Summary

Een<em> Ex vivo</em> Model van een Oligodendrocyte gericht T-Cell Attack in Acute Brain Slices

Published: February 05, 2015
doi:

Summary

To address mechanisms of demyelination and neuronal apoptosis in cortical lesions of inflammatory demyelinating disorders, different animal models are used. We here describe an ex vivo approach by using oligodendrocyte-specific CD8+ T-cells on brain slices, resulting in oligodendroglial and neuronal death. Potential applications and limitations of the model are discussed.

Abstract

Death of oligodendrocytes accompanied by destruction of neurons and axons are typical histopathological findings in cortical and subcortical grey matter lesions in inflammatory demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS). In these disorders, mainly CD8+ T-cells of putative specificity for myelin- and oligodendrocyte-related antigens are found, so that neuronal apoptosis in grey matter lesions may be a collateral effect of these cells. Different types of animal models are established to study the underlying mechanisms of the mentioned pathophysiological processes. However, although they mimic some aspects of MS, it is impossible to dissect the exact mechanism and time course of ‘‘collateral’’ neuronal cell death. To address this course, here we show a protocol to study the mechanisms and time response of neuronal damage following an oligodendrocyte-directed CD8+ T cell attack. To target only the myelin sheath and the oligodendrocytes, in vitro activated oligodendrocyte-specific CD8+ T-cells are transferred into acutely isolated brain slices. After a defined incubation period, myelin and neuronal damage can be analysed in different regions of interest. Potential applications and limitations of this model will be discussed.

Introduction

Death of oligodendrocytes and destruction of the myelin sheath accompanied by loss of neurons and axons are typical pathological findings in grey matter lesions in individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS)1,2. Cortical lesions can be divided so far in three different subtypes2: subpial, intracortical and leukocortical lesions. In comparison to white matter plaques, infiltrates are characterized by a predominance of CD8+ T-cells, suggesting their possible decisive role in grey matter inflammation3. Furthermore, oligoclonal expansions in blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and within inflammatory lesions can be found for CD8+ T-cells themselves4-6.

In line with this, it is assumed that CD8+ T-cells may be specific for different myelin proteins7,8. Indeed, CD8+ T-cells are found near oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths9,10 that show MHC I expression11 and might therefore be responsible for the loss of the myelin sheath. This process is often seen together with extensive ‘‘collateral’’ neuronal and axonal damage within the central nervous system (CNS) grey matter1,2. In fact, direct and indirect death of oligodendrocytes and neurons is induced by CD8+ T-cells via two different mechanism: (i) cell membrane swelling and rupture due to the formation of cytotoxic granules following the release of perforins and granzymes and (ii) ligation to the Fas receptors or exposition of FasL on their surface8,12,13.

Different types of animal models are established to study the underlying mechanism of the mentioned processes. In this respect, primed CD8+ T-cells specific for autoantigens with induced expression in CNS glial cells, like oligodendrocytes or astrocytes, can be adoptively transferred to analyse ‘‘collateral’’ neuronal and axonal death in grey matter subsequently14,15. To perform such in vivo experiments is a big help to mimic some pathophysiological aspects of MS, however, this approach is not suited to resolve the underlying mechanism and kinetics of axonal damage and neuronal apoptosis.

To overcome these restrictions, an ex vivo approach was established to study the mechanisms and time course of neuronal cell death following a oligondendrocytes-directed CD8+ T-cell attack. Since only oligodendrocytes and therefore myelin sheath production should be targeted by immune cells, MHC class-I-restricted, ovalbumin (OVA)-reactive OT-I Tcells are used16. These cells are subsequently transferred into brain slices obtained from mice selectively expressing OVA in oligodendrocytes (ODC-OVA mice)17.

