The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Restricted cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the central nervous system following acute and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to bacillus Calmette-Guerin

Restricted cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the central nervous system following acute and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to bacillus Calmette-Guerin
Restricted cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the central nervous system following acute and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to bacillus Calmette-Guerin
The expression of cyclooxygenase-2, a key enzyme in prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis in inflammation, was studied immunohistochemically in in viva models of acute and chronic inflammatory responses in rat central nervous system. In the acute inflammatory response to intracranial injection of heat-killed bacillus Calmette-Guérin as well as in the immune-mediated, delayed-type hypersensitivity response to the same pathogen, cyclooxygenase-2 expression was restricted to major infiltrating haematogenous cell populations such as neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes, while the expression of the enzyme by brain non-neuronal resident cells (astrocytes, microglia, perivascular cells) appeared to be limited to perivascular cells of the blood vessels in the vicinity of the lesion and in the surrounding area. On the basis of their morphology and location, these perivascular cells were identified as perivascular macrophages, but we could not rule out the possibility that some endothelial cells also expressed cyclooxygenase-2. The constitutive neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 was not affected by the ongoing inflammation. Interestingly, in spite of the extensive astrocyte and microglial reaction occurring over a broad area surrounding the inflammatory lesions, there was no obvious cyclooxygenase-2 staining in these cells. These data indicate that the up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in acute and chronic, immune-mediated lesions in the brain parenchyma is remarkably restricted to the lesion site. Since cyclooxygenase metabolites can regulate important functions of resident as well as infiltrating cells, the increased synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes, which is likely to occur as a consequence of the expression of cycloxygenase-2 at the lesion site, might represent an important component of the inflammatory processes within the brain.
0306-4522
1405-1415
Minghetti, L.
e5837f6e-d84f-4f4a-af54-fdf9c664e80b
Hughes, P.
5bd3dd2d-388a-42af-b26b-3b6915ae563d
Perry, V.H.
8f29d36a-8e1f-4082-8700-09483bbaeae4
Minghetti, L.
e5837f6e-d84f-4f4a-af54-fdf9c664e80b
Hughes, P.
5bd3dd2d-388a-42af-b26b-3b6915ae563d
Perry, V.H.
8f29d36a-8e1f-4082-8700-09483bbaeae4

Minghetti, L., Hughes, P. and Perry, V.H. (1999) Restricted cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the central nervous system following acute and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Neuroscience, 92 (4), 1405-1415.

Record type: Article

Abstract

The expression of cyclooxygenase-2, a key enzyme in prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis in inflammation, was studied immunohistochemically in in viva models of acute and chronic inflammatory responses in rat central nervous system. In the acute inflammatory response to intracranial injection of heat-killed bacillus Calmette-Guérin as well as in the immune-mediated, delayed-type hypersensitivity response to the same pathogen, cyclooxygenase-2 expression was restricted to major infiltrating haematogenous cell populations such as neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes, while the expression of the enzyme by brain non-neuronal resident cells (astrocytes, microglia, perivascular cells) appeared to be limited to perivascular cells of the blood vessels in the vicinity of the lesion and in the surrounding area. On the basis of their morphology and location, these perivascular cells were identified as perivascular macrophages, but we could not rule out the possibility that some endothelial cells also expressed cyclooxygenase-2. The constitutive neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 was not affected by the ongoing inflammation. Interestingly, in spite of the extensive astrocyte and microglial reaction occurring over a broad area surrounding the inflammatory lesions, there was no obvious cyclooxygenase-2 staining in these cells. These data indicate that the up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in acute and chronic, immune-mediated lesions in the brain parenchyma is remarkably restricted to the lesion site. Since cyclooxygenase metabolites can regulate important functions of resident as well as infiltrating cells, the increased synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes, which is likely to occur as a consequence of the expression of cycloxygenase-2 at the lesion site, might represent an important component of the inflammatory processes within the brain.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 1 January 1999

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 55844
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/55844
ISSN: 0306-4522
PURE UUID: 7a133016-3ca5-4c62-a82b-b5e0a8463503

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Aug 2008
Last modified: 07 Jan 2022 22:33

Export record

Contributors

Author: L. Minghetti
Author: P. Hughes
Author: V.H. Perry

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×