Abstract
Microglia react to even minor disturbances in CNS homeostasis and function as critical regulators of CNS inflammation. Activated microglia secrete inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and chemokines, which contribute to the pathophysiological changes associated with several neuroimmunologic disorders. Microglia-derived inflammatory chemokines recruit various populations of immune cells, which initiate and maintain the inflammatory response against foreign antigens. Entry and retention of activated immune cells in the CNS is a common denominator in a variety of traumatic, ischemic, and degenerative diseases. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are two structurally related neuropeptides that function as potent anti-inflammatory factors in the periphery. Here we investigated the effects of VIP and PACAP on chemokine production by activated microglia. VIP and PACAP inhibit the expression of the microglia-derived CXC chemokines MIP-2 and KC, and of the CC chemokines MIP-1alpha, -1beta, MCP-1, and RANTES. The inhibition of chemokine gene expression correlates with an inhibitory effect of VIP/PACAP on NFkB binding. The VIP/PACAP inhibition of both chemokine production and of NFkB binding is mediated through the specific receptor VPAC1 and involves a cAMP-dependent intracellular pathway. Of biological significance is the fact that the inhibition of chemokine production by VIP/PACAP leads to a significant reduction in the chemotactic activity generated by activated microglia for peripheral leukocytes, i.e., neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. Because reduction in the number and activation of infiltrating leukocytes represents an important factor in the control of inflammation in the CNS, VIP and/or PACAP released by neurons during an inflammatory response could serve as neuronal survival factors by limiting the inflammatory process.
Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Binding Sites / drug effects
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Binding Sites / genetics
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Brain / drug effects
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Brain / immunology
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Brain / metabolism*
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Cells, Cultured
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Chemokines / immunology
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Chemokines / metabolism*
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Chemokines, CC / genetics
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Chemokines, CC / immunology
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Chemokines, CC / metabolism
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Chemokines, CXC / genetics
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Chemokines, CXC / immunology
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Chemokines, CXC / metabolism
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Chemotaxis / drug effects
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Chemotaxis / immunology
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Cyclic AMP / metabolism
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Cytokines / immunology
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Cytokines / pharmacology
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Encephalitis / drug therapy
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Encephalitis / immunology
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Encephalitis / metabolism*
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
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Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
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Macrophage Activation / drug effects
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Macrophage Activation / immunology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Microglia / drug effects
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Microglia / immunology
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Microglia / metabolism*
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NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors
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NF-kappa B / immunology
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NF-kappa B / metabolism
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Neuropeptides / immunology*
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Neuropeptides / pharmacology
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Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
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Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
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Promoter Regions, Genetic / immunology
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RNA, Messenger / drug effects
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / drug effects
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Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / immunology
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Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / metabolism
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Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Signal Transduction / immunology
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / immunology*
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / pharmacology
Substances
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Adcyap1 protein, mouse
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Chemokines
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Chemokines, CC
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Chemokines, CXC
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Cytokines
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Lipopolysaccharides
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NF-kappa B
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Neuropeptides
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Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
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Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
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Cyclic AMP