Characterization of new microglia-like cells obtained from neonatal rat brain.
We isolated spontaneously proliferating cells from primary astrocyte-enriched cultures prepared from neonatal rat brain. These cells proliferated and retained their characteristics for up to 50 generations. They expressed the microglial marker, OX42, but not glial fibrillary acidic protein, an astroglial marker. In addition, they possessed phagocytotic activity, and, when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), they expressed proinflammatory mediators, including cytokines (i.e., interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and chemokines (i.e., IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1). Protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, and production of NO by these cells were induced by LPS or IFN-gamma. Thus, these cells possess the characteristics of microglia and can be used as a rat microglial cell line.
Kim
Ohn Soon
OS
Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5, Wonchen-Dong, Youngtong-Gu, Gyunggi-Do, Suwon 442-721, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Chang Seok
CS
Kim
Hee Young
HY
Joe
Eun-Hye
EH
Jou
Ilo
I
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002460:Cell Line / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048429:Cell Size; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D017628:Microglia / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley