Apoptosis of oligodendrocytes via fas and TNF-R1 is a key event in the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Nadine Hövelmeyer, Zhenyue Hao, Ksanthi Kranidioti, George Kassiotis, Thorsten Buch, Friederike Frommer, Lennart Von Hoch, Dana Kramer, Liliana Minichiello, George Kollias, Hans Lassmann, Ari Waisman

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142 Scopus citations

Abstract

In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis, immunization with myelin Ags leads to demyelination and paralysis. To investigate which molecules are crucial for the pathogenesis of EAE, we specifically assessed the roles of the death receptors Fas and TNF-R1. Mice lacking Fas expression in oligodendrocytes (ODCs) were generated and crossed to TNF-R1-deficient mice. To achieve specific deletion of a loxP-flanked fas allele in ODCs, we generated a new insertion transgene, expressing the Cre recombinase specifically in ODCs. Fas inactivation alone as well as the complete absence of TNF-R1 protected mice partially from EAE induced by the immunization with myelin ODC glycoprotein. The double-deficient mice, however, showed almost no clinical signs of EAE after immunization. Histological analysis revealed that demyelination was suppressed in CNS tissue and that lymphocyte infiltration was notably reduced. We conclude that the death receptors Fas and TNF-R1 are major initiators of ODC apoptosis in EAE. Although only moderate reduction of lymphocyte infiltration into CNS tissue was observed, the absence of these receptors appears to confer protection from demyelination and development of clinical disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5875-5884
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume175
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2005
Externally publishedYes

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