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Carver JJ, Lau KM, Puckett AE, Didonna A. Autoimmune demyelination alters hypothalamic transcriptome and endocrine function. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:12. [PMID: 38178091 PMCID: PMC10768476 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-03006-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a brain structure that is deputed to maintain organism homeostasis by regulating autonomic function and hormonal production as part of the neuroendocrine system. Dysfunction in hypothalamic activity results in behavioral alterations, depression, metabolic syndromes, fatigue, and infertility. Remarkably, many of these symptoms are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by focal demyelination, immune cell infiltration into the brain parenchyma, and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, altered hormonal levels have been documented in MS patients, suggesting the putative involvement of hypothalamic deficits in MS clinical manifestations. Yet, a systematic analysis of hypothalamic function in response to neuroinflammatory stress is still lacking. To fill this gap, here we performed a longitudinal profiling of the hypothalamic transcriptome upon experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-a murine disease model recapitulating key MS phenotypes at both histopathological and molecular levels. We show that changes in gene expression connected with an anti-inflammatory response start already at pre-onset and persist along EAE progression. Altered levels of hypothalamic neuropeptides were also detected, which possibly underlie homeostatic responses to stress and aberrant feeding behaviors. Last, a thorough investigation of the principal endocrine glands highlighted defects in the main steroidogenic pathways upon disease. Collectively, our findings corroborate the central role of hypothalamic dysfunction in CNS autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Carver
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Kristy M Lau
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Alexandra E Puckett
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Alessandro Didonna
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC, USA.
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Ghareghani M, Ghanbari A, Eid A, Shaito A, Mohamed W, Mondello S, Zibara K. Hormones in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal models. Transl Neurosci 2021; 12:164-189. [PMID: 34046214 PMCID: PMC8134801 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2020-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which activated immune cells attack the CNS and cause inflammation and demyelination. While the etiology of MS is still largely unknown, the interaction between hormones and the immune system plays a role in disease progression, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are incompletely understood. Several in vitro and in vivo experimental, but also clinical studies, have addressed the possible role of the endocrine system in susceptibility and severity of autoimmune diseases. Although there are several demyelinating models, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the oldest and most commonly used model for MS in laboratory animals which enables researchers to translate their findings from EAE into human. Evidences imply that there is great heterogeneity in the susceptibility to the induction, the method of induction, and the response to various immunological or pharmacological interventions, which led to conflicting results on the role of specific hormones in the EAE model. In this review, we address the role of endocrine system in EAE model to provide a comprehensive view and a better understanding of the interactions between the endocrine and the immune systems in various models of EAE, to open up a ground for further detailed studies in this field by considering and comparing the results and models used in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Ghareghani
- Neuroscience Laboratory, CHU de Québec Research Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Amir Ghanbari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Ali Eid
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit and Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdullah Shaito
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Wael Mohamed
- Clinical Pharmacology Department, Menoufia Medical School, Menoufia University, Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Stefania Mondello
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Kazem Zibara
- PRASE, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences – I, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Tanaka K, Saito R, Sanada K, Nishimura H, Nishimura K, Sonoda S, Ueno H, Motojima Y, Matsuura T, Yoshimura M, Maruyama T, Onaka T, Yamamoto Y, Kusuhara K, Ueta Y. Expression of hypothalamic feeding-related peptide genes and neuroendocrine responses in an experimental allergic encephalomyelitis rat model. Peptides 2020; 129:170313. [PMID: 32298774 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is considered to be a useful animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS). However, among the various symptoms of MS, the mechanisms contributing to inflammatory anorexia remain unclear. In the present study, we used an EAE rat model to examine changes in expression levels of hypothalamic feeding-related peptide genes and neuroendocrine responses such as the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The weight gain and cumulative food intake in EAE rats in the early days after immunization was significantly lower than that of the control group. The expression of orexigenic peptide genes Npy and Agrp were significantly increased, whereas the levels of anorectic peptide genes (Pomc and Cart) were significantly decreased in the hypothalamus of EAE rats. There was also a significant increase in the mRNA and plasma oxytocin (OXT) but not of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of EAE rats at days 12 and 18 after immunization. The expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) and Avp was downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in the parvocellular division of the PVN at day 12 after immunization. The expression level of Pomc in the anterior pituitary significantly increased, accompanied by increased plasma corticosterone levels, at days 6, 12, and 18 after immunization. These results suggest that inflammatory anorexia in rat EAE may be caused by activation of the OXT-ergic pathway and HPA axis via changes in the expression of hypothalamic feeding-related peptides, including Avp but not Crh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Tanaka
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Reiko Saito
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Kenya Sanada
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Haruki Nishimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Nishimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Satomi Sonoda
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Ueno
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Motojima
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Takanori Matsuura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Yoshimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Takashi Maruyama
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Onaka
- Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimono, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Yukiyo Yamamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Koichi Kusuhara
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Yoichi Ueta
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan.
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Thieme K, Rose U, Pinkpank T, Spies C, Turk DC, Flor H. Psychophysiological responses in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. J Psychosom Res 2006; 61:671-9. [PMID: 17084146 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2005] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Physical and emotional stress and altered reactivity of the autonomic nervous system have been implicated in the development and maintenance of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This study investigated blood pressure, heart rate (HR), skin conductance levels (SCL), and surface electromyograms (EMG) from the trapezius muscle in 30 FMS patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). All measures were continuously recorded during baseline (BL), social conflict, mental arithmetic, and relaxation tasks. The FMS patients showed significantly higher stress ratings and self-reported stress responses. Baseline EMG levels were significantly lower, and BL HR was significantly elevated. During both stress tasks, HR reactivity was significantly lower, and SCL reactivity was significantly higher in the FMS group. This pattern of low BL muscle tension and high BL HR, along with low HR and high SCL reactivity to stress, is discrepant to other chronic pain syndromes and suggests unique psychophysiological features associated with FMS. Several potential mechanisms for these psychophysiological responses are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Thieme
- Department of Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Heidelberg, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
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Nessler S, Stadelmann C, Bittner A, Schlegel K, Gronen F, Brueck W, Hemmer B, Sommer N. Suppression of autoimmune encephalomyelitis by a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist — A putative role for substance P in CNS inflammation. J Neuroimmunol 2006; 179:1-8. [PMID: 16904192 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2006.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2006] [Revised: 06/25/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Substance P (SP) is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous system. Most of its physiological functions are mediated through binding to the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R). Recently, proinflammatory properties of SP have been described. In this study we utilized T cell transfer experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) to investigate the role of SP in CNS autoimmune disease. Treatment with the NK-1R antagonist CP-96,345 dramatically reduced clinical and histological signs of EAE if administered before disease onset. The protective effect of CP96,345 treatment was related to a reduced expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on CNS endothelia. The cellular composition or activation status of splenocytes was not affected by CP-96,345 administration, while the secretion of proinflammatory Th1 cytokines was reduced in treated animals. Th2 cytokines remained largely unaffected by NK-1 receptor antagonist treatment. In summary, our findings suggest that the protective effect of CP96,345 treatment is mediated by stabilization of the blood-brain barrier and suppression of Th1 immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nessler
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Group, Department of Neurology, Philipps-University, Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 8, Marburg, Germany.
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