EXPRESSION OF A CHEMOTACTIC CYTOKINE (MCP-1) IN CEREBRAL CAPILLARY ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS IN-VITRO

A full-length cDNA encoding the porcine monocyte chemoattractant prote in-1 (pMCPC-1) was isolated from growth-stimulated porcine cerebral ca pillary endothelial cells (cEC); the pMCP-1 cDNA showed 89% identity t o human MCP-1 and was isolated by use of subtractive hybridization and differential screening of two phenotypically different subpopulations of cloned cEC. pMCP-1 was abundantly expressed in cEC grown in the pr esence of FCS, ECGF and heparin whereas lower expression was observed in cEC kept in FCS-supplemented medium only. As shown by Northern blot analysis, no pMCP-1 transcripts were present in total RNA derived fro m freshly isolated brain capillaries, large brain vessels or whole bra in homogenate. MCP/JE expression was also demonstrated in ECGF/heparin -treated murine cEC. Astrocytes and smooth muscle cells grown in FCS-s upplemented medium did not show MCP-1 expression. Treatment of porcine cEC with TNF-alpha increased pMCP-1 mRNA levels in a dose-dependent m anner. These data further support the notion that cerebral capillary e ndothelial cells actively participate in processes of CNS host defense .