Protocol

Alle experimenten met muizen moeten worden uitgevoerd in overeenstemming met de richtlijnen van de respectieve institutionele dier zorg en gebruik commissie. 1. Algemene opmerkingen voor Muis Experimenten Houd de muizen onder-pathogeen-vrije omstandigheden en hen in staat de toegang tot voedsel en water ad libitum. OPMERKING: Het is belangrijk om voor leeftijd en geslacht gematchte muizen in de experimentele groepen gebruiken omdat immunologische patronen kunnen variëren m…

Representative Results

Na incubatie van hersencoupes met oligodendrocyten gerichte CD8 + T-cellen, oligodendrocyten en neuronen ondergaan apoptose (figuur 2A en 1C respectievelijk). Histologische tekenen van apoptose (bijvoorbeeld caspase-3, Tunel) worden vroegst waargenomen na 3 uur incubatie. Incubatietijd mag niet langer dan 8 uur zijn om een ​​goede kwaliteit van het preparaat en reproduceerbare resultaten te garanderen. Apoptotische cellen kan worden gevonden over de slice met overwicht in gemyeli…

Discussion

Verschillende dierlijke modellen zijn beschreven in de afgelopen decennia de pathologische kenmerken van inflammatoire demyeliniserende ziekten als MS pakken. In vivo muis en ratmodellen worden wijd gebruikt om pathofysiologie van de ziekte na te bootsen, namelijk analyse van de gevolgen van demyelinisatie en remyelinisatie processen en vermengde afleveringen van ontstekingen en neurodegeneratie. Toch alleen een ex vivo benadering maakt het mogelijk om de exacte onderliggende mechanismen te ontleden. <…

Divulgaciones

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) Münster (SEED 03/12, SB), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB TR128, TP B6 to S.G.M. ME3283/2-1 to S.G.M.) and by Innovative Medizinische Forschung, Münster (I-BI111316, SB and SGM).

Materials

Name of Material/ Equipment Company Catalog Number Comments/Description
12-Well-plate Corning 3513
2-Mercaptoethanol Gibco 31350-010
2-Methylbutan Roth 3927.1
70 µm strainer Falcon 352350
CaCl2 Merck 1.02382.0500 calcium chloride
CD8+-isolation kit Miltenyi Biotech 130-090-859
D(+)-glukose Merck 1.08337.1000
DMEM Gibco 31966-021 warm in 37 °C water bath before use
EDTA Sigma E5134
FCS PAA Laboratories A15-151 fetal calve serum
gentamicin Gibco 15750-060
HEPES 1M Gibco 15630-050
IL-2 Peprotech 212-12
Isofluran Abbott 05260-05
KCl Merck 1.04933.0500 potassium chloride
KHCO3 Sigma P9144 potassium hydrogen carbonate
L-Glutamine Gibco 35050-038
MgSO4 Merck 1.05886.0500 magnesium sulfate
NaCl Sigma 31434 sodium chloride
NaH2PO4 * H2O Merck 1.06346.0500 sodium hydrogen phosphate
NaHCO3 Merck 1.06329.0500 sodium hydrogen carbonate
NaOH Merck 1.09137.1000 sodium hydroxide
NH4Cl Sigma 213330 ammonium chloride
Non Essential Amino Acid Gibco 11140-050
OVA (257-264) Genscript RP10611 ovalbumin
PIPES Sigma P6757
Sukrose Merck 1.07687.1000
Tissue-Tek OCT Sakura 4583

Referencias

  1. Moll, N. M., et al. Cortical demyelination in PML and MS: Similarities and differences. Neurology. 70 (5), 336-343 (2008).
  2. Peterson, J. W., Bo, L., Mork, S., Chang, A., Trapp, B. D. Transected neurites, apoptotic neurons, and reduced inflammation in cortical multiple sclerosis lesions. Ann Neurol. 50 (3), 389-400 (2001).
  3. Bo, L., Vedeler, C. A., Nyland, H. I., Trapp, B. D., Mork, S. J. Subpial demyelination in the cerebral cortex of multiple sclerosis patients. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 62 (7), 723-732 (2003).
  4. Babbe, H., et al. Clonal expansions of CD8(+) T cells dominate the T cell infiltrate in active multiple sclerosis lesions as shown by micromanipulation and single cell polymerase chain reaction. J Exp Med. 192 (3), 393-404 (2000).
  5. Junker, A., et al. Multiple sclerosis: T-cell receptor expression in distinct brain regions. Brain. 130 (11), 2789-2799 (2007).
  6. Skulina, C., et al. Multiple sclerosis: brain-infiltrating CD8+ T cells persist as clonal expansions in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 101 (8), 2428-2433 (2004).
  7. Friese, M. A., Fugger, L. Autoreactive CD8+ T cells in multiple sclerosis: a new target for therapy. Brain. 128 (8), 1747-1763 (2005).
  8. Melzer, N., Meuth, S. G., Wiendl, H. CD8+ T cells and neuronal damage: direct and collateral mechanisms of cytotoxicity and impaired electrical excitability). FASEB J. 23 (11), 3659-3673 (2009).
  9. Booss, J., Esiri, M. M., Tourtellotte, W. W., Mason, D. Y. Immunohistological analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in the central nervous system in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci. 62 (1-3), 219-232 (1983).
  10. Hauser, S. L., et al. Immunohistochemical analysis of the cellular infiltrate in multiple sclerosis lesions. Ann Neurol. 19 (6), 578-587 (1986).
  11. Hoftberger, R., et al. Expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on the different cell types in multiple sclerosis lesions. Brain Pathol. 14 (1), 43-50 (2004).
  12. Göbel, K., et al. Collateral neuronal apoptosis in CNS gray matter during an oligodendrocyte-directed CD8(+) T cell attack. Glia. 58, 469-480 (2010).
  13. Melzer, N., et al. Excitotoxic neuronal cell death during an oligodendrocyte-directed CD8+ T cell attack in the CNS gray matter. J Neuroinflammation. 10, 121 (2013).
  14. Huseby, E. S., et al. A pathogenic role for myelin-specific CD8(+) T cells in a model for multiple sclerosis. J Exp Med. 194 (5), 669-676 (2001).
  15. McPherson, S. W., Heuss, N. D., Roehrich, H., Gregerson, D. S. Bystander killing of neurons by cytotoxic T cells specific for a glial antigen. Glia. 53 (5), 457-466 (2006).
  16. Hogquist, K. A., et al. T cell receptor antagonist peptides induce positive selection. Cell. 76 (1), 17-27 (1994).
  17. Cao, Y., et al. Induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in transgenic mice expressing ovalbumin in oligodendrocytes. Eur J Immunol. 36 (1), 207-215 (2006).
  18. Göbel, K., et al. CD4(+) CD25(+) FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells suppress cytotoxicity of CD8(+) effector T cells: implications for their capacity to limit inflammatory central nervous system damage at the parenchymal level. J Neuroinflammation. 9, 41 (2012).
  19. Edwards, F. A., Konnerth, A., Sakmann, B., Takahashi, T. A thin slice preparation for patch clamp recordings from neurones of the mammalian central nervous system. Pflugers Arch. 414 (5), 600-612 (1989).
  20. Meuth, S. G., et al. Contribution of TWIK-related acid-sensitive K+ channel 1 (TASK1) and TASK3 channels to the control of activity modes in thalamocortical neurons. J Neurosci. 23 (16), 6460-6469 (2003).
  21. Misgeld, U., Frotscher, M. Dependence of the viability of neurons in hippocampal slices on oxygen supply. Brain Res Bull. 8 (1), 95-100 (1982).
  22. Ling, C., Verbny, Y. I., Banks, M. I., Sandor, M., Fabry, Z. In situ activation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in the presence of antigen in organotypic brain slices. J Immunol. 180, 8393-8399 (2008).

Play Video

Citar este artículo
Göbel, K., Bittner, S., Cerina, M., Herrmann, A. M., Wiendl, H., Meuth, S. G. An Ex vivo Model of an Oligodendrocyte-directed T-Cell Attack in Acute Brain Slices. J. Vis. Exp. (96), e52205, doi:10.3791/52205 (2015).

View Video