Effects of interferon-beta on the cytokine production of astrocytes
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Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Monitoring Astrocyte Reactivity and Proliferation in Vitro Under Ischemic-Like Conditions
Published on: October 21, 2017
Kazumasa Okada1, Etsushi Kuroda, Yasuhiro Yoshida
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishiku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. gion@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The effects of interferon (IFN)-beta used for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the central nervous system (CNS) have not yet been elucidated. The effect of IFN-beta and IFN-gamma on astrocytes as the major component of the CNS was investigated using murine primary astrocytes and human astrocytoma U251 cell line. IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and iNOS were analyzed by RT-PCR. Both protein and mRNA levels of IL-6 were increased by IFN-beta. IFN-gamma augmented the effect of IFN-beta on IL-6 production. These results suggest that IFN-beta has an activity to modulate inflammatory and immune responses by up-regulating IL-6 in the CNS of MS.
