Abstract
Immunoregulatory sex hormones, including estrogen and estriol, may prevent relapses in multiple sclerosis during pregnancy. Our previous studies have demonstrated that regulatory B cells are crucial for estrogen-mediated protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Herein, we demonstrate an estrogen-dependent induction of alternatively activated (M2) macrophages/microglia that results in an increased frequency of regulatory B cells in the spinal cord of estrogen treated mice with EAE. We further demonstrate that cultured M2-polarized microglia promote the induction of regulatory B cells. Our study suggests that estrogen neuroprotection induces a regulatory feedback loop between M2 macrophages/microglia and regulatory B cells.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 59-67 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 305 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 15 2017 |
Keywords
- EAE
- Estrogen
- IL-10
- M1/2 microglia
- Regulatory B cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology