title: Immunohistochemical study of Krüppel-like factor 4 in the spinal cords of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: The expression and localization of Krüppel-like factor (KLF) 4, a class of zinc-finger transcription factors, was investigated in the spinal cords of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. KLF4 expression was increased significantly in EAE-affected spinal cords compared with normal rat spinal cords. The elevated levels of KLF4 in the spinal cords of rats with EAE remained significant, even during the recovery stage of EAE. The cellular phenotype of KLF4 in EAE lesions consisted of some T cells, macrophages, and reactive astrocytes, whereas it was expressed constitutively in resting astrocytes and neurons, but not in ramified microglial cells in normal spinal cords. Collectively, we postulate that autoimmune T cells and macrophages activate KLF4 and subsequently do not proliferate or exhibit phenotypic switching from M1 to M2 macrophages, respectively. In addition, we hypothesize that the increased and sustained expression of KLF4 in reactive astrocytes during EAE was associated with suppressed CNS inflammation, as well as reduced numbers of pro-inflammatory T cells and M1 macrophages.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Meejung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongtae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Changnam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Eco-friendly Material Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Jeongeup 580-185, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungsook
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Changjong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: shint@jejunu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Taekyun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C000715469:Klf4 protein, rat; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
keywords: Astrocytes; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; KLF4; Macrophages