Role of glial 14-3-3 gamma protein in autoimmune demyelination

Background: the family of 14-3-3 proteins plays an important role in the regulation of cell survival and death. here,we investigate the role of the 14-3-3 gamma (14-3-3 γ) subunit for glial responses in autoimmune demyelination. methods: expression of 14-3-3 γ in glial cell culture was investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) and immunocytochemistry. 14-3-3 γ knockout mice were subjected to murine myelin oligodendrocyte-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (mog-eae),an animal model mimicking inflammatory features and neurodegenerative aspects of multiple sclerosis (ms). results: expression studies in cell culture confined expression of 14-3-3 γ to both,oligodendrocytes (ol) and astrocytes. rt-pcr analysis revealed an increased expression of 14-3-3 γ mrna in the spinal cord during the late chronic phase of mog-eae. at that stage,eae was more severe in 14-3-3 γ knockout mice as compared to age- and gender-matched controls. histopathological analyses on day 56 post immunization (p.i.) revealed significantly enhanced myelin damage as well as ol injury and secondary,an increase in axonal injury and gliosis in 14-3-3 γ -/- mice. at the same time,deficiency in 14-3-3 γ protein did not influence the immune response. further histological studies revealed an increased susceptibility towards apoptosis in 14-3-3 γ-deficient ol in the inflamed spinal cord. conclusion: these data argue for a pivotal role of 14-3-3 γ-mediated signalling pathways for ol protection in neuroinflammation. © 2015 lee et al.