Brain Immune Cell Infiltration and Serum Metabolomic Characteristics Reveal that Lauric Acid Promotes Immune Cell Infiltration in Brain and Streptococcus suis Meningitis in Mice

In this study, a typical meningitis mouse model of SS2 was successfully established, as confirmed by the behavioral indicators of balance beam test, suspension test, and gait analysis. With bacteria gathering in the brain, distinguishable unique features including meningeal thickening, vacuolization of the Nissl body, brain barrier damage, glial cell activation, and more infiltration of T cells, macrophages, and DCs are observed in SS2 meningitis mice with typical neurological signs. Some meningitis mice were also accompanied by identical nephritis, ophthalmia, and cochlearitis. Investigation of the metabolic features demonstrated the downregulated cholic acid and upregulated 2-hydroxyvaleric acid, tetrahydrocortisone, nicotinic acid, and lauric acid in blood serum of mice and piglets with meningitis. And feeding trials show that lauric acid can promote meningitis by promoting the infiltration of immune cells into brain. These findings demonstrated that infection of ICR (improved castle road) mice with SS2 was able to induce typical meningitis accompanied by immune cell infiltration and lauric acid upregulation. These data provide a basis for the deep study of SS2 meningitis.
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - Category: Neurology Source Type: research