Myelin phagocytosis and remyelination of macrophage-enriched central nervous system aggregate cultures

✍ Scribed by Cheryl A. Copelman; Lara T. Diemel; Djordje Gveric; Norman A. Gregson; M. Louise Cuzner

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 93 KB
• Volume: 66
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-4012
• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.10026

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

An increased level of myelin basic protein (MBP) degradation peptide 80–89, representative of myelin breakdown, is detected in myelinating foetal rat brain aggregate cultures supplemented with peritoneal macrophages at a time coinciding with the onset of myelination. During the period of myelination, the proportion of activated macrophages/microglia in the aggregates decreases, accompanied by a reduction in the content of MBP degradation products. During the recovery period following a demyelinating episode, the rate of MBP synthesis in antibody‐treated standard aggregates was greater than in their medium controls. However, the rate of MBP accumulation was not as efficient in macrophage‐enriched aggregates and was associated with persistently raised MBP peptide levels. Thus, as occurs in multiple sclerosis lesions, attempts at remyelination appear to be counterbalanced by macrophage‐mediated demyelination, with the continued presence of degraded myelin rendering a local environment that is not fully conducive to remyelination. J Neurosci. Res. 66:1173–1178, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.