Regional and temporal expression patterns of interleukin-10, interleukin-10 receptor and adhesion molecules in the rat spinal cord during chronic relapsing EAE

Brain interleukins and Alzheimer's disease

The central nervous system (CNS) is immune-privileged by several immuno-modulators as interleukins (ILs). ILs are cytokines secreted by immune cells for cell-cell signaling communications and affect the functions of the CNS. ILs were reported to orchestrate different molecular and cellular mechanisms of both physiological and pathological events, through overproduction or over-expression of their receptors. They interact with numerous receptors mediating pro-inflammatory and/or anti-inflammatory actions. Interleukins have been implicated to participate in neurodegenerative diseases. They play a critical role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology which is characterized by the over-production of pro-inflammatory ILs. These may aggravate neurodegeneration, in addition to their contribution to detrimental mechanisms as oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity. However, recent research on the relation between ILs and AD revealed major discrepancies. Most of the major ILs were shown to play both pro- and anti-inflammatory roles in different experimental settings and models. The interactions between different ILs through shared pathways also add to the difficulty of drawing solid conclusions. In addition, targeting the different ILs has not yielded consistent results. The repeated failures of therapeutic drugs in treating AD necessitate the search for novel agents targeting multiple mechanisms of the disease pathology. In this context, the understanding of interleukins and their roles throughout the disease progression and interaction with other systems in the brain may provide promising therapeutic targets for the prevention or treatment of AD.

Involvement of TLR2-TLR4, NLRP3, and IL-17 in pain induced by a novel Sprague-Dawley rat model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Up to 92% of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) experience pain, most without adequate treatment, and many report pain long before motor symptoms associated with MS diagnosis. In the most commonly studied rodent model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), motor impairments/disabilities caused by EAE can interfere with pain testing. In this study, we characterize a novel low-dose myelin-oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein (MOG)-induced Sprague-Dawley (SD) model of EAE-related pain in male rats, optimized to minimize motor impairments/disabilities. Adult male SD rats were treated with increasing doses of intradermal myelin-oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein (MOG1-125) (0, 4, 8, and 16 μg) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) vehicle to induce mild EAE. Von Frey testing and motor assessments were conducted prior to EAE induction and then weekly thereafter to assess EAE-induced pain and motor impairment. Results from these studies demonstrated that doses of 8 and 16 μg MOG1-125 were sufficient to produce stable mechanical allodynia for up to 1 month in the absence of hindpaw motor impairments/disabilities. In the follow-up studies, these doses of MOG1-125, were administered to create allodynia in the absence of confounded motor impairments. Then, 2 weeks later, rats began daily subcutaneous injections of the Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR2-TLR4) antagonist (+)-naltrexone [(+)-NTX] or saline for an additional 13 days. We found that (+)-NTX also reverses EAE-induced mechanical allodynia in the MOG-induced SD rat model of EAE, supporting parallels between models, but now allowing a protracted timecourse to be examined completely free of motor confounds. Exploring further mechanisms, we demonstrated that both spinal NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) are necessary for EAE-induced pain, as intrathecal injections of NLRP3 antagonist MCC950 and IL-17 neutralizing antibody both acutely reversed EAE-induced pain. Finally, we show that spinal glial immunoreactivity induced by EAE is reversed by (+)-NTX, and that spinal demyelination correlates with the severity of motor impairments/disabilities. These findings characterize an optimized MOG-induced SD rat model of EAE for the study of pain with minimal motor impairments/disabilities. Finally, these studies support the role of TLR2-TLR4 antagonists as a potential treatment for MS-related pain and other pain and inflammatory-related disorders.

Adhesion Molecule Profile and the Effect of Anti-VLA-4 mAb Treatment in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

In the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the infiltration of lymphocytes and other inflammatory cells across the blood–brain barrier is associated with interactions between adhesion molecules expressed by infiltrating cells and vascular endothelium. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the α4 subunit of α4-β1 integrin (VLA-4) show beneficial effects in both MS and EAE. (1) Background: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of selected adhesion molecules: VLA-4, VCAM-1, LFA-1, ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 in the successive phases of EAE and the effect of anti-VLA-4 mAb treatment on that expression. (2) Methods: EAE was induced in C57BL/6 mice by immunization with MOG_35–55 peptide. The animals were killed in three successive phases of the disease: onset (day 13), peak (day 18) and chronic (day 28). Frozen sections of the lumbar spinal cord were examined by quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy. The expression of the studied molecules was quantified as the percentage of the cross-sectioned spinal cord lesion area occupied by immunopositive structures. (3) Results: The expression of the studied molecules showed two temporal patterns: (1) an increase in the onset phase, a maximum in the peak phase and a decrease in the chronic phase, which corresponded to the temporal pattern of the clinical score, the number of lesions and the inflammation level (ICAM-1, LFA-1 and PECAM-1), and (2) an increase in the peak phase and no significant change or further increase in the chronic phase (VCAM-1, VLA-4). Among the molecules studied, ICAM-1 and LFA-1 exhibited the highest expression levels in the peak phase of EAE. Anti-VLA-4 mAb inhibited the expression of not only VLA-4 but also other adhesion molecules. (4) Conclusions: The interactions of adhesion molecules governing the migration of leukocytes across the blood–brain barrier change in the successive phases of EAE. The therapeutic mechanism of anti-VLA-4 mAb treatment seems to include a complex influence on a variety of adhesion molecules expressed by infiltrating cells and vascular endothelium.

Targeting neuroinflammation to treat cerebral ischemia - The role of TIGAR/NADPH axis

Cerebral ischemia is a disease of ischemic necrosis of brain tissue caused by intracranial artery stenosis or occlusion and cerebral artery embolization. Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Microglia, astrocytes, leukocytes and other cells that release a variety of inflammatory factors involved in neuroinflammation may play a damaging or protective role during the process of cerebral ischemia. TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptotic regulators (TIGAR) may facilitate the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphoric acid (NADPH) via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to inhibit oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. TIGAR can also directly inhibit NF-κB to inhibit neuroinflammation. TIGAR thus protect against cerebral ischemic injury. Exogenous NADPH can inhibit neuroinflammation by inhibiting oxidative stress and regulating a variety of signals. However, since NADPH oxidase (NOX) may use NADPH as a substrate to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to mediate neuroinflammation, the combination of NADPH and NOX inhibitors may produce more powerful anti-neuroinflammatory effects. Here, we review the cells and regulatory signals involved in neuroinflammation during cerebral ischemia, and discuss the possible mechanisms of targeting neuroinflammation in the treatment of cerebral ischemia with TIGAR/NADPH axis, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 antagonism for the treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-related pain

Neuropathic pain is a major symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) with up to 92% of patients reporting bodily pain, and 85% reporting pain severe enough to cause functional disability. None of the available therapeutics target MS pain. Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2/TLR4) have emerged as targets for treating a wide array of autoimmune disorders, including MS, as well as having demonstrated success at suppressing pain in diverse animal models. The current series of studies tested systemic TLR2/TLR4 antagonists in males and females in a low-dose Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, with reduced motor dysfunction to allow unconfounded testing of allodynia through 50+ days post-MOG. The data demonstrated that blocking TLR2/TLR4 suppressed EAE-related pain, equally in males and females; upregulation of dorsal spinal cord proinflammatory gene expression for TLR2, TLR4, NLRP3, interleukin-1β, IkBα, TNF-α and interleukin-17; and upregulation of dorsal spinal cord expression of glial immunoreactivity markers. In support of these results, intrathecal interleukin-1 receptor antagonist reversed EAE-induced allodynia, both early and late after EAE induction. In contrast, blocking TLR2/TLR4 did not suppress EAE-induced motor disturbances induced by a higher MOG dose. These data suggest that blocking TLR2/TLR4 prevents the production of proinflammatory factors involved in low dose EAE pathology. Moreover, in this EAE model, TLR2/TLR4 antagonists were highly effective in reducing pain, whereas motor impairment, as seen in high dose MOG EAE, is not affected.

Experimental autoimmune encephalopathy (EAE)-induced hippocampal neuroinflammation and memory deficits are prevented with the non-opioid TLR2/TLR4 antagonist (+)-naltrexone

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with burdensome memory impairments and preclinical literature suggests that these impairments are linked to neuroinflammation. Previously, we have shown that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonists, such as (+)-naltrexone [(+)-NTX], block neuropathic pain and associated spinal inflammation in rats. Here we extend these findings to first demonstrate that (+)-NTX blocks TLR2 in addition to TLR4. Additionally, we examined in two rat strains whether (+)-NTX could attenuate learning and memory disturbances and associated neuroinflammation using a low-dose experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. EAE is the most commonly used experimental model for the human inflammatory demyelinating disease, MS. This low-dose model avoided motor impairments that would confound learning and memory measurements. Fourteen days later, daily subcutaneous (+)-NTX or saline injections began and continued throughout the study. Contextual and auditory-fear conditioning were conducted at day 21 to assess hippocampal and amygdalar function. With this low-dose model, EAE impaired long-term, but not short-term, contextual fear memory; both long-term and short-term auditory-cued fear memory were spared. This was associated with increased mRNA for hippocampal interleukin-1β (IL-1β), TLR2, TLR4, NLRP3, and IL-17 and elevated expression of the microglial marker Iba1 in CA1 and DG regions of the hippocampus, confirming the neuroinflammation observed in higher-dose EAE models. Importantly, (+)-NTX completely prevented the EAE-induced memory impairments and robustly attenuated the associated proinflammatory effects. These findings suggest that (+)-NTX may exert therapeutic effects on memory function by dampening the neuroinflammatory response in the hippocampus through blockade of TLR2/TLR4. This study suggests that TLR2 and TLR4 antagonists may be effective at treating MS-related memory deficits.

Involvement of Interleukin-10 in Analgesia of Electroacupuncture on Incision Pain

Objective

Postincision pain often occurs after surgery and is an emergency to be treated in clinic. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a Chinese traditional treatment widely used to cure acute or chronic pain, but its mechanism is not clear. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a powerful anti-inflammatory cytokine that shows neuroprotective effects in inflammation and injury in the CNS. The present study attempts to reveal that IL-10 is crucial for EA analgesia on postincision pain.

Methods

A model of incision pain was established in C57BL/6J mice. The pain threshold was detected by behavioral test, and the expression of IL-10 and its receptor was detected by an immunohistochemical method. C-fiber-evoked field potentials were recorded by in vivo analysis.

Results

The mechanical allodynia induced by paw incision was significantly inhibited by pretreatment of EA in mice. Intrathecal injection of IL-10 neutralizing antibody (2 µg/10 µL) but not intraplantar injection (10 µg/10 µL) reversed the analgesia of EA. The upregulations of IL-10 mRNA and protein were induced by EA at 6 h and 1 d after incision, respectively. Spinal long-term potentiation (LTP), a substrate for central sensitization, was also suppressed by EA with IL-10. IL-10 recombinant protein (1 µg/10 µL, i.t.) mimicked the analgesia of EA on mechanical allodynia and inhibition on the spinal LTP. Posttreatment of EA after incision also transitorily relieved the mechanical allodynia, which can be blocked by spinal IL-10 antibody. IL-10 and its receptor, IL-10RA, are predominantly expressed in the superficial spinal astrocytes.

Conclusions

These results suggested that pretreatment of EA effectively prevented postincision pain and IL-10 in spinal astrocytes was critical for the analgesia of EA and central sensitization.

Galectin-4, a Negative Regulator of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation, Is Persistently Present in Axons and Microglia/Macrophages in Multiple Sclerosis Lesions

Neuron-derived molecules are potent regulators of oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination during brain development and upon demyelination. Their analysis will thus contribute to understanding remyelination failure in demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Previously, we have identified neuronal galectin-4 as a novel negative soluble regulator in the timing of developmental myelination. Here, we investigated whether galectin-4 is re-expressed in axons upon demyelination to regulate the timing of remyelination. Our findings revealed that galectin-4 is transiently localized to axons in demyelinated areas upon cuprizone-induced demyelination. In contrast, in chronic demyelinated MS lesions, where remyelination fails, galectin-4 is permanently present on axons. Remarkably, microglia/macrophages in cuprizone-demyelinated areas also harbor galectin-4, as also observed in activated microglia/macrophages that are present in active MS lesions and in inflammatory infiltrates in chronic-relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In vitro analysis showed that galectin-4 is effectively endocytosed by macrophages, and may scavenge galectin-4 from oligodendrocytes, and that endogenous galectin-4 levels are increased in alternatively interleukin-4-activated macrophages and microglia. Hence, similar to developmental myelination, the (re)expressed galectin-4 upon demyelination may act as factor in the timing of oligodendrocyte differentiation, while the persistent presence of galectin-4 on demyelinated axons may disrupt this fine-tuning of remyelination.

Astrocyte-targeted IL-10 production decreases proliferation and induces a downregulation of activated microglia/macrophages after PPT

When central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis is altered, microglial cells become rapidly activated, proliferate and release a broad range of molecules. Among the plethora of molecules involved in the regulation of microglial activation, cytokines are considered crucial. Although production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been demonstrated after different types of CNS injuries and associated with protective functions, the specific role played by IL-10 modulating microglial cells remains unclear. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of transgenic astrocyte IL-10 production on microglial activation associated with axonal anterograde degeneration. To address it, the hippocampal area subjected to perforant pathway transection (PPT) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry and protein microarray in transgenic (GFAP-IL10Tg) mice and their corresponding wild types (WT) littermates. Our results demonstrated increased microglial/macrophages density in nonlesioned and PPT-lesioned GFAP-IL10Tg animals when compared with nonlesioned and lesioned WT, respectively. This increase was not due to proliferation, as GFAP-IL10Tg mice showed a reduced proliferation of microglial cells, but was related to an increased population of CD11b+/CD45^high monocyte/macrophages. Despite this higher number, the microglia/macrophage population in transgenic animals displayed a downregulated phenotype characterized by lower MHCII, ICOSL, and CD11c. Moreover, a sustained T-cell infiltration was found in transgenic animals. We strongly suggest these modifications must be associated with indirect effects derived from the influence of IL-10 on astrocytes and/or neurons, which express IL-10R. We finally suggested that TGF-β produced by astrocytes, along with IL-2 and CXCL10 might be crucial molecules mediating the effects of transgenic IL-10.

Effect of Preventive and Curative Fingolimod Treatment Regimens on Microglia Activation and Disease Progression in a Rat Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Fingolimod was the first oral drug approved for multiple sclerosis treatment. Its principal mechanism of action is blocking of lymphocyte trafficking. In addition, recent studies have shown its capability to diminish microglia activation. The effect of preventive and curative fingolimod treatment on the time-course of neuroinflammation was investigated in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis rat model for multiple sclerosis. Neuroinflammatory progression was followed in Dark Agouti female rats after immunization. Positron-Emission tomography (PET) imaging with (R)-[¹¹C]PK11195 was performed on day 11, 15, 19, 27, 29 and 34 during normal disease progression, preventive and curative treatments with fingolimod (1 mg/kg/day). Additionally, bodyweight and clinical symptoms were determined. Preventive treatment diminished bodyweight loss and inhibited the appearance of neurological symptoms. In non-treated rats, PET showed that neuroinflammation peaked in the brainstem at day 19, whereas the imaging signal was decreased in cortical regions. Both preventive and curative treatment reduced neuroinflammation in the brainstem at day 19. Eight days after treatment withdrawal, neuroinflammation had flared-up, especially in cortical regions. Preventive treatment with fingolimod suppressed clinical symptoms and neuroinflammation in the brainstem. After treatment withdrawal, clinical symptoms reappeared together with neuroinflammation in cortical regions, suggesting a different pathway of disease progression.

Behavioral assessment of neuropathic pain, fatigue, and anxiety in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and attenuation by interleukin-10 gene therapy

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is commonly associated with motor impairments, neuropathic pain, fatigue, mood disorders, and decreased life expectancy. However, preclinical pharmacological studies predominantly rely on clinical scoring of motor deficit as the sole behavioral endpoint. Thus, the translational potential of these studies is limited. Here, we have assessed the therapeutic potential of a novel anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) non-viral gene therapy formulation (XT-101-R) in a rat relapsing remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. EAE induced motor deficits and neuropathic pain as reflected by induction of low-threshold mechanical allodynia, suppressed voluntary wheel running, decreased social exploration, and was associated with markedly enhanced mortality. We also noted that voluntary wheel running was depressed prior to the onset of motor deficit, and may therefore serve as a predictor of clinical symptoms onset. XT-101-R was intrathecally dosed only once at the onset of motor deficits, and attenuated each of the EAE-induced symptoms and improved survival, relative to vehicle control. This is the first pharmacological assessment of such a broad range of EAE symptoms, and provides support for IL-10 gene therapy as a clinical strategy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Balancing the immune response in the brain: IL-10 and its regulation

Background

The inflammatory response is critical to fight insults, such as pathogen invasion or tissue damage, but if not resolved often becomes detrimental to the host. A growing body of evidence places non-resolved inflammation at the core of various pathologies, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. It is therefore not surprising that the immune system has evolved several regulatory mechanisms to achieve maximum protection in the absence of pathology.

Main body

The production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 is one of the most important mechanisms evolved by many immune cells to counteract damage driven by excessive inflammation. Innate immune cells of the central nervous system, notably microglia, are no exception and produce IL-10 downstream of pattern recognition receptors activation. However, whereas the molecular mechanisms regulating IL-10 expression by innate and acquired immune cells of the periphery have been extensively addressed, our knowledge on the modulation of IL-10 expression by central nervous cells is much scattered. This review addresses the current understanding on the molecular mechanisms regulating IL-10 expression by innate immune cells of the brain and the implications of IL-10 modulation in neurodegenerative disorders.

Conclusion

The regulation of IL-10 production by central nervous cells remains a challenging field. Answering the many remaining outstanding questions will contribute to the design of targeted approaches aiming at controlling deleterious inflammation in the brain.

Interleukin-10 is a critical regulator of white matter lesion containment following viral induced demyelination

Neurotropic coronavirus induces an acute encephalomyelitis accompanied by focal areas of demyelination distributed randomly along the spinal column. The initial areas of demyelination increase only slightly after the control of infection. These circumscribed focal lesions are characterized by axonal sparing, myelin ingestion by macrophage/microglia, and glial scars associated with hypertrophic astrocytes, which proliferate at the lesion border. Accelerated virus control in mice lacking the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 was associated with limited initial demyelination, but low viral mRNA persistence similar to WT mice and declining antiviral cellular immunity. Nevertheless, lesions exhibited sustained expansion providing a model of dysregulated white matter injury temporally remote from the acute CNS insult. Expanding lesions in the absence of IL‐10 are characterized by sustained microglial activation and partial loss of macrophage/microglia exhibiting an acquired deactivation phenotype. Furthermore, IL‐10 deficiency impaired astrocyte organization into mesh like structures at the lesion borders, but did not prevent astrocyte hypertrophy. The formation of discrete foci of demyelination in IL‐10 sufficient mice correlated with IL‐10 receptor expression exclusively on astrocytes in areas of demyelination suggesting a critical role for IL‐10 signaling to astrocytes in limiting expansion of initial areas of white matter damage. GLIA 2015;63:2106–2120

Adenosine 2A receptor agonism: A single intrathecal administration attenuates motor paralysis in experimental autoimmune encephalopathy in rats

A single intrathecal dose of adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR) agonist was previously reported to produce a multi-week reversal of allodynia in two different models of neuropathic pain in addition to downregulating glial activation markers in the spinal cord. We aimed to determine whether a single intrathecal administration of an A2AR agonist was able to attenuate motor symptoms induced by experimental autoimmune encephalopathy. Two A2AR agonists (CGS21680 and ATL313) significantly attenuated progression of motor symptoms following a single intrathecal administration at the onset of motor symptoms. OX-42, a marker of microglial activation, was significantly attenuated in the lumbar spinal cord following A2AR administration compared to vehicle. Therefore, A2AR agonists attenuate motor symptoms of EAE by acting on A2AR in the spinal cord.

