Endogenous host-derived molecules named damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) can induce excessive non-sterile inflammatory responses on recognition of specific membrane-tethered receptors. Here in this study, we aimed to explore the role of DAMP molecule HMGB1 in astrocyte-mediated sterile neuroinflammation and the resultant influences on neurons. In vitro cultured astrocytes were challenged with rHMGB1 and then harvested at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, and 48 h, respectively. The astrocytic CD24 expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) binding activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and the proinflammatory factors, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), were measured by qPCR. The neuronal morphology was assessed with phase-contrast microscopy. The results showed that astrocytic mRNA and protein CD24 expression began to rise at 24 h, peaked at 36 h, and remained elevated at 48 h after rHMGB1 stimulation, accompanied with enhanced NF-κB binding activity and augmented expression of TNF-α and IL-1β. Furthermore, rHMGB1 caused cocultured neuron damage and was aggregated upon CD24 knockdown. Taken together, these novel findings suggested that rHMGB1 could promote astrocytic CD24 expression, the inhibition of which could aggregate neuronal damage.
Keywords: CD24; HMGB1; astrocytes; inflammatory response.