title: Thrombin regulates CD40 expression in microglial cells.
abstract: Microglial cells are the innate immune cells of the central nervous system and quickly respond to injury by proliferation, cytokine release, and increased cell surface antigen expression. Thrombin is a multifunctional serine proteinase, which has the capability to activate microglial cells. Here, we report that pharmaceutical-grade thrombin dose-dependently increases the expression of CD40 in N9 microglial cells. This effect is blocked by a thrombin inhibitor, mimicked by thrombin receptor-activating peptide and modified by mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitors. Thrombin-induced CD40 regulation might play a role in diseases with breakdown of the blood-brain barrier such as multiple sclerosis or stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. jweinste@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Russell E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ettinger
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Uwe-Karsten
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Hanisch
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D013917:Thrombin