CX3CR1 and myeloid sarcoma: This is consistent with the hypothesis of a role of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 in the local control of leukocyte infiltration in CNS lesions in EAE rats and, thus, also in MS., They hypothesized that in MS patients, it is likely that CX3CL1 is cleaved and released from the neuronal membrane by metalloproteases, and this would create a chemoattractant gradient which, in concert with other locally active proinflammatory mediators, could accommodate the extensive accumulation and activation of microglia within the neuronal membrane, inside damaged brain sites [71].