Interleukin 1 of the central nervous system is produced by ameboid microglia.
By screening specific populations of rat brain cells, we found that ameboid microglia secrete an 18 kD peptide with IL-1 biological activity. The IL-1 activity released by microglia was found to be identical to rat macrophage IL-1 on fractionation by gel filtration and high pressure liquid anion-exchange chromatography, and it was neutralized by an antiserum specific for murine IL-1. When added to astroglia grown in culture, microglial IL-1 increased the cell number of five- to sevenfold, and increased astroglial incorporation of [3H]thymidine by three- to fivefold. We propose that the proliferation of astroglia in specific brain regions may be regulated by the signaled release of IL-1 from activated microglial cells.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D002469:Cell Separation; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D007375:Interleukin-1; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors