Induction of MHC class I genes in neurons.
Whether neurons express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes has not been firmly established. The techniques of confocal laser microscopy, patch clamp electrophysiology, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were combined here to directly examine the inducibility of MHC class I genes in individual cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Transcription of MHC class I genes was very rare in neurons with spontaneous action potentials. In electrically silent neurons, transcription was noted, with expression of beta 2-microglobulin under tighter control than in class I heavy chain molecules. Surface expression of class I molecules occurred only in electrically silent neurons treated with interferon gamma. Immunosurveillance by cytotoxic T cells may be focused on functionally impaired neurons.
Neumann
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H
Department of Neuroimmunology, Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Martinsried, Germany.
Cavalié
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Jenne
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Wekerle
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D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D007371:Interferon-gamma