CCAAT-enhancer binding protein alpha is expressed in activated microglial cells after brain injury.
Microglial cells play important roles in brain injury and repair and are implicated in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, multiple sclerosis, the Aids Dementia Complex and stroke. Despite their importance in neuropathology, the underlying molecular basis for the activation of microglia after brain injury is not understood. We show, using RT-PCR, in situ hybridisation, immunocytochemistry, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, that the CCAAT-enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP alpha), a sequence specific DNA-binding protein, is induced in microglial cells, but not astrocytes or neurons, after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. These results suggest that C/EBP alpha might regulate gene expression and consequentially have a role in the activation and/or proliferation of microglia following brain injury.
Walton
M
M
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
Saura
J
J
Young
D
D
MacGibbon
G
G
Hansen
W
W
Lawlor
P
P
Sirimanne
E
E
Gluckman
P
P
Dragunow
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000235:genetics*; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors