Differential expression of interferon-gamma receptor on human glial cells in vivo and in vitro

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Although significant effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on glial cells are well documented, information on the expression level and localization of glial IFN-gamma receptors (IFN-gamma-R) in the human central nervous system (CNS) is sparse. To examine the glial expression of IFN-gamma-R in the human CNS, immunohistochemistry and quantitative analyses were performed on Alzheimer disease hippocampus, Parkinson disease substantia nigra, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cord and corresponding areas from non-neurological cases. Almost all IFN-gamma-R-positive (IFN-gamma-R(+)) cells corresponded to GFAP-positive (GFAP(+)) astrocytes, while none of IFN-gamma-R(+) cells corresponded to IBA1-positive (IBA1(+)) microglia or MBP-positive (MBP(+)) oligodendrocytes in these neurological cases. We observed a similar pattern of glial IFN-gamma-R expression in non-neurological cases. Also, we quantitatively analyzed the IFN-gamma-R expression by cultured human glial cells using immunocytochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In contrast to in vivo results, almost all IFN-gamma-R(+) cells were IBA1(+) in microglial cultures, GFAP(+) in astrocytic cultures and MBP(+) in oligodendrocytic cultures. Moreover, no significant difference in IFN-gamma-R mRNA expression was found for these glial cell types by RT-PCR. These results suggest that the microglial and oligodendrocytic expression levels of IFN-gamma-R are much lower than the astrocytic expression levels in the human CNS in vivo, whereas all three types of glial cells constitutively express IFN-gamma-R when cultured in vitro.

Key findings

• Although significant effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on glial cells are well documented, information on the expression level and localization of glial IFN-gamma receptors (IFN-gamma-R) in the human central nervous system (CNS) is sparse.
• We observed a similar pattern of glial IFN-gamma-R expression in non-neurological cases.
• In contrast to in vivo results, almost all IFN-gamma-R(+) cells were IBA1(+) in microglial cultures, GFAP(+) in astrocytic cultures and MBP(+) in oligodendrocytic cultures.
• Moreover, no significant difference in IFN-gamma-R mRNA expression was found for these glial cell types by RT-PCR.
• These results suggest that the microglial and oligodendrocytic expression levels of IFN-gamma-R are much lower than the astrocytic expression levels in the human CNS in vivo, whereas all three types of glial cells constitutively express IFN-gamma-R when cultured in vitro.

Why it matters

In human central nervous system tissue from Alzheimer disease hippocampus and other neurological cases, almost all interferon-gamma receptor-positive cells corresponded to GFAP-positive astrocytes, while none corresponded to microglia or oligodendrocytes, and a similar pattern was seen in non-neurological cases. In cultured human glial cells the pattern differed, with receptor-positive cells being microglia, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes depending on the culture, so this basic study reports no treatment, cure, or prevention.

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Study details

• Evidence strengthLow

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.04.023
• PubMed: 20554027
• Original source →

May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.

@article{hashioka2010-20554027,
  author  = {Hashioka, S. and Klegeris, A. and Schwab, C. and Yu, S. and McGeer, P. L.},
  title   = {{Differential expression of interferon-gamma receptor on human glial cells in vivo and in vitro}},
  journal = {Journal of neuroimmunology},
  year    = {2010},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.04.023},
  pmid    = {20554027},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.04.023}
}

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