The activation of human brain microvascular endothelial cells by brucella abortus-infected glial cells is mediated partially through TNF-alpha

MIRAGLIA, M. C.; RODRIGUEZ, A. M.; BARRIONUEVO P.; DELPINO, M.V.; GIAMBARTOLOMEI G.H.

Los cocos, Córdoba.

Congreso; LXI Reunion Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunologia; 2013

Sociedad Argentina de Inmunologia

B. abortus could interact with human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) and gain access to the central nervous system and consequently elicit the inflammatory pathology called neurobrucellosis. We have recently demonstrated that although B. abortus can infect HBMEC, the indirect effect of glial cells infected with the bacterium, is more effective in activate the endothelium. Both, the TNF-α and IL-1β secreted by glial cells were reported to mediate HBMEC activation. Since we have demonstrated that these cytokines were secreted by astrocytes and microglia infected with B. abortus, we decided to investigate their role in B. abortus-mediated activation of HBMEC. To this end HBMEC were incubated with culture supernatants of B. abortus-infected astrocytes and microglia in the presence of an anti-TNF-a antibody or its isotype control. Activation of HBMEC was evaluated by cytokine secretion and expression of adhesion molecules. Supernatants from B. abortus-infected astrocytes and microglia induced the production of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 and up-regulated the expression of CD54 (ICAM-1). Cytokine production and ICAM-1 expression was partially inhibited when supernatans were pre-incubated with anti-TNF-α antibody (p