Expression of inflammatory markers in a genetic rodent model of depression
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2015

The complex bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the peripheral immune system is of possible relevance for both normal brain functions and the development of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this investigation was to study central expression of inflammatory markers in a genetic rat model of depression (the Flinders Sensitive line (FSL) and its control, the Flinders Resistant line (FRL)). A peripheral immune activation was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in order to investigate possible differences in immune reactions between the two rat lines. To confirm behavioural differences between the rat lines the forced swim test was performed, a test to assess depressive-like behaviour. Expression of candidate inflammatory genes was measured in amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex and striatum using quantitative real time PCR. Our results show, for the first time, significantly lower central expression of the glial-specific protein S100B and complement factor C3 in several brain regions of the FSL rats compared to controls, both at baseline and after peripheral immune stimulation. No significant differences in immune responses to LPS were observed between the rats lines. Both S100B and C3 have been suggested to be of relevance for brain development and plasticity as well as brain disorders. These proteins may be of importance for the behavioural differences between the FSL and FRL rats, and this model may be useful in studies exploring the influence of the immune system on brain functions.

Immune system

Flinders Sensitive line

C3

Central gene expression

S100B

Författare

Nina Strenn

Göteborgs universitet

Petra Suchankova

Göteborgs universitet

Staffan Nilsson

Göteborgs universitet

Chalmers, Matematiska vetenskaper, Matematisk statistik

Christina Fischer

Aarhus Universitet

Gregers Wegener

North-West University

Aarhus Universitet

Aleksander A Mathé

Karolinska Institutet

Agneta Ekman

Göteborgs universitet

Behavioural Brain Research

0166-4328 (ISSN)

Vol. 281 348-357

Ämneskategorier

Neurovetenskaper

Immunologi inom det medicinska området

Styrkeområden

Livsvetenskaper och teknik (2010-2018)

DOI

10.1016/j.bbr.2014.09.025

PubMed

25277840

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2018-02-28