Abstract
Murine cultured microglial cells were immortalized after infection with a v-raf/v-myc recombinant retrovirus. This immortalized cell line (BV-2) shares properties with body macrophages with respect to the antigen profile, their phagocytic capacity and antimicrobial activity. BV-2 cells are not constitutively able to kill tumor cells in vitro, but acquire antitumor activity following an increase in [Ca++]i. BV-2 cells, like microglial cells, are however, distinct from peripheral macrophages by their expression of inwardly rectifying K+ channels in concert with a lack in outwardly rectifying K+ channels and the formation of spineous processes. The BV-2 cell line thus represents a suitable model for in vitro studies of activated microglial cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Aspergillus fumigatus
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Candida albicans
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Cell Line
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Cell Line, Transformed
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Central Nervous System / cytology
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Central Nervous System / physiology
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Colony-Forming Units Assay
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Cryptococcus neoformans
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Electrophysiology / methods
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Genes, myc*
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Interleukin-1 / biosynthesis
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Macrophages / cytology
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Macrophages / physiology*
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Membrane Potentials
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Mesoderm
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Mice
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Muramidase / biosynthesis
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Oncogene Proteins v-raf
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Oncogenes*
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Phagocytosis
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / genetics*
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
Substances
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Interleukin-1
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Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Oncogene Proteins v-raf
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Muramidase