Alterations in microglial phenotype and hippocampal neuronal function in transgenic mice with astrocyte-targeted production of interleukin-10

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine classically linked with anti-inflammatory and protective functions in the central nervous system (CNS) in different neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions. In order to study the specific role of local CNS produced IL-10, we have created a new transgenic mouse line with astrocyte-targeted production of IL-10 (GFAP-IL10Tg). In the present study, the effects of local CNS IL-10 production on microglia, astrocytes and neuronal connectivity under basal conditions were investigated using immunohistochemistry, molecular biology techniques, electrophysiology and behavioural studies. Our results showed that, in GFAP-IL10Tg animals, microglia displayed an increase in density and a specific activated phenotype characterised by morphological changes in specific areas of the brain including the hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum that correlated with the level of transgene expressed IL-10 mRNA. Distinctively, in the hippocampus, microglial cells adopted an elongated morphology following the same direction as the dendrites of pyramidal neurons. Moreover, this IL-10-induced microglial phenotype showed increased expression of certain molecules including Iba1, CD11b, CD16/32 and F4/80 markers, "de novo" expression of CD150 and no detectable levels of either CD206 or MHCII. To evaluate whether this specific activated microglial phenotype was associated with changes in neuronal activity, the electrophysiological properties of pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus (CA3-CA1) were analysed in vivo. We found a lower excitability of the CA3-CA1 synapses and absence of long-term potentiation (LTP) in GFAP-IL10Tg mice. This study is the first description of a transgenic mouse with astrocyte-targeted production of the cytokine IL-10. The findings indicate that IL-10 induces a specific activated microglial phenotype concomitant with changes in hippocampal LTP responses. This transgenic animal will be a very useful tool to study IL-10 functions in the CNS, not only under basal conditions, but also after different experimental lesions or induced diseases.

IL-10 and IL-1β mediate neuropathic-pain like behavior in the ventrolateral orbital cortex

Previous evidence has shown that the glial cells can be activated by peripheral nerve injury and release both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which play crucial roles in the establishment and maintenance of neuropathic pain. The present study examined the roles of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and pro-inflammatory IL-1β on allodynia induced by spared nerve injury (SNI) in the ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) in the rat. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was measured using von-Frey filaments. Microinjection of IL-10 (0.1, 0.5, 1 μg/0.5 μl) into the VLO, contralateral to the site of nerve injury attenuated allodynia; PWT increased in a dose-dependent manner. Similar to IL-10, administration of rabbit anti-rat IL-1β antibody (0.1, 1.0 and 10 ng/0.5 μl) into the same VLO site also alleviated allodynia with a dose-dependent fashion. Moreover, western blotting results showed expression levels of IL-10 and IL-1β significantly up-regulated in the contralateral VLO of SNI rats as compared with that of sham-operated rats. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β mediate neuropathic-pain like behavior at the cerebral cortex level; IL-10 released from activated glial cells in the VLO can potentially attenuate allodynia while IL-1β released from activated glial cells in the VLO can potentially maintain or facilitate allodynia. These results provide new insights and site for therapy at the cerebral cortex level in neuropathic pain condition.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytokines and Neurotrophic Factors in Human Chronic Pain Populations: A Comprehensive Review

Chronic pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition, conveying immense human burden. Suffering is caused not only by painful symptoms, but also through psychopathological and detrimental physical consequences, generating enormous societal costs. The current treatment armamentarium often fails to achieve satisfying pain relief; thus, research directed toward elucidating the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying chronic pain syndromes is imperative. Central neuroimmune activation and neuroinflammation have emerged as driving forces in the transition from acute to chronic pain, leading to central sensitization and decreased opioid efficacy, through processes in which glia have been highlighted as key contributors. Under normal conditions, glia exert a protective role, but in different pathological states, a deleterious role is evident--directly and indirectly modulating and enhancing pain transmission properties of neurons, and shaping synaptic plasticity in a dysfunctional manner. Cytokines and neurotrophic factors have been identified as pivotal mediators involved in neuroimmune activation pathways and cascades in various preclinical chronic pain models. Research confirming these findings in humans has so far been scarce, but this comprehensive review provides coherent data supporting the clear association of a mechanistic role of altered central cytokines and neurotrophic factors in a number of chronic pain states despite varying etiologies. Given the importance of these factors in neuropathic and inflammatory chronic pain states, prospective therapeutic strategies, and directions for future research in this emerging field, are outlined.

Improvement of spinal non-viral IL-10 gene delivery by D-mannose as a transgene adjuvant to control chronic neuropathic pain

BACKGROUND

Peri-spinal subarachnoid (intrathecal; i.t.) injection of non-viral naked plasmid DNA encoding the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 (pDNA-IL-10) suppresses chronic neuropathic pain in animal models. However, two sequential i.t. pDNA injections are required within a discrete 5 to 72-hour period for prolonged efficacy. Previous reports identified phagocytic immune cells present in the peri-spinal milieu surrounding the i.t injection site that may play a role in transgene uptake resulting in subsequent IL-10 transgene expression.

METHODS

In the present study, we aimed to examine whether factors known to induce pro-phagocytic anti-inflammatory properties of immune cells improve i.t. IL-10 transgene uptake using reduced naked pDNA-IL-10 doses previously determined ineffective. Both the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, and the hexose sugar, D-mannose, were factors examined that could optimize i.t. pDNA-IL-10 uptake leading to enduring suppression of neuropathic pain as assessed by light touch sensitivity of the rat hindpaw (allodynia).

RESULTS

Compared to dexamethasone, i.t. mannose pretreatment significantly and dose-dependently prolonged pDNA-IL-10 pain suppressive effects, reduced spinal IL-1β and enhanced spinal and dorsal root ganglia IL-10 immunoreactivity. Macrophages exposed to D-mannose revealed reduced proinflammatory TNF-α, IL-1β, and nitric oxide, and increased IL-10 protein release, while IL-4 revealed no improvement in transgene uptake. Separately, D-mannose dramatically increased pDNA-derived IL-10 protein release in culture supernatants. Lastly, a single i.t. co-injection of mannose with a 25-fold lower pDNA-IL-10 dose produced prolonged pain suppression in neuropathic rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Peri-spinal treatment with D-mannose may optimize naked pDNA-IL-10 transgene uptake for suppression of allodynia, and is a novel approach to tune spinal immune cells toward pro-phagocytic phenotype for improved non-viral gene therapy.

Application of mass spectrometry to characterize localization and efficacy of nanoceria in vivo

In vivo study of nanomaterials is complicated by the physical and chemical changes induced in the nanomaterial by exposure to biological compartments. A diverse array of proteins can bind to the nanomaterial, forming a protein corona which may alter the dispersion, surface charge, distribution, and biological activity of the material. Evidence suggests that unique synthesis and stabilization strategies can greatly affect the composition of the corona, and thus, the in vivo properties of the nanomaterial. Protein and elemental analyses techniques are critical to characterizing the nature of the protein corona in order to best predict the in vivo behavior of the nanomaterial. Further, as described here, inductively coupled mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) can also be used to quantify nanomaterial deposition in tissues harvested from exposed animals. Elemental analysis of ceria content demonstrated deposition of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) in various tissues of healthy mice and in the brains of mice with a model of multiple sclerosis. Thus, ICP-MS analysis of nanomaterial tissue distribution can complement data illustrating the biological, and in this case, therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles delivered in vivo.

Custom cerium oxide nanoparticles protect against a free radical mediated autoimmune degenerative disease in the brain

Cerium oxide nanoparticles are potent antioxidants, based on their ability to either donate or receive electrons as they alternate between the +3 and +4 valence states. The dual oxidation state of ceria has made it an ideal catalyst in industrial applications, and more recently, nanoceria's efficacy in neutralizing biologically generated free radicals has been explored in biological applications. Here, we report the in vivo characteristics of custom-synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) in an animal model of immunological and free-radical mediated oxidative injury leading to neurodegenerative disease. The CeNPs are 2.9 nm in diameter, monodispersed and have a -23.5 mV zeta potential when stabilized with citrate/EDTA. This stabilizer coating resists being 'washed' off in physiological salt solutions, and the CeNPs remain monodispersed for long durations in high ionic strength saline. The plasma half-life of the CeNPs is ∼4.0 h, far longer than previously described, stabilized ceria nanoparticles. When administered intravenously to mice, the CeNPs were well tolerated and taken up by the liver and spleen much less than previous nanoceria formulations. The CeNPs were also able to penetrate the brain, reduce reactive oxygen species levels, and alleviate clinical symptoms and motor deficits in mice with a murine model of multiple sclerosis. Thus, CeNPs may be useful in mitigating tissue damage arising from free radical accumulation in biological systems.

Neuropathic pain and cytokines: current perspectives

Neuropathic pain represents a major problem in clinical medicine because it causes debilitating suffering and is largely resistant to currently available analgesics. A characteristic of neuropathic pain is abnormal response to somatic sensory stimulation. Thus, patients suffering peripheral neuropathies may experience pain caused by stimuli which are normally nonpainful, such as simple touching of the skin or by changes in temperature, as well as exaggerated responses to noxious stimuli. Convincing evidence suggests that this hypersensitivity is the result of pain remaining centralized. In particular, at the first pain synapse in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, the gain of neurons is increased and neurons begin to be activated by innocuous inputs. In recent years, it has become appreciated that a remote damage in the peripheral nervous system results in neuronal plasticity and changes in microglial and astrocyte activity, as well as infiltration of macrophages and T cells, which all contribute to central sensitization. Specifically, the release of pronociceptive factors such as cytokines and chemokines from neurons and non-neuronal cells can sensitize neurons of the first pain synapse. In this article we review the current evidence for the role of cytokines in mediating spinal neuron–non-neuronal cell communication in neuropathic pain mechanisms following peripheral nerve injury. Specific and selective control of cytokine-mediated neuronal–glia interactions results in attenuation of the hypersensitivity to both noxious and innocuous stimuli observed in neuropathic pain models, and may represent an avenue for future therapeutic intervention.

Fibronectin aggregation in multiple sclerosis lesions impairs remyelination

Remyelination following central nervous system demyelination is essential to prevent axon degeneration. However, remyelination ultimately fails in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. This failure of remyelination is likely mediated by many factors, including changes in the extracellular signalling environment. Here, we examined the expression of the extracellular matrix molecule fibronectin on demyelinating injury and how this affects remyelination by oligodendrocytes progenitors. In toxin-induced lesions undergoing efficient remyelination, fibronectin expression was transiently increased within demyelinated areas and declined as remyelination proceeded. Fibronectin levels increased both by leakage from the blood circulation and by production from central nervous system resident cells. In chronically demyelinated multiple sclerosis lesions, fibronectin expression persisted in the form of aggregates, which may render fibronectin resistant to degradation. Aggregation of fibronectin was similarly observed at the relapse phase of chronic experimental autoimmune encephalitis, but not on toxin-induced demyelination, suggesting that fibronectin aggregation is mediated by inflammation-induced demyelination. Indeed, the inflammatory mediator lipopolysaccharide induced fibronectin aggregation by astrocytes. Most intriguingly, injection of astrocyte-derived fibronectin aggregates in toxin-induced demyelinated lesions inhibited oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination, and fibronectin aggregates are barely expressed in remyelinated multiple sclerosis lesions. Therefore, these findings suggest that fibronectin aggregates within multiple sclerosis lesions contribute to remyelination failure. Hence, the inhibitory signals induced by fibronectin aggregates or factors that affect fibronectin aggregation could be potential therapeutic targets for promoting remyelination.

Spinal interleukin-10 therapy to treat peripheral neuropathic pain

INTRODUCTION

  Current research indicates that chronic peripheral neuropathic pain includes a role for glia and the actions of proinflammatory factors. This review briefly discusses the glial and cytokine responses that occur following peripheral nerve damage in support of utilizing anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) therapy to suppress chronic peripheral neuropathic pain. SPINAL NONVIRAL INTERLEUKIN-10 GENE THERAPY:  IL-10 is one of the most powerful endogenous counter-regulators of proinflammatory cytokine function that acts in the nervous system. Subarachnoid (intrathecal) spinal injection of the gene encoding IL-10 delivered by nonviral vectors has several advantages over virally mediated gene transfer methods and leads to profound pain relief in several animal models. NONVIRAL GENE DELIVERY:  Lastly, data are reviewed that nonviral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) encapsulated by a biologically safe copolymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), thought to protect DNA, leads to significantly improved therapeutic gene transfer in animal models, which additionally and significantly extends pain relief.

CONCLUSIONS

  The impact of these early studies exploring anti-inflammatory genes emphasizes the exceptional therapeutic potential of new biocompatible intrathecal nonviral gene delivery approaches such as PLGA microparticles. Ultimately, ongoing expression of therapeutic genes is a viable option to treat chronic neuropathic pain in the clinic.

Interleukin-10 of red nucleus plays anti-allodynia effect in neuropathic pain rats with spared nerve injury

Our previous studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in red nucleus (RN) are involved in the development of neuropathic pain and play facilitated roles on the mechanical allodynia induced by peripheral nerve injury. The current study was designed to evaluate the expression and effect of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in the RN of rats with spared nerve injury (SNI). Immunohistochemical staining results demonstrated when 3 weeks after SNI, the expression level of IL-10 in the contralateral RN of SNI rats was apparently higher than those of sham-operated and normal rats. To further study the effect of IL-10 in the development of neuropathic pain, different doses of IL-10 (1.0, 0.5 and 0.1 μg/μl) were microinjected respectively into the RN contralateral to the nerve injury side of SNI rats. Results demonstrated that higher doses of IL-10 (1.0 and 0.5 μg/μl) significantly attenuated the mechanical allodynia of neuropathic rats, while 0.1 μg/μl of IL-10 did not show any analgesic effect. These results suggest that IL-10 of RN participates in the development of neuropathic pain and plays inhibitory roles on the mechanical allodynia induced by SNI.

