title: A putative role for calpain in demyelination associated with optic neuritis.
abstract: Calcium activated neutral proteinase (calpain) is an endopeptidase present in the central nervous system which degrades myelin proteins. To examine the role of calpain in demyelination associated with optic neuritis, immunocytochemical expression of calpain was evaluated in Lewis rats with experimental optic neuritis. Calpain expression was increased in activated microglia, infiltrating macrophages, activated T cells, and reactive astrocytes in experimental optic neuritis compared to controls. Calpain activity and translational expression were also examined by Western blotting studies measuring the extent of myelin protein degradation, calpain-specific fodrin proteolysis, axonal neurofilament degradation, and calpain proenzyme content. Results showed myelin associated glycoprotein and 68 kD neurofilament protein levels were significantly decreased while calpain translational expression and calpain-autolyzed fodrin levels were significantly increased in experimental optic neuritis compared to controls. Thus, increased activity and translational expression of calpain in optic neuritis may be integral to the pathogenesis of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. baniknl@MUSC.edu
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Banik
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002154:Calpain / Q000502:physiology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002154:Calpain