Y. Taoufik et al., Human microglial cells express a functional IL-12 receptor and produce IL-12 following IL-12 stimulation, EUR J IMMUN, 31(11), 2001, pp. 3228-3239
Microglial cells (MC) are IL-12 producers in the central nervous system. He
re, we found that IL-12 receptor subunits beta1 and beta2 were both constit
utively expressed, and up-regulated by IFN-gamma, in human primary MC. IL-1
2p70, after binding to its receptor, is internalized into vesicles that qua
lify as early endosomes as indicated by intracellular colocalization with t
ransferrin. IL-12 induced tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocatio
n of STAT4. IL-12 signaling in human MC also involved members of the NF kap
paB family. IL-12p70 and, more effectively, the combination of IL-12p70 and
IFN-gamma ,induced IL-12p40 mRNA expression and bioactive IL-12p70 product
ion. Human MC, thus, express a functional IL-12 receptor and produce bioact
ive IL-12 following IL-12 stimulation.