CCR5 expression on macrophages/microglia is associated with early remyelination in multiple sclerosis lesions

Abstract

Remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs spontaneously and extensively. The underlying mechanisms, however, are only partly understood. Findings in experimental animal settings suggest that inflammation promotes remyelination and repair. Here, we characterized the chemokine receptor expression profiles of macrophages/microglia in early remyelinating and completely remyelinated lesions compared with active demyelinating and inactive demyelinated MS lesions obtained in the early disease course. Biopsy material consisting of 16 MS cases was available for this study. We found that macrophages/microglia within early remyelinating lesions expressed predominantly CCR5. Our findings implicate a possible role of CCR5(+) cells in initiating remyelination.