title: Production of tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines by astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or a neurotropic virus.
abstract: Rat astrocytes, immunologically competent glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS), released a variety of cytokines after activation. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated astrocytes produced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis using a mouse TNF probe and by functional assay. Biological activity of rat astrocyte-derived TNF was neutralized by rabbit antiserum against recombinant murine TNF. Stimulation of astrocytes by lipopolysaccharide also activated the interleukin 1 and interleukin 6 genes. We have also investigated whether a neurotropic paramyxovirus, Newcastle disease virus, triggers cytokine production by astrocytes. This virus induced astrocytes to produce TNF, lymphotoxin, interleukin 6, and alpha- and beta-interferons. Thus, stimulation by endotoxin and virus activated distinct, yet overlapping, sets of cytokine genes. We propose that astrocytes and the cytokines they produce may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of immunologically and/or virally mediated CNS disease, in CNS intercellular communication, and in the interactions between the nervous and immune systems.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Lieberman
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Pitha
authors: H S
authors: HS
authors: Shin
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines; D005260:Female; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007700:Kinetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007372:Interferons