title: Cytokine-induced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by astrocytes and astrocytoma cell lines.
abstract: Astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) associate intimately with vascular endothelial cells and are integral to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Leukocyte transmigration across the BBB is a cardinal feature of CNS inflammation, as observed in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and very late antigen-4 (VLA-4)/vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) interactions have recently been proposed as essential for this process. VCAM-1 expression by astrocytes was recently reported. We addressed the regulation of VCAM-1 expression by inflammatory cytokines in primary human astrocytes and two human astrocytoma cell lines. Astrocytoma cells up-regulated surface VCAM-1 expression in response to cytokines in the following order: IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha > IFN-gamma plus IL-1 beta > TNF-alpha > IFN-gamma. Cytokine-activated astrocytoma cells expressed 7-domain VCAM-1, as indicated by accumulation of 3.2-kb VCAM-1 mRNA and immunoprecipitation of a 100-kDa protein with anti-VCAM-1 mAb. Lymphoblast adhesion to cytokine-activated astrocytoma cell monolayers was significantly blocked by mAb specific for VCAM-1 and VLA-4, indicating that astrocytoma cell VCAM-1 was functional. Astrocytoma cell expression of VCAM-1 could be a constituent of the astrocyte phenotype. To support this possibility, we demonstrated that cytokine-treated adult human and rat primary astrocytes expressed VCAM-1, and the rank order of cytokine potency for VCAM-1 induction in primary and neoplastic astrocytes was strikingly similar. This is the first documentation of VCAM-1 expression by adult human astrocytes. Expression of VCAM-1 by astrocytes at the BBB could play a role in mononuclear leukocyte entry into the CNS.
authors.affiliation: ICOS Corporation, Bothell, WA 98021.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rosenman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shrikant
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubb
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Benveniste
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ransohoff
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007375:Interleukin-1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma