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Abstract
The CX3C-chemokine, fractalkine is reportedly to be expressed in the central nervous
system, and up-regulated in certain pathological conditions, such as HIV encephalopathy
and multiple sclerosis. In the present study, we examined the production of fractalkine
and the expression of its receptor, CX3CR1 in murine glial and neuronal cell in vitro,
and investigated its neuroprotective functions. Both fractalkine and CX3CR1 were expressed
constitutively in neurons, microglia, and astrocytes. Neither the production of fractalkine
nor its receptor expression was up-regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as measured
by mRNA expression and protein synthesis. Fractalkine dose-dependently suppressed
the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor
(TNF)-alpha with activated microglia. It also significantly suppressed neuronal cell
death induced by microglia activated with LPS and interferon-gamma, in a dose-dependent
manner. These results suggest the possible functions of fractalkine as an intrinsic
inhibitor against neurotoxicity by activated microglia.