Regulation of the BBB during viral encephalitis: roles of IL-12 and NOS.

Abstract

Intranasal infection of mice by Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) often leads to breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The role of Interleukin 12 (IL-12) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was examined here. Wild-type (WT), NOS-1 knockout (KO), and NOS-3 KO mice were infected with VSV and treated with either IL-12 or medium. IL-12 treatment of uninfected hosts did not result in pathology. In contrast with WT and NOS-1 KO mice, where extensive gross and ultrastructural correlation of BBB breakdown were evident following infection, in NOS-3 KO mice, integrity of the BBB was observed. Thus NOS-3 activity in astrocytes, endothelial cells, or ependymal cells may play an essential role in regulating the BBB.

• Authors: T Komatsu, D D Ireland, N Chung, A Doré, M Yoder, C S Reiss
• Journal: Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry (Nitric Oxide) Vol. 3 Issue 4 Pg. 327-39 (Aug 1999) ISSN: 1089-8603 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10444372 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Chemical References

• Coloring Agents
• Interleukin-12
• Nitric Oxide
• Evans Blue
• Nitric Oxide Synthase
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
• Nos2 protein, mouse
• Nos3 protein, mouse

Topics

• Animals
• Astrocytes (enzymology)
• Blood-Brain Barrier (physiology)
• Brain (blood supply, ultrastructure)
• Coloring Agents
• Encephalitis, Viral (enzymology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Endothelium, Vascular (enzymology)
• Evans Blue
• Gap Junctions (ultrastructure)
• Immunity, Innate
• Interleukin-12 (physiology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Nitric Oxide (physiology)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase (deficiency, genetics, physiology)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
• Rhabdoviridae Infections (enzymology, pathology, physiopathology)
• Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
• Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus