Interleukin 4 induces the apoptosis of mouse microglial cells by a caspase-dependent mechanism.

SORIA, JA; ARROYO, DS; GAVIGLIO, EA; WANG, JM; RODRIGUEZ-GALAN, MC; IRIBARREN, P

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Año: 2011

icroglial cells are resident macrophages in the central nervous system (CNS) and becomeactivated in many pathological conditions. Activation of microglial cells results in reactivemicrogliosis, manifested by an increase in cell number in the affected CNS regions. Thecontrol of microgliosis may be important to prevent pathological damage to the brain. Thetype 2 cytokine IL-4 has been reported to be protective in brain inflammation. However, itseffect on microglial cell survival was not well understood. In this study, we report a dualeffect of IL-4 on the survival of mouse microglial cells. In a 6 h short term culture, IL-4reduced the death of microglial cells induced by staurosporine. In contrast, in long termtreatment (more than 48 h), IL-4 increased the apoptotic death of both primary mousemicroglial cells and a microglial cell line N9. Mechanistic studies revealed that, inmicroglial cells, IL-4 increased the levels of cleav