de Bock F, Derijard B, Dornand J, Bockaert J, Rondouin G.
The neuronal death induced by endotoxic shock but not that induced by excitatory amino acids requires TNF-alpha, Eur J Neurosci 10(10) :3107-14, 1998.
Abstract
We studied, using organotypic hippocampal slices in culture, the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxygen radicals and nitric oxide in
neuronal death induced either by endotoxic insult [interferon (IFN) gamma, 24 h followed by lipopolysaccharide, 24 h] or by glutamate
receptor-mediated excitotoxic insult. We demonstrated that neuronal death induced by endotoxic insult was absolutely dependent on the
synthesis of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Indeed, TNF-alpha antibodies and SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 stress kinase
known to block TNF-alpha and other cytokine synthesis, completely protected neurons from the endotoxic insult. Inhibiting oxygen radical
and nitric oxide productions also reduced the endotoxic shock. We also showed that after priming the cultures with IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha
was unable to induce neuronal death unless oxygen-free radicals were exogenously provided. In contrast, although glutamate
receptor-induced excitotoxicity was associated with a low TNF-alpha synthesis and
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