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. 1997 Aug 1;100(3):604–612. doi: 10.1172/JCI119571

Microglial production of TNF-alpha is induced by activated T lymphocytes. Involvement of VLA-4 and inhibition by interferonbeta-1b.

S Chabot 1, G Williams 1, V W Yong 1
PMCID: PMC508228  PMID: 9239408

Abstract

TNF-alpha is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in many inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cachexia, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis (MS). TNF-alpha is produced mainly by cells of the macrophage lineage, which includes microglia in the central nervous system. Here, we describe a mechanism through which TNF-alpha is generated by microglia. We show that activated human T lymphocytes induce the microglial production of TNF-alpha, and that is attenuated by a functional blocking antibody to CD49d, the alpha chain of the VLA-4 integrin on T cells. We also report that interferonbeta-1b (IFNbeta-1b), a drug that alleviates symptoms in MS, downregulates the expression of CD49d and reduces TNF-alpha production, mechanisms which can help account for its efficacy in MS.

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Selected References

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