Abstract
Nectin-1 is a cell adhesion molecule that plays a role in interneuronal synapse formation, in axonal guidance during development and possibly in neuron-glia interactions. To better understand axonal changes in MS, nectin-1 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in normal adult human cerebral white matter (n = 4) and in six MS plaques (three active and three inactive). The intensity of axonal nectin-1 expression was scored on a scale of 0 to 4+. In normal adult cerebral white matter, axons showed weak nectin-1 expression with a score of 1.25 ± 0.50. Axonal nectin-1 expression was significantly stronger within both active (score = 3.33 ± 0.289, p = 0.001) and inactive (score = 2.16 ± 0.29, p = 0.038) MS plaques than in normal white matter. Axons in white matter adjacent to MS plaques showed nectin-1 expression (score = 1.5 ± 0.50) that was not statistically different from normal controls (p = 0.542). These findings raise the possibility that increased expression of nectin-1 in MS lesions plays a role in the pathogenesis of MS through participation in axonal responses to injury and mediation of altered neuron-glia interactions relevant to myelination.
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Acknowledgments
These studies were supported by fellowship grants to E.G., B.K. and A.V. by the Rosztoczy Foundation.
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K. J. Castellanos and E. Gagyi contributed equally.
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Castellanos, K.J., Gagyi, E., Kormos, B. et al. Increased axonal expression of nectin-1 in multiple sclerosis plaques. Neurol Sci 34, 465–469 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1026-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-012-1026-9