Contribution of astrocytes and macrophage migration inhibitory factor to immune-mediated canine encephalitis caused by the distemper virus

Publication date: Available online 20 January 2020Source: Veterinary Immunology and ImmunopathologyAuthor(s): Tatianna F.S. De Nardo, Paulo H.L. Bertolo, Priscila A. Bernardes, Danísio P. Munari, Gisele F. Machado, Luciana S. Jardim, Pamela R.R. Moreira, Mayara C. Rosolem, Rosemeri O. VasconcelosABSTRACTMacrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is produced by many cell types in situations of homeostasis or disease. One of its functions is to act as a proinflammatory molecule. In humans, several studies have shown that MIF levels become elevated in the serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and tissues of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, sepsis, atheromas, diabetes and cancer). In dogs, distemper is a viral infectious condition that may lead to demyelination and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). In addition to the action of the virus, the inflammatory process may give rise to lesions in the white matter. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the role of MIF in the encephalitis that the canine distemper virus causes and to compare this with immunodetection of major histocompatibility complex-II (MHC-II), CD3 T lymphocytes, MMP-9 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; astrocytes) in demyelinated areas of the encephalon, in order to ascertain whether these findings might be related to the severity of the encephalic lesions...
Source: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research