Distribution in ocular structures and optic pathways of immunocompetent and glial cells in an experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) relapsing model

Abstract

Relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in DA rats and the ocular pathologic events were examined at the various phases of the illness. About 80% of EAE rats presented anterior uveitis (AU), even after complete EAE recovery. We studied the phenotype and localization of immunocompetent cells, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigen expression, as well as the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) appearance. In control animals, there were many glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)(+) cells and OX42(+) cells in the ciliary body, retina, optic nerve and chiasma. Except in retina, we observed constitutive MHC class I and II expression. During the EAE acute phase, there was up-regulation of MHC class II and GFAP antigens in iris, ciliary body, limbus, and optic pathways. MHC class I and ED2 antigens were expressed in meninges and in the prechiasmatic cisterna, by cells which could have a role in immune surveillance. MCP-1 mRNA was highly expressed in optic pathways during the acute phase and the protein was expressed by astrocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes. During the relapsing phase, MCP-1 was weakly expressed to disappear almost completely during the final recovery phase. The expression of MHC class II on astrocytes was increased during the relapsing and final recovery phase in which the inflammatory lesions persisted. These findings suggest that ocular areas and optic pathways, mainly optic chiasma, are important targets in the relapsing EAE.

Brain Delivery of Nanomedicines: Trojan Horse Liposomes for Plasmid DNA Gene Therapy of the Brain

“…Gene expression in the extra-retinal structures of the eye such as the iris or ciliary body is consistent with expression of the TfR in these structures ( 264 , 265 ). Expression of the GFAP-LacZ in the iris and ciliary body is also consistent with the known GFAP expression in these regions of the eye ( 266 , 267 ). There is a broader retinal expression profile of the LacZ in the Rhesus monkey retina following the IV injection of HIRMAb-targeted THLs encapsulating either the SV40-LacZ plasmid DNA or the opsin-LacZ plasmid DNA [ Figure 7 , ( 238 )].…”

Pathological implications of iNOS expression in central white matter: an ex vivo study of optic nerves from rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

“…The optic nerve in eEAE rats showed a closely similar immunopathology to that reported previously in other EAE models (Hu et al ., 1998; Villarroya et al ., 2001). However, as shown by both immunocytochemistry and cGMP levels, eEAE optic nerves displayed a much higher expression of iNOS than that found in ordinary EAE, in accordance with an immunocytochemical study on rat brain stem (Smith et al ., 1997).…”

Altered astrocytic function in experimental neuroinflammation and multiple sclerosis

“…In addition, cultured astrocytes have been shown to process and present myelin‐related antigens, such as MBP, proteolipid protein (PLP), and MOG, to encephalitogenic CD4+ T cells (Fontana, Fierz, & Wekerle, 1984; Kort, Kawamura, Fugger, Weissert, & Forsthuber, 2006; Soos et al, 1998; Tan, Gordon, Mueller, Matis, & Miller, 1998). Notably, the necessary molecules for efficient antigen presentation to and activation of CD4+ T cells, including MHC class II and co‐stimulator molecules, like B7‐1 (CD80) and B7‐2 (CD86), are expressed in astrocytes from MS patients (Hofman et al, 1986; Lee et al, 1990; Ransohoff & Estes, 1991; Traugott & Lebon, 1988; Zeinstra et al, 2000) and EAE animals (Issazadeh, Navikas, Schaub, Sayegh, & Khoury, 1998; Massa, ter Meulen, & Fontana, 1987; Nikcevich et al, 1997; Villarroya, Klein, Thillaye‐Goldenberg, & Eclancher, 2001).…”