Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Influences GH-Axis in Female Rats

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 25; no. 11; p. 5837
• Main Authors: Zivkovic, Anica, Trifunovic, Svetlana, Savic, Danijela, Milosevic, Katarina, Lavrnja, Irena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-06-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Autoimmune diseases; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; EAE; Encephalomyelitis; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - genetics; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - metabolism; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - pathology; Female; Females; Genes; growth hormone; Growth Hormone - metabolism; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone - genetics; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Growth hormones; Hypothalamus; Hypothalamus - metabolism; Hypothalamus - pathology; IGF-1; Immune system; Inflammation; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - genetics; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Insulin-like growth factors; Liver; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Multiple Sclerosis - metabolism; Multiple Sclerosis - pathology; pituitary; Pituitary gland; Pituitary Gland - metabolism; Pituitary Gland - pathology; Rats; Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone - genetics; Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone - metabolism; Receptors, Somatotropin - genetics; Receptors, Somatotropin - metabolism; Scientific equipment and supplies industry; Serbia; United States; pituitary; EAE; IGF-1; growth hormone
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115837

Inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage to the central nervous system (CNS) are the hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its representative animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). There is scientific evidence for the involvement of growth hormone (GH) in autoimmune regulation. Previous data on the relationship between the GH/insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis and MS/EAE are inconclusive; therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the changes in the GH axis during acute monophasic EAE. The results show that the gene expression of
and
in the hypothalamus does not change, except for
and
, while at the pituitary level the
,
and
genes are upregulated. Interestingly, the cell volume of somatotropic cells in the pituitary gland remains unchanged at the peak of the disease. We found elevated serum GH levels in association with low IGF-1 concentration and downregulated
and
expression in the liver, indicating a condition resembling GH resistance. This is likely due to inadequate nutrient intake at the peak of the disease when inflammation in the CNS is greatest. Considering that GH secretion is finely regulated by numerous central and peripheral signals, the involvement of the GH/IGF-1 axis in MS/EAE should be thoroughly investigated for possible future therapeutic strategies, especially with a view to improving EAE disease.