Differential modulation of astrocyte cytokine gene expression by TGF-beta

In this study, we demonstrate that TGF-beta inhibits TNF-alpha expression, and induces/enhances IL-6 expression by primary rat astrocytes. Treatment of astrocytes with TGF-beta alone had no effect on TNF-alpha mRNA or protein expression; however, TGF-beta suppressed induction of TNF-alpha expression by three different stimuli (IFN-gamma/LPS, IFN-gamma/IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha) at both the protein and mRNA level. The extent of TGF-beta-mediated inhibition was greatest when astrocytes were pretreated with TGF-beta for 6 to 24 h, then exposed to the inducing stimuli. Inhibition of TNF-alpha mRNA steady-state levels by TGF-beta was a result of inhibition of TNF-alpha gene transcription, rather than degradation of the TNF-alpha message. In contrast, TGF-beta alone induced expression of IL-6 by astrocytes and synergized with two other cytokines, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, for enhanced IL-6 expression. TGF-beta-induced/enhanced IL-6 expression was mediated by transcriptional activation of the IL-6 gene. These results indicate that TGF-beta is an important regulator of cytokine production by astrocytes under inflammatory conditions in the brain.