| First Author | Linker RA | Year | 2005 |
| Journal | Neurobiol Dis | Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 1-2 | Pages | 218-28 |
| PubMed ID | 15837577 | Mgi Jnum | J:97968 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3576829 | Doi | 10.1016/j.nbd.2004.12.017 |
| Citation | Linker RA, et al. (2005) EAE in beta-2 microglobulin-deficient mice: axonal damage is not dependent on MHC-I restricted immune responses. Neurobiol Dis 19(1-2):218-28 |
| abstractText | There is accumulating evidence that CD8-positive (CD8+) T-cells and MHC-I expression may also play a role in neurodegeneration associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated the role of MHC-I and CD8+ T-cells by studying experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in beta-2 microglobulin knockout mice induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide 35-55 or whole rat myelin basic protein (rMBP). For both encephalitogens and even after reconstitution of the immune system with MHC-I-positive bone marrow and transfer of mature CD8+ T-cells (iMHC-I+ CD8+ beta2m-/- mice), the disease course in beta2m-/- mice was significantly more severe with a 10-fold increased mortality in the beta2m-/- mice as compared to wild-type C57BL/6 mice. EAE in beta2m-/- mice caused more severe demyelination after immunization with MOG than with rMBP and axonal damage was more marked with rMBP as well as MOG even in iMHC-I+ CD8+ beta2m-/- mice. Immunocytochemical analysis of spinal cord tissue revealed a significant increase in macrophage and microglia infiltration in beta2m-/- and iMHC-I+ CD8+ beta2m-/- mice. The different pattern of T-cell infiltration was underscored by a 2.5-fold increase in CD4-positive (CD4+) T-cells in beta2m-/- mice after induction of MOG 35-55 EAE. We conclude that lack of functional MHC-I molecules and CD8+ T-cells aggravates autoimmune tissue destruction in the CNS. Enhanced axonal damage speaks for pathways of tissue damage independent of CD8+ T-cells and neuronal MHC-I expression. |
