Introduction

Progressive myoclonus epilepsy of Unverricht-Lundborg type (EPM1, OMIM 254800) is an autosomal recessively inherited neurodegenerative disorder with onset from 6 to 16 years of age and characterized by action-activated and highly incapacitating myoclonus, tonic-clonic epileptic seizures, and ataxia [1]. EPM1 is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the cystatin B (CSTB) gene [2, 3], which encodes an inhibitor of lysosomal cysteine cathepsins [4]. CSTB is highly expressed in immune cells, e.g., in blood leukocytes, hepatic lymphocytes, placental macrophages, and microglia [5–9], and it is upregulated in vitro by pro-inflammatory stimulation [8, 10, 11]. In immune cells, the function of CSTB has been linked to chemotaxis [8], expression and secretion of cytokines, and release of nitric oxide [10, 12, 13], implying a role in the immune response. CSTB function has also been associated with diverse cellular processes, such as regulation of apoptosis [14, 15], bone resorption [16, 17], protection of neurons from oxidative stress [18], and cell cycle progression [19].

A CSTB-deficient mouse model (Cstb −/−) mimics key features of EPM1, including myoclonic seizures, ataxia [20], and progressive gray and white matter loss [21]. The brain pathology of Cstb −/− mice is characterized by microglial activation in asymptomatic mice of 2 weeks of age, followed by widespread activation of astrocytes as well as progressive neuronal death and brain volume loss from 1 month of age onwards [22]. Moreover, activated cultured Cstb −/− microglia secrete higher levels of chemokines, such as chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)2, CCL3, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL)1, than control microglia [8]. Gene expression profiling of cultured Cstb −/− microglia revealed impaired interferon signaling and also showed altered chemokine expression [23]. Finally, a striking upregulation of Cxcl13 in gene expression profiling of postnatal day 30 (P30) Cstb −/− mouse cerebellum was detected [24].

We here confirm the increased CXCL13 expression also on protein level and show that the inflammatory processes in the Cstb −/− brain are linked to peripheral inflammation, which is characterized by increased levels of chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum combined with relatively more pro-inflammatory macrophages, and increased amounts of B lymphocytes in the spleen.

Materials and methods

Mice

CSTB-deficient mice (Cstb −/−) were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory (129-Cstb tm1Rm/SvJ; stock no. #003486). Wild-type mice of the same age and background were used as controls. The research protocols were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the State Provincial Office of Southern Finland (decision no. ESAVI/7039/04.10.03/2012, ESAVI/5995/04.10.07/2013, and ESAVI/6288/04.10.07/2015).

Measurement of chemokines and cytokines in mouse serum

Blood samples were obtained by intracardiac puncture of anesthetized P14 and P30 Cstb −/− and control mice. The blood was allowed to clot at room temperature (RT) for 15 min and centrifuged at 2000g for 13 min. The serum was collected and kept at −80 °C until use. The chemokine and cytokine concentrations were assessed using a combination of mouse CXCL10, interleukin (IL)-1α, CXCL1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, IL-1β, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN-α, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), colony stimulating factor 2 (GM-CSF), and TGF-β1 FlowCytomix Simplex kits for flow cytometry (eBioscience). The CXCL13 concentration was determined using the Quantikine® mouse CXCL13/BLC/BCA-1 Immunoassay ELISA kit (R&D Systems).

Tissue processing for histochemical analysis

Anesthetized mice (150 mg/kg pentobarbital) were perfused with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) and 4 % paraformaldehyde (PFA)/PBS for 10 min each. The brains were dissected, immersion fixed in 4 % PFA/PBS for 48 h, and cryoprotected in 30 % sucrose/0.05 % NaN3/Tris-buffered saline (TBS) for 3 days. Coronal or sagittal 40-μm sections were cut using a cryostat Leica CM3050 S (Leica Microsystems) and stored in 15 % sucrose/0.05 % NaN3/30 % ethylene glycol/TBS.

