Norepinephrine inhibits gamma-interferon-induced MHC class II (Ia) antigen expression on cultured brain astrocytes.
Recent evidence that astrocytes can be induced to express the class II major histocompatability (MHC) antigens suggests that these cells may be involved in the development of intracerebral immune responses. The principal inducer of MHC class II antigen (Ia) expression is a soluble lymphokine, gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). Normally astrocytes do not express significant levels of Ia antigens despite the fact that agents such as gamma-IFN may be present in the central nervous system (CNS). Here we report that a major neurotransmitter, norepinephrine (NE), inhibits, in a dose-response fashion, the ability of gamma-IFN to induce Ia antigen expression on cultured astrocytes derived from newborn BALB/c mice. This finding may indicate that the brain contains inhibitory modulators that serve to prevent the up-regulation of intracerebral immune responsiveness.
Frohman
E M
EM
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, California College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Vayuvegula
B
B
van den Noort
S
S
Gupta
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D009638:Norepinephrine