Altered fractalkine cleavage potentially promotes local inflammation in NOD salivary gland
2008

Fractalkine Cleavage and Inflammation in NOD Mice

Sample size: 14 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Wildenberg Manon E, van Helden-Meeuwsen Cornelia G, Drexhage Hemmo A, Versnel Marjan A

Primary Institution: Erasmus MC

Hypothesis

Altered fractalkine cleavage promotes local inflammation in the salivary glands of NOD mice.

Conclusion

Aberrant proteolytic activity in the NOD salivary gland results in increased fractalkine cleavage, which may contribute to autoimmunity.

Supporting Evidence

  • Fractalkine was detected in salivary glands of both NOD and control mice at all ages.
  • NOD mice exhibited significantly more antibodies against fractalkine than did control animals.
  • Increased gelatinase and α-secretase activity were detected in NOD SMG.

Takeaway

In mice with a specific disease, a protein called fractalkine gets cut up in a way that might make the body attack itself, leading to inflammation.

Methodology

Protein expression was studied using Western blot analysis and protease activity was measured in salivary gland tissue lysates.

Participant Demographics

Female NOD/LTj mice aged 5 to 25 weeks were used.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/ar2441

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