Glial Cell Lines: An Overview

Abstract

The importance and essential functions of glial cells in the nervous system are now beginning to be understood and appreciated. Glial cell lines have been instrumental in the elucidation of many of these properties. In this Overview, the origin and properties of most of the existing cell lines for the major glial types: oligodendroglia, astroglia, microglia and Schwann cells, are documented. Particular emphasis is given to the culture conditions for each cell line and the degree to which the line can differentiate in vitro and in vivo. The major molecular markers for each glial cell lines are indicated. Finally, methods by which the glial cell lines have been developed are noted and the future directions of glial cell line research are discussed.

High-Content Phenotypic Screening and Triaging Strategy to Identify Small Molecules Driving Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Differentiation

“…Similarly, in a screen 24 using the mouse CNS-derived Oli-neu cell line, a compound from the Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC; PD174265) active in the primary assay (performed on collagen-coated plates in the absence of growth factors) turned out later to be dependent on the absence of PDGF. Assay formats, such as choice or origin of cell type or technical execution, 22,25,26 can therefore be expected to select for different types of compounds and ultimately different mechanisms of action. It should also be noted that whole cell-based phenotypic approaches lend themselves to the very pertinent study of synergism of diverse compound classes found in screening, or compounds that affect other relevant related cell types in co-cultures (e.g., for OPC co-cultured with neurons and/or astrocytes).…”

Viral infections and multiple sclerosis

“…Several models of demyelination are known [20,21]. In vitro models based on glial cell lines include the use of oligodendrocyte [22,23], astrocyte [24,25] and microglial [26,27] cell lines [28] and progenitor-derived glial cells [29][30][31][32][33]. In vivo models include the most extensively studied animal model for MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), obtained by immunization with myelin proteins with adjuvants, or passive transfer of autoreactive T cells with or without pathogenic auto-antibodies in susceptible animals [34][35][36][37].Various clinical types of EAE can be induced in rodents and primates (marmosets and rhesus macaques), ranging from acute monophasic [38] to a chronic course, either relapsing/remitting [39] or chronic progressing [40].…”

Aberrant cAMP Metabolism in NF1 Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells

“…Forskolin was purchased from Calbiochem (La Jolla, CA). The MPNST cell lines ST88-14 and T265 used in these studies were previously described [21,22]. Cells were cultured as monolayers in low glucose Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS, 100 units/ml penicillin and 10 Oug/mI streptomycin, and maintained at 37°C in a humid atmosphere of 10% CO 2 /90% air.…”