1. An increase in membrane cholesterol by graphene oxide disrupts calcium homeostasis in primary astrocytes
- Author
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Bramini, Mattia, Chiacchiaretta, Martina, Armirotti, Andrea, Rocchi, Anna, Kale, Deepali D., Jimenez, Cristina Martin, Vázquez, Ester, Bandiera, Tiziano, Ferroni, Stefano, Cesca, Fabrizia, and Benfenati, Fabio
- Subjects
Quantitative Biology - Neurons and Cognition ,Physics - Biological Physics - Abstract
The use of graphene nanomaterials (GNMs) for biomedical applications targeted to the central nervous system is exponentially increasing, although precise information on their effects on brain cells is lacking. In this work, we addressed the molecular changes induced in cortical astrocytes by few-layer graphene (FLG) and graphene oxide (GO) flakes. Our results show that exposure to FLG/GO does not affect cell viability or proliferation. However, proteomic and lipidomic analyses unveiled alterations in several cellular processes, including intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) homeostasis and cholesterol metabolism, which were particularly intense in cells exposed to GO. Indeed, GO exposure impaired spontaneous and evoked astrocyte [Ca2+]i signals and induced a marked increase in membrane cholesterol levels. Importantly, cholesterol depletion fully rescued [Ca2+]i dynamics in GO-treated cells, indicating a causal relationship between these GO-mediated effects. Our results indicate that exposure to GNMs alters intracellular signaling in astrocytes and may impact on astrocyte-neuron interactions., Comment: This document is the unedited Author's version of a Submitted Work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Small after peer review. To access the final edited and published work see https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.201900147 40 pages, 6 main figures and 1 supplementary figure
- Published
- 2019
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