Microarray analysis of gene expression in multiple sclerosis and EAE identifies 5-lipoxygenase as a component of inflammatory lesions.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by lesions that are areas of blood-brain barrier breakdown, inflammation and myelin damage. To identify genes that contribute to lesion pathology, we have compared gene expression in MS lesions and in brains of mice with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with that in normal white matter. Gene expression was analyzed by cDNA microarrays consisting of 2798 human genes. One of the genes found to be upregulated in both MS lesions and EAE brains was 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the proinflammatory leukotrienes. The presence of 5-LO in MS lesions was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and indicated that 5-LO was primarily contained within macrophages. Although these findings are not specific for MS, they identify a potentially important component of pro-inflammatory activity in the demyelinating process in MS and suggest a possible target for anti-inflammatory therapy in MS.
Whitney
L W
LW
Molecular Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Bldg. 10/Rm 5B-16, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA.
Ludwin
S K
SK
McFarland
H F
HF
Biddison
W E
WE
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase