The role of interferon gamma and nitric oxide as downregulating molecules in central nervous system inflammation

细胞因子是参与炎症反应的可溶性因子。干扰素是一种细胞因子，在中枢神经系统炎症的背景下被认为是一种疾病。分子，就像由干扰素诱导的一氧化氮气体一样。我们现在有直接的证据表明情况恰恰相反，即干扰素和一氧化氮确实可以作为炎症的下调调节剂。目前的工作旨在确定这种下调功能是否仅限于单一的中枢神经系统炎症模型，还是中枢神经系统内的普遍现象。该项目还将涉及一些实验，旨在阐明下调发生的机制。该项目意义重大，因为已经开展了一项干扰素γ治疗多发性硬化症的无对照临床试验，并报道干扰素γ使疾病恶化。然而，该试验的设计使这种说法的有效性值得怀疑。如果我们的实验证实了干扰素γ在许多不同的多发性硬化症模型中作为炎症下调因子的一般性质，那么重新考虑干扰素或干扰素的下游产物在多发性硬化症治疗中的使用可能是一个案例。

Cytokines are soluble factors which participate in inflammatory responses. Interferon gamma is a cytokine which in the context of central nervous system inflammation has been considered a Obad? molecule, as has the gas nitric oxide which is induced by interferon gamma. We now have direct evidence that indicate quite the contrary, ie interferon gamma and nitric oxide can a do act as down regulators of inflammation. The present work is designed to determine if this down regulating function is restricted only to a single model of CNS inflammation or is a general phenomenon within the CNS. The project will also involve a number of experiments designed to elucidate the mechanism(s) by which down regulation occurs. This project is highly significant in that a single uncontrolled clinical trial of interferon gamma for the therapy of MS has been carried out and reported as indicating that interferon gamma made the disease worse. The design of that trial however was such that the validity of that claim is questionable. If our experiments confirm the general nature of interferon gamma as a down regulator in inflammation in a number of different models of MS then a case for revisiting the use of interferon, or a downstream product of interferon, in the therapy of MS might be made.