Nurr1 reduction influences the onset of chronic EAE in mice

• Published in: Inflammation research Vol. 64; no. 11; pp. 841 - 844
• Main Authors: Montarolo, Francesca, Perga, Simona, Martire, Serena, Bertolotto, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel Springer Basel 01-11-2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allergology; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Dermatology; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - metabolism; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - pathology; Female; Immunology; Mice, Knockout; Neurology; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2 - genetics; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2 - metabolism; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Rheumatology; Short Communication; Spinal Cord - metabolism; Spinal Cord - pathology; Nurr1; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; Multiple sclerosis; Inflammation
• ISSN: 1023-3830; 1420-908X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00011-015-0871-4

Objective
Nurr1 plays anti-inflammatory functions in astrocytes/microglia. Gene expression analysis reveals Nurr1 down-regulation in PBMCs of MS patients that negatively correlates with disease aggressiveness. This study assesses the consequences of Nurr1 reduction in a MS model represented by EAE.
Methods
EAE was induced in heterozygous Nurr1 knockout mice. Clinical course was evaluated during pre-symptomatic, acute, and chronic phases. Neurohistopathological state was analyzed in spinal cord.
Results and conclusions
Nurr1 defect induces early EAE onset and increases inflammatory infiltrates in spinal cord suggesting a Nurr1 role in the early phase of EAE.