Microglia: a sensor to threats in the nervous system?

Cellular expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase following rat cortical incision and its suppression by hydroxyl radical scavenger, 1,2-bis(nicotinamido)propane

Cellular expression of an inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was studied immunohistochemically 1,3 and 7 days following rat cortical incision. The induction of iNOS was demonstrated almost exclusively in the macrophages accumulated within the incision cavity on day 3. They were significantly reduced in number by the treatment with 1,2-bis(nicotinamido)propane (P < 0.01), suggesting the involvement of hydroxyl radicals in the macrophage activation after cortical injury.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 in adult human microglia and its stimulated production by interleukin-1

Ameboid microglia express human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) more frequently than do ramified microglia. These two microglial subtypes might also differ in the frequency with which they express transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), a cytokine that regulates HIV-1 expression in monocytes. Results described here show that ameboid and ramified microglia express TGF-beta1. In brain tissues from HIV-1-infected individuals as compared with seronegative controls, ameboid rather than ramified microglia more frequently expressed TGF-beta1. Ameboid microglia, isolated and cultured from postmortem adult human brain more frequently expressed TGF-beta1 in presence of interleukin-1(IL-1), a cytokine that is elevated in brains of HIV-1-infected individuals when compared with seronegative controls. The stimulation of TGF-beta1 by IL-1 was dose and time dependent, occurring with ameboid microglia isolated from either frontal cortex or globus pallidus but not midbrain pons. Ameboid microglia are similar to the RCA-1-positive cells that form clusters, called microglial nodules, in the brain of HIV-1-infected individuals. Pathologic conditions, such as disseminated microglial nodules, are associated with HIV-1 encephalitis, direct infection of the brain, and moderate to severe neurologic impairment. TGF-beta1 expression in ameboid microglia may play a role in HIV-1 neuropathogenesis.