title: Cytokine regulation of CD40 expression in fetal human astrocyte cultures.
abstract: CD40 can participate in inflammatory processes after binding its cognate ligand (CD40L). We found that fetal human astrocytes constitutively express CD40 mRNA and protein. Upon incubating cultures with proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IFN-gamma) or with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), CD40 expression was increased. No change in CD40 expression was noted in astrocyte cultures incubated with IL-6, HIV or gp41. Astrocytes also showed increased release of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 after incubation with CD40L peptide. These observations suggest a role for CD40 in central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and that CD40/CD40L autocrine or paracrine pathways may mediate this role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdel-Haq
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Lyman
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000737:chemistry; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand