HUMAN BRAIN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS AND ASTROCYTES PRODUCE IL-1-BETA BUT NOT IL-10

The ability of human brain endothelial cells to produce mRNA for inter leukin-10, and release IL-10 in culture supernatants after in vitro st imulation with LPS, TNF-alpha and gamma-IFN was assessed and compared to that of astrocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and human um bilical vein endothelial cells. IL-1 beta and beta(2)-microglobulin re lease were also analysed, IL-10 and TNF-alpha mRNA presence was invest igated in normal brain as well as in three plaques from two multiple s clerosis patients. While increased IL-1 beta and beta(2)-microglobulin release in the supernatants of stimulated cells could be detected in all the studied cell lineages, IL-10 mRNA and protein release was only seen in LPS-stimulated PBMNCs. Similarly, mRNA for IL-10 was not dete cted in CNS tissues, while TNF-a was present in all plaques. The lack of production of significant amounts of IL-10 by astrocytes and human brain endothelial cells suggests that these cells may not be the prima ry source of in vivo IL-10-mediated down-regulation of immune reaction s within the central nervous system.