Temporal patterns of cytokine and apoptosis-related gene expression in spinal cords of the G93A-SOD1 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract

Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) is often caused by gain-of-function mutations in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Multiprobe ribonuclease protection assays (RPAs) were used to investigate expression of 36 different cytokines and apoptosis-related genes in spinal cords of mice that ubiquitously express human SOD1 bearing a glycine (r) alanine substitution at residue 93 (G93A-SOD1). Mice were studied at late presymptomatic stage (80 days), and at 120 days when the animals experience severe hindlimb paralysis and accumulation of oxidatively modified proteins. Spinal cord tissue from G93A-SOD1 mice expressed a selective subset of macrophage-typical cytokines (monokines) including interleukin (IL)1alpha, IL1beta and IL1RA at 80 days increasing by 120 days. Contrastingly, T-cell derived cytokines (lymphokines) including IL2, IL3 and IL4 were detected at low levels in non-transgenic mice but these were not elevated in G93A-SOD1 mice even at 120 days. Apoptosis-related genes were generally unaffected at 80 days but multiple caspases and death receptor components were up-regulated at 120 days; the only exceptions being FADD and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha receptor p55 which was up-regulated at 80 days and increased further at 120 days. These data indicate that in the G93A-SOD1 mouse: (i) cytokine expression changes precede bulk protein oxidation and apoptosis gene expression; (ii) lymphocyte contributions to cytokine expression in FALS are likely minor; and (iii) TNFalpha and its receptors may link inflammation to apoptosis in ALS.

• Authors: Kenneth Hensley, Robert A Floyd, Brian Gordon, Shenyun Mou, Quentin N Pye, Charles Stewart, Melinda West, Kelly Williamson
• Journal: Journal of neurochemistry (J Neurochem) Vol. 82 Issue 2 Pg. 365-74 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 0022-3042 [Print] England
• PMID: 12124437 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
• Antigens, CD
• Carrier Proteins
• Cytokines
• FADD protein, human
• Fadd protein, mouse
• Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
• Lymphokines
• Monokines
• Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
• SOD1 G93A protein
• Superoxide Dismutase
• Caspases

Topics

• Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (genetics)
• Animals
• Antigens, CD (genetics, metabolism)
• Apoptosis (genetics)
• Carrier Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Caspases (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Cytokines (genetics, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Humans
• Lymphokines (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Monokines (genetics, metabolism)
• Motor Activity
• Nuclease Protection Assays
• Oxidation-Reduction
• Proteins (metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (biosynthesis)
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
• Spinal Cord (metabolism)
• Superoxide Dismutase (genetics)
• Up-Regulation