title: Nitric oxide modulates gamma-interferon-induced MHC class II antigen expression on rat astrocytes.
abstract: Brain astroglial cells can be brought in vivo and in vitro to express an immunocompetent cell-like phenotype. We investigated the effect of the NO. releasing compound sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on Ia expression in rat astrocyte cultures. SNP down-regulates, in a concentration-dependent manner, the gamma-interferon-induced Ia expression. Inhibition of the NO. synthesis attenuates the glutamate mediated down-regulation of class II expression. Our results show that NO. is implicated in the immunomodulatory reactions in the brain parenchyma.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heuschling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000032:analysis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D009573:Nitrites; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D001120:Arginine; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester