Wise Young
01-07-2002, 01:30 AM
• Schwab JM, Frei E, Klusman I, Schnell L, Schwab ME and Schluesener HJ (2001). AIF-1 expression defines a proliferating and alert microglial/macrophage phenotype following spinal cord injury in rats. J Neuroimmunol. 119 (2): 214-22. Summary: Microglial cells are among the first and dominant cell types to respond to CNS injury. Following calcium influx, microglial activation leads to a variety of cellular responses, such as proliferation and release of cytotoxic and neurotrophic mediators. Allograft inflammatory factor-1, AIF-1 is a highly conserved EF-handed, putative calcium binding peptide, associated with microglia activation in the brain. Here, we have analyzed the expression of AIF-1 following spinal cord injury at the lesion site and at remote brain regions. Following spinal cord injury, AIF-1+ cells accumulated in parenchymal pan-necrotic areas and perivascular Virchow-Robin spaces. Subsequent to culmination at day 3--a situation characterized by infiltrating blood borne macrophages and microglia activation--AIF-1+ cell numbers decreased until day 7. In remote areas of Wallerian degeneration and delayed neuronal death, a more discrete and delayed activation pattern of AIF-1+ microglia/macrophages reaching maximum levels at day 14 was observed. There was a considerable match between AIF-1+ cells and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) or Ki-67+ labeled cells. AIF-1 expression preceded the expression of ED1, thus indicating a pre-phagocytic role. It appears that AIF-1+ microglia/macrophages are among the earliest cells to respond to spinal cord injury. Our results suggest a role of AIF-1 in the initiation of the early microglial response leading to activation and proliferation essential for the acute response to CNS injury. AIF-1 might modulate microgliosis influencing the efficacy of tissue debris removal, myelin degradation, recruitment of oligodendrocytes and re-organisation of the CNS architecture. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=11585624> Institute of Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Medical School, Calwer Str. 3, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany. jmschwab@med.uni-tuebingen.de
[This message was edited by Wise Young on January 07, 2002 at 02:04 PM.]
[This message was edited by Wise Young on January 07, 2002 at 02:04 PM.]