Cultured sympathetic neurons express functional interleukin-1 receptors

Since recent work has identified an apoptotic pathway in sympathetic neuron s that is mediated by autocrine interleukin-1 (IL-1), we investigated wheth er cultured sympathetic neurons possess functional IL-1 receptors. Cultured sympathetic neurons express levels of IL-1RI and IL-1RAcP mRNAs consistent with signal transduction. Neurons stimulated with IL-1 demonstrate enhance d p65 NF-kappa B nuclear translocation and enhanced NF-kappa B DNA binding activity, with at least p65 and p50 subunits participating in the DNA bindi ng activity. RNA differential display identified several neuronal mRNAs reg ulated by IL-1, including a member of the reticulon family. We conclude tha t IL-1 stimulates a potential component of a neuronal secretory pathway. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.