title: Rat astrocytes express interferon-gamma immunoreactivity in normal optic nerve and after nerve transection.
abstract: Astrocytes are pivotal components of immune reactions in the CNS. We further support this notion by the localization of the lymphokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which plays an important role during immune responses, to astrocytes in rat optic nerve (ON). Astrocytes identified by glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity were IFN-gamma positive in normal and transected ON while oligodendrocytes did not express IFN-gamma immunoreactivity. These findings indicate that astrocytes can generate important signals which orchestrate immunoinflammatory responses in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, F.R.G.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Toyka
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma