INTERFERON-GAMMA GENE-EXPRESSION IN RAT CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM GLIAL-CELLS

The expression of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA in purified cultur es of glial cells and leptomeningeal fibroblasts from the neonatal rat brain was analysed using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-poly merase chain reaction. IFN-gamma specific transcripts were clearly det ected in rat astrocytes and were upregulated after treatment with IFN- gamma itself or cycloheximide. In microglial cells, IFN-gamma transcri pts were barely detectable in basal conditions and were upregulated by lipopolysaccharide and, to a lesser extent, by IFN-gamma Or cyclohexi mide. IFN-gamma mRNA was neither detected nor inducible in oligodendro cytes and leptomeningeal cells. The demonstration that IFN-gamma is ex pressed in astrocytes and microglia widens the putative role of these cells in local immunoregulation and antiviral responses. (C) 1998 Acad emic Press Limited.