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Apolipoprotein E expression after spinal cord injury in the mouse
Alexander Seitz1, Maja Kragol, Elsa Aglow
1The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Journal of Neuroscience Research
|January 15, 2003
Summary
Apolipoprotein E (apo-E) protein levels increase after spinal cord injury in mice. This protein, crucial for lipid metabolism, is found in various cells during injury recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Apolipoprotein E (apo-E) is implicated in CNS injury and Alzheimer's disease.
- Its role in spinal cord injury (SCI) is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and localization of apo-E following spinal cord transection in mice.
- To understand apo-E's cellular changes during SCI recovery.
Main Methods:
- Spinal cord transection in C57BL/6 mice.
- Analysis of apo-E RNA and protein levels at various time points post-injury.
- Immunohistochemical localization of apo-E in spinal cord tissue.
Main Results:
- Apo-E RNA levels increased by 4 days, peaking at 1-2 weeks post-injury.
- Apo-E protein levels also increased, remaining elevated beyond 3 weeks.
- Initially, apo-E was found in neutrophils and macrophages; later, it appeared in astrocytes during white matter remodeling.
Conclusions:
- Spinal cord injury significantly up-regulates apo-E expression in mice.
- Apo-E's cellular localization shifts from neurons and astrocytes to inflammatory cells and then back to astrocytes during SCI recovery.