Expression of Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 (CSF-1) by Spinal Cord Astrocytes in Mice with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

Immunofluorescence analysis was used to study the expression pattern of macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) in spinal cord cells in a murine model of multiple sclerosis (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis). Marked upregulation of CSF-1+ signal was observed in spinal cord astrocytes in both acute and chronic stages of the disease. These findings suggest a potential role for CSF-1 in the pathogenesis and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis/multiple sclerosis.