Discrete gene loci regulate neurodegeneration, lymphocyte infiltration, and major histocompatibility complex class II expression in the CNS.
Neurodegeneration and inflammation are fundamental aspects of many neurological diseases. A genome-wide scan of the response to ventral root avulsion (VRA) in a rat F2 cross discloses specific gene regions that regulate these processes. Two gene loci displayed linkage to neurodegeneration and T cell infiltration, respectively, and a single locus displayed extreme linkage to VRA-induced major histocompatibility complex class II expression on microglia. The demonstration that polymorphic genes in different loci control neurodegeneration and CNS inflammation has implications for various experimental rodent nervous system paradigms and potentially for genetically regulated susceptibility to a variety of human CNS diseases.
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Hospital, S-17176, Stockholm, Sweden. Olle.Lidman@cmm.ki.se
Olle
O
Lidman
Maria
M
Swanberg
Linn
L
Horvath
Karl W
KW
Broman
Tomas
T
Olsson
Fredrik
F
Piehl
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019771:Axotomy; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005838:Genotype; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012183:Retrograde Degeneration; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II