Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in Human Fetal Astrocytes and Microglia: Differential Regulation by Cytokines and Lipopolysaccharide, and Modulation of Class II MHC on Microglia

Sunhee C. Lee, Wei Liu, Philip Roth, Dennis W. Dickson, Joan W. Berman, Celia F. Brosnan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

171 Scopus citations

Abstract

CSF-1 is a growth factor that selectively promotes the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte series. As part of a study on the role of cytokine and hematopoietic growth factors in central nervous system (CNS) development and inflammation, we examined the expression of CSF-1 in dissociated glial cells cultured from human fetal CNS tissue. CSF-1 mRNA and protein were constitutively expressed by astrocytes. The steady state level of CSF-1 mRNA was markedly up-regulated by both IL-1β and TNF-α in a time- and dose-dependent manner, whereas only a minimal increase was detected after stimulation with IPS. In unstimulated astrocyte cultures, CSF-1 protein levels gradually increased to 3.5-fold base-line values by 96 h and were significantly increased by all three stimulants in the order of IL-1 ≥ TNF > IPS. Low levels of CSF-1 mRNA and protein were also detected in unstimulated microglia cultures. In contrast to astrocyte cultures, CSF-1 mRNA and protein increased significantly after stimulation with LPS, but changed only minimally after exposure to TNF-α or IL-1β. The effect of CSF-1 on cell proliferation, morphology, and class II MHC Ag expression was determined in highly enriched cultures of microglia and astrocytes. Microglia treated with CSF-1 showed a modest level of proliferation and differentiation into rod-shaped cells, whereas neither cell number nor shape was changed in astrocyte cultures. Interestingly, marked inhibition of both basal and IFNγ-induced class II MHC Ag expression was observed in microglial cells cultured in the presence of CSF-1, whereas no effect was detected in astrocytes. These results suggest the possibility that in situ production of CSF-1 in the CNS may regulate normal glial cell development and contribute to the immunologic status of the CNS through the down-regulation of class II MHC expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)594-604
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume150
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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