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Open Access 01-04-2013 | Original Paper

Microglial nodules in early multiple sclerosis white matter are associated with degenerating axons

Authors: Shailender Singh, Imke Metz, Sandra Amor, Paul van der Valk, Christine Stadelmann, Wolfgang Brück

Published in: Acta Neuropathologica | Issue 4/2013

Abstract

Microglial nodules in the normal-appearing white matter have been suggested as the earliest stage(s) of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion formation. Such nodules are characterized by an absence of leukocyte infiltration, astrogliosis or demyelination, and may develop into active demyelinating MS lesions. Although the etiology of MS is still not known, inflammation and autoimmunity are considered to be the central components of this disease. Previous studies provide evidence that Wallerian degeneration, occurring as a consequence of structural damage in MS lesions, might be responsible for observed pathological abnormalities in connected normal-appearing white matter. As innate immune cells, microglia/macrophages are the first to react to even minor pathological changes in the CNS. Biopsy tissue from 27 MS patients and autopsy and biopsy tissue from 22 normal and pathological controls were analyzed to determine the incidence of microglial nodules. We assessed MS periplaque white matter tissue from early disease stages to determine whether microglial nodules are associated with altered axons. With immunohistochemical methods, the spatial relation of the two phenomena was visualized using HLA-DR antibody for MHC II expression by activated microglia/macrophages and by applying antibodies against damaged axons, i.e., SMI32 (non-phosphorylated neurofilaments) and amyloid precursor protein as well as neuropeptide Y receptor Y1, which marks axons undergoing Wallerian degeneration. Our data demonstrate that the occurrence of microglial nodules is not specific to MS and is associated with degenerating as well as damaged axons in early MS. In addition, we show that early MS microglial nodules exhibit both pro- and antiinflammatory phenotypes.

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Title: Microglial nodules in early multiple sclerosis white matter are associated with degenerating axons
Authors: Shailender Singh
Imke Metz
Sandra Amor
Paul van der Valk
Christine Stadelmann
Wolfgang Brück
Publication date: 01-04-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Acta Neuropathologica / Issue 4/2013
Print ISSN: 0001-6322
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0533
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-013-1082-0

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Microglial nodules in early multiple sclerosis white matter are associated with degenerating axons

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