Immunohistochemistry

Adjacent 1-in-12 series of coronal free-floating sections (n = 5 per genotype and age) were incubated with 50 mM NH4Cl for 30 min to reduce non-specific background staining and blocked with 15 % fetal calf serum (FCS) diluted in TBS/0.3 %Triton X-100 (TTX) for 1 h. The sections were incubated with the primary antibodies rabbit anti-ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1; Wako) combined with goat anti-CXCL13, goat anti-CXCL10 (both R&D Systems), or rabbit anti-CXCL1 (Novus Biologicals) in 10 % FCS/TTX for 72 h at 4 °C. The secondary antibodies anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor 488 and anti-goat Alexa Fluor 594 (Invitrogen) were applied for 2 h at RT, and mounted sections were examined using a fluorescence microscope.

Evaluation of brain vascularity

Histochemical detection of blood vessels was performed as described previously [25]. Adjacent 1-in-12 series of sagittal free-floating sections of non-perfused Cstb −/− and control brains (P14 and P30) were incubated in 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) to detect endogenous peroxidase expression of erythrocytes. From each brain (n = 4 per genotype and age), eight sections were analyzed. Per each brain section, the vascularization was quantified from eight black and white bright-field images (×40, five from cortex and three from cerebellum) as relative DAB-positive section area using ImageJ software.

Measurement of BBB permeability

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity was analyzed based on its permeability for fluorescein [26, 27] and serum albumin [28]. To measure the fluorescein uptake into the brain, Cstb −/− and control P30 mice were injected i.p. with 100 μl (5 ml per kg) of 100 mg/ml fluorescein sodium salt (NaF, Sigma-Aldrich) in sterile PBS. After 1 h, the mice were perfused with PBS until the liquid leaving the right atrium was colorless. The excised brains were freed from the meninges and the fourth ventricular choroid plexus and weighed. After homogenization in 500 μl PBS and mixing with a vortex for 2 min, 500 μl of 60 % trichloroacetic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) was added to precipitate protein. Homogenized samples were kept at 4 °C for 30 min and centrifuged at 18,000g at 4 °C for 10 min. Fluorescence intensity of the supernatants was measured at excitation 440 nm and emission 525 nm using a microplate reader (WALLAC Victor 2). Fluorescein concentrations were calculated based on a sodium fluorescein standard curve (10 to 200 ng/ml) and expressed as nanogram per milligram brain tissue [29]. For albumin staining, adjacent 1-in-12 series of coronal free-floating sections were incubated with 50 mM NH4Cl for 30 min, blocked with 15 % FCS/TTX for 1 h, and incubated for 24 h at 4 °C protected from light with goat anti-mouse FITC-conjugated serum albumin IgG (Alpha Diagnostic International) diluted in 10 % FCS/TTX. Mounted sections were examined using a fluorescence microscope.

Isolation of brain mononuclear cells and nucleated splenocytes

P14 and P30 mice were euthanized with CO2, perfused with ice-cold PBS, and the brain and spleen were dissected. Brain mononuclear cells were isolated as described previously [8]. Splenocytes were collected from spleens by gently grinding through a 40-μm cell strainer, erythrolyzed using VersaLyse lysing solution (Beckman Coulter), and washed with ice-cold PBS.

Flow cytometry

The above isolated cells were blocked with 10 % normal rat serum/PBS on ice for 30 min. The brain mononuclear cells were stained with a combination of anti-mouse antibodies CD206-FITC + MHCII-PE + F4/80-PE/Cy7 + CD45-APC and the splenocytes with a combination of CD11b-FITC + CD45-PE + F4/80-PE/Cy7 + Gr-1-APC or CD206-FITC + MHCII-PE + F4/80-PE/Cy7 + CD45-APC (all from BioLegend) on ice, protected from light, for 30 min. Cells were washed and resuspended in 500 μl PBS/1 % FCS/0.02 % NaN3. The flow cytometric data were acquired with a two-laser, six-color Gallios flow cytometer and analyzed by Kaluza analysis 1.3 software (Beckman Coulter). Brain mononuclear cells were defined as follows: microglia CD45+F4/80+, macrophages CD45hiF4/80+, M1-type macrophages CD45hiF4/80+MHCII+CD206−, and M2-type macrophages CD45hiF4/80+MHCII−/+CD206+. Splenocytes were defined as follows: granulocytes CD45+F4/80−/+Gr-1++, monocytes CD45+F4/80−Gr-1+, monocyte-derived macrophages CD45+CD11b+F4/80+Gr-1−, tissue-resident macrophages CD45+F4/80++Gr-1−/+, M1-type macrophages CD45+F4/80+MHCII+CD206−, and M2-type macrophages CD45+F4/80+MHCII−/+CD206+. Cell populations were calculated as percentages among total leukocytes or macrophages.

