Genomic scale profiling of autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system: the nervous response to inflammation.

Using gene microarray technology, we found that inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) not only induced the expression of many immune-related genes, but also significantly altered the gene expression profile of neural cells. Two unique groups of CNS genes were identified. The first group includes genes encoding ion channels, neural transmitters and growth factors. The second group includes genes that are important for nervous tissue regeneration. Additionally, a distinct pattern of gene expression was also identified in recovering animals. Thus, during autoimmune inflammation, the CNS actively responds to immune attacks by activating its own defense and repair genes.