Microarray analysis of gene expression in multiple sclerosis and EAE identifies 5-lipoxygenase as a component of inflammatory lesions

Laurie Ward Whitney, Samuel K. Ludwin, Henry F. McFarland, William E. Biddison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by lesions that are areas of blood-brain barrier breakdown, inflammation and myelin damage. To identify genes that contribute to lesion pathology, we have compared gene expression in MS lesions and in brains of mice with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with that in normal white matter. Gene expression was analyzed by cDNA microarrays consisting of 2798 human genes. One of the genes found to be upregulated in both MS lesions and EAE brains was 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the proinflammatory leukotrienes. The presence of 5-LO in MS lesions was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and indicated that 5-LO was primarily contained within macrophages. Although these findings are not specific for MS, they identify a potentially important component of pro-inflammatory activity in the demyelinating process in MS and suggest a possible target for anti-inflammatory therapy in MS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)40-48
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Neuroimmunology
Volume121
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 3 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 5-Lipoxygenase
  • Gene expression
  • Multiple sclerosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Neurology

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