Microglial MHC class II is dispensable for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and cuprizone‐induced demyelination |
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| Authors: | Mor Gross Jung‐Seok Kim Adrien Engel Eyal David Louise Chappell‐Maor Jonathan Grozovski Ron Rotkopf Inbal Biton Raya Eilam‐Altstadter Steffen Jung |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Departments of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel;2. Departments of Life Science Core facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel;3. Departments of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel |
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| Abstract: | Microglia are resident immune cells in the CNS, strategically positioned to clear dead cells and debris, and orchestrate CNS inflammation and immune defense. In steady state, these macrophages lack MHC class II (MHCII) expression, but microglia activation can be associated with MHCII induction. Whether microglial MHCII serves antigen presentation for critical local T‐cell restimulation in CNS auto‐immune disorders or modulates microglial signaling output remains under debate. To probe for such scenarios, we generated mice harboring an MHCII deficiency in microglia, but not peripheral myeloid cells. Using the CX3CR1CreER‐based approach we report that microglial antigen presentation is obsolete for the establishment of EAE, with disease onset, progression, and severity unaltered in mutant mice. Antigen presentation‐independent roles of microglial MHCII were explored using a demyelination model induced by the copper chelator cuprizone. Absence of microglial I‐Ab did not affect the extent of these chemically induced white matter alterations, nor did it affect microglial proliferation or gene expression associated with locally restricted de‐ and remyelination. |
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| Keywords: | Cuprizone De‐ and Remyelination EAE MHC II Microglia |
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