Abstract
The CNS is particularly susceptible to the effects of alcohol and toxicity. Astrocytes are immunoactive cells, and the activation of these cells is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. By using cultured cortical astrocytes, we show that a short ethanol treatment (100 mM) is able to up-regulate both cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and that these effects are regulated via nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) as revealed by the inhibition of NF-kappa B activation with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or BAY 11-7082. These results suggest that ethanol is able to induce inflammatory mediators in astrocytes through the NF-kappa B activation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System / enzymology
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Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System / metabolism
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Animals
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Astrocytes / drug effects*
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Astrocytes / enzymology
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Astrocytes / metabolism*
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Cells, Cultured
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Cyclooxygenase 2
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Encephalitis / chemically induced
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Encephalitis / enzymology
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Encephalitis / metabolism
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Ethanol / toxicity*
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Fetus
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Gliosis / chemically induced
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Gliosis / enzymology
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Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
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Isoenzymes / drug effects*
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Isoenzymes / metabolism
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NF-kappa B / agonists
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NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors
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NF-kappa B / metabolism*
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Nitric Oxide Synthase / drug effects*
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Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
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Nitriles / pharmacology
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Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / drug effects*
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Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism
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Pyrrolidines / pharmacology
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Rats
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Sulfones / pharmacology
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Thiocarbamates / pharmacology
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Up-Regulation / drug effects
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Up-Regulation / physiology
Substances
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3-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-2-propenenitrile
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Inflammation Mediators
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Isoenzymes
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NF-kappa B
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Nitriles
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Pyrrolidines
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Sulfones
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Thiocarbamates
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pyrrolidine dithiocarbamic acid
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Ethanol
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Nitric Oxide Synthase
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
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Nos2 protein, rat
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Cyclooxygenase 2
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Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases