Expression of IL-1β in rhesus EAE and MS lesions is mainly induced in the CNS itself

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-1β is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for MS. Yet, detailed studies on IL-1β expression in different stages of MS lesion development and a comparison of IL-1β expression in MS and EAE are lacking. METHODS: Here, we performed an extensive characterization of IL-1β expression in brain tissue of MS patients, which included different MS lesion types, and in brain tissue of rhesus macaques with EAE. RESULTS: In rhesus EAE brain tissue, we observed prominent IL-1β staining in MHC class II(+) cells within perivascular infiltrates and at the edges of large demyelinating lesions. Surprisingly, staining was localized to resident microglia or differentiated macrophages rather than to infiltrating monocytes, suggesting that IL-1β expression is induced within the central nervous system (CNS). By contrast, IL-1β staining in MS brain tissue was much less pronounced. Staining was found in the parenchyma of active and chronic active MS lesions and in nodules of MHC class II(+) microglia in otherwise normal appearing white matter. IL-1β expression was detected in a minority of the nodules only, which could not be distinguished by the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers. These nodules were exclusively found in MS, and it remains to be determined whether IL-1β(+) nodules are destined to progress into active lesions or whether they merely reflect a transient response to cellular stress. CONCLUSIONS: Although the exact localization and relative intensity of IL-1β expression in EAE and MS is different, the staining pattern in both neuroinflammatory disorders is most consistent with the idea that the expression of IL-1β during lesion development is induced in the tissue rather than in the periphery. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0605-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.