EXPRESSION OF INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 ON RAT MICROGLIAL CELLS

Microglial cells isolated from newborn rat brain displayed a baseline immunoreactivity for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) after 10-20 days in culture. ICAM-1 immunoreactivity was enhanced in a time- dependent fashion by exposing the microglial cells to recombinant rat gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN; 100 U/ml) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; 1000 U/ml). We conclude that rat brain macrophages/microgl iaI cells can be induced by gamma-IFN and TNF-alpha to express ICAM-1. This may be relevant in the interaction of microglial cells with othe r brain cells during inflammation of the central nervous system.