title: Neuroprotective role of fibroblast growth factor-2 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: The role of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in multiple sclerosis and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is discussed. This study is the first to use FGF-2(-/-) mice to further address the involvement of FGF-2 in the disease process. We demonstrate that immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55 induces more severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in FGF-2(-/-) mice compared with FGF-2(+/+) mice. The antigen-specific cytokine response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide and the degree of central nervous system inflammation was similar in both groups. However, FGF-2(-/-) mice displayed increased infiltration of CD8(+) T cells and macrophages/microglia. In addition, nerve fibre degeneration and axonal loss were augmented, whereas the extent of remyelination in central nervous system lesions was reduced. FGF-2 has been associated with the induction of demyelination and the inhibition of myelin production by oligodendrocytes. Our study supports the opposing notion that FGF-2 can also assert a neuroprotective function. This may be particularly appealing when it comes to targeting the neurodegenerative aspect of multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy I, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rottlaender
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Villwock
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Addicks
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuerten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2