Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Neuroinflammation 1/2015

Open Access 01.12.2015 | Research

Silencing of Abcc8 or inhibition of newly upregulated Sur1-Trpm4 reduce inflammation and disease progression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

verfasst von: Tapas K. Makar, Volodymyr Gerzanich, Vamshi K.C. Nimmagadda, Rupal Jain, Kristal Lam, Fahad Mubariz, David Trisler, Svetlana Ivanova, Seung Kyoon Woo, Min Seong Kwon, Joseph Bryan, Christopher T. Bever, J. Marc Simard

Erschienen in: Journal of Neuroinflammation | Ausgabe 1/2015

Abstract

Background

In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), deletion of transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (Trpm4) and administration of glibenclamide were found to ameliorate disease progression, prompting speculation that glibenclamide acts by directly inhibiting Trpm4. We hypothesized that in EAE, Trpm4 upregulation is accompanied by upregulation of sulfonylurea receptor 1 (Sur1) to form Sur1-Trpm4 channels, which are highly sensitive to glibenclamide, and that Sur1-Trpm4 channels are required for EAE progression.

Methods

EAE was induced in wild-type (WT) and Abcc8−/− mice using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35–55 (MOG35–55). Lumbar spinal cords were examined by immunohistochemistry, immuno-Förster resonance energy transfer (immunoFRET), and co-immunoprecipitation for Sur1-Trpm4. WT/EAE mice were administered with the Sur1 inhibitor, glibenclamide, beginning on post-induction day 10. Mice were evaluated for clinical function, inflammatory cells and cytokines, axonal preservation, and white matter damage.

Results

Sur1-Trpm4 channels were upregulated in EAE, predominantly in astrocytes. The clinical course and severity of EAE were significantly ameliorated in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and in Abcc8−/−/EAE mice. At 30 days, the lumbar spinal cords of glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and Abcc8−/−/EAE mice showed significantly fewer invading immune cells, including leukocytes (CD45), T cells (CD3), B cells (CD20) and macrophages/microglia (CD11b), and fewer cells expressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17). In both glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and Abcc8−/−/EAE mice, the reduced inflammatory burden correlated with better preservation of myelin, better preservation of axons, and more numerous mature and precursor oligodendrocytes.

Conclusions

Sur-Trpm4 channels are newly upregulated in EAE and may represent a novel target for disease-modifying therapy in multiple sclerosis.
Hinweise
Tapas K. Makar and Volodymyr Gerzanich contributed equally to this work.

Competing interests

All authors declare no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

TKM, VKCN, RJ, KL, FM, and DT induced EAE, evaluated the mice, and performed quantitative analysis of the chromogen immunohistochemistry data. VG and SI performed quantitative analysis of the immunofluorescence data. SKW performed co-immunoprecipitation experiments. MSK performed immunoFRET experiments. JB supplied Abcc8−/− mice. JMS wrote the manuscript. VKCN and VG composed the figures. CTB and VG contributed critically to late drafts of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease marked by chronic inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) that causes neurological disability in young and middle-aged adults [1, 2]. MS has no known cure, and patients suffer from progressive disability due to irreversible neurological damage. MS and its principal animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are characterized by myelin-specific autoreactive T cells that enter the CNS and initiate inflammation and tissue damage leading to oligodendrocyte cell death, axonal demyelination, and neuronal degeneration [3]. Inflammation is perpetuated by both infiltrating immune cells and by astrocytes [49]. Of the currently approved disease-modifying therapies for MS, most target immune cells or a pro-inflammatory cytokine [10], with the only exception being fingolimod (FTY720), which has effects directly on astrocytes [11, 12].
Emerging evidence indicates that transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (Trpm4) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of various CNS injuries. When upregulated and activated, Trpm4 contributes to the formation of cytotoxic edema, and it functions as an end-executioner in accidental necrotic death induced by Ca2+ overload, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, or reactive oxygen species [13, 14]. Trpm4 is upregulated in microvascular endothelial cells, neurons, and glial cells in preclinical rat models of stroke, spinal cord injury, and subarachnoid hemorrhage [1519].
Recently, Schattling et al. [20] implicated Trpm4 upregulation in the pathophysiology of EAE and showed that Trpm4 deletion was associated with reduced disease severity and improved recovery following EAE induction. They also showed that glibenclamide ameliorates clinical signs of EAE, and they speculated that the salutary effects of glibenclamide were due to direct blockade of Trpm4 [20]. However, given the low potency of glibenclamide inhibition of Trpm4 [17], a direct effect of glibenclamide on Trpm4 seems unlikely.
Sulfonylurea receptor 1 (Sur1) is an ATP-binding cassette transporter family member that functions as a regulatory subunit when it co-assembles with heterologous pore-forming subunits to form cation channels. The most widely recognized association is with the ATP-sensitive K+ channel, Kir6.2, with which it forms Sur1-Kir6.2 (KATP) channels that are constitutively expressed in pancreatic β cells and are linked to diabetes mellitus [2123]. Sur1 also associates with Trpm4 to form Sur1-Trpm4 channels that are transcriptionally upregulated in the brain and spinal cord following ischemic, traumatic, and inflammatory CNS injuries [1719]. A crucial property of the Sur1-Trpm4 channel is that both subunits, Sur1 and Trpm4, must be upregulated and functional for the manifestation of its pathological effects, with deletion or pharmacological blockade of either subunit resulting in equivalent abrogation of injury severity [24].
We hypothesized that in EAE, Trpm4 upregulation, as reported by Schattling et al. [20], is accompanied by upregulation of Sur1, that the two proteins co-assemble to form Sur1-Trpm4 channels (which are highly sensitive to glibenclamide [17]), and that Sur1-Trpm4 channels, rather than Trpm4 channels alone, are required for disease progression and for manifestation of glibenclamide sensitivity in EAE. Here, we assessed this hypothesis in a murine EAE model using gene silencing and pharmacological inhibition of Sur1.

