BackgroundIn experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), deletion of transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (Trpm4) and administration of glibenclamide were found to ameliorate disease progression, prompting speculation that glibenclamide acts by directly inhibiting Trpm4. We hypothesized that in EAE, Trpm4 upregulation is accompanied by upregulation of sulfonylurea receptor 1 (Sur1) to form Sur1-Trpm4 channels, which are highly sensitive to glibenclamide, and that Sur1-Trpm4 channels are required for EAE progression.MethodsEAE was induced in wild-type (WT) and Abcc8−/− mice using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35–55 (MOG35–55). Lumbar spinal cords were examined by immunohistochemistry, immuno-Förster resonance energy transfer (immunoFRET), and co-immunoprecipitation for Sur1-Trpm4. WT/EAE mice were administered with the Sur1 inhibitor, glibenclamide, beginning on post-induction day 10. Mice were evaluated for clinical function, inflammatory cells and cytokines, axonal preservation, and white matter damage.ResultsSur1-Trpm4 channels were upregulated in EAE, predominantly in astrocytes. The clinical course and severity of EAE were significantly ameliorated in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and in Abcc8−/−/EAE mice. At 30 days, the lumbar spinal cords of glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and Abcc8−/−/EAE mice showed significantly fewer invading immune cells, including leukocytes (CD45), T cells (CD3), B cells (CD20) and macrophages/microglia (CD11b), and fewer cells expressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17). In both glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and Abcc8−/−/EAE mice, the reduced inflammatory burden correlated with better preservation of myelin, better preservation of axons, and more numerous mature and precursor oligodendrocytes.ConclusionsSur-Trpm4 channels are newly upregulated in EAE and may represent a novel target for disease-modifying therapy in multiple sclerosis.

Treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with Resveratrol, an activator of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), reduces disease severity. This suggested that activators of SIRT1, a highly conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent protein deacetylase, might have immune-modulating or neuroprotective therapeutic effects in EAE. Previously, we showed that SIRT1 expression increases in EAE, suggesting that it is an adaptive response. In this study, we investigated the potential function of SIRT1 in regulating EAE using SIRT1 overexpressing mice. The current studies examine potential neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of SIRT1 overexpression in chronic EAE induced by immunization of C57Bl/6 mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide (MOG35-55). SIRT1 suppressed EAE clinical symptoms compared with wild-type EAE mice and prevented or altered the phenotype of inflammation in spinal cords; as a result, demyelination and axonal injury were reduced. Significant neuroprotective effects were observed, with fewer apoptotic cells found in the spinal cords of SIRT1 overexpressing EAE mice; associated with increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and NAD levels. Earlier, we showed that BDNF and NAD play crucial neuroprotective roles in EAE. These results suggest that SIRT1 reduces neuronal loss in this chronic demyelinating disease model and that this is associated with a reduction in inflammation.

Down-regulation of PINK1 and PGC-1α proteins is implicated in both mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress potentially linking metabolic abnormality and neurodegeneration. Here, we report that PGC-1α and PINK1 expression is markedly decreased in Alzheimer disease (AD) and diabetic brains. We observed a significant down-regulation of PGC-1α and PINK1 protein expression in H2O2-treated cells but not in those cells treated with N-acetyl cysteine. The protein levels of two key enzymes of the mitochondrial β-oxidation machinery, acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase, very long chain (ACADVL) and mitochondrial trifunctional enzyme subunit α are significantly decreased in AD and diabetic brains. Moreover, we observed a positive relationship between ACADVL and 64 kDa PINK1 protein levels in AD and diabetic brains. Overexpression of PGC-1α decreases lipid-droplet accumulation and increases mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation; down-regulation of PINK1 abolishes these effects. Together, these results provide new insights into potential cooperative roles of PINK1 and PGC-1α in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, suggesting possible regulatory roles for mitochondrial function in the pathogenesis of AD and diabetes.

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Neurodegeneration is an important determinant of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) but while currently approved treatments reduce inflammation, they have not been shown to reduce neurodegeneration. SIRT1, a NAD dependent protein deacetylase, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in neurological diseases including MS. We have studied the role of SIRT1 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and found evidence for a neuroprotective role. In this review we summarize the most recent findings from the use of SIRT1 activators and SIRT1 overexpression in transgenic mice. These data support provide a rational for the use of SIRT1 activators in MS.

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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine with neuroprotective properties that has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The use of BDNF has been limited by a short serum half-life and poor penetration of the blood-brain barrier. To address this limitation we have explored cell-based approaches to delivery. We have used experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an inflammatory disease of the CNS, as a model system. We engineered hematopoietic stem cells to produce BDNF to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of cell-based delivery of BDNF into the CNS in EAE. We review those studies here.

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