OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of CysLT receptor agonist leukotriene D4(LTD4) and antagonists on activation of microglia BV2 cells.

METHODSThe expression of CysLT1 and CysLT2 protein was determined by Western blotting and immunostaining in microglia BV2 cells. BV2 cells were pretreated with or without CysLT1 receptor selective antagonist montelukast, CysLT2 receptor selective antagonist HAMI 3379, or CysLT1/CysLT2 receptor dual antagonist BAY u9773 for 30 min, then the cells were treated with LTD4 for 24 h. Cell viability was detected by MTT reduction assay. Phagocytosis and mRNA expression of IL-6 were determined by fluorescent bead tracking and RT-PCR, respectively.

RESULTSIn BV2 cells, LTD4 did not affect proliferation but significantly enhanced phagocytosis and increased IL-6 mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. LTD4 at 100 nmol/L induced a 1.4-fold increase of phagocytic index and a 2-fold up-regulation of IL-6 mRNA expression (P<0.01). HAMI 3379 and BAY u9773 (100 nmol/L) further increased LTD4-induced phagocytosis; BAY u9773 and montelukast decreased LTD4-induced IL-6 mRNA expression, while HAMI 3379 had no effect on that.

CONCLUSIONLTD4 activates BV2 cells in vitro and enhances IL-6 mRNA expression mediated by CysLT1 receptor, LTD4 induces phagocytosis which might be negatively regulated by CysLT2 receptor in BV2 cells.