Analyzed gene and protein expression of inflammatory markers (NFκB, COX-2, iNOS) and signaling pathways (Nrf2, SIRT1, AMPK, PGC-1α) via RT-qPCR and Western blotting.
Main Results:
- Melatonin did not affect astrocyte viability, metabolism, glutamine synthetase activity, or glutathione levels.
- Melatonin significantly reduced expression of NFκB, COX-2, and iNOS, while increasing IL-6 and IL-10 levels.
- Melatonin upregulated Nrf2 and SIRT1 gene expression and downregulated AMPK and PGC-1α, indicating anti-inflammatory and protective pathway modulation.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects in adult rat astrocytes.
- The anti-inflammatory action is likely mediated by modulating protective signaling pathways, notably Nrf2/SIRT1.
- Melatonin holds potential for preserving astrocytic function and counteracting age-related neuroinflammation.
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