Re. Williams et al., Cultured glial cells are resistant to the effects of motor neurone disease-associated SOD1 mutations, NEUROSCI L, 302(2-3), 2001, pp. 146-150
Free radical damage has been implicated in the pathophysiology of motor neu
rone disease (MND); mutations have been identified in the gene encoding Cu/
Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). There is evidence that glial cell dysfuncti
on may contribute to motor neurone injury, but the exact role of glial cell
s in MND has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to determine
whether expression of mutant SOD1 affects the response of glia to oxidative
stress. Stable C6 glioma cells expressing mutant SOD1 and cortical astrocy
te cultures from G93A-SOD1 transgenic mice were exposed to: xanthine/xanthi
ne oxidase; hydrogen peroxide; A23187 and 3-morpholinosydonimine. Cell viab
ility was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetr
azolium bromide assay. Neither C6 glioma cells nor cortical astrocytes expr
essing mutant SOD1 were more susceptible to any of the free radical generat
ing systems compared to control cells. These results suggest that astrocyte
s are resistant to the toxic effects of mutant SOD1 widely reported for neu
ronal cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.