Involvement of Src-suppressed C kinase substrate in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: a link between release of astrocyte proinflammatory factor and oligodendrocyte apoptosis

J Neurosci Res. 2010 Jul;88(9):1858-71. doi: 10.1002/jnr.22355.

Abstract

Src-suppressed C kinase substrate (SSeCKS) is involved in inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), and plays a role in control of cell signaling and cytoskeletal arrangement. However, the expression and function of SSeCKS and its function in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its common animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) remained to be elucidated. In the present study, we first reported that SSeCKS was remarkably increased in astrocytes of EAE rats in vivo. TNF-alpha and NO were significantly induced in astrocytes stimulated with LPS/IFN-gamma in vitro, which was blocked in astrocytes transfected with SSeCKS siRNA. These results indicated that SSeCKS played a role in the production of TNF-alpha and NO in astrocytes with inflammatory stimulation. As excessive release of TNF-alpha and NO were major mediators in autoimmune diseases and correlated with oligodendrocyte cell death, we further investigated whether SSeCKS participated in oligodendrocyte apoptosis. Conditioned media (CM) from astrocytes treated with LPS/IFN-gamma decreased oligodendrocyte cell viability, while siRNA targeted to SSeCKS in astrocytes inhibited oligodendrocyte cell death. The results from antibody neutralization and NO inhibition suggested that the oligodendrocyte apoptosis may be due to the production of astrocyte-derived proinflammatory factors (TNF-alpha and NO). These findings revealed that there was a pathogenic interaction between SSeCKS expression in astrocytes and oligodendrocyte apoptosis. Understanding the mechanism of SSeCKS in the pathogenesis of EAE may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies against EAE and MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / genetics
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Neuroglia / physiology*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Oligodendroglia / physiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins
  • Akap12 protein, rat
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, rat