title: Facial nerve lesion response; strain differences but no involvement of IFN-gamma, STAT4 or STAT6.
abstract: Facial nerve lesions lead to a retrograde response characterized by activation of glia surrounding axotomized motoneurons and up-regulation of immunological cell surface molecules such as major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens. Cytokines, in particular interferon-gamma, are potent inducers of MHC expression and glial activation. We have here tested whether axotomy-induced activation is changed in transgenic mouse strains lacking components of the IFN-gamma signaling pathway, STAT4 or STAT6. No differences regarding astrocyte activation, ss2-microglobulin or MHC class I expression were discernible as compared to wild type controls. In contrast, there were conspicuous differences in the reaction between the examined wild type strains (C57BL/6J, BALB/c and 129/SvJ), suggesting considerable polymorphisms in the genetic regulation of these events, however, not involving IFN-gamma, STAT4 or STAT6.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics; D005911:Gliosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012183:Retrograde Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; C494258:Irf1 protein, mouse; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494091:Stat4 protein, mouse; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D007371:Interferon-gamma