Figure 3.

CD4+ cells co-cultured with Aβ-treated astrocytes express BDNF and prevent Aβ-induced changes in synaptic protein expression. The expression of the synaptic protein synaptophysin was evaluated by western blot in SH-SY5Y cells treated with Aβ (2.5 μM) for 24 h either alone or in the presence of CD4+ cells previously co-cultured with astrocytes under control (ACctr) or Aβ-treated conditions (A). IL-4 and BDNF mRNA levels were evaluated in CD4+ cells exposed to Aβ (2.5 μM) either directly or in co-culture with astrocytes (CD4/ACAβ) for 18 h (B). Data are reported as fold change vs. proper control. Expression of synaptophysin in SH-SY5Y cells treated with Aβ (2.5 μM) alone or in co-treatment with IL-4 (10 ng/ml) and BDNF (10 ng/ml) are reported in (C). Expression of synaptophysin under conditions described in A in the presence of the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 (20 μM) added 30 min before Aβ (2.5 μM, 24 h; CD4/ACAβ) (D). Representative blots are reported in (A,C,D). Data are mean ± SEM of six (A), four (C), and three (B,D) independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. control, ctr. ^$p < 0.05 vs. direct Aβ. ^#p < 0.05 vs. Aβ alone. Significance was assessed by one-way ANOVA followed by Newman–Keuls test.