Premium
Role of central nervous system microvascular pericytes in activation of antigen‐primed splenic T‐lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Balabanov Roumen,
Beaumont Thomas,
DoreDuffy Paula
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19990301)55:5<578::aid-jnr5>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - cell adhesion molecule , immunology , major histocompatibility complex , antigen presentation , cytokine , antigen , tumor necrosis factor alpha , biology , mhc class ii , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , inflammation , antigen presenting cell , t cell
The cellular constituents of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) must make finely tuned, regulatory responses to maintain microvascular homeostasis. The mechanisms by which this task is accomplished are largely unknown. However, it is thought they involve a series of cross‐talk mechanisms among endothelial cells (EC), pericytes (PC), and astrocytes. During inflammation, the BBB is exposed to a number of biological response modifiers including cytokines released by infiltrating leukocytes. The response to inflammatory cytokines may alter the normal regulatory function of EC and PC. These changes may account for some of the pathological findings in central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disease. Previous studies have shown that PC and EC may have immune potential. We have investigated the response of the PC to a variety of inflammatory cytokines. Primary rat PC constitutively express low levels of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, which can be upregulated in response to the cytokine interferon‐γ (IFNγ). IFNγ also induced the expression of MHC class II molecule. After induction of MHC class II molecule, CNS PC acquired the capacity to present antigen to primed syngeneic rat T‐lymphocytes. Antigen presentation by PC was comparable to that seen with classic antigen‐presenting cells. A small number of primary PC constitutively express low levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1), which was increased on exposure to tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα). Results suggest that CNS PC respond to inflammatory cytokines, are involved in T‐lymphocyte activation, and express cell surface adhesion molecules (VCAM‐1, ICAM‐1) that may provide costimulatory activity. It is likely that CNS PC are important in neuroimmune networks at the BBB. J. Neurosci. Res. 55:578–587, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.