Statistical analyses

Statistical analyses were performed using unpaired, two-sided t test or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with Sidak’s multiple comparison test for comparison between genotypes. All data are presented as mean ± SEM and a value of p < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Further methods are available in the Supporting Information (Additional file 1).

Results

Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels are high in the serum of young Cstb −/− mice

To characterize peripheral inflammatory changes in pre-symptomatic and early symptomatic Cstb −/− mice, we determined the concentrations of 17 cytokines and chemokines in the serum of Cstb −/− and control mice at P14 and P30. At P14, the concentrations of pro-inflammatory chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL10, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α and IL-18, were significantly higher in Cstb −/− than in control mice (Fig. 1a). In contrast, the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β1 was reduced. The levels of CXCL1, CXCL10, and TNF-α were higher in the serum of P30 Cstb −/− than in control mice, whereas the level of TGF-β1 did not differ between genotypes (Fig. 1b). The level of CXCL13 did not differ at P14, but was increased at P30. In conclusion, these data imply the presence of systemic inflammation, characterized by increased level of chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines already in pre-symptomatic Cstb −/− mice at P14.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Cytokine levels in the serum of control and Cstb −/− mice. a Concentrations of CXCL1, CXCL10, CXCL13, IL-1α, IL-18, and TGF-β1 at P14 and b CXCL1, CXCL10, CXCL13, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 at P30. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 3–6 per genotype; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001)

Full size image

Expression of the pro-inflammatory chemokine CXCL13 is highly increased in Cstb −/− microglia

As the expression and secretion of chemokines have previously been shown to be altered in cerebellar tissue and primary microglia of Cstb −/− mice [8, 23, 24], we focused our further analyses on brain expression of chemokines CXCL1, CXCL10, and CXCL13, which were increased in the sera of mice at P30. Using immunohistochemistry in Cstb −/− and control mice, we did not detect expression of CXCL1 and only low level of CXCL10 at P14 and P30 (data not shown). Expression of CXCL13 was higher in Cstb −/− than control brain at both time points (Figs. 2 and 3). In P14 Cstb −/− brain tissue, CXCL13 immunopositivity was restricted to the piriform cortex, the CA3 area of the hippocampus, and the dorsal and ventral part of the anterior pretectal nucleus (Fig. 2), whereas the other cortical areas or the cerebellum did not express CXCL13 (data not shown). At P30, CXCL13 was highly expressed also in other regions of the cortex and in the cerebellum (Fig. 3). CXCL13 immunopositivity co-localized with IBA1 immunopositivity, marking Cstb −/− microglia that have an activated morphology.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Immunohistochemical detection of CXCL13 in control and Cstb −/− mouse brain at P14. CXCL13-positive microglia are shown by double immunofluorescence staining of CXCL13 (red) with the microglial marker IBA1 (green) in the following brain areas: i piriform cortex, ii CA3 area of the hippocampus, and iii pretectum of control and Cstb −/− mice. Representative CXCL13- and IBA1-double-positive cells in the merged image are marked with arrows. Scale bar = 50 μM

Full size image
Fig. 3
figure 3

Immunohistochemical detection of CXCL13 in control and Cstb −/− mouse brain at P30. CXCL13-positive microglia are shown by double immunofluorescence staining of CXCL13 (red) with the microglial marker IBA1 (green) in the cortex and cerebellum of control and Cstb −/− mice. Representative CXCL13- and IBA1-double-positive cells in the merged image are marked with arrows. The inserts show enlargements of one double immuno-positive cell from both brain regions. Scale bar = 50 μM

