1
|
Trifunovic S, Stevanovic I, Milosevic A, Ristic N, Janjic M, Bjelobaba I, Savic D, Bozic I, Jakovljevic M, Tesovic K, Laketa D, Lavrnja I. The Function of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: Involvement of Oxidative Stress Mediators. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:649485. [PMID: 34220419 PMCID: PMC8248369 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.649485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease with an unknown origin. Previous studies showed the involvement of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis to susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, including MS, and its best-characterized animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). During MS/EAE, innate immune cells are activated and release cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, leading to a vicious cycle of inflammation. In response to inflammation, the activated HPA axis modulates immune responses via glucocorticoid activity. Because the mechanisms involving oxidative stress to the HPA axis are relatively unrevealed, in this study, we investigate the inflammatory and oxidative stress status of HPA axis during EAE. Our results reveal an upregulation of Pomc gene expression, followed by POMC and ACTH protein increase at the peak of the EAE in the pituitary. Also, prostaglandins are well-known contributors of HPA axis activation, which increases during EAE at the periphery. The upregulated Tnf expression in the pituitary during the peak of EAE occurred. This leads to the activation of oxidative pathways, followed by upregulation of inducible NO synthase expression. The reactive oxidant/nitrosative species (ROS/RNS), such as superoxide anion and NO, increase their levels at the onset and peak of the disease in the pituitary and adrenal glands, returning to control levels at the end of EAE. The corticotrophs in the pituitary increased in number and volume at the peak of EAE that coincides with high lipid peroxidation levels. The expression of MC2R in the adrenal glands increases at the peak of EAE, where strong induction of superoxide anion and malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced total glutathione (GSH) content, and catalase activity occurred at the peak and end of EAE compared with controls. The results obtained from this study may help in understanding the mechanisms and possible pharmacological modulation in MS and demonstrate an effect of oxidative stress exposure in the HPA activation during the course of EAE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Trifunovic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Stevanovic
- Medical Faculty of Military Medical Academy, Institute of Medical Research Belgrade, University of Defense, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Milosevic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Ristic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Janjic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Bjelobaba
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Savic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Iva Bozic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Jakovljevic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Tesovic
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Laketa
- Department for General Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Irena Lavrnja
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Milosevic A, Bjelobaba I, Bozic ID, Lavrnja I, Savic D, Tesovic K, Jakovljevic M, Stojilkovic SS, Janjic MM. Testicular steroidogenesis is suppressed during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8996. [PMID: 33903635 PMCID: PMC8076254 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88305-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs during the reproductive years in both sexes. Many male patients with MS show lower blood testosterone levels, which was also observed in male rats during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. To better understand the causes of decreased testosterone production during EAE, we investigated the expression status of genes and proteins associated with steroidogenesis in the testes. No changes in the number of interstitial cells were observed in EAE animals, but the expression of the insulin-like 3 gene was reduced at the peak of the disease, implying that the Leydig cell functional capacity was affected. Consistent with this finding, the expression of most steroidogenic enzyme genes and proteins was reduced during EAE, including StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and HSD3B. No signs of testicular inflammation were observed. Recovery of steroidogenesis was observed after injection of hCG, the placental gonadotropin, or buserelin acetate, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, at the peak of EAE. Together, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that impaired testicular steroidogenesis originates upstream of the testes and that low serum LH is the main cause of decreased testosterone levels during EAE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Milosevic
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Bjelobaba
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Iva D Bozic
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Irena Lavrnja
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Savic
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Tesovic
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Jakovljevic
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Stanko S Stojilkovic
- Section on Cellular Signaling, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marija M Janjic
- Department for Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Milosevic A, Janjic MM, Lavrnja I, Savic D, Bozic ID, Tesovic K, Jakovljevic M, Pekovic S, Stojilkovic SS, Bjelobaba I. The sex-specific patterns of changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 89:233-244. [PMID: 32592862 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis develops during reproductive years in a sex-specific manner. Various neuroendocrine changes have been described in this inflammatory, demyelinating, and debilitating disease. We here aimed to determine the extent and sex specificity of alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the rat model of multiple sclerosis named experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. During the disease course, the hypothalamic tissue showed transient upregulation of inflammatory marker genes Gfap, Cd68, Ccl2, and Il1b in both sexes, but accompanied by sex-specific downregulation of Kiss1 (in females only) and Gnrh1 (in males only) expression. In