Cerebral neurons express interleukin-6 after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.
Markedly increased interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA levels occur in experimental cerebral ischemia, although the protein production and cellular sources of IL-6 remain unclear. We examined the cellular localization of IL-6 protein in gerbil brain following transient forebrain ischemia employing immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The ischemia/recirculation groups revealed distinct IL-6 immunoreactivity predominantly in cortical and hippocampal neurons after 3 hours to 3 days recirculation. At 12 h recirculation, the IL-6 expression declined specifically in the hippocampus CA1. Microglia, but not activated astrocytes, also expressed IL-6 immunoreactivity. The sham group showed no apparent immunoreactivity. IL-6 protein may thus be expressed mainly in neurons following transient forebrain ischemia. Its transient decline in the CA1 at 12 h recirculation could reflect the specific vulnerability of this region.
Suzuki
S
S
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Tanaka
K
K
Nagata
E
E
Ito
D
D
Dembo
T
T
Fukuuchi
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D015850:Interleukin-6