4.3 Article

Lack of TIMP-1 increases severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: Effects of darbepoetin alfa on TIMP-1 null and wild-type mice

Journal

JOURNAL OF NEUROIMMUNOLOGY
Volume 211, Issue 1-2, Pages 92-100

Publisher

ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.04.003

Keywords

Darbepoetin alfa; Multiple sclerosis; Tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Funding

  1. MS Society of Canada
  2. Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Master's Award

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) are both characterized by the infiltration of myelin-reactive T cells that trigger oligodendrocyte death associated with axonal loss and neurodegeneration in the CNS. Proteolysis of the cerebral vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) resulting in blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is thought to facilitate infiltration of autoreactive T cells in both of these demyelinating disorders. Increased matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity coupled with reduced levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases (TIMPs) contribute to a loss of BBB integrity. Erythropoietin induces expression of TIMP-1 in endothelial cells suggesting this property may account in part for its ability to maintain BBB integrity and efficacy in a preliminary clinical MS trial. Consistent with this hypothesis, we report here that administration of the erythropoietin analogue darbepoetin alfa at a low dose that did not elevate hematocrit reduced EAE severity in female C57BL/6 mice when administered following the onset of clinical signs. The protective effects of darbepoetin alfa were associated with an increase in the number of astrocytes expressing TIMP-1 in the brain and spinal cord. In keeping with a central role for TIMP-1 in this autoimmune model of acute demyelination, TIMP-1 null mice displayed a more severe EAE phenotype than wild-type littermates. Interestingly, we observed a lack of effect of darbepoetin alfa on EAE severity in TIMP-I null mice. These findings indicate that TIMP-1 deficiency both enhances disease severity and attenuates the beneficial effects of low dose darbepoetin alfa in a mouse model of EAE. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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