Related Experiment Videos

Interferon gamma and lipopolysaccharide upregulate TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand expression in murine

Sermin Genc1, Sefa Kizildag, Kursad Genc

  • 1Department of Medical Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, 35340, Izmir, Turkey. sermingenc@hotmail.com

Immunology Letters
|March 29, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal microglia and N9 cells express tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly increase TRAIL expression, potentially contributing to neurodegeneration.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microglia are the primary immune cells of the central nervous system.
  • Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is involved in apoptosis.
  • The role of TRAIL in microglia, especially under inflammatory conditions, is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of TRAIL in neonatal murine microglia and the N9 microglial cell line.
  • To determine the effect of inflammatory stimuli, such as interferon gamma (IFNgamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on TRAIL expression.
  • To explore the potential role of microglial TRAIL in neurodegenerative processes.

Main Methods:

  • Immunoprecipitation-immunoblotting to detect TRAIL protein.
  • Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to quantify TRAIL mRNA.
  • Flow cytometry to analyze TRAIL expression on cell surfaces.

Main Results:

  • Neonatal murine microglia and N9 cells express TRAIL.
  • IFNgamma and LPS stimulation significantly upregulate both TRAIL protein and mRNA levels.
  • IFNgamma and LPS act synergistically to induce TRAIL expression at both translational and transcriptional levels.

Conclusions:

  • Microglial TRAIL expression is significantly enhanced by inflammatory stimuli like IFNgamma and LPS.
  • Upregulated microglial TRAIL in inflammation may contribute to the cytotoxic effects of microglia.
  • Microglial TRAIL may play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Related Concept Videos