Expression of RhoA by inflammatory macrophages and T cells in rat experimental autoimmune neuritis.
RhoA is one of the best-studied members of Rho GTPases. Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), which is characterized by infiltration of T cells and macrophages into the peripheral nervous system, is an autoantigen-specific T-cell-mediated animal model of human Guillain-Barré Syndrome. In this study, RhoA expression has been investigated in the dorsal/ventral roots of EAN rats by immunohistochemistry. A significant accumulation of RhoA+ cells was observed on Day 12, with a maximum around Day 15, correlating to the clinical severity of EAN. In dorsal/ventral roots of EAN, RhoA+ cells were seen in perivascular areas but also in the parenchyma. Furthermore, double-labelling experiments showed that the major cellular sources of RhoA were reactive macrophages and T cells. In conclusion, this is the first demonstration of the presence of RhoA in the dorsal/ventral roots of EAN. The time courses and cellular sources of RhoA together with the functions of RhoA indicate that RhoA may function to facilitate macrophage and T-cell infiltration in EAN and therefore could be a potential therapeutic target.
Zhang
Zhiren
Z
Institute of Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. zhangzhiren@yahoo.com
Fauser
Uwe
U
Schluesener
Hermann J
HJ
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009444:Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein