| Summary: | Relapse and remission are characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS). The underlying mechanisms, however, remain uncertain. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) disturbs the immunological privilege of the central nervous system (CNS) by inducing major histocompatibility complex antigen expression in CNS cells and activating microglia to become antigen-presenting and effector cells. Thus, IFN-γ and microglia are thought to play important roles in the initiation and development of MS. Here, we show that IFN-γ induces microglial apoptosis as the activation-induced cell death. This microglial apoptosis was associated with the up-regulation of pro-apoptosis proteins, especially Bax. Microglial apoptosis was also observed in peak EAE mice, but not in early EAE mice. Therefore, IFN-γ may act on microglia as part of a self-limiting negative feedback system. The activation and subsequent death of microglia induced by IFN-γ may play pivotal roles in the mechanism of MS relapse and remission.
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