Expression of MHC class I heavy chain and beta2-microglobulin in rat brainstem motoneurons and nigral dopaminergic neurons

H Lindå; H Hammarberg; F Piehl; M Khademi; T Olsson

doi:10.1016/s0165-5728(99)00135-6

Expression of MHC class I heavy chain and beta2-microglobulin in rat brainstem motoneurons and nigral dopaminergic neurons

J Neuroimmunol. 1999 Nov 1;101(1):76-86. doi: 10.1016/s0165-5728(99)00135-6.

Authors

H Lindå¹, H Hammarberg, F Piehl, M Khademi, T Olsson

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. hans.linda@cnsf.ki.se

PMID: 10580816
DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(99)00135-6

Abstract

We demonstrate here that motoneurons and nigral dopaminergic neurons in the brainstem of the adult rat, with the exception of motoneurons innervating ocular muscles, display high levels of both MHC class I heavy chain and beta2-microglobulin mRNAs. These neurons also display interferon-gamma receptor mRNA. We find it striking that these particular neurons are those which are vulnerable to neurodegeneration in diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / etiology
Animals
Brain Stem / immunology*
Female
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / analysis*
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
Interferon gamma Receptor
Motor Neurons / immunology*
Parkinson Disease / etiology
RNA, Messenger / analysis
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Interferon / genetics
Substantia Nigra / immunology*
beta 2-Microglobulin / analysis*
beta 2-Microglobulin / genetics

Substances

Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Interferon
beta 2-Microglobulin