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Endocrinology Vol. 143, No. 1 313-319
Copyright © 2002 by The Endocrine Society


NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY

Evaluation of the Effects of 17ß-Estradiol (17ß-E2) on Gene Expression in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Using DNA Microarray

Agata Matejuk1, Jami Dwyer, Alex Zamora, Arthur A. Vandenbark and Halina Offner

Department of Neurology, Oregon Health Sciences University (A.M., A.A.V., H.O.), Portland, Oregon 97201; L. Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (A.M.), 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; Neuroimmunology Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center (A.M., J.D., A.Z., A.A.V., H.O.), Portland, Oregon 97201; and Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health Sciences University (A.A.V.), Portland, Oregon 97201

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Agata Matejuk, R&D-31, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97201. E-mail: matejuka{at}ohsu.edu


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
The aim of this study was to identify immune-related genes affected by treatment with 17ß-estradiol (17ß-E2) that contribute to protection of T cell antigen receptor double transgenic mice from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The Affymetrix microarray system was used to screen more than 12,000 genes from E2-treated mice protected from EAE vs. control mice with severe EAE. In general, E2 treatment affected about 10% of the genes tested, but only 18 cytokine, chemokine/receptor, adhesion molecule, or activation genes were up- or down-regulated more than 2.4-fold by E2 treatment. Down-regulated genes included TNF{alpha} (an important proinflammatory cytokine in EAE); peptidoglycan recognition proteins (Pgrp); regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES); and neural cell adhesion molecule (MCP-1). Up-regulated genes included cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4; known to inhibit T cell activation), TGFß3, IL-18, and two interferon-{gamma}-induced genes, the chemokines: monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß (MIP-1ß), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and disintegrin metalloprotease (thought to regulate TNF{alpha} production). These results implicate a limited set of known and previously unsuspected E2-sensitive genes that may be crucial for inhibition of EAE and potentially the human disease, multiple sclerosis.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
ANTIINFLAMMATORY EFFECTS of estrogen have been shown in several autoimmune diseases, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and multiple sclerosis (MS) (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). MS is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that develops 2–3 times more frequently in women than in men (7, 8, 9), suggesting that hormonal factors play an important role in the development and progression of this disease. Protective properties of some sex hormones are documented by observations that the severity of clinical symptoms is strongly diminished during pregnancy (10, 11). This gender dimorphism in MS is similar in animals with EAE, which serves as a useful animal model for MS (12, 13, 14, 15). Our previous studies showed that low doses of 17ß-E2 significantly inhibited EAE induced in several mouse strains, with doses ranging from pregnancy to diestrous levels of E2 (16, 17). However, little is known about the mechanisms by which sex hormones produce this beneficial effect.

Estrogens are highly pleiotropic, affecting a wide variety of cells and tissues. According to the current view, estrogens mediate their activities through transcription-regulating intracellular estrogen receptors (iER). These proteins contain several domains for estrogen binding, nuclear localization, dimerization, DNA binding, and trans-activation that impart to iERs the ability to activate or repress specific estrogen-responsive genes. The influence of E2 was demonstrated on the production of several cytokines, such as IL-1 (18), IL-6 (19) TNF{alpha} (20), and interferon-{gamma} (IFN{gamma}) (21). The cytokine secretion pattern of human CD4+ T cell clones was strongly influenced by high concentrations of E2 (22, 23). Recently, we demonstrated a significant decrease in the frequency of TNF{alpha}-producing cells in the CNS and the periphery in mice treated with estrogen (24).

Two different iERs have been characterized, iER{alpha} and the newly discovered iERß, that may have overlapping or distinct functions. To account for the myriad of distinct tissue-specific effects, it has been suggested that different iER modulators may induce conformational changes in the receptor that result in a specific biological activity. Several studies implicate a functional ER found on human blood mononuclear cells, splenic and thymic cells (25), as well as human leukocyte antigen-DR-negative human peripheral and thymic T cells (26) and the CD8 subset of human T cells (27, 28). Our recent study demonstrated ER{alpha} message in purified murine CD4+ T cells (29). Additionally, a novel E2 pathway through plasma membrane receptors was demonstrated in CD4+ as well as CD8+ T cells (30).

