Microglia express a functional receptor for interleukin-23.
Interleukin (IL)-23 plays a predominant role in the development of autoimmune diseases by inducing IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cells. The receptor for IL-23 consists of a heterodimer composed of the IL-12 receptor beta1 (IL-12Rbeta1) and the IL-23 receptor (IL-23R), which is mainly expressed on Th17 cells. A recent study showed that macrophages express IL-23R mRNA and can be distinguished from microglia by IL-23R expression. However, in this study, we show by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry that microglia express IL-23R and IL-12Rbeta1 mRNA and protein, respectively. Additionally, microglia expressed a functional receptor for IL-23, as IL-23 enhanced the Interferon (IFN)-gamma-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1 phosphorylation and chemokine production. Thus, IL-23R expression does not discriminate peripheral macrophages from microglia. Moreover, since microglia produce IL-23, it may function in an autocrine manner to recruit inflammatory cells by inducing chemokine production.
Sonobe
Yoshifumi
Y
Department of Neuroimmunology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan.
Liang
Jiangfeng
J
Jin
Shijie
S
Zhang
Guiqin
G
Takeuchi
Hideyuki
H
Mizuno
Tetsuya
T
Suzumura
Akio
A
D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D018925:Chemokines; C508440:Il12rb1 protein, mouse; D053759:Interleukin-23; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; C528688:interleukin-23 receptor, mouse; D007371:Interferon-gamma