Methods

Murine EAE model

All experiments were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health and under a protocol approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Female C57BL/6 J mice were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME). Abcc8−/− mice, obtained as described [25], exhibited neurological function, gait, and spinal cord histology indistinguishable from WT. Mice were housed under pathogen-free conditions in the animal facility of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
EAE was induced in female WT and Abcc8−/− mice at 8 weeks of age, as described [26, 27]. EAE was induced with MOG35–55 peptide (Biomer Technology, Pleasanton, CA, USA) in complete Freund’s adjuvant (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO) containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37RA, Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI). Mice were immunized by subcutaneous injection in the flank regions (left and right sides) with 200 μL total of an emulsion of MOG35–55 peptide (200 μg in 100 μL PBS plus 100 μL of complete Freund’s adjuvant containing 0.4 mg of heat-inactivated M. tuberculosis). Each mouse then received 400 ng of pertussis toxin (List Biological Laboratories) intraperitoneally (IP) on post-induction day (pid) 0 and pid-2.

Glibenclamide treatment

After the onset of clinical symptoms (>20 % of WT/EAE mice with clinical scores of 1 or greater; pid-10), 10 μg glibenclamide was administered daily by IP injection to WT/EAE mice in the treatment group until the end of the experiment (pid-30). A stock solution of glibenclamide was prepared by placing 25 mg of glibenclamide (#G2539; meets USP testing; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) into 10 mL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). We diluted 200 μL of this solution in 9.8 mL PBS; mice received 100 μL of this solution.

Clinical evaluation

Scoring of disease severity was carried out as described [26, 27]. From pid-0 onwards, mice were assessed daily for signs of paralysis by two independent observers in a blinded fashion. Mice were assigned a clinical score of increasing severity: 1, limp tail; 2, hind limb paresis; 3, complete hind limb paralysis; 4, hind limb paralysis and body/front limb paresis/paralysis; 5, moribund. End point evaluation included mean severity of disease over time and mean day of disease onset (first day of score >0). Paralyzed mice (scores 3 and 4) were moved to individual cages where food and water were placed at cage floor level. The weight of EAE mice was measured every 2 days and mice were euthanized if there was a loss of more than 20 % in weight or if they become dehydrated.

Histology, immunochemistry, and immunoFRET

On pid-10 or pid-30, mice were euthanized and transcardially perfused with NS (10 ml) followed by 10 % neutral buffered formalin (15 ml). The spinal cords were removed, and 7 μm cryosections or paraffin sections were prepared from the lumbar region.
Fluorescence immunohistochemistry and immuno-Förster resonance energy transfer (immunoFRET) were performed on cryosections from pid-10 and pid-30 using custom anti-Sur1 and anti-Trpm4 antibodies, as described [17]. Controls for immunoFRET included omission of one of the two primary antibodies. Co-localization analysis was performed using the algorithm in Nikon NIS imaging software, based on regions of interest (400 × 200 μm) positioned in white matter. Specific signals were defined as fluorescence intensity twice that of background. Co-localization of fluorescence signals in double immunolabeled sections was computed as Pearson’s correlation coefficient [28].
Paraffin sections from pid-30 mice were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) (for inflammatory cell infiltrates) or Luxol fast blue (LFB) (for demyelination) following standard protocols. Axonal loss was determined by silver nitrate (AgNO3) staining using Hito Bielschowsky OptimStain Kit (#HTKNS1126, Hitobiotec Inc., Wilmington, DE, USA). Slides were examined using bright-field microscopy.
Chromagen immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin sections from pid-30, as described [29, 30], using VECTASTAIN Elite ABC Kits (#PK-6100) and Mouse on Mouse (M.O.M.) Elite Peroxidase Kit (#PK-2200) (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA). Primary antibodies were directed against the following: CD45 (1:1500; #ab10558; Abcam, Cambridge, MA); CD3 (1:200; #ab5690; Abcam); CD20 (1:100; #sc-7735; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA); CD11b (1:800; #NB110-89474; Novus Biologicals, Littleton, CO); TNF-α (1:500; #sc-1350; Santa Cruz Biotechnology); IFN-γ (1:100; #bs-0480R; Bioss, Woburn, MA); IL-17 (1:50; #sc-7927; Santa Cruz Biotechnology); IL-10 (1:50; #sc-1783; Santa Cruz Biotechnology); MBP (1:500; #ab40390; Abcam); CNPase (1:1000; #MAB326; EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA); Olig-2 (1:2000; #MABN50; EMD Millipore); PDGFR-α (1:500; #sc-338; Santa Cruz Biotechnology); and SMI-312 (1:1000; #SMI-312R; Covance Inc., Gaithersburg, MD). Nuclei were counterstained with hematoxylin. The specificity of the immunostaining for all proteins was tested in control slides by incubation with pre-immune serum or after pre-adsorption of the antibody with the respective peptides used as immunogens. Slides were examined using bright-field microscopy.
Quantification of tissue stains and of chromagen immunolabelings was performed by blinded observers using Image J software (NIH, USA). Tissue stains and markers (H&E, LFB, MBP, CNPase, SMI312, AgNO3) were quantified by counting the number of positive/negative quadrants and expressing the percentage over the total number of quadrants examined. All cell labeling experiments were quantified based on an analysis of 8–10 fields per section, randomly positioned in white matter (CD45, CD3, CD20, CD11b, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17, and Olig-2) or in tissues surrounding the central canal (PDGFR-α), with each field being 435 × 325 μm.

