Protocol for the longitudinal study of neuroinflammation and reactive astrocytes in Lcn2CreERT2 mice

Teresa Ubina; William Agnew-Svoboda; Zoe A Figueroa; Emma H Wilson; Todd A Fiacco; Martin M Riccomagno

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103322

Protocol for the longitudinal study of neuroinflammation and reactive astrocytes in Lcn2CreERT2 mice

STAR Protoc. 2024 Dec 20;5(4):103322. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103322. Epub 2024 Sep 19.

Authors

Teresa Ubina¹, William Agnew-Svoboda¹, Zoe A Figueroa², Emma H Wilson³, Todd A Fiacco⁴, Martin M Riccomagno⁵

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Graduate Program, Univeristy of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
² Neuroscience Graduate Program, Univeristy of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
³ Neuroscience Graduate Program, Univeristy of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
⁴ Neuroscience Graduate Program, Univeristy of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Neuroscience Graduate Program, Univeristy of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

During brain disease, astrocytes can reprogram into a reactive state that alters many of their functions. Here, we present a protocol for studying neuroinflammation and reactive astrogliosis in mice using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli. We describe steps for employing the Lcn2CreERT2 mouse crossed into a fluorescent Cre reporter line to label a subset of reactive astrocytes during and after inflammation. We then detail procedures for the longitudinal study of reactive astrocytes during the induction, progression, and/or resolution of astrogliosis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Agnew-Svoboda et al.¹.

Keywords: Genetics; Immunology; Neuroscience.

MeSH terms

Animals
Astrocytes* / metabolism
Astrocytes* / pathology
Disease Models, Animal
Gliosis / pathology
Lipocalin-2* / genetics
Lipocalin-2* / metabolism
Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
Longitudinal Studies
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Neuroinflammatory Diseases* / pathology

Substances

Lcn2 protein, mouse
Lipocalin-2
Lipopolysaccharides