INTERFERON-BETA REGULATES THE IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF NEONATAL RODENT MICROGLIA

beta-interferon (beta-IFN) has both pro and anti-inflammatory properti es, the balance of which leads to some suppression of disease activity in multiple sclerosis patients. Here, we examine the immunomodulation of neonatal rodent microglia, the principal CNS accessory cell, by be ta-IFN and consider the interaction of beta-IFN and gamma-interferon ( gamma-IFN). beta-IFN and gamma-IFN inhibit microglial proliferation. b eta-IFN antagonises both gamma-IFN-induced upregulation of class II ex pression and the ability of gamma-IFN primed cells to mount a respirat ory burst. In contrast, beta-IFN upregulates microglial Fc receptor ex pression and augments tumour necrosis factor alpha secretion from subo ptimally stimulated microglia.