title: Lewis hypothalamic cells constitutively and upon stimulation express higher levels of mRNA for pro-inflammatory cytokines and related molecules: comparison with inflammatory resistant Fischer rat hypothalamic cells.
abstract: Endogenous hypothalamic pro-inflammatory cytokines modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses. To investigate whether hypothalamic IL-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are associated with differential inflammatory susceptibilities between Lewis (LEW/N) and Fischer (F344/N) rats, mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and related molecules in hypothalamic cell cultures of both strains were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition to IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and their receptors, LEW/N hypothalamic cells also transcribed more anti-inflammatory molecules, IL-1RII, IL-1RA, and transforming growth factor (TGFbeta1), than F334/N cells. Our findings suggest that a balance exists between transcripts for endogenous pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules in LEW/N rats that may allow them, under basal conditions, to maintain hypothalamic homeostasis and health. However, under stimulated conditions, this balance may be more easily perturbed toward chronic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Neural Immune Program, NIMH, NIH, 36 Convent Drive, Room 1A23, Bethesda, MD 20892-4020, USA.
authors.forename: Rongtai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Listwak
authors.forename: Esther M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sternberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000235:genetics; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha