Attenuation of LPS-induced changes in synaptic activity in rat hippocampus by Vasogen's Immune Modulation Therapy

• Published in: Neuroimmunomodulation Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 40
• Main Authors: Nolan, Yvonne, Minogue, Aedín, Vereker, Emily, Bolton, Anthony E, Campbell, Veronica A, Lynch, Marina A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.2002
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - immunology; DNA Fragmentation - immunology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - complications; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - immunology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - physiopathology; Hippocampus - drug effects; Hippocampus - immunology; Hippocampus - physiopathology; Immunotherapy; Interleukin-1 - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharides - antagonists & inhibitors; Lipopolysaccharides - immunology; Long-Term Potentiation - drug effects; Long-Term Potentiation - immunology; Male; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Nerve Degeneration - drug therapy; Nerve Degeneration - immunology; Nerve Degeneration - physiopathology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Synaptic Transmission - drug effects; Synaptic Transmission - immunology; Transplantation, Isogeneic
• ISSN: 1021-7401
• DOI: 10.1159/000064413

Systemic injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) blocks the expression of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus of the rat. This is coupled with increased IL-1beta concentration and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activity, as well as an increase in the number of cells displaying apoptotic characteristics in the hippocampus. Vasogen's Immune Modulation Therapy (IMT) is a procedure involving intramuscular administration of syngeneic blood which has been exposed ex vivo to elevated temperature, oxidation and ultraviolet light. We report that Vasogen's IMT significantly abrogates these LPS-induced effects with a concomitant increase in the concentration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. These data suggest that Vasogen's IMT may play a protective role against the deleterious effects of immune insults in the brain.