A role for calpain in optic neuritis.
Optic neuritis (ON) is one of the most commonly presenting symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), which is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) thought to be caused by an attack on myelin by autoreactive T cells and other immune cells. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a widely used model for MS and ON, which are characterized by demyelination, axonal damage, and neuronal death. The mechanisms of neurodegeneration are unclear; however, the calcium (Ca2+)-dependent neutral protease calpain is thought to be involved. The focus of this article is to summarize the evidence suggesting that calpain plays a role in the development of EAE-ON in Lewis rats.
Guyton
M Kelly
MK
Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucus Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA.
Sribnick
Eric A
EA
Ray
Swapan K
SK
Banik
Naren L
NL
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D002154:Calpain