Naslov
Expression of neutral glycosphingolipids in the brain, thymus, spleen and lungs of mice lacking b2-microglobulin

Autori
Markotić, Anita ; Marušić, Ana ; Muething, Johannes

Izvornik
Neuroimmunomodulation (1021-7401) 12 (2005), 5; 307-309

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
neutral glycosphingolipids; HPTLC immunostaining; gene knockout mice; b2-microglobulin; MHC class I; brain; lungs

Sažetak
We investigated the expression of neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in the brain, thymus, spleen, and lungs of mice lacking the gene for the b2-microglobulin, an important component of the MHC class I molecule. Determination of GSL fractions in the tissues of mice homozygous (b2M-/-) or heterozygous (b2M+/-) was performed by high perfomance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), followed by immunostaining with specific antibodies. The brain of both groups of animals did not express detectable levels of Gg3Cer, Gg4Cer and Gb3Cer. However, the brain of b2M knockout mice expressed abundant globotetraosylceramide, Gb4Cer, compared with no expression in the control heterozygous mice. The thymus and spleen ganglioside profiles did not significantly differ between b2M-/- and control animals. The lungs of b2M-/- mice lacked the expression of Gg3Cer, Gg4Cer and Gb3Cer compared with abundant expression in control b2M+/- mice. Immunostaining of Gb4Cer in the lungs was similar in both groups of animals. This study provides in vivo evidence that neutral GSLs expression is MHC class I - dependent and implicates different modulation of globoside metabolism in the brain and lungs

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA