Induction of MHC Class I Genes in Neurons
Abstract
Whether neurons express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes has not been firmly established. The techniques of confocal laser microscopy, patch clamp electrophysiology, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were combined here to directly examine the inducibility of MHC class I genes in individual cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Transcription of MHC class I genes was very rare in neurons with spontaneous action potentials. In electrically silent neurons, transcription was noted, with expression of β_2-microglobulin under tighter control than in class I heavy chain molecules. Surface expression of class I molecules occurred only in electrically silent neurons treated with interferon γ. Immunosurveillance by cytotoxic T cells may be focused on functionally impaired neurons.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- July 1995
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.7624779
- Bibcode:
- 1995Sci...269..549N