TGF-beta suppression of IFN-gamma-induced class II MHC gene expression does not involve inhibition of phosphorylation of JAK1, JAK2, or signal transducers and activators of transcription, or modification of IFN-gamma enhanced factor X expression.

TGF-beta is a widely expressed immunoregulatory protein that exerts a diverse range of effects on many types of cells. One of the effects of TGF-beta is the inhibition of both constitutive and cytokine-inducible class II MHC gene expression. In this study, we demonstrate that TGF-beta inhibits expression of class II MHC surface protein, mRNA, and promoter activity in primary astrocytes, and that this inhibition is both dose and time dependent. TGF-beta does not act to inhibit IFN-gamma-induced gene expression in a global fashion, as induction of ICAM-1 and IRF-1 gene expression by IFN-gamma is unaffected by treatment with TGF-beta. Furthermore, TGF-beta does not affect events that are involved in IFN-gamma-induced intracellular signaling such as tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK1, JAK2, and STAT1 alpha, nor does it affect IFN-gamma induction of the class II X2 box binding protein IFN-gamma enhanced factor X. We speculate that TGF-beta may be exerting its effects by modulating the expression or function of constitutively expressed factors responsible for regulation of class II MHC gene expression in astrocytes.