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van Noort JM, Baker D, Kipp M, Amor S. The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: a series of unfortunate events. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 214:1-17. [PMID: 37410892 PMCID: PMC10711360 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxad075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by the chronic inflammatory destruction of myelinated axons in the central nervous system. Several ideas have been put forward to clarify the roles of the peripheral immune system and neurodegenerative events in such destruction. Yet, none of the resulting models appears to be consistent with all the experimental evidence. They also do not answer the question of why MS is exclusively seen in humans, how Epstein-Barr virus contributes to its development but does not immediately trigger it, and why optic neuritis is such a frequent early manifestation in MS. Here we describe a scenario for the development of MS that unifies existing experimental evidence as well as answers the above questions. We propose that all manifestations of MS are caused by a series of unfortunate events that usually unfold over a longer period of time after a primary EBV infection and involve periodic weakening of the blood-brain barrier, antibody-mediated CNS disturbances, accumulation of the oligodendrocyte stress protein αB-crystallin and self-sustaining inflammatory damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes M van Noort
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David Baker
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Markus Kipp
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Sandra Amor
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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Oertel FC, Hastermann M, Paul F. Delimiting MOGAD as a disease entity using translational imaging. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1216477. [PMID: 38333186 PMCID: PMC10851159 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1216477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The first formal consensus diagnostic criteria for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) were recently proposed. Yet, the distinction of MOGAD-defining characteristics from characteristics of its important differential diagnoses such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and aquaporin-4 antibody seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is still obstructed. In preclinical research, MOG antibody-based animal models were used for decades to derive knowledge about MS. In clinical research, people with MOGAD have been combined into cohorts with other diagnoses. Thus, it remains unclear to which extent the generated knowledge is specifically applicable to MOGAD. Translational research can contribute to identifying MOGAD characteristic features by establishing imaging methods and outcome parameters on proven pathophysiological grounds. This article reviews suitable animal models for translational MOGAD research and the current state and prospect of translational imaging in MOGAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederike Cosima Oertel
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Hastermann
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedemann Paul
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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3-Dimensional Immunostaining and Automated Deep-Learning Based Analysis of Nerve Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314811. [PMID: 36499143 PMCID: PMC9739543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease driven by inflammation and demyelination in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. Optic neuritis, characterized by inflammation and demyelination of the optic nerve, is a symptom in many patients with MS. The optic nerve is the highway for visual information transmitted from the retina to the brain. It contains axons from the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that reside in the retina, myelin forming oligodendrocytes and resident microglia and astrocytes. Inflammation, demyelination, and axonal degeneration are also present in the optic nerve of mice subjected to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a preclinical mouse model of MS. Monitoring the optic nerve in EAE is a useful strategy to study the presentation and progression of pathology in the visual system; however, current approaches have relied on sectioning, staining and manual quantification. Further, information regarding the spatial load of lesions and inflammation is dependent on the area of sectioning. To better characterize cellular pathology in the EAE model, we employed a tissue clearing and 3D immunolabelling and imaging protocol to observe patterns of immune cell infiltration and activation throughout the optic nerve. Increased density of TOPRO staining for nuclei captured immune cell infiltration and Iba1 immunostaining was employed to monitor microglia and macrophages. Axonal degeneration was monitored by neurofilament immunolabelling to reveal axonal swellings throughout the optic nerve. In parallel, we developed a convolutional neural network with a UNet architecture (CNN-UNet) called BlebNet for automated identification and quantification of axonal swellings in whole mount optic nerves. Together this constitutes a toolkit for 3-dimensional immunostaining to monitor general optic nerve pathology and fast automated quantification of axonal defects that could also be adapted to monitor axonal degeneration and inflammation in other neurodegenerative disease models.
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Matrine treatment reduces retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in experimental optic neuritis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9520. [PMID: 33947942 PMCID: PMC8097076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89086-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory demyelination and axonal injury of the optic nerve are hallmarks of optic neuritis (ON), which often occurs in multiple sclerosis and is a major cause of visual disturbance in young adults. Although a high dose of corticosteroids can promote visual recovery, it cannot prevent permanent neuronal damage. Novel and effective therapies are thus required. Given the recently defined capacity of matrine (MAT), a quinolizidine alkaloid derived from the herb Radix Sophorae flavescens, in immunomodulation and neuroprotection, we tested in this study the effect of matrine on rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. MAT administration, started at disease onset, significantly suppressed optic nerve infiltration and demyelination, with reduced numbers of Iba1+ macrophages/microglia and CD4+ T cells, compared to those from vehicle-treated rats. Increased expression of neurofilaments, an axon marker, reduced numbers of apoptosis in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Moreover, MAT treatment promoted Akt phosphorylation and shifted the Bcl-2/Bax ratio back towards an antiapoptotic one, which could be a mechanism for its therapeutic effect in the ON model. Taken as a whole, our results demonstrate that MAT attenuated inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss in the optic nerve, and protected RGCs from inflammation-induced cell death. MAT may therefore have potential as a novel treatment for this disease that may result in blindness.
