Giulian D, Li J, Leara B, Keenen C.
Phagocytic microglia release cytokines and cytotoxins that regulate the survival of astrocytes and neurons in
culture, Neurochem Int 25(3) :227-33, 1994.
Abstract
Numerous studies have now shown that microglia secrete factors which may influence the growth and survival of cells in the CNS. We
employed glia-neuron co-cultures to investigate the net effect of soluble products from secretory microglia upon astroglia and neurons
following microglial activation by a phagocytic signal. Stimulation of microglia produced soluble factors that both increase the number of
astroglia and decrease the number of neurons. The astroglial proliferating activity was blocked when incubated with an interleukin-1 (IL-1)
receptor antagonist while the neurotoxic effect was inhibited by a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. Recombinant IL-1
served as a potent mitogen for cultured astroglia and promoted neuron survival by indirect actions upon astrocytes.
Important Points:
-Model: glia-neuron co-culture
-IL-1 likely causes astroglial proliferation as it is blocked by IL-1 receptor antagonist
-this has an indirect effect on increasing neuronal survival (via astrocytes)
- reactive microglia may mediate both astrogliosis and neuronal injury through the simultaneous release of cell growth factors and toxins
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