Interleukin-10 overexpression does not synergize with the neuroprotective action of RGD-containing vectors after postnatal brain excitotoxicity but modulates the main inflammatory cell responses

Antiinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) have been used to modulate and terminate inflammation and provide neuroprotection. Recently, we reported that the modular recombinant transfection vector NLSCt is an efficient tool for transgene overexpression in vivo, which induces neuroprotection as a result of its RGD-mediated integrin-interacting capacity. We here sought to evaluate the putative synergic neuroprotective action exerted by IL-10 overexpression using NLSCt as a transfection vector after an excitotoxic injury to the postnatal rat brain. For this purpose, lesion volume, neurodegeneration, astroglial and microglial responses, neutrophil infiltration, and proinflammatory cytokine production were analyzed at several survival times after intracortical NMDA injection in postnatal day 9 rats, followed by injection of NLSCt combined with the IL-10 gene, a control transgene, or saline vehicle solution. Our results show no combined neuroprotective effect between RGD-interacting vectors and IL-10 gene therapy; instead, IL-10 overexpression using NLSCt as transfection vector increased lesion volume and neuronal degeneration at 12 hr and 3 days postlesion. In parallel, NLSCt/IL-10 treated animals displayed increased density of neutrophils and microglia/macrophages, and a reduced astroglial content of GFAP and vimentin. Moreover, NLSCt/IL-10 treated animals did not show any variation in interleukin-1β or tumor necrosis factor-α expression but a slight increase in interleukin-6 content at 7 days postlesion. In conclusion, overexpression of IL-10 by using NLSCt transfection vector did not synergistically neuroprotect the excitotoxically damaged postnatal rat brain but induced changes in the astroglial and microglial and inflammatory cell response.

PEGylation of interleukin-10 for the mitigation of enhanced pain states

The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) shows promise for the treatment of neuropathic pain, but for IL-10 to be clinically useful as a short-term therapeutic its duration needs to be improved. In this study, IL-10 was covalently modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the goal of stabilizing and increasing protein levels in the CSF to improve the efficacy of IL-10 for treating neuropathic pain. Two different PEGylation methods were explored in vitro to identify suitable PEGylated IL-10 products for subsequent in vivo testing. PEGylation of IL-10 by acylation yielded a highly PEGylated product with a 35-fold in vitro biological activity reduction. PEGylation of IL-10 by reductive amination yielded products with a minimal number of PEG molecules attached and in vitro biological activity reductions of approximately 3-fold. In vivo collections of cerebrospinal fluid after intrathecal administration demonstrated that 20 kDa PEG attachment to IL-10 increased the concentration of IL-10 in the cerebrospinal fluid over time. Relative to unmodified IL-10, the 20 kDa PEG-IL-10 product exhibited an increased therapeutic duration and magnitude in an animal model of neuropathic pain. This suggests that PEGylation is a viable strategy for the short-term treatment or, in conjunction with other approaches, the long-term treatment of enhanced pain states.

Anti-inflammatory effect by lentiviral-mediated overexpression of IL-10 or IL-1 receptor antagonist in rat glial cells and macrophages

Neuroinflammation, as defined by activation of local glial cells and production of various inflammatory mediators, is an important feature of many neurological disorders. Expression of pro-inflammatory mediators produced by glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) is considered to contribute to the neuropathology observed in those diseases. To diminish the production or action of pro-inflammatory mediators, we have used lentiviral (LV) vector-mediated encoding rat interleukin-10 (rIL-10) or rat interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (rIL-1ra) to direct the local, long-term expression of these anti-inflammatory cytokines in the CNS. We have shown that cultured macrophages or astroglia transduced with LV-rIL-10 or LV-rIL-1ra produced far less tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha or IL-6, respectively in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli. Moreover, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of LV-rIL-10 or LV-rIL-1ra resulted in transduction of glial cells and macrophages and, subsequently reduced TNFalpha, IL-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in various brain regions induced by inflammatory stimuli, whereas peripheral expression of these mediators remained unaffected. In addition, expression levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and transforming growth factor-beta were not altered in either brain or pituitary gland. Furthermore, i.c.v. administration of LV-rIL-10 or LV-rIL-1ra given during the remission phase of chronic-relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis, improved the clinical outcome of the relapse phase. Thus, local application of LV vectors expressing anti-inflammatory cytokines could be of therapeutic interest to counteract pro-inflammatory processes in the brain without interfering with the peripheral production of inflammatory mediators.

Enduring reversal of neuropathic pain by a single intrathecal injection of adenosine 2A receptor agonists: a novel therapy for neuropathic pain

Previous studies of peripheral immune cells have documented that activation of adenosine 2A receptors (A(2A)Rs) decrease proinflammatory cytokine release and increase release of the potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10). Given the growing literature supporting that glial proinflammatory cytokines importantly contribute to neuropathic pain and that IL-10 can suppress such pain, we evaluated the effects of intrathecally administered A(2A)R agonists on neuropathic pain using the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. A single intrathecal injection of the A(2A)R agonists 4-(3-(6-amino-9-(5-cyclopropylcarbamoyl-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-9H-purin-2-yl)prop-2-ynyl)piperidine-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester (ATL313) or 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido adenosine HCl (CGS21680), 10-14 d after CCI versus sham surgery, produced a long-duration reversal of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia for at least 4 weeks. Neither drug altered the nociceptive responses of sham-operated controls. An A(2A)R antagonist [ZM241385 (4-(2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)(1,2,4)triazolo(2,3-a)(1,3,5)triazin-5-ylamino]ethyl)phenol)] coadministered intrathecally with ATL313 abolished the action of ATL313 in rats with neuropathy-induced allodynia but had no effect on allodynia in the absence of the A(2A)R agonist. ATL313 attenuated CCI-induced upregulation of spinal cord activation markers for microglia and astrocytes in the L4-L6 spinal cord segments both 1 and 4 weeks after a single intrathecal ATL313 administration. Neutralizing IL-10 antibodies administered intrathecally transiently abolished the effect of ATL313 on neuropathic pain. In addition, IL-10 mRNA was significantly elevated in the CSF cells collected from the lumbar region. Activation of A(2A)Rs after intrathecal administration may be a novel, therapeutic approach for the treatment of neuropathic pain by increasing IL-10 in the immunocompetent cells of the CNS.

