Localization of fractalkine and CX3CR1 mRNAs in rat brain: does fractalkine play a role in signaling from neuron to microglia?

作者：Atsushi Nishiyori, Masabumi Minami, Yoshikazu Ohtani, Shinya Takami, Junki Yamamoto, Nami Kawaguchi, Toshiaki Kume, Akinori Akaike, Masamichi Satoh · 发表于：FEBS Letters · 年份：1998 · DOI：10.1016/s0014-5793(98)00583-3 · 被引用次数：369 · 研究领域：Chemokine receptors and signaling、Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms、Immune Response and Inflammation

Localization of the mRNAs for fractalkine, a CX3C chemokine, and for its receptor CX3CR1 was investigated in the rat brain. In situ hybridization study revealed that fractalkine mRNA was dominantly expressed in neuronal cells particularly in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens. In vitro study using enriched neuronal or glial culture supported the dominant expression of fractalkine mRNA in neurons. On the other hand, CX3CR1 mRNA was dominantly expressed in glial cells throughout the whole brain. The in vitro study suggested the cells expressing CX3CR1 mRNA are microglia, not astrocytes or neurons. Fractalkine appears to function as a signal molecule from neuron to microglia.