Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
pMK2
/
NeuN
pMK2
/
GFAP
pMK2
/
Mac-1
A
B
C
E
F
D
Figure 5.1 Immunofluorescence labeling of spinal cord sections 12 h (A and B) and
7 days (C
-
F) after spinal cord contusion injury, labeled for pMK2, cell type-specific
antibodies, and DAPI staining (merged images). Double labeling for pMK2 and NeuN
for neurons in the region of the ventral horn (A and D) and pMK2 and GFAP for astro-
cytes at 500 mm caudal to epicenter (B and E). Double labeling for pMK2 and anti-Mac-1
for macrophages at epicenter of injury (F) and process-bearing microglia at 500 mm cau-
dal to epicenter (C). Arrowheads point to pMK2-immunopositive cells and insets in
panels show high-magnification images of pMK2
þ
cells from the boxed areas. Note that
pMK2 labeling is localized primarily to the nuclei of macrophages/microglia, which are
double labeled with anti-Mac-1, a cell surface label; as a result, the two labels are not
superimposed but the staining nevertheless shows colabeling of the same cells. Scale
bar
¼
100 mm.
With permission from
Ghasemlou, Lopez-Vales, et al. (2010)
.
(BMS) to assess locomotor recovery (
Basso et al., 2006
), MK2-null mice
were able to walk almost normally with minor deficits in frequency of plan-
tar stepping and trunk stability (average BMS score of 7.9/9 and subscore of
8.3/11), while the wild-type mice had extensive deficits in locomotion
showing either no coordination while stepping or some coordination with
severe trunk stability and rotated paws and lift-off and placement (average
BMS score of 5.25/9 and subscore of 2.9/11). At 12 h after SCI, there
was a 97% reduction in the expression of TNF-
a
in the spinal cord of
MK2 knockout mice. Neutrophil infiltration into the CNS was also reduced
by more than 90% at this time-point. At 7 day, which corresponds to peak
macrophage numbers and differences in locomotor outcome, the activity of
MMP-9 was reduced by about 50% while MMP-2 activity increased by
about 50% as determined by gelatin zymography. Previous studies have
