title: Effects of interferon-beta on the cytokine production of astrocytes.
abstract: The effects of interferon (IFN)-beta used for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the central nervous system (CNS) have not yet been elucidated. The effect of IFN-beta and IFN-gamma on astrocytes as the major component of the CNS was investigated using murine primary astrocytes and human astrocytoma U251 cell line. IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and iNOS were analyzed by RT-PCR. Both protein and mRNA levels of IL-6 were increased by IFN-beta. IFN-gamma augmented the effect of IFN-beta on IL-6 production. These results suggest that IFN-beta has an activity to modulate inflammatory and immune responses by up-regulating IL-6 in the CNS of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishiku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. gion@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Etsushi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Uki
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzumura
authors.forename: Sadatoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuji
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma