Glatiramer acetate reverts stress-induced alterations on adult neurogenesis and behavior. Involvement of Th1/Th2 balance.
Long-term exposure to stressful situations has deleterious effects on adult neurogenesis, behavior, and the immune system. We have previously shown that stressed BALB/c mice show poor learning performance, which correlates with an increase in the T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine balance. Glatiramer acetate (GA) can stimulate autoreactive T cells. In this work we investigated the effects of GA treatment on BALB/c mice exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS). Stressed mice exhibited a significant decline in their performance in the open field and Y-maze tasks, which was accompanied by a reduction in dentate gyrus neurogenesis and an altered Th1/Th2 balance. Interestingly, after 6 weeks of CMS exposure administration of GA reestablished normal levels of adult neurogenesis, restored the Th1/Th2 balance, and improved learning performance. These results demonstrate that GA treatment can reverse the learning impairment induced by stress through a mechanism that likely involves the regulation of the cytokine balance and adult neurogenesis.
CEFYBO-CONICET, 1ª, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
María Laura
ML
Palumbo
Mariela Fernanda
MF
Trinchero
María Aurelia
MA
Zorrilla-Zubilete
Alejandro Fabián
AF
Schinder
Ana María
AM
Genaro
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate