Unbiased expression mapping identifies a link between the complement and cholinergic systems in the rat central nervous system

Lindblom, RP; Ström, M; Heinig, M; Al Nimer, F; Aeinehband, S; Berg, A; Dominguez, CA; Vijayaraghavan, S; Zhang, XM; Harnesk, K; Zelano, J; Hübner, N; Cullheim, S; Darreh-Shori, T; Diez, M; Piehl, F

HERO ID

2899384

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2014

Language

English

PMID

24353269

HERO ID 2899384
In Press No
Year 2014
Title Unbiased expression mapping identifies a link between the complement and cholinergic systems in the rat central nervous system
Authors Lindblom, RP; Ström, M; Heinig, M; Al Nimer, F; Aeinehband, S; Berg, A; Dominguez, CA; Vijayaraghavan, S; Zhang, XM; Harnesk, K; Zelano, J; Hübner, N; Cullheim, S; Darreh-Shori, T; Diez, M; Piehl, F
Journal Journal of Immunology
Volume 192
Issue 3
Page Numbers 1138-1153
Abstract The complement system is activated in a wide spectrum of CNS diseases and is suggested to play a role in degenerative phenomena such as elimination of synaptic terminals. Still, little is known of mechanisms regulating complement activation in the CNS. Loss of synaptic terminals in the spinal cord after an experimental nerve injury is increased in the inbred DA strain compared with the PVG strain and is associated with expression of the upstream complement components C1q and C3, in the absence of membrane attack complex activation and neutrophil infiltration. To further dissect pathways regulating complement expression, we performed genome-wide expression profiling and linkage analysis in a large F2(DA × PVG) intercross, which identified quantitative trait loci regulating expression of C1qa, C1qb, C3, and C9. Unlike C1qa, C1qb, and C9, which all displayed distinct coregulation with different cis-regulated C-type lectins, C3 was regulated in a coexpression network immediately downstream of butyrylcholinesterase. Butyrylcholinesterase hydrolyses acetylcholine, which exerts immunoregulatory effects partly through TNF-α pathways. Accordingly, increased C3, but not C1q, expression was demonstrated in rat and mouse glia following TNF-α stimulation, which was abrogated in a dose-dependent manner by acetylcholine. These findings demonstrate new pathways regulating CNS complement expression using unbiased mapping in an experimental in vivo system. A direct link between cholinergic activity and complement activation is supported by in vitro experiments. The identification of distinct pathways subjected to regulation by naturally occurring genetic variability is of relevance for the understanding of disease mechanisms in neurologic conditions characterized by neuronal injury and complement activation.
Doi 10.4049/jimmunol.1301233
Pmid 24353269
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English