Using knockout mice to study experimental meningitis.
Despite the use of antibiotics, the prognosis of bacterial meningitis is still poor due to central nervous system (CNS) complications, such as brain edema formation, cerebrovascular alterations, and intracranial hemorrhage. Experimental studies with animal models have given new insights into its pathophysiology during the acute phase of the disease. In recent years, genetically engineered mice have become a powerful tool in investigating the role of particular genes by targeted deletion and have also been applied in bacterial meningitis research. By using knockout mice, new knowledge of the roles of the different cytokines, proteases, and oxidants involved in the inflammatory cascade has emerged. In the future, temporal and cell type-specific control of gene expression will provide even more information on the impact of a particular gene on meningitis-induced brain damage.
Paul
Robert
R
Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
Koedel
Uwe
U
Pfister
Hans-Walter
HW
D000818:Animals; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000502:physiology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000502:physiology; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9