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Tatomir A, Cuevas J, Badea TC, Muresanu DF, Rus V, Rus H. Role of RGC-32 in multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammation – few answers and many questions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:979414. [PMID: 36172382 PMCID: PMC9510783 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.979414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) have brought into the spotlight the major role played by reactive astrocytes in this condition. Response Gene to Complement (RGC)-32 is a gene induced by complement activation, growth factors, and cytokines, notably transforming growth factor β, that is involved in the modulation of processes such as angiogenesis, fibrosis, cell migration, and cell differentiation. Studies have uncovered the crucial role that RGC-32 plays in promoting the differentiation of Th17 cells, a subtype of CD4+ T lymphocytes with an important role in MS and its murine model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The latest data have also shown that RGC-32 is involved in regulating major transcriptomic changes in astrocytes and in favoring the synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix components, growth factors, axonal growth molecules, and pro-astrogliogenic molecules. These results suggest that RGC-32 plays a major role in driving reactive astrocytosis and the generation of astrocytes from radial glia precursors. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding how RGC-32 regulates the behavior of Th17 cells and astrocytes in neuroinflammation, providing insight into its role as a potential new biomarker and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Tatomir
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Jacob Cuevas
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tudor C. Badea
- Research and Development Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Transylvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania
| | - Dafin F. Muresanu
- Department of Neurosciences, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Violeta Rus
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Horea Rus
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Neurology Service, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Horea Rus,
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