Isolation and identification of Murine Cerebral Microglial Cells

ABSTRACT

Even though the brain has been considered to be an immunologically privileged organ, recent reports showed that certain cells of the brain may be involved in immunological process in the brain. For example, some cells of the brain can present antigen to T-lymphocytes, to express class II major histocompativility antigen, and secrete interleukin-1 and -3 molecules. In addition, they are capable to phagocytose particles and possess receptors for the Fc portion on IgG. In this study, the authors tried to isolate the microglial cells from new born mice and characterize them. The isolated cells could produce such reactive oxygen intermediates(ROIs) an superoxide and hydrogen peroxide that were measured by luminometer after amplification by lucigenin and luminol respectively and could secrete reactive nitrogen intermediates(RNIs), when the cells were incubated with r-IFN plus LPS. The cells could also ingest fluorescent particles and raise intracellular calcium after stimulation with agonists when measured by flow cytometer. Our data showed that the microglial cells of the brain may belong to a member of mononuclear phagocytic system(MPS) of the body that are responsible for the host defence against invading microorganisms.