Expression of interleukin-2 receptor 
in primary cultured adult human astrocytes

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 16(5); 1998 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1998;16(5): 672-677.

일차 배양된 성인 성상아교세포에서 인터루킨-2 수용기의 발현

최 철희, 이 병인, 최 인홍*

연세대학교 의과대학 신경과학 교실, 미생물학 교실*

Expression of interleukin-2 receptor in primary cultured adult human astrocytes

Chulhee Choi, M.D., Byung In Lee, M.D., In-Hong Choi, M.D. *

Department of Neurology & Department of Microbiology* College of Medicine Yonsei University

Abstract

Background : Astrocytes are the major glial cells involved with the chemical homeostasis and mechanical supports of central nervous system. Recently, astrocytes were found to actively synthesize and secrete many immunologically active cytokines and express receptors for these mediators, which proposed their autocrine and paracrine roles in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative or autoimmune diseases, I.e., multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. The identification of various chemical mediators secreted by astrocytes and receptors expressed on astrocytes seems to be crucial for understanding their pathogenetic roles in these diseases. Our investigation was conducted to test the expression of interleukin-2 receptor ? Subunit (IL-2R?) on primary cultured astrocytes, which has not been studied yet. Methods : Astrocytes were obtained from the surgical specimen of a patient with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Neuropathological examination of the specimen revealed hippocampal sclerosis only with normal lateral temporal neocortex from which cultured astrocytes were obtained. All experiments were performed within 2 months after starting primary culture. Cultured astrocytes were incubated with IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TGF-? And TNF-? For 24 hours. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the transcription of IL-2R. Results : RT-PCRs for the IL-2R? Showed constitutional expression on the adult cultured astrocytes, which was increased by IL-1, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-? But decreased by treatment of TGF-?. Conclusions : Adult astrocytes expressed IL-2R? Constitutively, which were upregulated by IL-1, IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-?. These findings suggest the immunocompetence of astrocytes, which may be important in the pathogenesis of many neurological diseases. Key words : Astrocyte, Interleukin-2 receptor, RT-PCR, Alternative splicing, messenger RNA, cytokines