title: TLR7-mediated skin inflammation remotely triggers chemokine expression and leukocyte accumulation in the brain.
abstract: The relationship between the brain and the immune system has become increasingly topical as, although it is immune-specialised, the CNS is not free from the influences of the immune system. Recent data indicate that peripheral immune stimulation can significantly affect the CNS. But the mechanisms underpinning this relationship remain unclear. The standard approach to understanding this relationship has relied on systemic immune activation using bacterial components, finding that immune mediators, such as cytokines, can have a significant effect on brain function and behaviour. More rarely have studies used disease models that are representative of human disorders.
  
  
  
  Here we use a well-characterised animal model of psoriasis-like skin inflammation-imiquimod-to investigate the effects of tissue-specific peripheral inflammation on the brain. We used full genome array, flow cytometry analysis of immune cell infiltration, doublecortin staining for neural precursor cells and a behavioural read-out exploiting natural burrowing behaviour.
  
  
  
  We found that a number of genes are upregulated in the brain following treatment, amongst which is a subset of inflammatory chemokines (CCL3, CCL5, CCL9, CXCL10, CXCL13, CXCL16 and CCR5). Strikingly, this model induced the infiltration of a number of immune cell subsets into the brain parenchyma, including T cells, NK cells and myeloid cells, along with a reduction in neurogenesis and a suppression of burrowing activity.
  
  
  
  These findings demonstrate that cutaneous, peripheral immune stimulation is associated with significant leukocyte infiltration into the brain and suggest that chemokines may be amongst the key mediators driving this response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical & Veterinary Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical & Veterinary Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK.
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical & Veterinary Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nerurkar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical & Veterinary Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK. Gerard.Graham@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Wellbeing, College of Medical & Veterinary Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavanagh
mesh_terms: D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000633:toxicity; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018925:Chemokines; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C477038:Tlr7 protein, mouse; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; C000600213:12-O-undecadienoylphorbol-13-acetate; D000077271:Imiquimod
keywords: Burrowing behaviour; Chemokines; Leukocyte infiltration; Neurogenesis; Neuroinflammation; Peripheral inflammation