Biomaterial Database

Transforming growth factor-beta inhibition of cytokine-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in human astrocytes. 1998

M K Winkler, and E N Beveniste

Department of Cell Biology, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-0005, USA.

Leukocyte transmigration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a cardinal feature of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Astrocytes form an integral part, both structurally and functionally, of the BBB. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily, is involved in extravasation into inflamed tissues and activation of T-lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of TGF-beta, an immunosuppressive cytokine, in regulating cytokine-induced VCAM-1 expression in astrocytes. Human astroglioma cell lines and primary human fetal astrocytes were examined for VCAM-1 gene expression after treatment with proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IFN-gamma) in the absence or presence of TGF-beta. Astroglioma cell lines as well as primary human fetal astrocytes expressed low levels of VCAM-1 constitutively, and the proinflammatory cytokines induced marked increases in VCAM-1 expression, particularly TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. The inclusion of TGF-beta1 or TGF-beta2 with the proinflammatory cytokines inhibited VCAM-1 gene expression to varying degrees (33-93%) in all the astroglioma cell lines and primary fetal cells. These results indicate that TGF-beta is an important regulator of cytokine induced VCAM-1 expression on astrocytes and may prove useful clinically in controlling CNS inflammation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D005434	Flow Cytometry	Technique using an instrument system for making, processing, and displaying one or more measurements on individual cells obtained from a cell suspension. Cells are usually stained with one or more fluorescent dyes specific to cell components of interest, e.g., DNA, and fluorescence of each cell is measured as it rapidly transverses the excitation beam (laser or mercury arc lamp). Fluorescence provides a quantitative measure of various biochemical and biophysical properties of the cell, as well as a basis for cell sorting. Other measurable optical parameters include light absorption and light scattering, the latter being applicable to the measurement of cell size, shape, density, granularity, and stain uptake.	Cytofluorometry, Flow,Cytometry, Flow,Flow Microfluorimetry,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting,Microfluorometry, Flow,Cell Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated,Cell Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated,Cytofluorometries, Flow,Cytometries, Flow,Flow Cytofluorometries,Flow Cytofluorometry,Flow Cytometries,Flow Microfluorometries,Flow Microfluorometry,Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sortings,Microfluorimetry, Flow,Microfluorometries, Flow,Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated Cell,Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001253	Astrocytes	A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury.	Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D012260	Ribonucleases	Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds within RNA. EC 3.1.-.	Nucleases, RNA,RNase,Acid Ribonuclease,Alkaline Ribonuclease,Ribonuclease,RNA Nucleases,Ribonuclease, Acid,Ribonuclease, Alkaline
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D013379	Substrate Specificity	A characteristic feature of enzyme activity in relation to the kind of substrate on which the enzyme or catalytic molecule reacts.	Specificities, Substrate,Specificity, Substrate,Substrate Specificities
D015347	RNA Probes	RNA, usually prepared by transcription from cloned DNA, which complements a specific mRNA or DNA and is generally used for studies of virus genes, distribution of specific RNA in tissues and cells, integration of viral DNA into genomes, transcription, etc. Whereas DNA PROBES are preferred for use at a more macroscopic level for detection of the presence of DNA/RNA from specific species or subspecies, RNA probes are preferred for genetic studies. Conventional labels for the RNA probe include radioisotope labels 32P and 125I and the chemical label biotin. RNA probes may be further divided by category into plus-sense RNA probes, minus-sense RNA probes, and antisense RNA probes.	Gene Probes, RNA,RNA Probe,Probe, RNA,Probes, RNA,Probes, RNA Gene,RNA Gene Probes
D016207	Cytokines	Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.	Cytokine
D016212	Transforming Growth Factor beta	A factor synthesized in a wide variety of tissues. It acts synergistically with TGF-alpha in inducing phenotypic transformation and can also act as a negative autocrine growth factor. TGF-beta has a potential role in embryonal development, cellular differentiation, hormone secretion, and immune function. TGF-beta is found mostly as homodimer forms of separate gene products TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 or TGF-beta3. Heterodimers composed of TGF-beta1 and 2 (TGF-beta1.2) or of TGF-beta2 and 3 (TGF-beta2.3) have been isolated. The TGF-beta proteins are synthesized as precursor proteins.	Bone-Derived Transforming Growth Factor,Platelet Transforming Growth Factor,TGF-beta,Milk Growth Factor,TGFbeta,Bone Derived Transforming Growth Factor,Factor, Milk Growth,Growth Factor, Milk