Figure 3

xCT expression is increased in the CNS of rats with EAE. A. Histogram showing the neurological score during the course of acute EAE induced in Lewis rats by immunization with myelin basic protein. The peak of neurological disability was at day 14 post-immunization, which was selected for obtaining tissue samples. B. xCT mRNA (left) and protein (right) expression in spinal cord from control and acute EAE rats, as assessed by qPCR and Western blot analysis. Data are referred to mean expression level of controls (n = 5-6). C. Double immunofluorescence for xCT (green) and OX-42 (red), a marker of microglia and infiltrating macrophages. OX42⁺ cells express high xCT levels in acute EAE. Both meninges (asterisk in top) and infiltrating cells (bottom) in inflammatory foci show high levels of xCT in rat spinal cord with EAE as compared to controls. D. Microglial cells (OX42⁺ cells) of EAE rats have higher xCT levels in spinal cord than controls. Notice the difference between resting microglia in control rats, with ramified morphology (arrows in control) and microglia in EAE showing round shaped morphology, characteristic of its activated state (arrows in EAE). Scale bar = 20 μm.E. xCT mRNA (left) and protein (right) expression in spinal cord from control and chronic EAE mice, assessed by qPCR and Western blot analysis. Data are referred to mean expression level of controls (n = 5).