Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0014070 (encephalomyelitis)
 13,017 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Myelinated fibres are characterized by the aggregation of Nav1.6 sodium channels within the axon membrane at nodes of Ranvier, where their presence supports saltatory conduction. In this study, we used immunocytochemical methods to study the organization of sodium channels along axons in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis. We studied axons within the optic nerve, a CNS tract commonly affected in multiple sclerosis, and their cell bodies of origin (retinal ganglion cells), using subtype-specific antibodies generated against sodium channel subtypes Nav1.1, Nav1.2, Nav1.3 and Nav1.6, which previously have been shown to be expressed by retinal ganglion cells. We demonstrate a significant switch from Nav1.6 to Nav1.2 expression in the optic nerve in EAE; there was a reduction in frequency of Nav1.6-positive nodes (84.5% Nav1.6-immunopositive nodes in control versus 32.9% in EAE) and increased frequency of Nav1.2-positive nodes (11.8% Nav1.2 immunopositive nodes in control versus 74.9% in EAE). Moreover, we observed a significant increase in the number of linear (presumably demyelinated) axonal profiles demonstrating extended diffuse immunostaining for Nav1.2 in EAE versus control optic nerves. These changes within the optic nerve are paralleled by decreased levels of Nav1.6 and increased Nav1.2 protein, together with increased levels of Nav1.2 mRNA, within retinal ganglion cells in EAE. Our findings of a loss of Nav1.6 and increased expression of Nav1.2 suggest that electrogenesis in EAE may revert to a stage similar to that observed in immature retinal ganglion cells in which Nav1.2 channels support conduction of action potentials along axons.
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PMID:Abnormal sodium channel distribution in optic nerve axons in a model of inflammatory demyelination. 1280 13

Loss of axons is a major contributor to nonremitting deficits in the inflammatory demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on biophysical studies showing that activity of axonal sodium channels can trigger axonal degeneration, recent studies have tested sodium channel-blocking drugs in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, and have demonstrated a protective effect on axons. However, it is possible that, in addition to a direct effect on axons, sodium channel blockers may also interfere with inflammatory mechanisms. We therefore examined the novel hypothesis that sodium channels contribute to activation of microglia and macrophages in EAE and acute MS lesions. In this study, we demonstrate a robust increase of sodium channel Nav1.6 expression in activated microglia and macrophages in EAE and MS. We further demonstrate that treatment with the sodium channel blocker phenytoin ameliorates the inflammatory cell infiltrate in EAE by 75%. Supporting a role for sodium channels in microglial activation, we show that tetrodotoxin, a specific sodium channel blocker, reduces the phagocytic function of activated rat microglia by 40%. To further confirm a role of Nav1.6 in microglial activation, we examined the phagocytic capacity of microglia from med mice, which lack Nav1.6 channels, and show a 65% reduction in phagocytic capacity compared with microglia from wildtype mice. Our findings indicate that sodium channels are important for activation and phagocytosis of microglia and macrophages in EAE and MS and suggest that, in addition to a direct neuroprotective effect on axons, sodium channel blockade may ameliorate neuroinflammatory disorders via anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
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PMID:Sodium channels contribute to microglia/macrophage activation and function in EAE and MS. 1539 90

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are involved in several aspects of the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Within acute MS plaques, they are expressed along demyelinated axons. Studies in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) demonstrated a neuroprotective effect of non-specific Nav blockers. Further, block of specific Navs involved in MS is suggested to have an advantage over non-specific blockers. We investigated the effects of the synthetic Midi peptide in EAE, as it potently and specifically blocks Nav1.2, Nav1.4 and Nav1.6. Administration of this Midi peptide worsens the clinical disease pattern and Nav1.2 and Nav1.6 expression levels were elevated in brain but not in spinal cord of Midi-treated mice, implicating that Navs play a complex role in the pathogenesis of EAE.
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PMID:Block of a subset of sodium channels exacerbates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. 2373 84