NR AVYA
AU Pasquali,P.; Nonno,R.; Mandara,M.T.; Di Bari,M.A.; Ricci,G.; Petrucci,P.; Capuccini,S.; Cartoni,C.; Macri,A.; Agrimi,U.
TI Intracerebral administration of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18 modifies the course of mouse scrapie
QU BMC Veterinary Research 2006; 2: 37
PT journal article; research support, non-u.s. gov't
AB BACKGROUND: Prion diseases are characterised by a neurodegenerative pattern in which the function of immune system remains still elusive. In the present study, we evaluate if an exogenous treatment with Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18, able to activate microglia, is able to affect scrapie pathogenesis. RESULTS: Cytokines injected intracranially, induced a strong inflammatory response characterised by TNF-alpha production and microglia activation. Two groups of mice were injected intracerebrally with high dose of ME7 strain of scrapie containing IL-12 and IL-18 or sterile saline. Cytokines-treated mice showed a more pronounced accumulation of PrPsc in brain tissues at 90 days post-inoculation and a shorter mean survival times than untreated mice. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that intracerebral administration of IL-12 and IL-18 can modulate scrapie pathogenesis possibly through a microglia-mediated pattern.
MH Animals; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Injections, Intraventricular; Interferon Type II/metabolism; Interleukin-12/*administration & dosage/*therapeutic use; Interleukin-18/*administration & dosage/*therapeutic use; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Scrapie/*drug therapy; Time Factors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
AD Department of Food Safety and Animal Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy. paolo.pasquali@iss.it
SP englisch
PO England