Demyelination arrest and remyelination induced by glatiramer acetate treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
The interplay between demyelination and remyelination is critical in the progress of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In the present study, we explored the capacity of glatiramer acetate (GA, Copaxone) to affect the demyelination process and/or lead to remyelination in mice inflicted by chronic EAE, using both scanning electron microscopy and immunohistological methods. Spinal cords of untreated EAE mice revealed substantial demyelination accompanied by tissue destruction and axonal loss. In contrast, in spinal cords of GA-treated mice, in which treatment started concomitantly with disease induction (prevention), no pathology was observed. Moreover, when treatment was initiated after the appearance of clinical symptoms (suppression) or even in the chronic disease phase (delayed suppression) when substantial demyelination was already manifested, it resulted in a significant decrease in the pathological damage. Detection of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) expressing the NG2 or O4 markers via colocalization with the proliferation marker BrdU indicated their elevated levels in spinal cords of GA-treated mice. The mode of action of GA in this system is attributed to increased proliferation, differentiation, and survival of OPCs along the oligodendroglial maturation cascade and their recruitment into injury sites, thus enhancing repair processes in situ.
Aharoni
Rina
R
Departments of Immunology and Veterinary Resources, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Herschkovitz
Avia
A
Eilam
Raya
R
Blumberg-Hazan
Michal
M
Sela
Michael
M
Bruck
Wolfgang
W
Arnon
Ruth
R
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4
D000941:Antigens; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4