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GQ DREADD ACTIVATION IN ASTROCYTES CHANGES NEURONAL GENE EXPRESSION IN CO-CULTURE
Helena Tulland 6 co-authors
Tallinn University of Technology
FENS Forum 2026 (2026)
Barcelona, Spain
Board PS06-09PM-211
Presentation
Date TBA
Board: PS06-09PM-211
Event Information
Poster Board
PS06-09PM-211
Poster
View posterAbstract
Neurons and astrocytes form a tightly coupled, bidirectional partnership that is fundamental to normal brain function. Neuronal activity provides instructive signals that regulate astrocytic metabolism and synaptic engagement, while astrocytes maintain the extracellular environment required for neuronal survival and signalling. While some studies have addressed how neuronal activation affects astrocytic gene expression, it remains largely unknown how neuronal gene expression changes in response to activating astrocytes. To study this, we made use of rat cortical mixed neuron-glia cultures, AAV-mediated expression of Gq DREADD chemogenetic receptor in astrocytes and AAV-mediated expression of Rpl22-HA (Ribotag) in neurons. Neuron-enriched (HA-immunopurified) and total co-culture mRNA was analysed by bulk RNA sequencing. We report that upon 2 and 24 h stimulation of co-cultures with CNO we detected 13 and 33 differentially regulated genes in neurons, respectively. Our results indicate that astrocytes and astrocytic activity can regulate the neuronal transcriptome, which gives insight into understanding astrocyte-neuron signalling.
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