title: Interleukin (IL)-1beta-mediated apoptosis of human astrocytes.
abstract: Apoptosis of brain cells is observed in many inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system. Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to induce apoptosis in several brain cell types, but not previously in astrocytes. In the present study, the hypothesis was examined that interleukin (IL)-1beta would induce production of NO by astrocytes which, in turn, would signal apoptotic death in these glial cells. TUNEL staining demonstrated apoptosis in astrocytes treated with IL-1beta. Using an ELISA method, IL-1 receptor antagonist protein completely abrogated this astrocyte apoptosis, while N(G)monomethyl-L-arginine partially prevented apoptosis but almost entirely blocked NO production. Thus, IL-1beta appears to signal apoptosis of astrocytes by a mechanism involving, in part, the induction of NO.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Brain and Immune Disorders, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, and the University of Minnesota Medical School, 55404, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma