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Interferon‐β Is a Potent Promoter of Nerve Growth Factor Production by Astrocytes
Author(s) -
Boutros Tarek,
Croze Ed,
Yong Voon Wee
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1997.69030939.x
Subject(s) - nerve growth factor , multiple sclerosis , interferon , astrocyte , remyelination , interferon beta 1b , neurotrophin , neurotrophic factors , immunology , biology , interferon beta , cancer research , medicine , endocrinology , central nervous system , myelin , receptor
Recent clinical evidence has suggested that interferon‐β is efficacious in the treatment of the demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis. The mechanism of its efficacy remains unclear, and suggested modes of action have focused on immune modulation. Nonimmune effects of interferon‐β may also contribute to its efficacy. Given that astrocytes produce a range of neurotrophic factors, we examined the possibility that interferon‐β could increase the astrocytic production of nerve growth factor (NGF), which has been reported to cause oligodendrocytes to proliferate and to extend their processes; these phenotypes can impact favorably on remyelination. When the recombinant form of mouse interferon‐β was added to mouse astrocyte cultures, a dose‐dependent increase in NGF mRNA was obtained. The 40‐fold increase in NGF mRNA elicited by 1,000 U/ml interferon‐β was far more potent than that produced by other NGF‐elevating agents in this study. In concordance, the protein for NGF was elevated by interferon‐β. The production of NGF by interferon‐β may be relevant to its clinical efficacy in multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, we suggest the potential utility of interferon‐β in Alzheimer's disease.