We explored expression and possible function of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in cultured fetal (E15) rat dorsal root ganglion neurons combining whole cell patch-clamp electrophysiology with single cell reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and confocal laser immunocytochemistry. Morphologically, we located IFN-gamma protein in the cytoplasm of the neurons in culture as well as in situ...

Interferon (IFN)-gamma facilitates cellular immune response, in part, by inducing the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules. We demonstrate that IFN-gamma induces the expression of HLA-DRA in vascular endothelial cells via mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species. IFN-gamma-induced HLA-DRA expression was inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidants su...

The expression of IFN-gamma is a hallmark of Th1 cells and CD8(+) effector T cells and is the signature cytokine of type 1 responses. However, it is not known whether T cells are homogeneous in their capacity to produce IFN-gamma, whether this potential varies between tissues, and how it relates to the production of other effector molecules. In the present study we used bicistronic IFN-gamma-en...

Interferons (IFNs) have been shown to have significant effects on hematopoietic cell growth. Previous studies defining these effects have utilized mouse and human alpha-, beta-, and gamma-IFN isolated from supernatants of stimulated cells. Despite purification, the possible presence of other lymphokines and soluble factors remains a concern. In this study, the effects of gene-cloned alpha- and ...

Although flavonoids manifest a diverse range of biological activities, including antitumor and antiviral effects, the molecular mechanisms underlying these activities await elucidation. We hypothesize that the flavonoid constituents of a proprietary grape seed extract (GSE) that contains procyandins exert significant antiviral and antitumor effects, by inducing production of the Th1-derived cyt...

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), a pleiotropic cytokine, is now known to be produced by macrophages as well as by NK cells, gammadelta cells, and activated T cells. The autocrine biological functions of IFN-gamma on the macrophage include the upregulation of major histocompatibility complex MHC class II and the activation to an antiviral state. In this study, the production of IFN-gamma by macroph...

While it has been established that IFN-gamma is a strong activator of macrophages and a potent inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis in vitro, it is also known that this cytokine is produced in particular settings of inflammatory bone loss, such as infection and psoriatic arthritis. Because of the different kinetics between rapid IFN-gamma macrophage activation (<24 hours) and the slower receptor-act...

After being cultured overnight, human monocytes lose their ability to secrete interleukin-1 (IL-1) when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, when these monocytes were cultured for up to 9 days with various concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), these cells were found to retain their ability to secrete appreciable amounts of IL-1 on LPS stimulation. However, the effect was o...

Murine models of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) deficiency demonstrate the role of this cytokine in attenuating acute herpes simplex virus (HSV) disease; however, the effect of IFN-gamma on the establishment and maintenance of neuronal latency and viral reactivation is not known. Using the IFN-gamma knockout (GKO) model of IFN-gamma deficiency and sensitive quantitative PCR methods, we show that ...

The effector cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) may play a role in T cell homeostasis. We have examined the requirement for IFN-gamma in one mechanism that regulates T cell expansion and survival, activation-induced cell death (AICD). CD4(+) T cells lacking IFN-gamma or the Stat1 transcription factor are resistant to AICD. IFN-gamma is required for the production of caspases, and retrovirus-...