Changes in neurosteroidogenesis during demyelination and remyelination in cuprizone-treated mice.
María L LeicajLaura A PasquiniAnalia LimaMaria C Gonzalez DeniselleJuana M PasquiniAlejandro Federico De NicolaLaura I GarayPublished in: Journal of neuroendocrinology (2018)
Changes of neurosteroids may be involved in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study investigated whether changes of neurosteroidogenesis also occurred in the grey and white matter regions of the brain in mice subjected to cuprizone-induced demyelination. Accordingly, we compared the expression of neurosteroidogenic proteins, including steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), as well as neurosteroidogenic enzymes, including the side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase and 5α-reductase (5α-R), during the demyelination and remyelination periods. Using immunohistochemistry and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we demonstrated a decreased expression of StAR, P450scc and 5α-R with respect to an increase astrocytic and microglial reaction and elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α during the cuprizone demyelination period in the hippocampus, cortex and corpus callosum. These parameters, as well as the glial reaction, were normalised after 2 weeks of spontaneous remyelination in regions containing grey matter. Conversely, persistent elevated levels of TNFα and low levels of StAR and P450scc were observed during remyelination in corpus callosum white matter. We conclude that neurosteroidogenesis/myelination status and glial reactivity are inversely related in the hippocampus and neocortex. Establishing a cause and effect relationship for the measured variables remains a future challenge for understanding the pathophysiology of MS.
Keyphrases
- white matter
- multiple sclerosis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- poor prognosis
- binding protein
- neuropathic pain
- drug induced
- mass spectrometry
- high fat diet induced
- ms ms
- liver failure
- high resolution
- transcription factor
- high glucose
- spinal cord
- protein protein
- inflammatory response
- cerebral ischemia
- heat shock protein
- functional connectivity
- insulin resistance
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- current status
- long non coding rna
- intensive care unit
- single molecule
- blood brain barrier
- pet ct
- preterm birth
- atomic force microscopy
- positron emission tomography
- hepatitis b virus
- electron transfer
- newly diagnosed
- gestational age