Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor inhibits interleukin 12 production by stimulated human adult microglial cells in vitro.

IL-12 is a cytokine detected in active lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) and promotes the acquisition of a Th1 cytokine profile by CD4+ T cells. Autoreactive T cells recovered from the central nervous system of animals with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a disease model for MS, display this phenotype. We demonstrate that human central nervous system-derived microglia, but not astroglia, can produce IL-12 in vitro. Under basal culture conditions, human adult microglia do not express detectable levels of IL-12, although these cells show some degree of activation as assessed by expression of the immunoregulatory surface molecules HLA-DR and B7 as well as low levels of TNF-alpha mRNA. Following activation with LPS, IL-12 p40 mRNA and p70 protein can be readily detected. IL-12 production is preceded by TNF-alpha production and is inhibited by recombinant soluble human TNF receptor (II)-IgG1 fusion protein (shu-TNF-R). These data indicate regulation of IL-12 by an autocrine-dependent feedback loop, providing an additional mechanism whereby shu-TNF-R, now used in clinical trials in MS, may be exerting its effect.

Regulation of CD14 expression on human adult central nervous system-derived microglia.

Microglial cells function as regulators of immune reactivity within the CNS and may contribute to tissue injury under inflammatory conditions. Such functions are correlated with their state of activation. In this study, we report the de novo expression of CD14 by adult human CNS-derived microglia which acquire a bipolar activated morphologic phenotype in dissociated tissue culture. Surface CD14 expression can be down-regulated by interaction with its ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and by the T-helper (Th1) cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or the Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4). Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of CD14 mRNA expression under each condition suggests a different mechanism accounting for the reduced surface expression. LPS down-regulates CD14 mRNA, consistent with a feed-back signal preventing over-stimulation. IFN-gamma augments CD14 transcription, suggesting cleavage of surface CD14 consequent to general cell activation. IL-4 decreases mRNA production likely reflecting a generalized suppressive effect. The effect of LPS, IFN-gamma and IL-4 on CD14 expression differes from their effect on expression of the immune-accessory molecules B7-1 and HLA-DR, and on production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), whose secretory pathway is similar to that of CD14. These results indicate the selective effects of molecules, likely to be present in the infected or inflamed CNS, on regulating CD14 expression and that there can be differential regulation of immune response relevant molecules expressed by activated microglia.