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Abstract
Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory attack of the optic nerve that leads to visual disability. It is the most common optic neuropathy affecting healthy young adults, most commonly women aged 20-45 years. It can be idiopathic and monophasic or as part of a neurologic disease such as multiple sclerosis with recurrence and cumulative damage. Currently, there is no therapy to repair the damage from optic neuritis. Animal models are an essential tool for the understanding of the pathogenesis of optic neuritis and for the development of potential treatment strategies. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used experimental rodent model for human autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we discuss the latest rodent models regarding optic neuritis, focusing on EAE model, and on its recent achievements and developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Redler
- Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michael Levy
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Bojcevski J, Stojic A, Hoffmann DB, Williams SK, Müller A, Diem R, Fairless R. Influence of retinal NMDA receptor activity during autoimmune optic neuritis. J Neurochem 2020; 153:693-709. [PMID: 32031240 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune optic neuritis (AON), a model of multiple sclerosis-associated optic neuritis, is accompanied by degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve demyelination and axonal loss. In order to investigate the role of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in mediating RGC degeneration, upstream changes in the optic nerve actin cytoskeleton and associated deterioration in visual function, we induced AON in Brown Norway rats by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Subsequently, visual acuity was assessed by recording visual evoked potentials and electroretinograms prior to extraction of optic nerves for western blot analysis and retinas for quantification of RGCs. As previously reported, in Brown Norway rats RGC degeneration is observed prior to onset of immune cell infiltration and demyelination of the optic nerves. However, within the optic nerve, destabilization of the actin cytoskeleton could be seen as indicated by an increase in the globular to filamentous actin ratio. Interestingly, these changes could be mimicked by intravitreal injection of glutamate, and similarly blocked by application of the NMDA receptor blocker MK-801, leading us to propose that prior to optic nerve lesion formation, NMDA receptor activation within the retina leads to retinal calcium accumulation, actin destabilization within the optic nerve as well as a deterioration of visual acuity during AON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Bojcevski
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,CCU Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aleksandar Stojic
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,CCU Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dorit B Hoffmann
- Department of Neurology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.,A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sarah K Williams
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,CCU Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Müller
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Ricarda Diem
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,CCU Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Fairless
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,CCU Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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Manogaran P, Samardzija M, Schad AN, Wicki CA, Walker-Egger C, Rudin M, Grimm C, Schippling S. Retinal pathology in experimental optic neuritis is characterized by retrograde degeneration and gliosis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:116. [PMID: 31315675 PMCID: PMC6637505 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0768-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The exact mechanisms and temporal sequence of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis are still unresolved. The visual pathway including its unmyelinated retinal axons, can serve as a prototypic model of neurodegeneration in experimental optic neuritis. We conducted a longitudinal study combining retinal imaging through optical coherence tomography (OCT) with immunohistochemical analyses of retinal and optic nerve tissue at various time points in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).Inner retinal layer (IRL) thickness was measured in 30 EAE and 14 healthy control C57BL/6 J mice using OCT. Distribution of marker proteins was assessed by immunofluorescence staining and retinal mRNA levels were assayed using real-time PCR. Histological morphology was evaluated on light and electron microscopy images.Signs of inflammatory edema 11 days post immunisation coincided with IRL thickening, while neuro-axonal degeneration throughout the disease course contributed to IRL thinning observed after 20 days post immunisation. Retinal pathology, including axonal transport impairment, was observed early, prior to cellular infiltration (i.e. T-cells) in the optic nerve 11 days post immunisation. Yet, the effects of early retinal damage on OCT-derived readouts were outweighed by the initial inflammatory edema. Early microglial activation and astrocytosis was detected in the retina prior to retinal ganglion cell loss and persisted until 33 days post immunisation. Müller cell reactivity (i.e. aquaporin-4 and glutamine synthetase decrease) presented after 11 days post immunisation in the IRL. Severe neuro-axonal degeneration was observed in the optic nerve and retina until 33 days post immunisation.Initial signs of retinal pathology subsequent to early glial activity, suggests a need for prophylactic treatment of optic neuritis. Following early inflammation, Müller cells possibly respond to retinal pathology with compensatory mechanisms. Although the majority of the IRL damage observed is likely due to retrograde degeneration following optic neuritis, initial pathology, possibly due to gliosis, may contribute further to IRL thinning. These results add morphological substrate to our OCT findings. The extent and rapid onset of axonal and neuronal damage in this model appears relevant for testing interventions scaled to human optic neuritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveena Manogaran
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research, Clinic for Neurology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marijana Samardzija
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anaïs Nura Schad
- Department of Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carla Andrea Wicki
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research, Clinic for Neurology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christine Walker-Egger
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research, Clinic for Neurology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Rudin
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institue for Biomedical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Grimm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lab for Retinal Cell Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sven Schippling
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research, Clinic for Neurology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Stojic A, Bojcevski J, Williams SK, Bas-Orth C, Nessler S, Linington C, Diem R, Fairless R. Preclinical stress originates in the rat optic nerve head during development of autoimmune optic neuritis. Glia 2018; 67:512-524. [PMID: 30578556 PMCID: PMC6590123 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Optic neuritis is a common manifestation of multiple sclerosis, an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS. Although it is the presenting symptom in many cases, the initial events are currently unknown. However, in the earliest stages of autoimmune optic neuritis in rats, pathological changes are already apparent such as microglial activation and disturbances in myelin ultrastructure of the optic nerves. αB‐crystallin is a heat‐shock protein induced in cells undergoing cellular stress and has been reported to be up‐regulated in both multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Therefore, we wished to investigate the timing and localization of its expression in autoimmune optic neuritis. Although loss of oligodendrocytes was not observed until the later disease stages accompanying immune cell infiltration and demyelination, an increase in oligodendrocyte αB‐crystallin was observed during the preclinical stages. This was most pronounced within the optic nerve head and was associated with areas of IgG deposition. Since treatment of isolated oligodendrocytes with sera from myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)‐immunized animals induced an increase in αB‐crystallin expression, as did passive transfer of sera from MOG‐immunized animals to unimmunized recipients, we propose that the partially permeable blood–brain barrier of the optic nerve head may present an opportunity for blood‐borne components such as anti‐MOG antibodies to come into contact with oligodendrocytes as one of the earliest events in disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Stojic
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jovana Bojcevski
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sarah K Williams
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carlos Bas-Orth
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Nessler
- Institute for Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christopher Linington
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ricarda Diem
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Fairless
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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