Biomaterial Database

Post-transcriptional inhibition of CD40 gene expression in microglia by transforming growth factor-beta. 1998

V T Nguyen, and W S Walker, and E N Benveniste

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

Microglia are one of the major glial cell types within the central nervous system, and can function as immune effector cells upon activation. CD40 is a cell surface receptor belonging to the TNF receptor family that plays a critical role in the regulation of immune responses. In this study, we investigated the expression of CD40 on microglia, and the role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), an immunosuppressive cytokine, in regulating CD40 expression. Microglia constitutively express very low levels of CD40, and IFN-gamma enhances CD40 mRNA and protein expression in these cells. IFN-gamma-induced CD40 mRNA expression is partially sensitive to the protein synthesis inhibitor puromycin, suggesting that ongoing protein synthesis is necessary for optimal induction of CD40 mRNA by IFN-gamma. TGF-beta inhibits IFN-gamma-induced CD40 protein and mRNA expression. Inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced CD40 mRNA levels by TGF-beta in microglia is not due to inhibition of CD40 transcription; rather, inhibition is due to enhanced degradation of CD40 mRNA. These results indicate that TGF-beta can inhibit expression of an immunologically important receptor, CD40, in microglia, and does so at the post-transcriptional level by destabilizing CD40 mRNA. TGF-beta inhibition of CD40 expression may be one of the mechanisms by which TGF-beta exerts its suppressive effects on immune responses.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007371	Interferon-gamma	The major interferon produced by mitogenically or antigenically stimulated LYMPHOCYTES. It is structurally different from TYPE I INTERFERON and its major activity is immunoregulation. It has been implicated in the expression of CLASS II HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGENS in cells that do not normally produce them, leading to AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Interferon Type II,Interferon, Immune,gamma-Interferon,Interferon, gamma,Type II Interferon,Immune Interferon,Interferon, Type II
D011499	Protein Processing, Post-Translational	Any of various enzymatically catalyzed post-translational modifications of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS in the cell of origin. These modifications include carboxylation; HYDROXYLATION; ACETYLATION; PHOSPHORYLATION; METHYLATION; GLYCOSYLATION; ubiquitination; oxidation; proteolysis; and crosslinking and result in changes in molecular weight and electrophoretic motility.	Amino Acid Modification, Post-Translational,Post-Translational Modification,Post-Translational Protein Modification,Posttranslational Modification,Protein Modification, Post-Translational,Amino Acid Modification, Posttranslational,Post-Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post-Translational Modifications,Post-Translational Protein Processing,Posttranslational Amino Acid Modification,Posttranslational Modifications,Posttranslational Protein Processing,Protein Processing, Post Translational,Protein Processing, Posttranslational,Amino Acid Modification, Post Translational,Modification, Post-Translational,Modification, Post-Translational Protein,Modification, Posttranslational,Modifications, Post-Translational,Modifications, Post-Translational Protein,Modifications, Posttranslational,Post Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post Translational Modification,Post Translational Modifications,Post Translational Protein Modification,Post Translational Protein Processing,Post-Translational Protein Modifications,Processing, Post-Translational Protein,Processing, Posttranslational Protein,Protein Modification, Post Translational,Protein Modifications, Post-Translational
D011994	Recombinant Proteins	Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology.	Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
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
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
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