Stimulation of endothelin B receptor modulates the inflammatory activation of rat astrocytes

Inside the brain tissue, endothelins play numerous important biological roles. One of the targets, astrocytes, predominantly display endothelin receptor subtype B (ET(B)). On cultured primary rat astroglial cells, we analyzed the effect of IRL1620, a selective ET(B) receptor agonist, on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the synthesis of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. We performed these experiments in the presence or absence of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IRL1620 decreases NO production under basal conditions and after IFN-gamma stimulation. However, during LPS-induced NO production, IRL1620 enhances this release. The basal IL-6 secretion and especially the LPS-induced synthesis are enhanced by the IRL1620 stimulation. The LPS-dependent TNF-alpha production is increased by the ET(B) stimulation. The IRL1620-induced decrease of basal NO production is not dependent on Ca2+ entry or on phospholipase C (PLC) activation, as shown by the use of LaCl3 and U73122, respectively. In the presence of LPS, the IRL1620 potentiation of NO production is inhibited by LaCl3 and U73122. The IRL1620-induced increase of IL-6 is dependent on PLC activation. These results suggest that endothelins can have dual effects depending on the costimulatory factors present. Endothelins thus have important immunomodulatory functions in the brain.