title: Rescue from acute neuroinflammation by pharmacological chemokine-mediated deviation of leukocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neutrophil influx is an important sign of hyperacute neuroinflammation, whereas the entry of activated lymphocytes into the brain parenchyma is a hallmark of chronic inflammatory processes, as observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Clinically approved or experimental therapies for neuroinflammation act by blocking leukocyte penetration of the blood brain barrier. However, in view of unsatisfactory results and severe side effects, complementary therapies are needed. We have examined the effect of chlorite-oxidized oxyamylose (COAM), a potent antiviral polycarboxylic acid on EAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  EAE was induced in SJL/J mice by immunization with spinal cord homogenate (SCH) or in IFN-γ-deficient BALB/c (KO) mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide (MOG₃₅₋₅₅). Mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with COAM or saline at different time points after immunization. Clinical disease and histopathology were compared between both groups. IFN expression was analyzed in COAM-treated MEF cell cultures and in sera and peritoneal fluids of COAM-treated animals by quantitative PCR, ELISA and a bioassay on L929 cells. Populations of immune cell subsets in the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS) were quantified at different stages of disease development by flow cytometry and differential cell count analysis. Expression levels of selected chemokine genes in the CNS were determined by quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We discovered that COAM (2 mg i.p. per mouse on days 0 and 7) protects significantly against hyperacute SCH-induced EAE in SJL/J mice and MOG₃₅₋₅₅-induced EAE in IFN-γ KO mice. COAM deviated leukocyte trafficking from the CNS into the periphery. In the CNS, COAM reduced four-fold the expression levels of the neutrophil CXC chemokines KC/CXCL1 and MIP-2/CXCL2. Whereas the effects of COAM on circulating blood and splenic leukocytes were limited, significant alterations were observed at the COAM injection site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate novel actions of COAM as an anti-inflammatory agent with beneficial effects on EAE through cell deviation. Sequestration of leukocytes in the non-CNS periphery or draining of leukocytes out of the CNS with the use of the chemokine system may thus complement existing treatment options for acute and chronic neuroinflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute for Medical Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berghmans
authors.forename: Hubertine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heremans
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matthys
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorokin
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Ghislain
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opdenakker
mesh_terms: D000688:Amylose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000633:toxicity; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000172:deficiency / Q000633:toxicity; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein / Q000633:toxicity; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; C445081:myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (35-55); C002668:oxyamylose; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000688:Amylose; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant