Reduced cuprizone-induced cerebellar demyelination in mice with astrocyte-targeted production of IL-6 is associated with chronically activated, but less responsive microglia

•Astrocyte-targeted production of IL-6 induced a specific microglial cell phenotype (Iba1+, CD11b+, MHCII+, CD68−).•Such microglia were less responsive to cuprizone-induced oligodendrocyte toxicity.•Consequently, demyelination was reduced in mice with astrocyte-targeted production of IL-6.

BackgroundCerebellar pathology is a frequent feature of multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating and neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Interleukin (IL)-6 is a multifunctional cytokine with a potential role in MS. Here we studied cuprizone-induced cerebellar pathology in transgenic mice with astrocyte-targeted production of IL-6 (GFAP-IL6), specifically focusing on demyelination, oligodendrocyte depletion and microglial cell response.ResultsOver the course of cuprizone treatment, when compared with WT mice, GFAP-IL6Tg showed a reduced demyelination in the deep lateral cerebellar nuclei (LCN). The oligodendrocyte numbers in the LCN were comparable between WT and GFAP-IL6Tg mice after 4-6 weeks of cuprizone treatment, however after the chronic cuprizone treatment (12 weeks) we detected higher numbers of oligodendrocytes in GFAP-IL6Tg mice. Contrary to strong cuprizone-induced microglial activation in the LCN of WT mice, GFAP-IL6Tg mice had minimal cuprizone-induced microglial changes, despite an already existing reactive microgliosis in control GFAP-IL6Tg not present in control WT mice.ConclusionsOur results show that chronic transgenic production of IL-6 reduced cuprizone-induced cerebellar demyelination and induced a specific activation state of the resident microglia population (Iba1+, CD11b+, MHCII+, CD68−), likely rendering them less responsive to subsequent injury signals.

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