EXPRESSION OF STROMAL CELL-DERIVED FACTOR-I AND CXCR4 CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNAS IN CULTURED RAT GLIAL AND NEURONAL CELLS

The expression of the mRNAs for stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha an d -1 beta (SDF-1 alpha and -1 beta) and their receptor CXCR4 in cultur ed rat glial and neuronal cells was examined. SDF-1 alpha mRNA was exp ressed intensely in astrocytes and weakly in neurons, but not in micro glia. SDF-1 beta mRNA was expressed weakly in these three types of cel ls. The expressions of SDF-1 alpha and -1 beta mRNAs in astrocytes wer e decreased by treatment with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 1-6 h but markedly i ncreased by that for 24-72 h, whereas the expression of SDF-1 beta mRN A in microglia was hardly changed by the treatment for 0.5-6 h, and wa s decreased by that for 24-48 h. The expression of CXCR4 mRNA was obse rved in astrocytes, microglia and neurons, and was not altered by LPS treatment. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig hts reserved.