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Protein co-expression with axonal injury in multiple sclerosis plaques

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Abstract

Damage to axons in acute multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions is now well established but the mechanisms of this damage remain obscure. Here we have applied a panel of antibodies that identify cell populations and proteins contained in them with a view to detecting those cells and proteins that are localised particularly closely to damaged axons in acute, sub-acute and border-active MS plaques. Results are expressed semi-quantitatively and graphs produced that show that many of the markers show enhanced expression at sites of axon damage. However, the sharpest increase in expression in relation to axon damage was seen for Calpain I (μ-calpain), inducible nitric oxide synthase and MMP-2, suggesting that these proteins may form part of a group of proteins responsible for the initiation of myelin and/or axon damage seen in MS lesions.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the relatives of those whose autopsy tissue has been included in this study for their permission for use of the tissue in research. Dr John Tzartos kindly performed the double labelling experiment and we are most grateful for his help. Financial support was provided by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Infirmary, OX2 6HE, Oxford, UK

    Maria Diaz-Sanchez, Kelly Williams, Gabriele C. DeLuca & Margaret M. Esiri

  2. Department of Neuropathology, Radcliffe Infirmary, University of Oxford, OX2 6HE, Oxford, UK

    Margaret M. Esiri

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  1. Maria Diaz-Sanchez
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  2. Kelly Williams
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  3. Gabriele C. DeLuca
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  4. Margaret M. Esiri
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Correspondence to Margaret M. Esiri.

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Diaz-Sanchez, M., Williams, K., DeLuca, G.C. et al. Protein co-expression with axonal injury in multiple sclerosis plaques. Acta Neuropathol 111, 289–299 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-006-0045-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-006-0045-0

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