Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor inhibits class II major histocompatibility complex expression and antigen presentation by microglia.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) modulates various functions of monocytes/macrophages including antigen-presenting capacity. Recently it was found that astrocytes produce GM-CSF in the central nervous system (CNS) and that GM-CSF can induce proliferation and morphological changes of microglia. Here we show that GM-CSF can down regulate the interferon-gamma-mediated induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens in microglia, but not in astrocytes. GM-CSF pretreatment completely prevents myelin basic protein-specific T cell proliferation induced by microglia not astrocytes. GM-CSF did not affect the cell surface expression on microglia of either MHC class I or cell adhesion molecules. The inhibition of microglial MHC class II expression and antigen-presenting function is specific for GM-CSF, as treatment with a different CSF (interleukin-3) did not modulate microglial phenotype or functional capacity. These data suggest that GM-CSF might be involved in the regulation of immune responses within the central nervous system.
Hayashi
M
M
Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology, Boston, MA 02115.
Dorf
M E
ME
Abromson-Leeman
S
S
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007377:Interleukin-3; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor