Fetuin-A deficiency protects mice from Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) and correlates with altered innate immune response

PLoS One. 2017 Apr 7;12(4):e0175575. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175575. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Fetuin-A is a biomarker of disease activity in multiple sclerosis. Our aim was to investigate whether Fetuin-A plays a direct role in the neuroinflammatory response in the mouse EAE model. Peak Fetuin-A expression in the CNS and in peripheral lymphoid tissue correlated with peak EAE disease activity. Fetuin-A-deficient mice showed reduced EAE severity associated with an accumulation of splenic monocyte and dendritic cell populations, increased IL-12p40, ASC1, and IL-1β expression, and an increase in T regulatory cells. The upregulation of Fetuin-A in LPS-stimulated dendritic cells and microglia further supports an intrinsic role of Fetuin-A in regulating innate immune activation during EAE.

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / therapy
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / deficiency*
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / metabolism

Substances

  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein