Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Plays a Key Role in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis-like Disease

AbstractMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that results in motor and sensory deficits. Although MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are thought to be T cell-mediated diseases, the mechanisms underlying the lesions in the CNS are not fully understood. We propose that a strong candidate as a central mediator in evoking the complex pathological changes seen in MS and EAE is the enzyme cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). One of the metabolic products of this enzyme is pro-inflammatory, while the other induces myelin breakdown, demyelination, and chemokine/cytokine expression. We provide evidence that cPLA2 is highly expressed in EAE lesions and show that blocking this enzyme leads to a remarkable reduction in the onset and progression of EAE

Differing roles for members of the phospholipase A2 superfamily in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

The phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) superfamily hydrolyzes phospholipids to release free fatty acids and lysophospholipids, some of which can mediate inflammation and demyelination, hallmarks of the CNS autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. The expression of two of the intracellular PLA(2)s (cPLA(2) GIVA and iPLA(2) GVIA) and two of the secreted PLA(2)s (sPLA(2) GIIA and sPLA(2) GV) are increased in different stages of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. We show using small molecule inhibitors, that cPLA(2) GIVA plays a role in the onset, and iPLA(2) GVIA in the onset and progression of EAE. We also show a potential role for sPLA(2) in the later remission phase. These studies demonstrate that selective inhibition of iPLA(2) can ameliorate disease progression when treatment is started before or after the onset of symptoms. The effects of these inhibitors on lesion burden, chemokine and cytokine expression as well as on the lipid profile provide insights into their potential modes of action. iPLA(2) is also expressed by macrophages and other immune cells in multiple sclerosis lesions. Our results therefore suggest that iPLA(2) might be an excellent target to block for the treatment of CNS autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis