title: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by astrocytes. Induction by lipopolysaccharide, IFN-gamma, and IL-1 beta.
abstract: Astrocytes have the capacity to secrete or respond to a variety of cytokines including IL-1, IL-6, IL-3, and TNF-alpha. In this study, we have examined the capacity of astrocytes to secrete TNF-alpha in response to a variety of biologic stimuli, particularly cytokines such as IL-1 and IFN-gamma, which are known to be present in the central nervous system during neurologic diseases associated with inflammation. Rat astrocytes do not constitutively produce TNF-alpha, but have the ability to secrete TNF-alpha in response to LPS, and can be primed by IFN-gamma to respond to a suboptimal dose of LPS. IFN-gamma and IL-1 beta alone do not induce TNF-alpha production, however, the combined treatment of IFN-gamma and IL-1 beta results in a striking synergistic effect on astrocyte TNF-alpha production. Astrocyte TNF-alpha protein production induced by a combined treatment of either IFN-gamma/LPS or IFN-gamma/IL-1 beta occurs in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and appears to require a "priming signal" initiated by IFN-gamma, which then renders the astrocyte responsive to either a suboptimal dose of LPS or IL-1 beta. Astrocyte TNF-alpha production by IFN-gamma/LPS stimulation can be inhibited by the addition of anti-rat IFN-gamma antibody, whereas IFN-gamma/IL-1-induced TNF-alpha production is inhibited by antibody to either IFN-gamma or IL-1 beta. Polyclonal antisera reactive with mouse macrophage-derived TNF-alpha neutralized the cytotoxicity of IFN-gamma/LPS and IFN-gamma/IL-1 beta-induced astrocyte TNF-alpha, demonstrating similarities between these two sources of TNF-alpha. We propose that astrocyte-produced TNF-alpha may have a pivotal role in augmenting intracerebral immune responses and inflammatory demyelination due to its diverse functional effects on glial cells such as oligodendrocytes and astrocytes themselves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: I Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Benveniste
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma