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Role of cytokines in lipopolysaccharide‐induced functional and structural abnormalities of astrocytes
Author(s) -
Hu Shuxian,
Martella Alice,
Anderson W. Robert,
Chao Chun C.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.440100309
Subject(s) - biology , lipopolysaccharide , neuroscience , astrocyte , immunology , central nervous system
The mechanism underlying meningitis‐associated brain injury is unclear. This study investigated the hypothesis that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alters astrocyte function and structure via the release of proinflammatory cytokines. In enriched murine astrocyte cultures, LPS inhibited (P < 0.05) glutamine synthetase activity, 3 H‐gamma aminobutyric acid uptake, and DNA synthesis; LPS also induced ultrastructural changes. Antibodies to tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1, and interleukin‐6 blocked (P < 0.05) in part the LPS‐induced inhibition of astrocyte function. Also, treatment of astrocyte cultures with cytokines significantly altered these astrocyte functions and ultrastructure. Taken together, the present findings support the hypothesis that LPS affects astrocyte function and structure via the release of proinflammatory cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor‐α. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.