In this study we investigated the effects of changes in the expression of more than 12,000 genes caused by hormonal treatment to understand the complexity of genetic events leading to protection from autoimmune diseases like EAE.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Mice
Double transgenic female mice bearing the rearranged BV8S2 and AV4 genes on the B10.PL background were provided by Dr. Janeway and were bred in-house. The colony was housed and cared for in the Animal Resource Facility at the Portland V.A. Medical Center according to institutional guidelines. Mice were used at 8–12 wk of age.

Induction of active EAE
BV8S2/AV4 double Tg female mice were immunized with 400 µg myelin basic protein (MBP)-NAc1-11 (Ac-ASQKRPSQRSK) in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) containing 200 µg Mycobacterium tuberculosis by sc injection over four sites on the flank on d 0. Mice were assessed daily for clinical signs of EAE according to the following scale: 0 = no signs; 1 = limp tail; 2 = moderate hind limb weakness (waddling gait); 3 = moderately severe hind limb weakness; 4 = severe hind limb weakness; 5 = paraplegia; and 6 = quadriplegia, moribund condition. At the peak/acute phase of EAE (maximum severity of clinical signs, 14th day after immunization with encephalitogenic peptide), representative mice from EAE and estrogen-treated groups and two control groups (naive and CFA) were killed, and spleens were removed surgically and passed through a wire mesh screen to obtain a single cell suspension. Frozen splenocyte cells were subsequently subjected to total RNA extraction using the STAT-60 reagent (Tel-Test, Friendswood, TX).

Estrogen treatment
For estrogen hormone therapy 3-mm pellets containing 2.5 mg E2 (1500–2000 pg/ml serum, 20–50% of pregnancy levels; Innovative Research of America, Sarasota, FL) were implanted sc on the back 7 d before induction of EAE. EAE mice were sham operated and were implanted with a saline pellet (which did not affect the course of EAE; our unpublished data) or no pellet. The estrogen pellets provide continuous controlled release of a constant level of hormone over a period of 60 d. Serum concentrations of estrogen monitored before and during the course of EAE in representative control and implanted mice consistently fell within the expected ranges as measured by RIA method.

GeneChip array assay
Sample labeling. Isolated total RNA was labeled as described in the Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA) GeneChip Expression Analysis Technical Manual (revision 3). The labeling is performed in two steps. In the first step, mRNA is converted to double stranded cDNA using SuperScript Reverse Transcriptase (Life Technologies, Inc., Carlsbad, CA) and an oligo(deoxythymidine) primer linked to a T7 RNA polymerase-binding site sequence. In the second step, cDNA is converted to labeled cRNA (the target) using T7 RNA polymerase in the presence of biotinylated UTP and CTP (Enzo Diagnostics, Farmingdale, NY). This step also provides a linear amplification of the labeled material. After removal of free nucleotides, target yield is measured by UV260 absorbance.

Target quality assessment. The labeled target is fragmented at 95 C in the presence of high magnesium concentration. The fragmented material is combined with control oligomer (used for grid alignment during image processing) and control cRNAs for BioB, BioC, BioD, and Cre (Affymetrix) in hybridization buffer. Four micrograms of target is hybridized with a Test Array (Affymetrix) overnight and then washed and stained on the Fluidics Station. The Test Array contains probe sets for all Affymetrix controls (e.g. BioB, BioC, BioD, Cre, and murine actin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). After image processing and absolute analysis of the array pattern with MAS (see Data analysis section), four values were examined: background, noise, average difference, and ratio of average difference values for probe sets representing the 5'- and 3'- ends of actin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase transcripts. Cut-off values are determined within the project sample set, and all targets that do not meet these thresholds will be remade whenever possible or discarded from further analysis.

GeneChip genome array hybridization. Fragmented targets are combined with control oligomer and control cRNAs in hybridization buffer. Depending on the sensitivity required and the yields of target achieved, 10 -20 µg labeled cRNA were used for genome array hybridization. Each target was hybridized to MG_U47A using protocols described in the Affymetrix Expression Analysis Technical Manual. Was performed overnight, followed by washing, staining, signal amplification with biotinylated antistreptavidin antibody, and a final staining step. The distribution of fluorescent material on the array was measured using the laser scanner, and the resultant image was processed with MAS software.

Data analysis
The Bioinformatics and Biostatistics component of the Microarray Core performed data preparation, data analysis, and data integration. Data preparation involves image processing, evaluation of data quality, normalization, transformation, and filtering so that data are ready for further analysis. Data analysis involves two- and three-dimensional data visualization to more sophisticated multivariate analysis, such as cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and multidimensional scaling. Data integration involves the development and maintenance of integrated databases consisting of gene expression data, sample and experiment information, analysis results, and biological information. This step includes identification of gene functions through access to existing public databases.

Data presentation
All data presented in Tables 1Go and 2Go show the mean fold change (decrease or increase) in gene expression with SD from two independent experiments in estrogen-treated mice compared with EAE mice with severe clinical signs of disease. The variation among all 12,488 genes between the 2 experimental evaluations was less than 0.03 in mice with EAE and less than 0.01 for estrogen-treated mice. The mean fold minimum change chosen for presentation in the category estrogen over EAE was 2.4, and the SD was no more than 30%, resulting in a significant change (P < 0.05), as determined by a t test run on an Excel PC program. All genes presented in Tables 1Go and 2Go were significantly changed by estrogen treatment. Other transcriptional changes in gene of interest (CFA over naive, EAE over CFA, EAE over naive) are also presented in Tables 1Go and 2Go. The variation between the two evaluations was less than 0.02 in naive mice and less than 0.02 for CFA-immunized mice.


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Table 1. Regulation of cytokines, chemokines, chemokine receptors, adhesion molecules, and activation markers

 

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Table 2. Regulation of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules

 
Ribonuclease protection assay (RPA)
Total RNA was extracted from frozen splenocytes isolated from four groups of female mice using the STAT-60 reagent (Tel-Test, Friendswood, TX). Chemokine expression was determined using the RiboQuant RPA kit (PharMingen, San Diego, CA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Custom multiprobe sets used in the study detected the following chemokine transcripts: CXC chemokines: macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and IFN-inducible protein-10; C-C chemokines: regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), MIP-1{alpha}, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and T cell activation antigen-3; and C chemokine: lymphotactin, and the following cytokine transcripts: IL-4, IL-10, TNFß, Lt-ß, TNF{alpha}, IL-6, IFN{gamma}, IFNß, TGFß1, TGFß2, TGFß3, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor. The chemokine receptor set detected the following transcripts: chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1), CCR1b, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, and CCR5. The sample loading was normalized by the housekeeping gene, L32, included in each template set. RPA analysis was performed on 5 µg total RNA hybridized with probes labeled with [{alpha}-32P]UTP. After digestion of single-stranded RNA, the RNA pellet was solubilized and resolved on a 5% sequencing gel. Controls included the probe set hybridized to tRNA only; appropriate control RNA, which serves as integrity control for the RNA sample; and yeast tRNA as a background control. For quantification, gels were exposed by phosphorimaging (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, CA), and radioactivity in individual bands (after background subtraction) in comparison with L32 was assessed with Quantity One software (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.).


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
We obtained transcriptional profiles from mRNA isolated from spleen cells of four different groups of DTg female mice. Two experimental groups consisted of mice immunized with MBP-NAc1–11 peptide in CFA. One group (EAE group) was sham operated and implanted with a saline pellet (which did not affect the course of EAE; our unpublished data); the other group (estrogen treated) received E2 hormone therapy by implanting sc 2.5-mg pellets (physiological equivalence of 20–50% of pregnancy levels) on the back 7 d before the induction of EAE. Two other groups of animals, mice immunized with CFA alone and naive mice, served as the control groups. For studies using the Affymetrix microarray and RPA, representative animals were selected from the EAE group of mice displaying severe symptoms of disease (score of 5) and from the estrogen-treated group of mice with no symptoms of disease (score of 0; 14 d after immunization; Fig. 1Go) as well as from control groups in two independent experiments (Fig. 1Go). The pattern of gene expression varied by 1–3% between the first and second experiments for each respective control and experimental group.



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Figure 1. Clinical parameters after 14 d after immunization with MBPNAc1–11 peptide for EAE and E2- treated mice. Onset was evaluated for control sick mice only.

 
The Affymetrix system of DNA screening can evaluate more than 12,000 genes in a single sample. We found that more than 91% of these genes were not affected by hormonal therapy of EAE with E2. Among those genes that were affected by treatment, we focused on immune-related genes encoding cytokines/receptors, chemokines/receptors, adhesion molecules, and activation markers. To verify some of the changes observed using the Affymetrix system, we also evaluated expression of selected genes using the RPA (Fig. 2Go).



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Figure 2. The effect of E2 on mean fold changes in mRNA expression of cytokines (TNF{alpha} and TGFß3), chemokines (RANTES and MCP-1), and chemokine receptor CCR3 as determined by the RPA technique. Total cellular RNA was extracted, and RPA was performed as described in Materials and Methods. Five micrograms of mRNA were hybridized with a 32P-labeled antisense probe set designed to detect different transcripts. Data were quantified by phosphorimaging, and results were normalized to a constitutively expressed mRNA, L32. Data are presented as the mean fold increase or decrease in transcriptional change in genes of estrogen-treated animals compared with animals with severe EAE.

 
Estrogen treatment provides complete protection from EAE in DTg females
Clinical EAE data for mice that developed severe symptoms of disease and for estrogen-protected animals are summarized in Fig. 1Go. Females implanted with 2.5-mg pellets of E2 did not develop any sign of disease 14 d after immunization with MBP-NAc1–11 peptide/CFA. In contrast, control mice not receiving E2 displayed severe hind limb weakness and paraplegia. Serum E2 levels in mice implanted with estrogen ranged from 1000–2000 pg/ml.

Genes with increased expression
Table 1Go presents genes categorized into five groups, exhibiting from 2.5- to 9.8-fold mean increase in expression, with an SD of no more than 30% observed in female mice treated with E2 (protected from EAE) compared with untreated mice females with severe EAE. Among cytokine genes, the highest mean fold change of +9.8 was observed for IFN-induced 15-kDa protein (ISG15). Three other cytokine genes were also up-regulated, including IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (GARG-16), IL-18, mouse mast cell growth factor, and TGFß3. Among up-regulated chemokine genes, the greatest change (+6.0) was observed for MCP-1, described as small inducible cytokine A2, but also known as macrophage chemoattractant protein-1, followed by MIP-1ß. Additionally, expression of the CCR3 gene, often found on Th2 and mast cells, was up-regulated 2.8-fold.

Besides cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors, we were interested in whether estrogen treatment was able to induce changes in transcriptional properties in adhesion molecule and activation marker genes. mRNA for disintegrin metalloprotease (decysin) showed an 8.4-fold increase, and other adhesion molecules, including guanine nucleotide exchange factor and integrin-binding protein homolog GRP1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), were also up-regulated. Up-regulated activation marker genes included 4F2/CD98 light chain, Ig superfamily member cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), and CD14 antigen.

Genes with decreased expression
Overall, 187 genes displayed a 2.4-fold or greater decrease with an SD of 30% or less after estrogen treatment. Table 2Go presents a list of two cytokine-related, one chemokine, and one adhesion molecule genes that were affected by estrogen therapy. The greatest decrease was found in the TNF{alpha} gene, which showed a more than 10-fold decrease in expression. The other cytokine-related gene, Pgrp (TNF superfamily 3-like), was moderately down-regulated. Also down-regulated by E2 treatment was the chemokine RANTES and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM).

Changes in estrogen and other hormone-related genes
Surprisingly, we were unable to see any transcriptional changes of more than 2.5-fold in known estrogen-related genes in E2-treated EAE-protected mice vs. control mice with EAE. The only noteworthy changes included a 2-fold decrease in ERß and a 1.6-fold increase in ER-related protein.

Changes in other genes in E2-treated vs. untreated mice with severe EAE
In addition to immune response-related genes, the Affymetrix analysis detected a total of 260 up-regulated genes and a total of 187 down-regulated genes with a mean fold change of 2.4 or more and an SD less than 30%. These changes are available in an EXCEL file, estrogen over EAE 2.4, from the corresponding author.

Changes in gene expression in CFA-treated animals over naive animals
Immunization with CFA alone did not cause EAE, and induced down-regulation of 41 genes and up-regulation of 112 genes compared with naive untreated mice. A listing of these genes can be found in the EXCEL file CFA over naive 2.4 (available from the corresponding author). Changes in the expression of genes of interest in the category CFA over naive are presented in Table 1Go for up-regulated genes and in Table 2Go for down-regulated genes.

Changes in gene expression in EAE vs. CFA-treated animals
Immunization with MBP-Ac1–11 encephalitogenic peptide emulsified in CFA induced down-regulation of 206 genes and up-regulation of 138 genes vs. those in animals immunized with CFA only. A listing of these genes can be found in the EXCEL file EAE over CFA 2.4 (available from the corresponding author). Changes in the expression of genes of interest in the category EAE over CFA are presented in Table 1Go for up-regulated genes and in Table 2Go for down-regulated genes.

Changes in gene expression in EAE vs. naive treated animals
Immunization with MBP-NAc1–11 peptide induced down-regulation of 152 genes and up-regulation of 251 genes compared with naive mice. A listing of these genes can be found in the EXCEL file EAE over naive 2.4 (available from the corresponding author). Changes in the expression of genes of interest in the category EAE over naive are presented in Table 1Go for up-regulated genes and in Table 2Go for down-regulated genes.

Changes in genes found by the RPA technique
Using the RPA technique, a specific and sensitive method that allows detection and quantification of mRNA species, we were able to verify selected portions of the Affymetrix data. Figure 2Go shows the mean fold decrease or increase in mRNAs in estrogen-treated compared with untreated mice as detected by RPA. Although the fold numbers are not exactly the same as those obtained by the Affymetrix technique, the increase or decrease in mRNA expression after estrogen treatment was observed in the same genes as those found using Affymetrix. RANTES and TNF{alpha} mRNA levels were down-regulated about 2-fold in E2-treated mice. Similar to Affymetrix results, up-regulation of mRNA levels was observed for MCP-1 (2-fold), TGFß3 (6-fold), and CCR3 (3.7-fold).


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Recent rapid and effective development of sequencing techniques as well as technologies for identification of new genes have provided new approaches for understanding the mechanism of action of several agents possibly useful for MS treatment, including hormonal therapy. DNA array techniques are very promising and powerful tools for screening thousands of pieces of phenotypic information in different therapeutic strategies (31). This technique can be used for identification, quantification, and interpretation of whole panels of gene expression in a single sample (32).

The present study revealed some interesting findings in the expression of genes for several cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules as well as their receptors after treatment with E2. One of the major outcomes from our study is that estrogen treatment is restricted. Less than 10% of the genes tested were affected by hormone therapy. Nearly 200 genes were down-regulated (2.4-fold), and more than 200 genes were up-regulated (2.4-fold) during estrogen therapy. For the majority of these genes, the direct relation to EAE disease and/or estrogen therapy is still unknown, and changes in mRNA and protein expression still need confirmation using other techniques.

E2 had profound effects on the expression of a set of only 18 immune response-related genes detected in splenocytes from E2-treated mice that were fully protected from EAE vs. mice with severe EAE. As is shown in Table 2Go, the cytokine most inhibited by E2 treatment was TNF{alpha} (decreased 10.4-fold). Inhibition of TNF{alpha}, Pgrp [another TNF superfamily member involved in innate immune responses (33)], RANTES [known to be increased in the CNS in MS and EAE (34, 35, 36)], and NCAM [increased in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with active MS (37, 38)] might well be directly related to E2-dependent enhancement of CTLA-4 [a costimulatory molecule known to down-regulate T cell activation (39)], TGFß3 [known to have potent antiinflammatory effects and to be E2 sensitive (40)], GRP-1 [binds phosphoinositides involved in signal transduction (41)], and disintegrin metalloprotease [found on mature dendritic cells and thought to regulate TNF production (42)]. The possible role of other E2-stimulated genes in splenocytes is more speculative. E2 clearly up-regulated IL-18 (IFN{gamma}-inducing protein) (43, 44) and two IFN-induced proteins, ISG15-IFN-stimulated gene (45) and GARG-16 (46), suggesting that these factors could be associated with the previously described EAE-protective effects of IFN{gamma}. Moreover, E2 up-regulated the chemokines MCP-1 [increased in mice orally tolerized against encephalitogenic peptides (47, 48)], MIP-1ß [increased in CNS during EAE and MS (35, 49), but also increased in lymph nodes of mice protected from EAE by T cell antigen receptor-directed therapy (36)], and VCAM (major component mediating leukocyte-endothelial adhesion; induction by TNF{alpha} and IL-1ß is E2 sensitive (50, 51)], as well as mast cell growth factor [promotes growth of mast cells involved in EAE (52)] and CCR3 [Th2 and mast cell chemokine receptor found to be up-regulated in brains of T cell antigen receptor-protected mice (36, 53, 54)]. Up-regulation of chemokines and adhesion molecules within the spleen may attract and retain inflammatory cells and thus reduce their migration into the CNS. Least understood in E2-mediated protection against EAE is up-regulation of the CD98 light chain [involved as a heterodimer in cellular activation, proliferation, and adhesion (55, 56)] and CD14 [known E2-sensitive receptor for LPS on Kuppfer cells (57)]. Many other genes were affected to a lesser degree.

RPA analysis of splenocyte gene expression confirmed E2-associated down-regulation of TNF{alpha} and RANTES and up-regulation of MCP-1, TGFß3, and CCR3. E2 inhibition of intracellular TNF{alpha} protein expression has been clearly documented in our previous study (24). However, conclusions regarding other E2-sensitive genes remain tentative until changes in protein expression can be verified individually. Overall, these data provide strong confirmation of the inhibitory effects of E2 on TNF{alpha} in spleen and identify a limited set of known and previously unsuspected candidate genes that may contribute to E2 regulation of EAE. Many of these genes may be involved in apoptotic mechanisms related to the effects of TNF{alpha}. The mechanism by which E2 inhibits EAE has been only partially identified as inhibiting TNF{alpha} and migration of inflammatory cells into the CNS. TNF{alpha} is an important effector molecule in EAE, produced by inflammatory macrophages and T cells, but its detrimental effects apparently do not include overt apoptosis of CNS cells (such as oligodendroglial cells) in vivo, at least during the acute stages of EAE evaluated here. It is interesting that E2 prevents apoptosis in other organs, including ovarian tissues, and it is conceivable that this activity in some way could contribute to the inhibition of demyelination and EAE.

In conclusion, E2 treatment affected about 10% of the genes tested, but only 18 cytokine, chemokine/receptor, adhesion molecule, or activation genes were up- or down-regulated more than 2.4-fold by E2 treatment. Down-regulated genes included TNF{alpha} (an important proinflammatory cytokine in EAE), Pgrp, RANTES, and NCAM. Up-regulated genes included CTLA-4 (known to inhibit T cell activation), TGFß3, IL-18, and two IFN{gamma}-induced genes, the chemokines MCP-1 and MIP-1ß, VCAM-1, and disintegrin metalloprotease (thought to regulate TNF{alpha} production). These results implicate a limited set of known and previously unsuspected E2-sensitive genes that may be crucial for inhibition of EAE and potentially the human disease, MS. The constellation of up-regulated and down-regulated genes and the understanding of their transcriptional changes can lead to a better understanding of the complexity and the mechanism of action of a variety of drugs, including hormone treatment.


    Footnotes
 
This work was supported by NIH Grants AI-42376, NS-23221, and NS-23444; the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

1 Postdoctoral fellow of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Back

Abbreviations: CCR, Chemokine receptor; CFA, complete Freund’s adjuvant; CNS, central nervous system; CTLA, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen; EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; GRP, guanyl nucleotide-releasing protein; iER, intracellular ER; IFN{gamma}, interferon-{gamma}; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; MBP, myelin basic protein; MIP, macrophage inflammatory protein; MS, multiple sclerosis; NCAM, neural cell adhesion molecule; Pgrp, peptidoglycan recognition proteins; RANTES, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted; RPA, ribonuclease protection assay; VCAM, vascular cell adhesion molecule.

Received July 11, 2001.

Accepted for publication September 10, 2001.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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