Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-neuronal cells, such as microglia and lymphocytes, are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Previous studies have demonstrated neuroprotective effects of lymphocytes at the end stage...

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Main Authors: Nakatsuji Yuji, Yasui Teruhito, Okuno Tatsusada, Tada Satoru, Sugimoto Tomoyuki, Kikutani Hitoshi, Sakoda Saburo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-02-01
Series:Journal of Neuroinflammation
Online Access:http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/8/1/19
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author Nakatsuji Yuji
Yasui Teruhito
Okuno Tatsusada
Tada Satoru
Sugimoto Tomoyuki
Kikutani Hitoshi
Sakoda Saburo
author_facet Nakatsuji Yuji
Yasui Teruhito
Okuno Tatsusada
Tada Satoru
Sugimoto Tomoyuki
Kikutani Hitoshi
Sakoda Saburo
author_sort Nakatsuji Yuji
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-neuronal cells, such as microglia and lymphocytes, are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Previous studies have demonstrated neuroprotective effects of lymphocytes at the end stage of ALS, partly through induction of alternatively activated microglia (M2 microglia), which are neuroprotective. In this study, we investigated the role of lymphocytes in the early stage of the disease using an animal model of inherited ALS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We established a transgenic mouse line overexpressing the familial ALS-associated G93A-SOD1 mutation (harboring a single amino acid substitution of glycine to alanine at codon 93) with depletion of the Rag2 gene (mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice), an animal model of inherited ALS lacking mature lymphocytes. Body weights, clinical scores and motor performance (hanging wire test) of mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice were compared to those of mutant human SOD1 transgenic mice (mSOD1/RAG2+/+ mice). Activation of glial cells in the spinal cords of these mice was determined immunohistochemically, and the expression of mRNA for various inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules was evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Clinical onset in mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice was significantly delayed, and the number of lectin-positive cells in spinal cord was increased at the early stage of disease when compared to mSOD1/RAG2+/+ mice. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that mRNA for Ym1, an M2 microglial-related molecule, was significantly increased in mSOD1/RAG2-/- mouse spinal cords at the early disease stage.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Compared with mSOD1/RAG2+/+ mice, mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice displayed delayed onset and increased M2 microglial activation at the early stage of disease. Thus, lymphocytes at the early pathological phase of ALS display a deleterious effect via inhibition of M2 microglial activation.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-3251bda6b98d40048573a5d37b1dcef12022-12-21T23:42:16ZengBMCJournal of Neuroinflammation1742-20942011-02-01811910.1186/1742-2094-8-19Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosisNakatsuji YujiYasui TeruhitoOkuno TatsusadaTada SatoruSugimoto TomoyukiKikutani HitoshiSakoda Saburo<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-neuronal cells, such as microglia and lymphocytes, are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Previous studies have demonstrated neuroprotective effects of lymphocytes at the end stage of ALS, partly through induction of alternatively activated microglia (M2 microglia), which are neuroprotective. In this study, we investigated the role of lymphocytes in the early stage of the disease using an animal model of inherited ALS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We established a transgenic mouse line overexpressing the familial ALS-associated G93A-SOD1 mutation (harboring a single amino acid substitution of glycine to alanine at codon 93) with depletion of the Rag2 gene (mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice), an animal model of inherited ALS lacking mature lymphocytes. Body weights, clinical scores and motor performance (hanging wire test) of mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice were compared to those of mutant human SOD1 transgenic mice (mSOD1/RAG2+/+ mice). Activation of glial cells in the spinal cords of these mice was determined immunohistochemically, and the expression of mRNA for various inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules was evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Clinical onset in mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice was significantly delayed, and the number of lectin-positive cells in spinal cord was increased at the early stage of disease when compared to mSOD1/RAG2+/+ mice. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that mRNA for Ym1, an M2 microglial-related molecule, was significantly increased in mSOD1/RAG2-/- mouse spinal cords at the early disease stage.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Compared with mSOD1/RAG2+/+ mice, mSOD1/RAG2-/- mice displayed delayed onset and increased M2 microglial activation at the early stage of disease. Thus, lymphocytes at the early pathological phase of ALS display a deleterious effect via inhibition of M2 microglial activation.</p>http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/8/1/19
spellingShingle Nakatsuji Yuji
Yasui Teruhito
Okuno Tatsusada
Tada Satoru
Sugimoto Tomoyuki
Kikutani Hitoshi
Sakoda Saburo
Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Journal of Neuroinflammation
title Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_fullStr Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_short Deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_sort deleterious effects of lymphocytes at the early stage of neurodegeneration in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
url http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/8/1/19
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