title: Brain capillary pericytes contribute to the immune defense in response to cytokines or LPS in vitro.
abstract: The prevention of an inflammation in the brain is one of the most important goals the body has to achieve. As pericytes are located on the abluminal side of the capillaries in the brain, their role in fighting against invading pathogens has been investigated in some points, mostly in their ability to behave like macrophages. Here we studied the potential of pericytes to react as immune cells under inflammatory conditions, especially regarding the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) molecules, CD68, as well as the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), and their ability in phagocytosis. Quantitative real time PCR and western blot analysis showed that pericytes are able to increase the expression of typical inflammatory marker proteins after the stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), or lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Depending on the different specific pro-inflammatory factors pericytes changed the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA), the most predominant pericyte marker. We conclude that the role of the pericytes within the immune system is regulated and fine-tuned by different cytokines strongly depending on the time when the cytokines are released and their concentration. The present results will help to understand the pericyte mediated defense mechanisms in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 2, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pieper
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 2, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Jasmin Jacqueline
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marek
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 10, 48149 Münster, Germany; Institute for Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Marlies
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unterberg
authors.affiliation: Institute for Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schwerdtle
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 2, 48149 Münster, Germany. Electronic address: gallah@uni-muenster.de.
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Galla
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D020286:Pericytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016207:Cytokines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
keywords: Cytokines; Inflammation; LPS; Macrophage-like phenotype; Pericytes