Transcriptomic profile of reactive astrocytes induced by activation of the JAK2-STAT3 pathway in mouse striatal astrocytes

We analyzed the transcriptional profile of normal astrocytes and astrocytes made reactive by AAV gene transfer of a contitutive form of JAK2 (JAK2ca). We show that activation of the JAK2-STAT3 pathway by JAK2ca induces significant transcriptional changes in astrocytes, recapitulating several molecular hallmarks of reactivity Total RNA was extracted from GFP+ astrocytes isolated by FACS from C57bl6 mice injected with an AAV targeting astrocytes and encoding GFP alone (controls, N=4) or JAK2ca and GFP (N=4, same total viral load). Non GFP+ cells (including microglia, neurons, oligodendrocytes, non infected astrocytes, called OTHER) were analyzed as well, in 2 samples of the control group.