Neurons and neuroblastoma as a source of macrophage colony-stimulating factor. |
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Authors: | K Nohava U Malipiero K Frei A Fontana |
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Affiliation: | Section of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland. |
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Abstract: | Accumulation of macrophages in brain tissue as observed in nervous system injury may be due to local production of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSF). The present work shows human neuroblastoma cells and murine neurons, namely granule cells of the cerebellum, to produce macrophage (M)-CSF which guides expansion and differentiation of macrophage lineage cells. The mRNA-encoding M-CSF but not the respective protein is present in mouse brain including cerebellum. Neither granulocyte M-CSF nor IL-3 is produced by cerebellar neurons or neuroblastoma. By their production of M-CSF, neurons may regulate the macrophage response and lead to local expansion and enhanced function of macrophages in inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. |
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