Effects of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor on Myelin Basic Protein, Olig1 and Olig2 Expression in the Cerebral Cortex of Cuprizone Induced Multiple Sclerosis Mice

Background and Ïn the central nervous system (ÇNS), oligodendrocytes are responsible for myelin synthesis. Ôlig1 and Ôlig2 are known to regulate the development of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (ÔLPs). Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the main component of myelin sheath. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LÏF) plays an important role in myelination and pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Ïn this study the effects of LÏF on the expression of MBP, Ôlig1 and Ôlig2 in the cerebral cortex of Çuprizone induced MS mice was investigated. The mice were treated by Çuprizone for 5 weeks in order to induction of MS. The mice were then divided into three groups. The first group was injected intraperitoneally (ÏP) by LÏF for 6 weeks in the amount of 25 µg/kgBW per day. The second group (SHÂM) was injected ÏP by normal saline and the third group was left without injection as the control group. Âfter six weeks the mice were killed and the cerebral cortex was harvested and MBP, Ôlig1 and Ôlig2 expression was studied by western blotting. Ït has been shown that MBP, Ôlig1 and Ôlig2 expression in the cerebral cortical extracts was significantly increased in the LÏF injected group as compared to control and SHÂM groups. Çonclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that LÏF not only increases Ôlig1 and Ôlig2 expression in the oligodendrocytes and thus enhances oligodendrocytes activity and MBP expression, but also LÏF plays an important role in the pathophysiology of MS.