title: Interleukin 27 induces differentiation of neural C6-precursor cells into astrocytes.
abstract: Interleukin 6 (IL6)-type cytokines are major regulators of inflammation and thereby contribute to the neuropathology and pathophysiology associated with inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, astrocyte development which is a key process in the development of the CNS is also controlled by cytokines of the IL6-family. Interleukin 27 (IL27) is a recently identified member of this family and has been implicated in the inhibition of TH17 T-cell-responses. Here we show that IL27 and the HHV8 encoded viral IL6 (vIL6) induce C6 glioma cells to differentiate into an astrocyte-like state. Cytokine stimulation led to STAT-factor phosphorylation and consequently to protein expression of the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). These data could be confirmed by GFAP-immunostaining of stimulated cells. Taken together, IL27 and vIL6 can be considered as new astrocyte-inducing cytokines of the brain.
authors.affiliation: Biochemisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, D-24098 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuhns
authors.forename: Hauke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drechsler
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hattermann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose-John
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scheller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6