Long-term control of neuropathic pain in a non-viral gene therapy paradigm

Traditional approaches to treating chronic neuropathic pain largely focus on manipulations directly altering neuronal activity or neuron-to-neuron communication. Recently, however, it has become clear that glial cells (including microglia and astroglia) play a significant role in pain expression in a variety of neuropathic pain models. Multiple aspects of the inflammatory response of glial cells, commonly observed in neuropathic pain conditions, have been implicated in pain expression. Thus, glial cell inflammation has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in neuropathic pain. Our laboratory has been exploring the use of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), to control glial inflammatory activation thereby controlling neuropathic pain. IL-10 protein delivery is limited by a short half-life and an inability to cross into the central nervous system from the periphery, making a centrally delivered gene therapy approach attractive. We have recently characterized a non-viral gene therapy approach using two injections of naked DNA to achieve long-term (>3 months) control of neuropathic pain in a peripheral nerve injury model. Timing and dose requirements leading to long-term pain control are discussed in this review, as is recent work using microparticle-encapsulated DNA to achieve long-term therapeutic efficacy with a single injection.

Anti-inflammatory cytokine gene therapy decreases sensory and motor dysfunction in experimental Multiple Sclerosis: MOG-EAE behavioral and anatomical symptom treatment with cytokine gene therapy

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that presents clinically with a range of symptoms including motor, sensory, and cognitive dysfunction as well as demyelination and lesion formation in brain and spinal cord. A variety of animal models of MS have been developed that share many of the pathological hallmarks of MS including motor deficits (ascending paralysis), demyelination and axonal damage of central nervous system (CNS) tissue. In recent years, neuropathic pain has been recognized as a prevalent symptom of MS in a majority of patients. To date, there have been very few investigations into sensory disturbances in animal models of MS. The current work contains the first assessment of hind paw mechanical allodynia (von Frey test) over the course of a relapsing-remitting myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (MOG-EAE) rat model of MS and establishes the utility of this model in examining autoimmune induced sensory dysfunction. We demonstrate periods of both decreased responsiveness to touch that precedes the onset of hind limb paralysis, and increased responsiveness (allodynia) that occurs during the period of motor deficit amelioration traditionally referred to as symptom remission. Furthermore, we tested the ability of our recently characterized anti-inflammatory IL-10 gene therapy to treat the autoimmune inflammation induced behavioral symptoms and tissue histopathological changes. This therapy is shown here to reverse inflammation induced paralysis, to reduce disease associated reduction in sensitivity to touch, to prevent the onset of allodynia, to reverse disease associated loss of body weight, and to suppress CNS glial activation associated with disease progression in this model.

Actively induced EAE in Lewis rats: characterization of spleen and spinal cord infiltrating lymphocytes by flow cytometry during the course of the disease

Actively induced Lewis rat Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a highly reproducible model for portraying the acute phase of multiple sclerosis. Our aim was to get more information about this model by means of flow cytometry looking at potential markers for tracing new treatments' efficacy. Thus we characterized the changes occurring in encephalitogenic TCR Vbeta8.2(+) frequency and the adhesion molecule alpha4 integrin expression in both spleen and spinal cord T cells. The increase in both these parameters was observed only in spinal cord infiltrating T cells while relevant changes in spleen cell composition were observed as early as disease onset.

Anticytokine therapy in neuropathic pain management

Cytokine activation or dysregulation is implied in a variety of painful disease states. Numerous experimental studies provide evidence that proinflammatory cytokines induce or facilitate neuropathic pain. Cytokine levels are rapidly and markedly upregulated in the peripheral nerves, dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord and in particular regions of the brain, after peripheral nerve injuries. Direct receptor-mediated actions on afferent nerve fibers as well as cytokine effects involving further mediators have been reported. Whereas direct application of exogenous proinflammatory cytokines induces pain, blockade of these cytokines or application of anti-inflammatory cytokines reduces pain behavior in most experimental paradigms. Cytokine measurements may identify patients at risk of developing chronic pain associated with their neuropathic conditions, as in the examples of peripheral neuropathies and postherpetic neuralgia. Anticytokine agents currently on the market are effective for the treatment of mostly inflammatory pain conditions, and are starting to be introduced for neuropathic pain states; however, their use is limited by potential life-threatening complications. Owing to the pleiotropy and redundancy of the cytokine system, the successful approach may not be inhibition of one particular cytokine but strategies shifting the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in properly selected patients. Agents that specifically target downstream signaling molecules may provide hope for safer and more specific therapies.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor Atorvastatin mediated effects depend on the activation status of target cells in PLP-EAE

The effect of Atorvastatin on transcriptional activity in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by PLP peptide 139-151 was analyzed by DNA microarray technique in lymph nodes and spinal cord at onset (10 days), height (20 days) and first remission (30 days) of disease. Fourteen genes were selectively influenced by Atorvastatin in EAE mice. They are mainly related to immune cell functions and regulation of cell-to-cell interaction. Interestingly, seven genes were also differentially regulated in CFA-injected control mice. But qualitative and quantitative differences to EAE mice argue for a dependency of statin effects on the activation status of target cells. Differential regulation of the newly detected candidate genes of statin effects COX-1 and HSP-105 and the previously known statin-responsive genes ICAM-1 and CD86 was confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometric analysis of lymph node cells revealed that the effect of Atorvastatin treatment in non-immunized healthy animals resembled the effect of immunization with PLP peptide regarding changes of T helper cells, activated B cells and macrophages. In EAE mice, these effects were partially reversed by Atorvastatin treatment. Monitoring of expression of the newly identified candidate genes and patterns of lymphocyte subpopulations might predict the responsiveness of multiple sclerosis patients to statin treatment.

Repeated intrathecal injections of plasmid DNA encoding interleukin-10 produce prolonged reversal of neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is a major clinical problem unresolved by available therapeutics. Spinal cord glia play a pivotal role in neuropathic pain, via the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Anti-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-10 (IL-10), suppress proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, IL-10 may provide a means for controlling glial amplification of pain. We recently documented that intrathecal IL-10 protein resolves neuropathic pain, albeit briefly (approximately 2-3 h), given its short half-life. Intrathecal gene therapy using viruses encoding IL-10 can also resolve neuropathic pain, but for only approximately 2 weeks. Here, we report a novel approach that dramatically increases the efficacy of intrathecal IL-10 gene therapy. Repeated intrathecal delivery of plasmid DNA vectors encoding IL-10 (pDNA-IL-10) abolished neuropathic pain for greater than 40 days. Naked pDNA-IL-10 reversed chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced allodynia both shortly after nerve injury as well as 2 months later. This supports that spinal proinflammatory cytokines are important in both the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Importantly, pDNA-IL-10 gene therapy reversed mechanical allodynia induced by CCI, returning rats to normal pain responsiveness, without additional analgesia. Together, these data suggest that intrathecal IL-10 gene therapy may provide a novel approach for prolonged clinical pain control.

