Suppressive effects of TNF-alpha on myelin formation in vitro.
Using organotypic cultures of ICR mouse cerebellum, we studied the effects of TNF-alpha on myelin formation, and its demyelinating effects. Mature, myelinated cultures were resistant to TNF-alpha, even at the highest concentration examined, 1 x 10(4) U/ml. However, when cultures were grown in medium containing TNF-alpha from the time of explantation, myelin formation was significantly affected at a concentration of 1 x 10(2) U/ml. The myelin sheaths formed were very thin, partial, and few in number. When TNF-alpha was removed from the medium within 6 days, myelin formation was recovered. Although our in vitro system tests factors that influence myelin formation but not remyelination, these results suggest that TNF-alpha may be involved in the remyelination block following acute myelin breakdown.
Tsukamoto
T
T
Department of Neurology, Fukushima Medical College, Japan.
Ishikawa
M
M
Yamamoto
T
T
D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects*; D009417:Nerve Tissue; D011689:Purkinje Cells; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha