Estrogendecreasingmatrixmetalloproteinase-9geneexpressioninmicewithexperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the regulation effect of estrogen in expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the central nervous system (CNS) in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ( EAE).Methods The 60 mice were overiectomized and 2 weeks later EAE was induced with MOG35-55 peptide in these mice.They were divided into a treatment group and a control group.The treatment group was treated with estrogen and the control group was given PBS.Clinical symptoms in these two groups were scored and compared.HE staining was used to observe inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.The MMP-9 expression in the CNS was examined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining.Results The incidence of disease was lower (treatment and control group were 8/30 and 28/30 respectively) and clinical symptoms were milder (treatment and control group were 3.23±0.83 and 1.62 ±1.00 respectively,t=3.811 and P＜0.05) in the treatment group than those in the control group.HE staining showed the decreased infiltration of inflammatory cell in the treatment group (Treatment groupinflammatory score were 0.895 ±0.206,0.752 ±0.302,0.732 ±0.183 in acute,relief and chronic phase respectively;Control groupinflammatory score were 3.472 ±0.635,2.881 ±0.662,1.891 ± 0.482 in acute,relief and chronic phase respectively.t = 8.622,6.543 and 5.027,all P ＜ 0.05).The quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of MMP9 in the CNS was decreased in the treatment group.Conclusion Estrogen may decrease MMP-9 expression in the CNS,reduce inflammation and clinical symptoms in mice with EAE.