Full size image

Brain vascularization is enhanced and the BBB is intact in young Cstb −/− mice

Chemokines are involved in the regulation of angiogenesis [30]. Therefore, we analyzed the vascularization in Cstb −/− and control mice at P14 and P30 in non-perfused brains by determining the relative area positive for histochemical DAB staining, which detects endogenous erythrocyte peroxidase (Fig. 4a). At P14, the extent of brain vascularization did not differ significantly between genotypes, but it was more intense in Cstb −/− than in control mice at P30 (Fig. 4b). To determine whether this increased vascularization is associated with higher BBB permeability, we measured the BBB integrity based on the presence of peripherally injected sodium fluorescein or endogenous serum albumin in the brain tissue at P30. Neither method revealed differences in BBB permeability between Cstb −/− and control mice (Additional file 2: Figure S1).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Brain vascularization of control and Cstb −/− mice. a Histochemical detection of brain vessels in the cortex of control and Cstb −/− mice at P14 and P30 was performed using DAB, which detects erythrocytes based on their endogenous peroxidase expression. b Vascularization is quantified at P14 and at P30 as relative DAB-positive area in 64 images from each of four control and four Cstb −/− brains. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (**p < 0.01, scale bar = 50 μM)

Full size image

Macrophages are pro-inflammatory in Cstb −/− mice

To determine whether the high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum are associated with changes in immune cell populations, we performed flow cytometric analyses to characterize the composition and activation of different immune cell types in Cstb −/− mouse bone marrow, spleen, and brain at P14 and P30. First, we determined the myeloid cell composition in the spleen and bone marrow (Additional file 3: Figure S2), as well as granulocyte-macrophage and macrophage-dendritic cell progenitors in the bone marrow (Additional file 4: Figure S3). We did not detect any differences between genotypes at either time point. In addition, because CXCL13 is a chemoattractant for B lymphocytes [31, 32], and it is highly expressed at P30, we determined the relative amount of B lymphocytes among brain, spleen, and bone marrow leukocytes at P30 (Additional file 5: Figure S4A). It was significantly higher in the spleen (Additional file 5: Figure S4B), but did not differ in the brain and bone marrow between genotypes (Additional file 5: Figure S4C, D). Finally, we characterized the immune phenotype of spleen and brain macrophages by specifying the relative amount of pro-inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages from the total amount of macrophages in each tissue (Fig. 5a and Additional file 6: Figure S5) and determined the ratio (M1:M2) between both types. The ratio was higher in Cstb −/− mice than in controls at P14 and P30 in the spleen (Fig. 5b). In the brain of P30 Cstb −/− mice, the macrophages were also more polarized towards the pro-inflammatory M1 type than control macrophages (Fig. 5d).

Fig. 5
figure 5

Flow cytometric analysis of M1 and M2 macrophages in control and Cstb −/− spleen and brain. a Illustrative plots show the flow cytometric gating strategy of nucleated spleen cells and enriched brain mononuclear cells. (i) In the spleen, CD45+F4/80+ macrophages were divided into CD45+F4/80+MHCII+CD206− M1 and CD45+F4/80+MHCII−/+CD206+ M2 cells. (ii) In the brain, the CD45hiF4/80+ macrophage population was divided into CD45hiF4/80+MHCII+CD206− M1 and CD45hiF4/80+MHCII−/+CD206+ M2 macrophages. Ratio between M1 and M2 macrophages at P14 and P30 (M1:M2 ratio) in the b spleen (n = 6 samples) and c brain (n = 15 samples per genotype at P14 and n = 11 per genotype at P30). Data are presented as mean ± SEM (*p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001)

Full size image

Discussion

In this study, we show that altered levels of chemokines in the serum and brain of young Cstb −/− mice, which indicate systemic inflammation already in pre-symptomatic mice, is linked to increased brain vascularization in the presence of a seemingly intact BBB. Moreover, we show that high CXCL13 expression is a hallmark of activated Cstb −/− microglia and that macrophages in the Cstb −/− spleen and brain are pro-inflammatory.

Traumatic brain injury, epileptic seizures, ischemia, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized by a higher prevalence or a reduced threshold for seizures, are all associated with the expression and secretion of cytokines [33, 34]. Cytokines and chemokines are released primarily by cells of the immune system and vascular endothelial cells, and they can actively cross the BBB or stimulate endothelial cells to express mediators that activate brain cells [35, 36]. Previously, it had been shown that the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-18, IL-1β, and TNFα are increased in the serum of adult Cstb −/− mice after peripheral LPS injection [12]. Interestingly, we identified elevated levels of IL-18 and TNFα already in young Cstb −/− mice without activation of inflammation with LPS, whereas no alterations in the level of IL-1β were seen.

