High-Throughput Analysis of Astrocyte Cultures Shows Prevention of Reactive Astrogliosis by the Multi-Nutrient Combination Fortasyn Connect

Aina Badia-Soteras, Janneke de Vries, Werner Dykstra, Laus M. Broersen, Jan Martin Verkuyl, August B. Smit, Mark H.G. Verheijen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Astrocytes are specialized glial cells that tile the central nervous system (CNS) and perform numerous essential functions. Astrocytes react to various forms of CNS insults by altering their morphology and molecular profile, through a process known as reactive astrogliosis. Accordingly, astrocyte reactivity is apparent in many neurodegenerative diseases, among which one is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent clinical trials on early-stage AD have demonstrated that Fortasyn Connect (FC), a multi-nutrient combination providing specific precursors and cofactors for phospholipid synthesis, helps to maintain neuronal functional connectivity and cognitive performance of patients. Several studies have shown that FC may act through its effects on neuronal survival and synaptogenesis, leading to reduced astrocyte reactivity, but whether FC can directly counteract astrocyte reactivity remains to be elucidated. Hence, we developed an in vitro model of reactive astrogliosis using the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ together with an automated high-throughput assay (AstroScan) to quantify molecular and morphological changes that accompany reactive astrogliosis. Next, we showed that FC is potent in preventing cytokine-induced reactive astrogliosis, a finding that might be of high relevance to understand the beneficial effects of FC-based interventions in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1428
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
JournalCells
Volume11
Issue number9
Early online date22 Apr 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2022

Bibliographical note

Special Issue: The Function of Glial Cells in the Neuroinflammatory and Neuroimmunological Responses>

Funding Information:
Funding: This research was supported by Nutricia Research.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • astrocytes
  • method
  • nutritional intervention
  • reactive astrogliosis

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