Microglial content-dependent inhibitory effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on murine retroviral infection of glial cells

J Neuroimmunol. 2015 Feb 15:279:64-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.01.010. Epub 2015 Jan 27.

Abstract

C57BL/6 (B6) mice develop peripheral neuropathy post-LP-BM5 infection, a murine model of HIV-1 infection, along with the up-regulation of select spinal cord cytokines. We investigated if calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) contributed to the development of peripheral neuropathy by stimulating glial responses. An increased expression of lumbar spinal cord CGRP was observed in vivo, post-LP-BM5 infection. Consequently, in vitro CGRP co-treatments led to a microglial content-dependent attenuation of viral loads in spinal cord mixed glia infected with selected doses of LP-BM5. This inhibition was neither caused by the loss of glia nor induced via the direct inhibition of LP-BM5 by CGRP.

Keywords: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP); Glia; LP-BM5; Murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS); Peripheral neuropathy; Retroviral infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / metabolism*
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / pharmacology
  • Cell Count
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neuroglia / metabolism*
  • Retroviridae / pathogenicity
  • Retroviridae Infections / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology*
  • Up-Regulation / physiology*
  • Viral Plaque Assay

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide