Activation of NF-kappa B and induction of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in human glial cells by IL-1. Modulation by antioxidants.

The infiltration of leukocytes into the central nervous system is associated with many pathologic conditions of the brain. The mechanisms by which these immune cells can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and remain within the brain are not understood. However, elevated brain levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 appear to accompany pathogenesis. The present study provides the first evidence that IL-1 can induce the expression of adhesion molecules for leukocytes on glial cells and suggests a role for the transcription factor NF-kappa B in the induction process. Human rIL-1 alpha was found to induce the expression of the cell adhesion molecules, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) but not E-selectin in human 1321N1 astrocytoma. Both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were detectable from 3 h and remained sustained for up to 72 h. Induction was inhibited by the IL-1 receptor antagonist. IL-1 alpha was also shown to induce the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in a receptor-dependent fashion in human A172 glioblastoma. Activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B was also observed in 1321N1 astrocytoma in response to IL-1 alpha treatment and was similarly abolished by pretreatment of cells with antagonist. Activated NF-kappa B was apparent from 20 min and remained for up to 24 h. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and pyrollidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC), which were shown to inhibit activation of NF-kappa B in Jurkat E6.1 lymphoblasts and EL4.NOB-1 thymoma, failed to block IL-1 activation of NF-kappa B in 1321N1 astrocytoma. However, both of these antioxidants demonstrated complex modulatory effects on the induction of cell adhesion molecule expression by IL-1. The induction of VCAM-1 but not of ICAM-1 proved susceptible to inhibition by both PDTC and NAC. The expression of adhesion molecules for leukocytes on glial cells in response to IL-1 may represent an important mechanism for retention of immune cells in the central nervous system that may be a prologue to inflammatory conditions in the brain.