Gangliosides in Isolated Neurons and Glial Cells

Abstract

Gangliosides occur in much greater amounts in clean isolated neurons and in the neuropil teased from immediately around the neuron cell body and dendrites than in isolated clumps of glial cells. Since the zone of neuropil adjacent to neurons is richest in terminal axons and synaptic endings, these findings indicate a specific concentration of these sialoglycolipids in synaptic membranes.

GM1 induces p38 and microtubule dependent ramification of rat primary microglia in vitro

“…Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids that are constituents of mammalian cell membranes, particularly abundant in neuronal cell membranes, and participate in various cellular events of the nervous system (Derry and Wolfe, 1967). GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and GQ1b are major types of gangliosides found in the brain (Dreyfus et al, 1997;Kotani et al, 1993).…”

Functional implication of BAFF synthesis and release in gangliosides-stimulated microglia

“…In the present study, we examined whether BAFF is also expressed in microglia, and the expression and release of BAFF are regulated by gangliosides, which are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids and are constituents of mammalian cell membranes, are particularly abundant in neuronal cell membranes, and participate in various cellular events of the nervous system, such as proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation [33][34][35]. In addition, gangliosides have been known to induce the production of various inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and inducible NO synthase [36 -38].…”

Protein kinase A mediates microglial activation induced by plasminogen and gangliosides

“…The glycospingolipid gangliosides are particularly rich in the neuronal membrane (Derry and Wolfe, 1967), which can be released from damaged neurons into the extracellular space. Previously, we reported that gangliosides induce expression of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2 in microglia (Pyo et al, 1999a;Kim et al, 2002).…”