Co-immunoprecipitation

Immunoblot and co-immunoprecipitation were performed on lumbar spinal cord tissues from pid-30 using custom anti-Sur1 and anti-Trpm4 antibodies, as described [17].

Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were performed using Prism software (GraphPad, San Diego, CA). Data are shown as mean ± SEM. Statistical significance between groups was determined using one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) with Fisher’s post-hoc comparisons. In all experiments, P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results

Sur1-Trpm4 heteromers in EAE mice

EAE was induced in WT and Abcc8−/− mice using MOG35–55. Tissues from the lumbar region of the spinal cord, where the disease is most prominent [31], were examined at pid-10 and pid-30. Tissues were immunolabeled for Sur1, Trpm4, and cell-specific markers.
In white matter, Sur1 was not detected in normal WT controls (without EAE induction) (Fig. 1a). Modest Sur1 immunolabeling was present in the white matter of WT/EAE mice on pid-10, whereas by pid-30, Sur1 immunolabeling in white matter was widespread and robust (Fig. 1b, c). Quantitative analysis of Sur1 immunopositivity confirmed a progressive increase in white matter over the course of 30 days post-immunization (Fig. 1e). High power views showed that Sur1 expression was localized predominantly to cells with a stellate morphology, consistent with astrocytes (Fig. 1d). Double immunolabeling confirmed that Sur1 expression was localized predominantly to GFAP+ astrocytes (Fig. 1d). Quantitative analysis of the double immunolabeling data revealed a high degree of co-localization of Sur1 with GFAP (Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC), 0.78) and minimal co-localization of Sur1 with microglial Iba1 (PCC, 0.22) and oligodendrocyte MBP (PCC, 0.04) (Fig. 1f), consistent with most of the newly upregulated Sur1 being localized to astrocytes.
In gray matter, as in white matter, most of the Sur1 expressed by pid-30 was identified in stellate cells, consistent with astrocytes, and most NeuN+ neurons showed little or no detectable Sur1 (Fig. 1g). Rarely, a “basket” of Sur1 immunopositivity was seen surrounding a neuron (Fig. 1h).
Double immunolabeling experiments showed that, as with Sur1, Trpm4 was not detected in normal WT controls, exhibited modest immunopositivity in the white matter on pid-10, and showed robust labeling in white matter by pid-30 (Fig. 2a–c, e). Double labeling of tissues from Abcc8−/−/EAE mice showed upregulation of Trpm4 but no detectable Sur1 (Fig. 2d). As with Sur1, quantification of Trpm4 immunopositivity confirmed a progressive increase in white matter over the course of 30 days post-immunization (Fig. 2g).
The merged images of Fig. 2 showed striking co-localization of Trpm4 with Sur1, with quantitative analysis confirming a very high degree of co-localization (PCC, 0.94) (Fig. 1g). This finding suggested that astrocytes in WT/EAE mice might be expressing co-assembled Sur1-Trpm4 channels. To determine whether Sur1 co-assembled with Trpm4 to form Sur1-Trpm4 channels in EAE, we performed immunoFRET and co-immunoprecipitation, as previously described [17, 18]. ImmunoFRET imaging demonstrated that Sur1 and Trpm4 co-assembled (Fig. 2f). Measurements of FRET efficiency, when both primary antibodies were present, yielded values of 10–14 %, compared to ~0 % in negative controls [17, 18]. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments were carried out using tissues from pid-30 WT/EAE mice. These experiments showed that Sur1 was upregulated in EAE compared to controls (Fig. 2h). More importantly, co-assembled Sur1-Trpm4 was undetectable in controls but was prominent in EAE, confirming the findings of immunoFRET that Sur1 and Trpm4 co-assembled in EAE (Fig. 2h).

Glibenclamide and Abcc8−/− in murine EAE

Clinical scoring was assessed daily on pid-0–30. Untreated WT/EAE mice showed a typical course of acute EAE, marked by worsening paralysis scores beginning on pid-10–13, peaking several days later, then persisting through pid-30 (Fig. 3a). The mean clinical score for the disease period (pid-9–30) was 2.34 ± 0.23. The day of disease onset and the mean clinical scores at different times during the disease course are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Summary of EAE clinical scores
Group
Disease incidence/total (%)
Number of deaths
Disease onset (days)a
Mean clinical scores
Day 15b
Day 20c
Day 25c
Day 30c
Day 9–30d
WT/EAE
10/10 (100)
2
11.8 ± 0.36
2.1 ± 0.38
3.1 ± 0.46
3.0 ± 0.45
3.1 ± 0.48
2.34 ± 0.23
WT/EAE + GLIB
10/10 (100)
1
12.9 ± 0.50
1.3 ± 0.34
1.0 ± 0.34
1.0 ± 0.33
1.1 ± 0.35
0.94 ± 0.08
Abcc8−/−/EAE
10/10 (100)
0
13.0 ± 0.41
1.8 ± 0.36
1.4 ± 0.31
1.3 ± 0.26
1.0 ± 0.29
1.16 ± 0.12
Values are presented as mean ± SEM (10 mice per group)
aDisease onset is defined as the first day of a clinical score of one or more. There was no statistically significant difference in day of onset of disease between the groups
bThere was no statistically significant difference in scores between the groups on day 15
cOn day 20, 25, and 30, the mean clinical scores of mice were significantly lower in WT/EAE + GLIB and Abcc8−/−/EAE groups compared to WT/EAE group. (For all three time points: WT/EAE vs. WT/EAE + GLIB, P < 0.01; WT/EAE vs. Abcc8−/−/EAE, P < 0.01; N = 10; one-way ANOVA with Fisher’s post-hoc comparisons)
dOverall Mean score during the disease phase (Day 9 to 30) is significantly lower in WT/EAE + GLIB and Abcc8−/−/EAE groups compared to WT/EAE group. (WT/EAE vs. WT/EAE + GLIB, P < 0.001; WT/EAE vs. Abcc8−/−/EAE, P < 0.001; N = 10; one-way ANOVA with Fisher’s post-hoc comparisons)
We used the potent Sur1 inhibitor, glibenclamide, to assess whether Sur1-Trpm4 channels play a role in disease progression. Mice were injected once daily with 10 μg IP, beginning at the time of disease onset (pid-10) and continuing through to pid-30. Compared to untreated WT/EAE mice, glibenclamide ameliorated the clinical manifestations of EAE (Fig. 3a). The decrease in clinical severity in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE mice persisted throughout the experiment and manifested a robust effect size (Cohen’s d, 1.2). The mean clinical score for the disease period (pid-9–30) was 0.94 ± 0.08, which was significantly different from that in untreated WT/EAE mice (Table 1). Notably, the dose of glibenclamide used did not induce hypoglycemia (Fig. 3b).
The findings on Sur1-Trpm4 upregulation, combined with the effects observed with glibenclamide, were consistent with involvement of Sur1. To confirm functional involvement of Sur1 in EAE, we also studied Abcc8−/− mice. As with glibenclamide in WT/EAE mice, Abcc8−/−/EAE mice exhibited a decrease in clinical severity, compared to untreated WT/EAE mice, which persisted throughout the experiment and manifested the same robust effect size as glibenclamide (Fig. 3a). The mean clinical scores for the disease period (pid-9–30) was 1.16 ± 0.12, which was significantly different from untreated WT/EAE mice but not different from glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE mice (Table 1).

Glibenclamide and Abcc8−/− reduce the inflammatory burden in EAE

Sections of lumbar spinal cords from normal WT and Abcc8−/− controls (without EAE induction), untreated WT/EAE mice, glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE mice, and Abcc8−/−/EAE mice at pid-30 were stained with H&E (Fig. 4). Normal WT controls (Fig. 4a) and Abcc8−/− controls (not shown) were indistinguishable, showing no constitutive inflammation. Foci of inflammation were observed in the white matter of all untreated EAE spinal cords (Fig. 4b). Meningeal, perivascular, and parenchymal inflammatory infiltrates were reduced in the spinal cords of glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and Abcc8−/−/EAE mice, compared to untreated WT/EAE mice (Fig. 4c, d). Quantification revealed a significant difference in the infiltrated cell accumulation, 49.7 ± 2.4 % of the quadrants in the untreated WT/EAE group were positive for inflammation, compared with 12.7 ± 3.3 % of the quadrants in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE mice and 9.4 ± 1.5 % of the quadrants in Abcc8−/−/EAE mice (Fig. 4e).
To characterize the inflammatory cells present, sections of lumbar spinal cords were immunolabeled for markers of leukocytes (CD45), T cells (CD3), B cells (CD20), and macrophage/microglia (Cd11b). Inflammatory lesions in untreated WT/EAE lumbar spinal cords contained significantly increased numbers of CD45+, CD3+, CD20+, and CD11b+ cells, compared to normal controls (Fig. 4a, b, e). The number of inflammatory cells in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and Abcc8−/−/EAE lumbar spinal cords was significantly reduced, compared to untreated WT/EAE spinal cords (Fig. 4c–e).
To further characterize the effect of Sur1 inhibition or deletion on immune modulation in vivo, we counted cells positive for the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17, all of which were identified in white matter of lumbar spinal cord sections. Cells expressing TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17 were significantly increased in untreated WT/EAE mice compared to normal controls (Fig. 5a, b, e). Cells expressing TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17 were significantly decreased in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and Abcc8−/−/EAE mice, compared to untreated WT/EAE mice (Fig. 5c–e).

Glibenclamide and Abcc8−/− reduce demyelination and promote remyelination in EAE

Spinal cord myelin was stained using Luxol fast blue (LFB) and was immunolabeled for myelin basic protein (MBP) [32] (Fig. 6). White matter tracts in untreated WT/EAE mice stained weakly with LFB and labeled weakly for MBP. Compared to normal controls, the spinal cords of untreated WT/EAE mice showed 46 ± 1 % demyelination by LFB and 38 ± 1.9 % by MBP, whereas the spinal cords of glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE mice showed 11 ± 2 % demyelination by LFB and 12.1 ± 0.5 % by MBP, and those of Abcc8−/−/EAE mice showed 9.7 ± 1.1 % demyelination by LFB and 11.1 ± 1.1 % by MBP.
Expression of the mature oligodendrocyte marker, CNPase, verified the data on MBP (Fig. 6). Compared to normal controls, 51 ± 0.4 % of the quadrants in untreated EAE mice showed loss of staining, compared to 4.5 ± 1.0 % of the quadrants in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE mice and 4.2 ± 0.8 % of the quadrants in Abcc8−/−/EAE mice.
We also performed counts of cells positive for Olig-2, a marker of oligodendrocytes, and PDGFR-α, a marker of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) (Fig. 6). Olig-2+ but not PDGFR-α+ cells were significantly increased in WT/EAE, while cells with both markers were significantly increased in both glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE and in Abcc8−/−/EAE, consistent with increased proliferation of OPC with treatment.

Glibenclamide and Abcc8−/− protect against axonal damage

To assess for axonal sparing, spinal cords were examined using the pan-axonal neurofilament marker, anti-SMI 312, as well as silver nitrate staining (Fig. 7). For SMI 312 and silver nitrate, respectively, quantification revealed axonal losses of 58.7 ± 5.3 % and 48.5 ± 1 % in untreated WT/EAE mice, compared to normal controls, versus losses of 7.7 ± 3.2 % and 4.9 ± 0.5 % in glibenclamide-treated WT/EAE mice and 1.4 ± 0.4 % and 4.3 ± 0.4 % in Abcc8−/−/EAE mice.

Discussion

The major findings of the present study are that in EAE (i) Sur1 and Trpm4 are progressively upregulated between pid-10 and pid-30, (ii) Sur1 and Trpm4 co-assemble to form Sur1-Trpm4 channels, (iii) the dominant cell type that expresses Sur1-Trpm4 is the astrocyte, and (iv) deletion as well as pharmacological blockade of Sur1 yields robust neurological protection in EAE.
The clinical course and severity of EAE were significantly ameliorated in WT/EAE mice administered glibenclamide beginning at the time of disease onset (pid-10) as well as in Abcc8−/−/EAE mice. On pid-30, the lumbar spinal cords of WT/EAE mice treated with glibenclamide and of Abcc8−/−/EAE mice showed a significantly reduced inflammatory burden, including fewer inflammatory lesions (H&E), fewer invading peripheral immune cells, including leukocytes (CD45), T cells (CD3), B cells (CD20) and macrophages/microglia (CD11b), and fewer cells expressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17). The reduced inflammatory burden with glibenclamide and Abcc8 deletion correlated with better preservation of myelin (LFB, MBP), better preservation of axons (silver nitrate, SMI-312), and more numerous mature and precursor oligodendrocytes (CNPase, Olig-2, PDGFR-α). Glibenclamide and Abcc8 deletion also increased the density of CNPase as well as MBP, which are markers of mature OLs in vivo. The improved myelination with glibenclamide and Abcc8 deletion may have resulted from an enhanced number of OPCs differentiating into myelinating OLs, as these treatments increased the numbers and promoted the maturation of myelinating cells.
Schattling et al. [20] were the first to report the effect of glibenclamide in a murine MOG35–55 model of EAE. In their report, Schattling et al. attributed the beneficial effects of glibenclamide to blockade of Trpm4. However, the present study casts doubt on their interpretation that Trpm4 is the direct target of glibenclamide in EAE. First, we show here that Trpm4 upregulation is accompanied by upregulation of Sur1 and by co-assembly of Trpm4 with Sur1 to form Sur1-Trpm4 heteromers. It is known that glibenclamide is much more potent as a blocker of Sur1-Trpm4 than of Trpm4 alone—the EC50 for glibenclamide blockade of Sur1-Trpm4 is 48 nM, and both native and recombinant Sur1-Trpm4 channels are blocked >90 % by 1 μM [17, 33]. By contrast, with Trpm4 alone, the EC50 for glibenclamide may be as high as 100 μM [34], and 1 μM results in <10 % blockade [17]. The dose of glibenclamide administered by Schattling et al., as well as by us in the present report, was 10 μg per mouse, ~0.4 mg/kg, daily. In rodents, this dose yields peak serum levels of ~120 nM [35, 36], which is far below that required to block Trpm4 alone but is adequate for blockade of Sur1-Trpm4. Second, the observations that (i) protection by Abcc8 deletion is indistinguishable from protection by glibenclamide and (ii) in Abcc8−/− mice, Trpm4 was upregulated yet appeared to be harmless in the absence of Sur1, not only confirmed functional involvement of Sur1 in EAE but also is most consistent with the hypothesis that protection with glibenclamide is due to Sur1 inhibition, not Trpm4 inhibition.
Apart from blockade of Sur1-regulated channels, glibenclamide exhibits other actions that could potentially contribute to the salutary effects observed here and previously [20]. Glibenclamide is known to block the NLRP3 (NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3) inflammasome, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of EAE [37]. However, given the high dose of glibenclamide required to block the inflammasome (EC50, ~75 μM) [38], it is unlikely that this mechanism was involved in the beneficial effect of glibenclamide in EAE. Glibenclamide also acts as a PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ) agonist [39], a class of drugs with favorable effects in CNS inflammation, including EAE [40, 41]. However, glibenclamide’s efficacy as a PPARγ agonist is only ~20 % that of pioglitazone [39]. Importantly, since neither the NLRP3 inflammasome nor PPARγ involves Sur1, and since deletion of Abcc8 mimicked the effect of glibenclamide, the involvement of either of these mechanisms is highly unlikely. Overall, our data indicate that Sur1-Trpm4 is the most likely target of glibenclamide in EAE.
An important property of the Sur1-Trpm4 channel is that both subunits, Sur1 and Trpm4, are required for the manifestation of its pathological effects. This pathognomonic property previously was best exemplified in traumatic spinal cord injury, where pharmacological blockade of Sur1 (glibenclamide, repaglinide) or of Trpm4 (flufenamic acid, riluzole), gene suppression (antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against Abcc8 or Trpm4), and gene deletion (Abcc8−/− or Trpm4−/−), all were shown to result in the exactly the same phenotype—reduced microvascular dysfunction and capillary fragmentation [24]. Our present data, combined with those of Schattling et al. [20], extend observations based on traumatic spinal cord injury, showing that in EAE as well, deletion of Abcc8 or of Trpm4 results in the same phenotype—reduced inflammation and better preservation of myelin, better preservation of axons, and more numerous mature and precursor oligodendrocytes.
Schattling et al. [20] showed that immune cell infiltration, measured on pid-15, was not affected by glibenclamide treatment beginning on pid-8. By contrast, we found a significant reduction in immune cell infiltrates with glibenclamide when tissues were studied on pid-30. Apart from being performed much earlier, the cell counts reported by Schattling et al. [20] were based on the entire CNS (brain and spinal cord), whereas our cell counts were based on the lumbar spinal cord alone, where the pathological manifestations of EAE are the greatest [31]. It could be that, in the Schattling study, counting invading immune cells in the larger volume of tissue, most of which likely was unaffected at pid-15, inadvertently masked elevated numbers in the lumbar spinal cord.
Schattling et al. [20] reported significantly more Trpm4-positive axons in EAE mice compared to controls, based on morphology showing labeling of small round structures. Surprisingly, Schattling et al. did not report Trpm4 expression in astrocytes, whereas our data showed robust expression of Sur1-Trpm4 in astrocytes in EAE. These apparent differences are almost certainly due to the different times at which tissues were evaluated after disease induction. Schattling et al. studied tissues on pid-14—our data showed minimal expression on pid-10 but robust expression by pid-30. It is not surprising that astrocytes would express Sur1 and Trpm4, since this is the cell type in which the Sur1-Trpm4 channel was first discovered [33] and in which it has been repeatedly shown to be upregulated post-injury [17, 18, 42]. Notably, in cerebral ischemia, expression by astrocytes also increases slowly, reaching a maximum only after 1 month [29].
The prominent expression of Sur1-Trpm4 by astrocytes suggests that astrocytic Sur1-Trpm4 channels may be a principal target of glibenclamide. There is emerging recognition of a critical role of astrocytes as immune effector cells with an essential role in EAE [4346]. Activation of astrocytes in EAE occurs at the onset of the acute clinical episode, with the intensity being a good predictor of the clinical severity in animal models [47]. Astrocytes are the first cells in the CNS to be activated by MOG-reactive T cells and to synthesize pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that are essential for the induction of EAE [48]. As active players in CNS innate immunity, astrocytes participate actively and differently at different stages of the pathologic process [43]. Astrocytes contribute mechanistically to lesion development in EAE by (i) modifying blood–brain barrier properties and up-regulating adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteases required for leukocyte invasion, (ii) expressing cytokines and chemokines that attract leukocytes, (iii) producing factors toxic to oligodendrocytes and neurons, and (iv) blocking the maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells.
Important questions remain about Sur1-Trpm4 in EAE. Although the Sur1-Trpm4 channel in astrocytes has been characterized [33, 49], the role of the channel in astrocyte function in EAE remains to be determined. It is known that the channel acts principally as a negative regulator of calcium influx, with block of the channel by glibenclamide promoting increased calcium influx [17, 50]. Astrocytes secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that are essential for the induction of EAE [48, 51]. It may be that Sur1-Trpm4 blockade by glibenclamide alters calcium signaling in astrocytes and thereby impairs their secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Additional work, including astrocyte-specific deletion of Sur1-Trpm4 in EAE, will be required to fully elucidate the role of astrocytic Sur1-Trpm4 channels in the pathogenesis of EAE.

Conclusions

The Sur-Trpm4 channel is newly upregulated in murine EAE. Given its prominent expression in reactive astrocytes, and the important pro-inflammatory role of astrocytes in MS and EAE, the Sur1-Trpm4 channel may represent a novel therapeutic approach for disease modification to reduce peripheral immune cell entry into the CNS without compromising the function of peripheral immune cells themselves.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by grants to CTB from the Department of Veterans Affairs (Baltimore) (NB-25627) and from the National MS Society (RG4625-A-2).
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​4.​0/​), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://​creativecommons.​org/​publicdomain/​zero/​1.​0/​) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Competing interests

All authors declare no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

TKM, VKCN, RJ, KL, FM, and DT induced EAE, evaluated the mice, and performed quantitative analysis of the chromogen immunohistochemistry data. VG and SI performed quantitative analysis of the immunofluorescence data. SKW performed co-immunoprecipitation experiments. MSK performed immunoFRET experiments. JB supplied Abcc8−/− mice. JMS wrote the manuscript. VKCN and VG composed the figures. CTB and VG contributed critically to late drafts of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Literatur
2.
Zurück zum Zitat International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics C, Wellcome Trust Case Control C, Sawcer S, Hellenthal G, Pirinen M, Spencer CC, et al. Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis. Nature. 2011;476(7359):214–9. doi:10.1038/nature10251.CrossRef International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics C, Wellcome Trust Case Control C, Sawcer S, Hellenthal G, Pirinen M, Spencer CC, et al. Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis. Nature. 2011;476(7359):214–9. doi:10.​1038/​nature10251.CrossRef
3.
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Hohlfeld R. Biotechnological agents for the immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis. Principles, problems and perspectives. Brain. 1997;120(Pt 5):865–916.CrossRefPubMed Hohlfeld R. Biotechnological agents for the immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis. Principles, problems and perspectives. Brain. 1997;120(Pt 5):865–916.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Peterson LK, Fujinami RS. Inflammation, demyelination, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 2007;184(1–2):37–44.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Peterson LK, Fujinami RS. Inflammation, demyelination, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 2007;184(1–2):37–44.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Becher B, Bechmann I, Greter M. Antigen presentation in autoimmunity and CNS inflammation: how T lymphocytes recognize the brain. J Mol Med. 2006;84(7):532–43.CrossRefPubMed Becher B, Bechmann I, Greter M. Antigen presentation in autoimmunity and CNS inflammation: how T lymphocytes recognize the brain. J Mol Med. 2006;84(7):532–43.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Gold R, Linington C, Lassmann H. Understanding pathogenesis and therapy of multiple sclerosis via animal models: 70 years of merits and culprits in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis research. Brain. 2006;129(Pt 8):1953–71.CrossRefPubMed Gold R, Linington C, Lassmann H. Understanding pathogenesis and therapy of multiple sclerosis via animal models: 70 years of merits and culprits in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis research. Brain. 2006;129(Pt 8):1953–71.CrossRefPubMed
8.
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Krakowski ML, Owens T. Naive T lymphocytes traffic to inflamed central nervous system, but require antigen recognition for activation. Eur J Immunol. 2000;30(4):1002–9.CrossRefPubMed Krakowski ML, Owens T. Naive T lymphocytes traffic to inflamed central nervous system, but require antigen recognition for activation. Eur J Immunol. 2000;30(4):1002–9.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Colombo E, Di Dario M, Capitolo E, Chaabane L, Newcombe J, Martino G, et al. Fingolimod may support neuroprotection via blockade of astrocyte nitric oxide. Ann Neurol. 2014;76(3):325–37. doi:10.1002/ana.24217.CrossRefPubMed Colombo E, Di Dario M, Capitolo E, Chaabane L, Newcombe J, Martino G, et al. Fingolimod may support neuroprotection via blockade of astrocyte nitric oxide. Ann Neurol. 2014;76(3):325–37. doi:10.​1002/​ana.​24217.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Choi JW, Gardell SE, Herr DR, Rivera R, Lee CW, Noguchi K, et al. FTY720 (fingolimod) efficacy in an animal model of multiple sclerosis requires astrocyte sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) modulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(2):751–6. doi:10.1073/pnas.1014154108.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Choi JW, Gardell SE, Herr DR, Rivera R, Lee CW, Noguchi K, et al. FTY720 (fingolimod) efficacy in an animal model of multiple sclerosis requires astrocyte sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) modulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(2):751–6. doi:10.​1073/​pnas.​1014154108.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Becerra A, Echeverria C, Varela D, Sarmiento D, Armisen R, Nunez-Villena F, et al. Transient receptor potential melastatin 4 inhibition prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial cell death. Cardiovasc Res. 2011;91(4):677–84. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvr135.CrossRefPubMed Becerra A, Echeverria C, Varela D, Sarmiento D, Armisen R, Nunez-Villena F, et al. Transient receptor potential melastatin 4 inhibition prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial cell death. Cardiovasc Res. 2011;91(4):677–84. doi:10.​1093/​cvr/​cvr135.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Tosun C, Kurland DB, Mehta R, Castellani RJ, De Jong JL, Kwon MS, et al. Inhibition of the Sur1-Trpm4 channel reduces neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2013;44(12):3522–8.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Tosun C, Kurland DB, Mehta R, Castellani RJ, De Jong JL, Kwon MS, et al. Inhibition of the Sur1-Trpm4 channel reduces neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2013;44(12):3522–8.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Schattling B, Steinbach K, Thies E, Kruse M, Menigoz A, Ufer F, et al. TRPM4 cation channel mediates axonal and neuronal degeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Nat Med. 2012;18(12):1805–11.CrossRefPubMed Schattling B, Steinbach K, Thies E, Kruse M, Menigoz A, Ufer F, et al. TRPM4 cation channel mediates axonal and neuronal degeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Nat Med. 2012;18(12):1805–11.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Seghers V, Nakazaki M, DeMayo F, Aguilar-Bryan L, Bryan J. Sur1 knockout mice. A model for K(ATP) channel-independent regulation of insulin secretion. J Biol Chem. 2000;275(13):9270–7.CrossRefPubMed Seghers V, Nakazaki M, DeMayo F, Aguilar-Bryan L, Bryan J. Sur1 knockout mice. A model for K(ATP) channel-independent regulation of insulin secretion. J Biol Chem. 2000;275(13):9270–7.CrossRefPubMed
