CD14 MEDIATES ENDOTOXIN INDUCTION OF NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE IN CULTURED BRAIN GLIAL-CELLS

Here we show that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction of glial inducibl e nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) requires membrane (m) and soluble (s) f orms of CD14. In glial cell cultures, an anti-rat CD14 monoclonal anti body detected CD14 protein in whole cells and cell lysates, and reduce d LPS-dependent iNOS expression. Glial cells and normal brain tissue e xpressed CD14 mRNA, as revealed by isolation of a rat CD14 clone (rCD1 4) from an astrocyte cDNA library, and RT-PCR analysis. Finally, serum reduced the ED(50) of LPS required for glial iNOS expression, and ant ibodies against sCD14 blocked the potentiating effect of serum.