Hepatic expression of metallothionein I/II, glycoprotein 96, IL-6, and TGF- β in rat strains with different susceptibilities to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
In a search of peripheral factors that could be responsible for the discrepancy in susceptibility to EAE in Albino Oxford (AO) and Dark Agouti (DA) rats, we estimated the expression of metallothioneins I/II (MT), heat shock protein-gp96, interleukin (IL)-6, and transforming growth factor (TGF)- β in the livers of these animals. Rats were immunized with bovine brain homogenate (BBH) emulsified in complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) or only with CFA. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses were done on day 12 after the immunization, as well as in intact rats. The data have shown that during the first attack of EAE only the EAE prone-DA rats markedly upregulated the hepatic MTs, gp96, IL-6, and TGF- β . In contrast, AO rats had a significantly higher expression of MT I/II, IL-6, and TGF- β in intact liver (P < 0,001), suggesting that the greater constitutive expression of these proteins contributed to the resistance of EAE. Besides, since previously we found that AO rats reacted on immunization by an early upregulation of TGF- β on several hepatic structures (vascular endothelium, Kupffer cells, and hepatocytes), the data suggest that the specific hepatic microenvironment might contribute also to the faster recovery of these rats from EAE.
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Tanja
T
Grubić-Kezele
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Gordana
G
Blagojević Zagorac
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Hrvoje
H
Jakovac
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Robert
R
Domitrović
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Cedomila
C
Milin
Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, B. Branchetta 22, 51 000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Biserka
B
Radošević-Stašić
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C052646:sarcoma glycoprotein gp96 rejection antigens; D008668:Metallothionein