26.
30.
Zurück zum Zitat Nimmagadda VK, Bever CT, Vattikunta NR, Talat S, Ahmad V, Nagalla NK, et al. Overexpression of SIRT1 protein in neurons protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through activation of multiple SIRT1 targets. J Immunol. 2013;190(9):4595–607. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1202584.PubMedCentralPubMed Nimmagadda VK, Bever CT, Vattikunta NR, Talat S, Ahmad V, Nagalla NK, et al. Overexpression of SIRT1 protein in neurons protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through activation of multiple SIRT1 targets. J Immunol. 2013;190(9):4595–607. doi:10.​4049/​jimmunol.​1202584.PubMedCentralPubMed
32.
Zurück zum Zitat Barbarese E, Barry C, Chou CH, Goldstein DJ, Nakos GA, Hyde-DeRuyscher R, et al. Expression and localization of myelin basic protein in oligodendrocytes and transfected fibroblasts. J Neurochem. 1988;51(6):1737–45.CrossRefPubMed Barbarese E, Barry C, Chou CH, Goldstein DJ, Nakos GA, Hyde-DeRuyscher R, et al. Expression and localization of myelin basic protein in oligodendrocytes and transfected fibroblasts. J Neurochem. 1988;51(6):1737–45.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Zurück zum Zitat Chen M, Dong Y, Simard JM. Functional coupling between sulfonylurea receptor type 1 and a nonselective cation channel in reactive astrocytes from adult rat brain. J Neurosci. 2003;23(24):8568–77.PubMed Chen M, Dong Y, Simard JM. Functional coupling between sulfonylurea receptor type 1 and a nonselective cation channel in reactive astrocytes from adult rat brain. J Neurosci. 2003;23(24):8568–77.PubMed
35.
Zurück zum Zitat Chakradhar L, Kallem R, Karthik A, Sundari BT, Ramesh S, Mullangi R, et al. A rapid and highly sensitive method for the determination of glimepiride in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study. Biomed Chromatogr. 2008;22(1):58–63. doi:10.1002/bmc.896.CrossRefPubMed Chakradhar L, Kallem R, Karthik A, Sundari BT, Ramesh S, Mullangi R, et al. A rapid and highly sensitive method for the determination of glimepiride in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study. Biomed Chromatogr. 2008;22(1):58–63. doi:10.​1002/​bmc.​896.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Zurück zum Zitat Fukuen S, Iwaki M, Yasui A, Makishima M, Matsuda M, Shimomura I. Sulfonylurea agents exhibit peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonistic activity. J Biol Chem. 2005;280(25):23653–9. doi:10.1074/jbc.M412113200.CrossRefPubMed Fukuen S, Iwaki M, Yasui A, Makishima M, Matsuda M, Shimomura I. Sulfonylurea agents exhibit peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonistic activity. J Biol Chem. 2005;280(25):23653–9. doi:10.​1074/​jbc.​M412113200.CrossRefPubMed
42.
43.
Zurück zum Zitat Brosnan CF, Raine CS. The astrocyte in multiple sclerosis revisited. Glia. 2013;61(4):453–65.CrossRefPubMed Brosnan CF, Raine CS. The astrocyte in multiple sclerosis revisited. Glia. 2013;61(4):453–65.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Zurück zum Zitat Guo X, Nakamura K, Kohyama K, Harada C, Behanna HA, Watterson DM, et al. Inhibition of glial cell activation ameliorates the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Neurosci Res. 2007;59(4):457–66.CrossRefPubMed Guo X, Nakamura K, Kohyama K, Harada C, Behanna HA, Watterson DM, et al. Inhibition of glial cell activation ameliorates the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Neurosci Res. 2007;59(4):457–66.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Zurück zum Zitat Jensen CJ, Massie A, De KJ. Immune players in the CNS: the astrocyte. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2013;8(4):824–39.CrossRefPubMed Jensen CJ, Massie A, De KJ. Immune players in the CNS: the astrocyte. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2013;8(4):824–39.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Zurück zum Zitat Nair A, Frederick TJ, Miller SD. Astrocytes in multiple sclerosis: a product of their environment. Cell MolLife Sci. 2008;65(17):2702–20.CrossRef Nair A, Frederick TJ, Miller SD. Astrocytes in multiple sclerosis: a product of their environment. Cell MolLife Sci. 2008;65(17):2702–20.CrossRef
47.
Zurück zum Zitat Luo J, Ho P, Steinman L, Wyss-Coray T. Bioluminescence in vivo imaging of autoimmune encephalomyelitis predicts disease. J Neuroinflammation. 2008;5:6.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Luo J, Ho P, Steinman L, Wyss-Coray T. Bioluminescence in vivo imaging of autoimmune encephalomyelitis predicts disease. J Neuroinflammation. 2008;5:6.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
49.
Zurück zum Zitat Chen M, Simard JM. Cell swelling and a nonselective cation channel regulated by internal Ca2+ and ATP in native reactive astrocytes from adult rat brain. J Neurosci. 2001;21(17):6512–21.PubMed Chen M, Simard JM. Cell swelling and a nonselective cation channel regulated by internal Ca2+ and ATP in native reactive astrocytes from adult rat brain. J Neurosci. 2001;21(17):6512–21.PubMed
51.
Zurück zum Zitat Paul D, Ge S, Lemire Y, Jellison ER, Serwanski DR, Ruddle NH, et al. Cell-selective knockout and 3D confocal image analysis reveals separate roles for astrocyte-and endothelial-derived CCL2 in neuroinflammation. J Neuroinflammation. 2014;11:10. doi:10.1186/1742-2094-11-10.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed Paul D, Ge S, Lemire Y, Jellison ER, Serwanski DR, Ruddle NH, et al. Cell-selective knockout and 3D confocal image analysis reveals separate roles for astrocyte-and endothelial-derived CCL2 in neuroinflammation. J Neuroinflammation. 2014;11:10. doi:10.​1186/​1742-2094-11-10.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
Metadaten
Titel
Silencing of Abcc8 or inhibition of newly upregulated Sur1-Trpm4 reduce inflammation and disease progression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
verfasst von
Tapas K. Makar
Volodymyr Gerzanich
Vamshi K.C. Nimmagadda
Rupal Jain
Kristal Lam
Fahad Mubariz
David Trisler
Svetlana Ivanova
Seung Kyoon Woo
Min Seong Kwon
Joseph Bryan
Christopher T. Bever
J. Marc Simard
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2015
Verlag
BioMed Central
Erschienen in
Journal of Neuroinflammation / Ausgabe 1/2015
Elektronische ISSN: 1742-2094
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-015-0432-3

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 1/2015

Journal of Neuroinflammation 1/2015 Zur Ausgabe

Neu in den Fachgebieten Neurologie und Psychiatrie