Volume Vol 1 Issue # 2

Transformation from Growth to Aging in Human Astrocytes Cell Cultures: The Role of NADH-Glutamate Dehydrgenase Isoenzyme.

Remigius N. Okea†, Godson O. Osuji‡
Date Received November 7. 2024
Date Accepted December 2. 2024

Abstract

Human astrocyte cultures have primarily been observed up to the confluence stage, a pivotal moment when cellular proliferation equates to programmed cell death, thus stabilizing cell populations. Traditionally, research has largely overlooked the subsequent attrition (aging) stage when cell dynamics undergo substantial transformations. This study illuminated this critical phase by contrasting human astrocyte cell culture characteristics at confluency (day 9) and, at post-confluency (day 11). At day 9, when control A cells were harvested, the total human astrocyte cell count increased to an impressive 8.71 million cells from initial 0.375 million cells. In stark contrast, at day 11 (2 days after confluency), when control B (aging cells) were harvested, the total human astrocyte cells had markedly declined to 6.79 million cells despite keeping the culture conditions identical. This represented a cell attrition rate of 0.96 million cells per day with a calculated human astrocyte mean lifetime of 9.07 days (218 hours), indicating a shift to survival metabolism, meaning a shift in aging cell molecular-chemistry. Whereas cell count was rapidly declining at this aging stage, cell viability, ironically, improved tremendously from 97.9% to 99.3%; an indication that the more viable the cells are the more likely they survive. These findings underscored marked variations in cell characteristics, including population density, cellular dimensions, morphological profiles, growth kinetics, attrition rates, and biochemical metabolism between human astrocytes in these two states. Utilizing a comprehensive analysis of Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) isoenzyme pattern fingerprint, results unveiled profound differences in metabolic processes between the confluency group (control A), with 13 isoenzymes, and cells culled at two days post-confluency (control B), with 18 isoenzymes. The data conclusively illustrated that as astrocytes transition from confluency to attrition (aging), they undergo a major metabolic shift that is correlated to NADH-GDH hexameric isoenzyme activity. This study expands the understanding of astrocytic molecular biology and physiology by highlighting the importance of the post-confluency stage, suggesting that cellular aging, characteristics and functionality is driven by molecular changes in NADH-GDH hexameric isoenzyme complex that endows cells the capacity to respond to their internal and external environment irrespective of genes. These results conjures a tectonic shift on approaches to disease diagnosis and treatment, potentially offering new ways to diagnose and cure Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, sickle cell, cancer, diabetes, drug addiction and aging.

 

Corresponding author email: admin@aapcr.org American Academy of Primary Care research (AAPCR), San Antonio, Texas.

American Academy of Primary Care research (AAPCR), San Antonio, Texas. (Formerly at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas).

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