title: Cytokine effects on glutamate uptake by human astrocytes.
abstract: Glutamate uptake by astrocytes has been postulated to play a neuroprotective role during brain inflammation. Using primary human fetal astrocyte cultures, we investigated the influence of selected cytokines on glutamate uptake activity. Interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha dose-dependently inhibited astrocyte glutamate uptake, whereas interferon (IFN)-gamma alone stimulated this activity. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, blocked IL-1beta-mediated inhibition of glutamate uptake, suggesting involvement of nitric oxide in the effect of IL-1beta. IL-1 receptor antagonist protein totally reversed the inhibitory effect of cytokines, suggesting a critical role of IL-1beta. The anti-inflammatory cytokine IFN-beta blocked cytokine (IL-1beta plus IFN-gamma)-induced inhibition of glutamate uptake with a corresponding reduction in nitric oxide generation. Taken together, these findings suggest that proinflammatory cytokines inhibit astrocyte glutamate uptake by a mechanism involving nitric oxide, and that IFN-beta may exert a therapeutically beneficial effect by blocking cytokine-induced nitric oxide production in inflammatory diseases of the brain.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Brain and Immune Disorders, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation and the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005333:Fetus; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma