TGFβ Cytokine Production by Murine Brain Microvessel Endothelial Cells

by Sinarack Macvilay and Zsuzsa Fabry (Corresponding author: zfabry@facstaff.wisc.edu) Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 USA

The transforming growth factor (TGF)β superfamily of dimeric polypeptide growth factors regulates cell growth and differentiation, and plays important roles in embryonic development and the immune response. In the present study, we demonstrate by PCR that TNFα and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulate TGFβ mRNA expression in murine brain microvessel endothelial (EN) cells. In contrast, non-stimulated, IL-1beta and IFNg activated brain EN cells did not express TGFβ mRNA. The presence of TGFβ mRNA in EN cells was confirmed by in situ hybridization in vitro. In addition, there was a marked in vivo upregulation of TGFβ mRNA in EN cells at sites of induced cerebral injury. The production of TGFβ cytokine by EN cells was quantified using a mink-lung bioassay and an ELISA for TGFβ₂. These data further suggest that EN cells actively participate in immune reactions of the central nervous system (CNS).

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