IFN-beta reverses the lipopolysaccharide-induced proteome modifications in treated astrocytes

Astrocytes have a key role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including multiple sclerosis, and are proposed as a possible target for immunotherapy. Our earlier study reported that astrocytes treated with IFN-β modified their biomechanical properties possibly due to changes in the expression of the proteins involved in cytoskeleton organization and other important physiological processes. To gain insight into the mechanism underlying IFN-β action during inflammation, we stimulated astrocytes with LPS, a bacterial wall component used as a model for both in vitro and in vivo immunological stimulation of microglia and astrocytes. We showed that IFN-β reverses the effects of LPS on the proteome of astrocytes. To better examine this result, we performed a proteomic analysis of astrocytes treated with LPS or LPS plus IFN-β. Treatment with LPS caused increases both in a series of proteins mainly involved in cytoskeletal changes and in protein degradation, as well as protective enzymes like superoxide dismutase. IFN-β reverses LPS effects on astrocyte proteome, supporting its protective role during inflammatory insults.