We also identified increased serum levels of chemokine CXCL1, CXCL10, and CXCL13 in Cstb −/− mice. Whether these chemokines are secreted from immune cells or endothelial cells requires further studies. Expression of CXCL13, which binds CXCR4 receptor and regulates B cell migration [32], has been reported to be enhanced in inflammatory CNS diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and encephalitis [37–40]. Our previous gene expression analysis of P30 Cstb −/− cerebellar tissue revealed a striking (29-fold) upregulation of Cxcl13 [24]. On the contrary, in transcriptomics profiling of in vitro-cultured Cstb −/− microglia, a slight downregulation of Cxcl13 was observed [23], suggesting that the CXCL13 upregulation in Cstb −/− microglia might be specific to the brain in vivo. In line with other studies, which have shown CXCL13 expression in activated mouse microglia and in blood-derived human monocytes and macrophages [41–44], we detected increased expression of CXCL13 in IBA1-positive microglia. Therefore, CXCL13 serves as a marker for activated microglia in Cstb −/− mice. Interestingly, the expression of CXCL13 at P14 in Cstb −/− microglia was restricted to the piriform cortex, CA3 area of the hippocampus, and pretectum, but was more widespread at P30.

Chemokines can regulate the integrity of the BBB [45, 46]. In particular, they affect angiogenesis and BBB permeability [30, 45, 46]. The chemokines CXCL10 and CXCL13 have been reported to be angiostatic, i.e., inhibiting the generation of vessels, whereas CXCL1 is angiogenic inducing vessel formation [30, 47]. Our results imply more intense brain vascularization in P30 Cstb −/− mice, which might be mediated by the higher CXCL1 concentration in serum. In addition, CXCL10 and CXCL13 could be upregulated in the serum and in the brain, respectively, to counteract the angiogenic effect of CXCL1. Despite the elevated levels of cytokines in the serum of Cstb −/− mice and the previously shown higher presence of macrophages, T cells, and granulocytes in the brain [8], we did not detect a compromised BBB yet at P30. However, it is likely that the BBB integrity will be impaired in older Cstb −/− mice as a consequence of a prolonged inflammation in the brain.

Although CXCL13 has been reported to function as a B cell chemoattractant [31, 32], we did not detect a greater proportion of B cells in the Cstb −/− brain. In line with our finding, the B cell infiltration after experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis has been shown to be normal in the brain of CXCL13-deficient mice [48]. We did find an increased B cell population in the spleen of Cstb −/− mice, but the mechanism and significance of this finding warrant further studies.

In response to inflammatory stimuli or pathogens, microglia and macrophages can be broadly classified into pro- (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) activated [49–51]. Pro-inflammatory activation is linked to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, whereas anti-inflammatory cells promote tissue repair and survival. However, microglia and macrophages adopt various intermediate phenotypes in vivo depending on the nature of the activating stimuli. Therefore, the M1-M2 classification does not reflect the full spectrum of the intermediate and mutually non-exclusive “activation” states in vivo. A recent report by Murray et al. [52] revised the nomenclature for macrophages in vitro based on the activating stimuli. In relation to this framework, the M1 population in our study, which we identified based on their low mannose receptor (CD206) and high MHCII expression level, can be related to the M(IFN-γ) population because MHCII expression is induced by IFN-γ [53, 54]. Moreover, the M2 population, which we defined based on their high CD206 expression level, can be related to M(IL-4) cells because IL-4 stimulation induces CD206 upregulation [52, 55]. Using flow cytometric analysis, we previously showed that microglia directly extracted from the brain are skewed towards the anti-inflammatory phenotype in P14 and towards the pro-inflammatory phenotype in P30 Cstb −/− mice [8]. In line with these findings, also, splenic and brain macrophages show a prevailing pro-inflammatory, M1-type polarization at P30. These data imply that not only microglia but also macrophage cell populations contribute to the emergence of brain and peripheral inflammation.

In conclusion, our results support the previously described association of CSTB deficiency with early inflammatory processes in the brain of Cstb −/− mice. Here, we report altered chemokine and cytokine level in the serum of Cstb −/− mice. Future studies will show whether these findings recapitulate in EPM1 patients and whether altered expression of chemokines and/or cytokines could be useful biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy. Increased understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms in EPM1 is a prerequisite for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat this devastating disease.