Interleukin-3 and interleukin-3 receptors in the brain.
We have previously demonstrated that interleukin 3 (IL-3) has a neurotrophic effect on central cholinergic neurons and have demonstrated the presence of IL-3 receptor (IL-3R)beta subunits in septal cholinergic neurons by reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. In order to confirm that the expressed IL-3R is functional, we conducted experiments to show an alpha subunit of IL-3R. The alpha subunit was clearly demonstrated by RT-PCR in the central cholinergic neuronal hybrid cell line SN6, but not in its mother cell line N18TG2, and the expression was slightly upregulated after IL-3 treatment. Choline acetyltransferase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter mRNAs were significantly increased in SN6 after treatment with IL-3. Immunohistochemically, IL-3R alpha-positive cells were mainly present in the medial septal and basal forebrain region, and the stained cells were similar to choline acetyltransferase-positive cells in shape and distribution. The IL-3R alpha-positive cells slightly increased two days after fimbria-fornix transection and decreased seven days after. These findings suggest that functional IL-3 receptors are expressed in the central cholinergic neurons and contribute to some physiological roles such as the differentiation and maintenance of these neurons.
Tabira
T
T
Division of Demyelinating Disease and Aging, National Institute of Neuroscience, Tokyo, Japan. tabira@ncnaxp.ncnp.go.jp
Chui
D H
DH
Fan
J P
JP
Shirabe
T
T
Konishi
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007377:Interleukin-3; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D016185:Receptors, Interleukin-3; C493460:Slc18a3 protein, mouse; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase