Increased levels of the CD40:CD40 ligand dyad in the cerebrospinal fluid of rats with vitamin B12(cobalamin)-deficient central neuropathy

The levels of the soluble (s) CD40:sCD40 ligand (L) dyad, which belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α:TNF-α-receptor superfamily, are significantly increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but not the serum of cobalamin (Cbl)-deficient (Cbl-D) rats. They were normalized or significantly reduced after treatment with Cbl, transforming growth factor-β1 or S-adenosyl-l-methionine, and the normal myelin ultrastructure of the spinal cord was concomitantly restored. The concomitance of the two beneficial effects of these treatments strongly suggests that the increases in CSF sCD40:sCD40L levels may participate in the pathogenesis of purely myelinolytic Cbl-D central neuropathy in the rat. In keeping with this, an anti-CD40 treatment prevented myelin lesions.