title: Systemic inflammation induces axon injury during brain inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Axon injury is a key contributor to the progression of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Systemic infections, which frequently precede relapses in MS, have been linked to clinical progression in Alzheimer's disease. There is evidence of a role for the innate immune system in MS lesions, as axonal injury is associated with macrophage activation. We hypothesize that systemic inflammation leads to enhanced axonal damage in MS as a consequence of innate immune system activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monophasic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in a cohort of Lewis rats. The animals received a systemic challenge with either an inflammagen (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) or saline as a control, at 1, 3, or 6 weeks into the remission phase of the disease. The clinical outcome, cellular recruitment to lesions, degree of tissue damage, and cytokine profiles were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that systemic inflammation activates the central nervous system (CNS) innate immune response and results in a switch in the macrophage/microglia phenotype. This switch was accompanied by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression and increased axon injury. This increased injury occurred independently of the re-emergence of overt clinical signs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our evidence indicates that microglia/macrophages, associated with lesions, respond to circulating cytokines, produced in response to an inflammatory event outside the CNS, by producing immune mediators that lead to tissue damage. This has implications for people with MS, in which prevention and stringent management of systemic infectious diseases may slow disease progression.
authors.affiliation: CNS Inflammation Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: John-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jukes
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vergara-Irigaray
authors.forename: Oihana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Errea
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villoslada
authors.forename: V Hugh
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D042282:Microdissection; D017628:Microglia / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013997:Time Factors; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016207:Cytokines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C539355:CD68 protein, rat; D000097382:CD68 Molecule