Interferon gamma gene expression in rat central nervous system glial cells.
The expression of interferon gamma (TFN-gamma) mRNA in purified cultures of glial cells and leptomeningeal fibroblasts from the neonatal rat brain was analysed using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. IFN-gamma specific transcripts were clearly detected in rat astrocytes and were upregulated after treatment with IFN-gamma itself or cycloheximide. In microglial cells, IFN-gamma transcripts were barely detectable in basal conditions and were upregulated by lipopolysaccharide and, to a lesser extent, by IFN-gamma or cycloheximide. IFN-gamma mRNA was neither detected not inducible in oligodendrocytes and leptomeningeal cells. The demonstration that IFN-gamma is expressed in astrocytes and microglia widens the putative role of these cells in local immunoregulation and antiviral responses.
De Simone
R
R
Laboratory of Organ and System Pathophysiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Levi
G
G
Aloisi
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003513:Cycloheximide