Related Experiment Videos
Macrophage inflammatory protein 1-alpha mRNA expression in an immortalized microglial cell line and cortical
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine.
Abstract:
Macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1) is a recently characterized inflammatory and chemokinetic cytokine. Proinflammatory stimuli have been shown to induce expression of MIP-1 by macrophages. We hypothesized that microglia and astrocytes express MIP-1 alpha because of their many immunologic similarities to macrophages. MIP-1 alpha mRNA was examined with quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction in an immortalized mouse microglial cell line (BV-2) and in mouse cortical astrocyte cultures. We found that in both the BV-2 microglial cell line and in astrocyte cultures, MIP-1 alpha mRNA was strongly induced by lipopolysaccharide and the phorbol ester PMA. MIP-1 alpha mRNA was reduced by dBcAMP, interferon-gamma, and PGE1. Dexamethasone decreased MIP-1 alpha mRNA levels in astrocyte cultures, but not in BV-2 microglial cells. Interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and MIP-1 alpha had no effect on MIP-1 alpha mRNA expression. These findings demonstrate that MIP-1 alpha mRNA is expressed by cultured glial cells and is regulated by proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory stimuli. MIP-1 alpha may be expressed by microglia and astrocytes in vivo, and may help modulate cerebral inflammation.
Insights
Glial cells, including microglia and astrocytes, express Macrophage inflammatory protein 1-alpha (MIP-1 alpha) mRNA. This expression is modulated by various inflammatory and anti-inflammatory stimuli, suggesting a role in cerebral inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Cytokine Signaling
Background:
- Macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1) is an inflammatory and chemokinetic cytokine.
- Proinflammatory stimuli induce MIP-1 expression in macrophages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate MIP-1 alpha mRNA expression in microglia and astrocytes.
- To determine the regulation of MIP-1 alpha mRNA by various stimuli in glial cells.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used.
- MIP-1 alpha mRNA expression was analyzed in an immortalized mouse microglial cell line (BV-2) and primary mouse cortical astrocyte cultures.
Main Results:
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol ester PMA strongly induced MIP-1 alpha mRNA in both BV-2 cells and astrocytes.
- dBcAMP, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) reduced MIP-1 alpha mRNA levels.
- Dexamethasone decreased MIP-1 alpha mRNA in astrocytes but not BV-2 cells.
Conclusions:
- Cultured glial cells express MIP-1 alpha mRNA.
- MIP-1 alpha mRNA expression in glial cells is regulated by both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory stimuli.
- MIP-1 alpha may be expressed by microglia and astrocytes in vivo, potentially modulating cerebral inflammation.