Alcohol Increases Microglial Expression of Chemokine MIP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA

Fetal exposure to alcohol can lead to extensive pathology in the CNS causing fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Our previous research has revealed that alcohol has detrimental effects on development of neurons and glial cells, including microglia. However, the effects of alcohol on microglial function as well as interactions between microglia and neurons remain relatively unexplored. Microglia produce immunomodulatory cytokines and chemokines that directly control the survival, development, and function of neurons and glia. In this study, mouse N9 microglial cells were treated with 0.5% (w/v) ethanol for 12-48 hr with or without subsequent challenge with the cellular activator lipopolysaccharide. Microglial expression of the cytokines IL1,IL6,IL10,IL12, TNFcc, IFNy, and MIF, and the chemokines MCP-1, MIP-loc,MIP-1p, MIP-2, IP-10, TCA-3, and RANTES was quantified by ribonuclease protection assay of cellular RNA. The mRNA levels of MIP-1P, MlP-la, and MCP-1 RNA were increased 94% (