title: Bax-ablation attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and axonal damage. Although the exact pathophysiology is unknown, apoptosis plays a crucial role. Here, we studied the role of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for MS. We demonstrate that the clinical signs were markedly reduced in the EAE Bax-deficient mice as compared to wild type (2.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.02 +/- 0.32, respectively, P < 0.05). Bax-deficient mice demonstrated less inflammatory infiltration and axonal damage, although they showed similar T-cell immune potency. In conclusion, ablation of the bax gene attenuates the severity of MOG-induced EAE and emphasizes the importance of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of EAE and MS.
authors.affiliation: Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Beilinson Campus, Tel Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Petah-Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Nirit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lev
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barhum
authors.forename: Eldad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melamed
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Offen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494827:Bax protein, mouse; C571327:Mog protein, mouse; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein