Production of neuroprotective NGF in astrocyte-T helper cell cocultures is upregulated following antigen recognition

Astrocytic production of nerve growth factor (NGF) is increased during inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS). Here we show that cell-cell interaction between primary murine astrocytes and myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic Th1 and Th2 cells significantly increased production of NGF. This upregulation was found to be dependent on antigen recognition. Neutralization of cytokines produced in cocultures did not affect NGF production. This novel finding suggests a neuroprotective role of astrocytes during T cell-mediated inflammation in the CNS