females, the expression of gonadotrope-specific genes Lhb, Cga, and Gnrhr was also inhibited, accompanied by decreased basal but not stimulated serum luteinizing hormone levels and a transient arrest of the estrous cycle. In contrast, Fshb expression and serum progesterone levels were transiently elevated, findings consistent with the maintenance of the corpora lutea, and elevated immunohistochemical labeling of ovarian StAR, a rate limiting protein in steroidogenic pathway. In males, downregulation of Gnrhr expression and basal and stimulated serum luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels were accompanied by inhibited testicular StAR protein expression. We propose that inflammation of hypothalamic tissue downregulates Kiss1 and Gnrh1 expression in females and males, respectively, leading to sex-specific changes downstream the axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Milosevic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija M Janjic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Irena Lavrnja
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Savic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Iva D Bozic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Tesovic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Jakovljevic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Pekovic
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Stanko S Stojilkovic
- Section on Cellular Signaling, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ivana Bjelobaba
- Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bozic I, Savic D, Milosevic A, Janjic M, Laketa D, Tesovic K, Bjelobaba I, Jakovljevic M, Nedeljkovic N, Pekovic S, Lavrnja I. The Potassium Channel Kv1.5 Expression Alters During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. Neurochem Res 2019; 44:2733-2745. [PMID: 31624998 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02892-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease with an autoimmune component. It was suggested that potassium channels, which are involved in crucial biological functions may have a role in different diseases, including MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). It was shown that voltage-gated potassium channels Kv1.5 are responsible for fine-tuning in the immune physiology and influence proliferation and differentiation in microglia and astrocytes. Here, we explored the cellular distribution of the Kv1.5 channel, together with its transcript and protein expression in the male rat spinal cord during different stages of EAE. Our results reveal a decrease of Kv1.5 transcript and protein level at the peak of disease, where massive infiltration of myeloid cells occurs, together with reactive astrogliosis and demyelination. Also, we revealed that the presence of this channel is not found in infiltrating macrophages/microglia during EAE. It is interesting to note that Kv1.5 channel is expressed only in resting microglia in the naïve animals. Predominant expression of Kv1.5 channel was found in the astrocytes in all experimental groups, while some vimentin+ cells, resembling macrophages, are devoid of Kv1.5 expression. Our results point to the possible link between Kv1.5 channel and the pathophysiological processes in EAE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Bozic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - D Savic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - A Milosevic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Janjic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - D Laketa
- Department for General Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - K Tesovic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - I Bjelobaba
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Jakovljevic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - N Nedeljkovic
- Department for General Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - S Pekovic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - I Lavrnja
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bozic I, Tesovic K, Laketa D, Adzic M, Jakovljevic M, Bjelobaba I, Savic D, Nedeljkovic N, Pekovic S, Lavrnja I. Voltage Gated Potassium Channel Kv1.3 Is Upregulated on Activated Astrocytes in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. Neurochem Res 2018; 43:1020-1034. [PMID: 29574670 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2509-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Kv1.3 is a voltage gated potassium channel that has been implicated in pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study we investigated temporal and cellular expression pattern of this channel in the lumbar part of spinal cords of animals with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), animal model of MS. EAE was actively induced in female Dark Agouti rats. Expression of Kv1.3 was analyzed at different time points of disease progression, at the onset, peak and end of EAE. We here show that Kv1.3 increased by several folds at the peak of EAE at both gene and protein level. Double immunofluorescence analyses demonstrated localization of Kv1.3 on activated microglia, macrophages, and reactive astrocytes around inflammatory lesions. In vitro experiments showed that pharmacological block of Kv1.3 in activated astrocytes suppresses the expression of proinflammatory mediators, suggesting a role of this channel in inflammation. Our results support the hypothesis that Kv1.3 may be a therapeutic target of interest for MS and add astrocytes to the list of cells whose activation would be suppressed by inhibiting Kv1.3 in inflammatory conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iva Bozic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Blvd Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Katarina Tesovic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Blvd Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Laketa
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Adzic
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Jakovljevic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Blvd Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Bjelobaba
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Blvd Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Savic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Blvd Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nadezda Nedeljkovic
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sanja Pekovic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Blvd Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Irena Lavrnja
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Blvd Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|