Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a protein produced by mononuclear phagocytes, helps to initiate the inflammatory response through its action upon a diverse population of cells. Recently this immunomodulator has been detected at sites of traumatized brain. As reported here, recombinant forms of IL-1 injected into the cerebral cortex of adult rats elicit not only astrogliosis but also new blood vessel growth. These responses are typical of brain injury and suggest that IL-1-secreting inflammatory cells may mediate wound healing in the CNS.
The immunomodulator interleukin-1 (IL-1) is found to be an astroglial growth factor during development of the mammalian brain. In vitro studies indicate that ameboid microglia, a class of brain mononuclear phagocytes, are the likely source of IL-1. Examination of different brain regions during development shows IL-1 production only after the appearance of ameboid microglia. These observations suggest that brain mononuclear phagocytes secrete growth factors that regulate normal growth and development of the CNS.
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