title: beta-Interferon regulates the immunomodulatory activity of neonatal rodent microglia.
abstract: beta-interferon (beta-IFN) has both pro and anti-inflammatory properties, the balance of which leads to some suppression of disease activity in multiple sclerosis patients. Here, we examine the immunomodulation of neonatal rodent microglia, the principal CNS accessory cell, by beta-IFN and consider the interaction of beta-IFN and gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). beta-IFN and gamma-IFN inhibit microglial proliferation. beta-IFN antagonises both gamma-IFN-induced upregulation of class II expression and the ability of gamma-IFN primed cells to mount a respiratory burst. In contrast, beta-IFN upregulates microglial Fc receptor expression and augments tumour necrosis factor alpha secretion from suboptimally stimulated microglia.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Department of Neurology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, UK. glh20@medschl.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Wing
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Compston
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Scolding
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D017628:Microglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000378:metabolism; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma