Abstract
Here we report a comparative analysis of interleukin-16 (IL-16) expression by microglial cells of the normal rat brain in trimethyltin (TMT) neurotoxicity, experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), encephalomyelitis (EAE), and viral infection (Borna disease, Borna disease virus) by immunohistochemistry. Striking differences were observed. In contrast to the human brain, IL-16 was not expressed constitutively in the rat brain. Remote activation of microglial cells of the optic tract in EAU did not result into IL-16 expression. TMT intoxication induced expression in microglial cells of the hippocampus. In EAE and BDV, massive IL-16+ microglial cells could be seen. Thus, IL-16 is a descriptor of microglial cell activation that discriminates between different disease models, and might be a valuable marker for the detection of microglia activation in human and rat central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 39-45 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 146 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Autoimmunity
- CNS
- Inflammation
- Interleukin-16
- Microglia
- Neurodegeneration