Involvement of cell adhesion molecules in polydatin protection of brain tissues from ischemia-reperfusion injury

Previous studies have demonstrated that polydatin, a crystal component extracted from the root stem of the perennial herbage Polygonum Cuspidatum Sieb.et Zucc, exerts a neuroprotective effect on cerebral injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion. To investigate the possible mechanism of this action, we determined the effects of polydatin on the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) after ischemia-induced cerebral injury. Rats were treated with polydatin (i.v.) immediately after the operation of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1 h. It was found that polydatin improved neurological deficits and reduced the volume of brain infarction. In addition, polydatin decreased the levels of CAMs relative to the control (MCAO alone); these included intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, L-selectin and Integrins. These results suggest that polydatin exerts protective effects likely via inhibition of the expression of various CAMs; polydatin may be a potential agent for treatment of brain injury associated with stroke.

Role of alveolar macrophage and migrating neutrophils in hemorrhage-induced priming for ALI subsequent to septic challenge

Acute lung injury (ALI) is identified with the targeting/sequestration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) to the lung. Instrumental to PMN targeting are chemokines [e.g., macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), etc.] produced by macrophage, PMN, and other resident pulmonary cells. However, the relative contribution of resident pulmonary macrophages as opposed to PMN in inducing ALI is poorly understood. We therefore hypothesize that depletion of peripheral blood PMN and/or the oblation of a macrophage-mediated PMN chemokine signal (via macrophage deficiency) will reduce the inflammation and ALI observed in mice following hemorrhage (Hem) and subsequent sepsis (CLP) in our murine model of ALI. To examine this we pretreated mice with either 500 μg anti-mouse Gr1 antibody/animal (to deplete PMN) or subjected mice deficient in mature macrophage (B6C3Fe-a/a-CsF1op) to Hem (90 min at 35 ± 5 mmHg) followed by resuscitation. Twenty-four hours post-Hem, mice were subjected to CLP and killed 24 h later, and lung tissue samples were collected. Our data showed that in the absence of either peripheral blood PMN or mature tissue macrophages there was a suppression of IL-6, KC, and MIP-2 levels in lung tissue from Hem/CLP mice as well as a reduction in PMN influx to the lung and lung injury (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein). In contrast, lung tissue IL-10 and TNF-α levels were suppressed in the macrophage-deficient Hem/CLP mice compared with PMN-depleted Hem/CLP mice. Together, these data suggest that both the PMN and the macrophage are required to induce inflammation seen here, however, macrophage not PMN regulate the release of IL-10, independent of local changes in TNF.

Controlling pathological pain by adenovirally driven spinal production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10

Gene therapy for the control of pain has, to date, targeted neurons. However, recent evidence supports that spinal cord glia are critical to the creation and maintenance of pain facilitation through the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Because of the ability of interleukin-10 (IL-10) to suppress proinflammatory cytokines, we tested whether an adenoviral vector encoding human IL-10 (AD-h-IL10) would block and reverse pain facilitation. Three pain models were examined, all of which are mediated by spinal pro-inflammatory cytokines. Acute intrathecal administration of rat IL-10 protein itself briefly reversed chronic constriction injury-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The transient reversal caused by IL-10 protein paralleled the half-life of human IL-10 protein in the intrathecal space (t(1/2) approximately 2 h). IL-10 gene therapy both prevented and reversed thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, without affecting basal responses to thermal or mechanical stimuli. Extra-territorial, as well as territorial, pain changes were reversed by this treatment. Intrathecal AD-h-IL10 injected over lumbosacral spinal cord led to elevated lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of human IL-10, with far less human IL-10 observed in cervical CSF. In keeping with IL-10's known anti-inflammatory actions, AD-h-IL10 lowered CSF levels of IL-1, relative to control AD. These studies support that this gene therapy approach provides an alternative to neuronally focused drug and gene therapies for clinical pain control.

Controlling neuropathic pain by adeno-associated virus driven production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10

Despite many decades of drug development, effective therapies for neuropathic pain remain elusive. The recent recognition of spinal cord glia and glial pro-inflammatory cytokines as important contributors to neuropathic pain suggests an alternative therapeutic strategy; that is, targeting glial activation or its downstream consequences. While several glial-selective drugs have been successful in controlling neuropathic pain in animal models, none are optimal for human use. Thus the aim of the present studies was to explore a novel approach for controlling neuropathic pain. Here, an adeno-associated viral (serotype II; AAV2) vector was created that encodes the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10). This anti-inflammatory cytokine is known to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Upon intrathecal administration, this novel AAV2-IL-10 vector was successful in transiently preventing and reversing neuropathic pain. Intrathecal administration of an AAV2 vector encoding beta-galactosidase revealed that AAV2 preferentially infects meningeal cells surrounding the CSF space. Taken together, these data provide initial support that intrathecal gene therapy to drive the production of IL-10 may prove to be an efficacious treatment for neuropathic pain.

Alteration of the extracellular matrix interferes with raft association of neurofascin in oligodendrocytes. Potential significance for multiple sclerosis?

Remyelination, as potential treatment for demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), requires the formation of new axoglial interactions by differentiating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Since the oligodendrocyte-specific isoform of neurofascin, NF155 (neurofascin isoform of 155 kDa), may be important for establishing axoglial interactions, we analyzed whether its expression is changed in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelinitis (EAE). Although overall expression of NF155 was not changed, immunoreactivity of NF155 was dramatically increased in EAE lesion sites indicating an enhanced accessibility of NF155 epitopes. As this may be due to infiltrating plasma components, for example, fibronectin, we analyzed whether fibronectin affects the intracellular distribution and membrane association of NF155 in primary oligodendrocytes. In oligodendrocytes cultivated on polylysine, NF155 was recruited to membrane microdomains (rafts) during development and became enriched in secondary and tertiary processes. Fibronectin perturbed localization and raft association of NF155 and inhibited the morphological differentiation of oligodendrocytes. Consistent with the in vitro data, raft association of NF155 was reduced in spinal cord of EAE rats. The results suggest that the association of NF155 to microdomains in the oligodendrocyte membrane is required for its participation in intermolecular interactions, which are important for myelination and/or myelin integrity.

Central Proinflammatory Cytokines and Pain Enhancement

Enhanced pain is a component of the 'sickness response' which is an evolutionarily adaptive constellation of responses that enhance the survival of the host. Proinflammatory cytokines mediate these sickness behaviors, and whether proinflammatory cytokines are involved in exaggerated pain has become an intriguing question. Studies suggest that spinal cord glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) are activated in conditions that lead to enhanced pain. Not only is glial activation associated with enhanced pain, but it is also integral to the induction and maintenance of these pain states. Proinflammatory cytokines can be released by activated astrocytes and microglia within the central nervous system. This review will discuss the role of proinflammatory cytokines in experimental models of prolonged pain states. Administration of exogenous proinflammatory cytokines facilitates pain, and agents that antagonize proinflammatory cytokine actions have been shown to block and/or reverse enhanced pain. These findings suggest that blocking the synthesis and/or release of proinflammatory cytokines may be viable strategies for the treatment of pathological pain. Gene therapy to augment the endogenous anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10, is one of the more promising therapies currently under study.