Interferon‐γ induces the expression of immediate early genes c‐fos and c‐jun in astrocytes

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Abstract
The expression of the proto‐oncogenes, c‐fos and c‐jun, in cultured mouse astrocytes and its induction by the potent astrocyte activator interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), were examined by Northern blot and flow cytometry. Both proto‐oncogenes were induced in a dose‐dependent manner, peaking around 100 U/ml of IFN‐γ. The kinetics of expression is very transient for c‐fos, reaching a maximum at 30 min and decreasing rapidly thereafter. The c‐jun remained high throughout the stages analysed. Cycloheximide superinduced c‐fos and c‐jun induction by IFN‐γ, thus indicating that both act as immediate early genes. The products of c‐fos and c‐jun, proteins FOS and JUN, that act in conjunction forming the regulatory factor AP‐1, were detected 1 hr after stimulation in virtually all cells, using flow cytometry. The induction in astrocytes of both proto‐oncogenes could be the first stage of immunological activation of these central nervous system cells by immune interferon.

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