Screening of interleukins for survival-promoting effects on cultured mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from embryonic rat brain.
In order to evaluate the neurotrophic potential that interleukins may have for nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, we have applied the interleukins 1 alpha, 1 beta, and 2 through 12 to cultures of E14 rat midbrain floor cells enriched for dopaminergic neurons. IL-6 and -7 were the only interleukins that modestly (130%, as compared to controls, 100%) promoted survival of dopaminergic neurons visualized by their immunoreactivity for tyrosine hydroxylase over an 8-day culture period. The effect was not mediated by astroglial cells. We conclude that most interleukins per se may not act as neurotrophic factors for dopaminergic neurons, although several of them occur in the embryonic and adult CNS.
von Coelln
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Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Unsicker
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Krieglstein
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D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007378:Interleukins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D004298:Dopamine