Open AccessUpregulation of Group 1 CD1 Antigen Presenting Molecules in Guinea Pigs with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: An Immunohistochemical Study
Author(s) -
Cipriani Barbara,
Chen Lanfen,
Hiromatsu Kenji,
Knowles Heather,
Raine Cedric S.,
Battistini Luca,
Porcelli Steven A.,
Brosnan Celia F.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
brain pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.986
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1750-3639
pISSN - 1015-6305
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2003.tb00001.x
Subject(s) - cd1 , antigen , major histocompatibility complex , encephalomyelitis , immunology , biology , mhc class ii , experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis , microglia , mhc class i , antigen processing , cd1d , immune system , pathology , cd8 , inflammation , multiple sclerosis , medicine , natural killer t cell
In humans, group 1 CD1 glycoproteins present foreign and self lipid and glycolipid antigens to Tcells. Homologues of these molecules are not found in mice or rats but are present in guinea pigs (GPs). We examined CD1 and MHC class II expression in the central nervous system (CNS) of GPs sensitized for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. In normal GPs and the uninflamed CNS, low‐level MHC class II (MHC II) immunoreactivity occurred on vascular elements, meningeal macrophages and parenchymal microglial cells, whereas immunoreactivity for CD1 was absent. In the inflamed CNS, the majority of infiltrating cells were MHC II+ and microglia showed increased expression. CD1 immunoreactivity was detected on astrocytes and subsets of inflammatory cells including B cells and macrophages. Minimal CD1 and MHC II co‐expression was noted on inflammatory cells or glia. We conclude that group 1 CD1 molecules are strongly upregulated in the inflamed CNS on subsets of cells distinct from the majority of MHC II bearing cells. The expression of CD1 proteins in such lesions broadens the potential repertoire of antigens recognized at these sites and highlights the value of the GP as a model for studies of the relevance of CD1 molecules in host defense and autoimmune diseases.