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Biomedical subjects

A Ben-Nun

Publications and source records attributed to A Ben-Nun.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Dichotomy between the T and the B cell epitopes of the synthetic polypeptide (T,G)-A--L.

Studies with the well-characterized, synthetic, random-multichain polypeptide poly(LTyr,LGlu)-poly(DLAla)-poly(LLys) (T,G)-A-L) led to the discovery of determinant-specific genetic control of the immune response, as well as to other immunological phenomena. Moreover, the tetrapeptide TyrTyrGluGlu built on the same backbone ("(T-T-G-G)-A--L") was found to represent its major B cell epitope. We have recently shown that for interaction with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and stimulation of T cells, (T,G)-A--L requires proteolytic processing and the resulting T cell epitopes are close to the N termini of the branched polymer's side chains. Thus, we were interested to elucidate the major T cell epitope of (T,G)-A--L, by using the ordered polypeptides (T-T-G-G)-A--L and (T-G-T-G)-A--L, in which only the two internal amino acids of the tetrapeptide attached to the side chains are switched. We established T cell lines to these antigens, and found that the ordered analog (T-T-G-G-)-A--L, which was defined as the B cell epitope of (T,G)-A--L, did not represent its T cell epitope, whereas (T-G-T-G)-A--L, to which only a minor anti-(T,G)-A--L Ab response was directed, was found to be its major T cell epitope. In addition, there was no cross-reaction between (T-G-T-G)-A--L and (T-T-G-G)-A--L at the T cell level, similar to the lack of cross-reaction of their antibodies. Analysis of the repertoire of the T cell receptors used by these lines revealed that the (T,G)-A--L and the (T-T-G-G)-A--L specific T cell lines were not restricted in their V alpha and V beta TCR usage, whereas the (T-G-T-G)-A--L-specific line was restricted by both V alpha and V beta T cell receptor gene products. This difference might be due to the thymus-independent characteristics previously described for the latter antigen.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Self-determinants in autoimmune demyelinating disease: changes in T- cell response specificity.

Recent research developments support the following views regarding antigen recognition in autoimmune demyelinating disease: there may be no single autoimmune target protein; diverse peptide self-determinants from multiple myelin proteins can be recognized; target determinant epitopes may differ among individuals; and target epitope recognition can change with time during the course of disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Selection of human TcR V gene families in autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions: relevance to autoimmune immunopathology.

We have postulated that in vivo autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions (AMLRs) are one mechanism in the development of the intrathyroidal lymphocytic infiltration of human autoimmune thyroid disease. Such a mechanism would explain the significant numbers of self-reactive T cells present in thyroid infiltrates as evidenced by cloning studies. However, infiltrating T cells in a variety of autoimmune disease including autoimmune thyroid disease, demonstrate bias in their use of T cell receptor (TcR) V gene families. In order to examine whether such TcR V gene bias may occur secondary to non-antigen specific in vivo AMLRs rather than secondary to specific autoantigen driven mechanisms we have examined the human TcR repertoire after prolonged AMLRs in vitro. Using 5 healthy donors in 1, 2 and 3 weeks AMLRs we showed stimulation indices of 3.1-6.5 after 3 weeks. The hTcR V alpha and V beta gene repertoire was assessed using the PCR technique and revealed an almost complete repertoire of V gene families at the beginning of the studies while at the end of 3 weeks a mean of only 5.2 V alpha genes were transcribed. Less restriction was seen in the hTcR V beta repertoire with a mean of 9 V beta genes used. These data demonstrate that the AMLR is able to mimic the marked bias in hTcR V gene family use seen within the inflammatory infiltrates of autoimmune diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

T-cell receptor V region beta-chain gene expression in the autoimmune thyroiditis of non-obese diabetic mice.

The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse develops both a spontaneous T-cell-mediated autoimmune insulitis and, in addition, a well characterized thyroiditis. We have examined the repertoire of murine T-cell receptor (TCR) variable (V) beta-chain genes used by intrathyroidal T cells with specific oligonucleotides that amplified 17 murine V beta gene families in cDNA samples prepared from intact NOD thyroid tissues. Normal NOD thyroid tissue contained only low levels of TCR V gene mRNA. In contrast, NOD mice with histologic thyroiditis showed the marked expression of up to 3 TCR V beta genes consistent with a restricted T-cell invasion. Sequencing of amplified TCR V beta cDNA showed that within each NOD thyroid sample at least one of the overexpressed V beta gene families was clonally expanded. However, the clonally expanded T-cell V gene family was not consistent in all animals. Even within the same TCR V beta gene families, various D and J segments had been rearranged with open reading frames and together with insertions and deletions gave no significant homology at the nucleotide or amino acid level. In summary, these data showed that the intrathyroidal T-cell infiltrate in NOD mice was markedly biased towards the use of a single, but variable, TCR V gene family within each animal. It also appeared that the choice of the TCR V beta chain determined the intrathyroidal infiltrative process rather than the choice of D and/or J regions. However, there was no consistent use of a single TCR V beta chain. As thyroiditis does not occur uniformly in apparently genetically homogeneous animals, reared under similar environmental conditions, it may not be surprising that different TCR V genes are involved in different animals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Inhibition of acute, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by the synthetic immunomodulator linomide.

Linomide (LS-2616, quinoline-3-carboxamide) is a synthetic immunomodulator that stimulates natural killer cell activity and activates several lymphocytic subpopulations in experimental animals and humans. In this study we determined the effect of oral treatment with linomide on the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model for immune-mediated human demyelinating disorders. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was induced in SJL/J mice and in an outbred strain of rats (Sabra) by subcutaneous injection of spinal cord homogenate in adjuvant followed by inoculation with Bordetella pertussis. Linomide was administered in drinking water, at an estimated dose of 50 to 100 mg/kg/day. None of the linomide-treated mice (0/41) and Sabra rats (0/15) developed any clinical or pathological signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, whereas almost all control animals (48/53 and 18/19, respectively) were severely paralyzed and 64.5% died from the disease. Lymphocytes obtained from linomide-treated animals had reduced in vitro proliferative responses to guinea pig myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein of the myelin, and tuberculin-purified protein derivative, unlike antigen-independent proliferation which was rather unaffected. Natural killer cell activity (tested by a cytotoxic assay on radiolabeled YAC-1 target cells) was significantly enhanced in mice treated with linomide. Our results indicate that modulation of the immune system with linomide leads to complete inhibition of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the absence of systemic immunosuppression. Linomide could therefore be of use in future clinical trials for the treatment of human autoimmune demyelinating disorders.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1993

Protection against autoimmune disease by bacterial agents. II. PPD and pertussis toxin as proteins active in protecting mice against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Bordetella pertussis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, routinely used to promote the development of autoimmune disease, were recently reported to also be effective in inducing protection against an autoimmune disease. Thus, we previously demonstrated that SJL/J and (SJL/J x BALB/c)F1 mice that are genetically susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) become highly refractory to the induction of the disease following their exposure to B. pertussis and M. tuberculosis. In the present study, the pertussis toxin (PT) from B. pertussis and the purified protein derivative (PPD) of M. tuberculosis, were found to be sufficient to fully protect against EAE and thus may be the major bacterial components responsible for conferring protection. The 65-kDa heat-shock protein played only a marginal role in the protection against EAE induced by these bacteria. Both PT and PPD were protective when given before, but not after, the encephalitogenic challenge, and minute amounts (5-50 ng) emulsified in oil were sufficient to confer long-lasting resistance to EAE. The effect of PT or PPD on EAE differed from that of mitogens or bacterial superantigens, suggesting that their protection ability was not attributable merely to mitogenic or superantigenic properties. The mechanism of protection is not yet clear. Preliminary studies revealed a complex mechanism of protection whereby PPD and PT may operate differently. Thus, only PPD-induced, but not PT-induced, protection was transferrable by CD4+ T lymphocytes bearing an alpha beta T cell antigen receptor. Neither PT nor PPD had a protective effect on EAE mediated by preformed pathogenic T lymphocytes and it is most likely that they exert their protection by affecting the development of such T lymphocytes. How bacteria such as B. pertussis and M. tuberculosis can either enhance the development of an autoimmune disease or protect against the disease is not yet clear. However, identifying PT and PPD as the bacterial components active in protection may allow a better understanding of the modulatory effects of bacteria and point to the potential use of such bacterial products in immunomodulation of autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Pathogenic and non-pathogenic T lymphocytes specific for the encephalitogenic epitope of myelin basic protein: functional characteristics and vaccination properties.

Activated CD4+ T lymphocytes specific for myelin basic protein (MBP) can cause experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) upon their inoculation into syngeneic recipients. In Lewis rats, most of the pathogenic T cell clones that develop following immunization with MBP are reactive against the 72-84 amino acid sequence of MBP, the major encephalitogenic region for Lewis rats. In this study, some MBP-specific T cell clones were found to be non-pathogenic, in spite of their strong reactivity against the encephalitogenic epitope. One of these non-pathogenic clones, designated Znp, and an encephalitogenic clone, Z1a-p, were derived from Z1a encephalitogenic line cells. These subclones were compared for epitope specificity, T cell receptor variable gene expression and for various functional activities, in order to delineate properties crucial for pathogenicity. The Z1a-p and Znp cells expressed comparable levels of the T cell receptor genes and shared strong reactivity against the 72-84 epitope of MBP. The pathogenic Z1a-p cells displayed MBP-specific cytolytic activity in vitro, provided an in-vivo 'help' for elicitation of MBP-specific antibodies, mediated a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to MBP, caused EAE and vaccinated against the disease, thus demonstrating that a single CD4+ T cell clone is capable of eliciting various functions. The non-pathogenic Znp cells could also carry out most of these various functions, but failed to mediate a DTH response to MBP in normal animals. However, when inoculated into sublethally (650 R) irradiated syngeneic recipients, the Znp cells became highly pathogenic and mediated DTH response to MBP. Local irradiation of the recipient facilitated a DTH response to MBP in the irradiated ear, indicating that Znp cells are equipped with the effector mechanisms required for pathogenicity, and that their failure to cause disease may be accounted for by their inability to migrate into extravascular target tissue. Similar data were obtained with an independently isolated non-pathogenic clone, LB-3, specific for the encephalitogenic epitope of MBP. The ability of these non-pathogenic cells to vaccinate against EAE mediated by pathogenic cells raises the possibility that such non-pathogenic cells may play a role in triggering downregulation of pathogenic T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cystine loading induces Fanconi's syndrome in rats: in vivo and vesicle studies.

To better understand the link between lysosomal cystine accumulation and the renal impairment seen in cystinosis, we have studied the effect of cystine loading in vivo, on renal function of rats, and in brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) prepared from the kidney cortex of the treated rats. Intraperitoneal injection of cystine dimethyl ester (CDME) (400 mumol, twice a day, for 5 days) led to an increased urine volume and excretion of glucose, phosphate, and protein. Kinetic analysis of alpha-methylglucoside initial flux in BBMV showed reduction in maximal transport capacity (Vmax, from 10.1 +/- 1.3 to 8.5 +/- 0.7 nmol.min-1.mg protein-1; P < 0.01) with no change in Michaelis constant (Km, 4.80 +/- 0.08 and 4.90 +/- 0.05 mM). The number of phlorizin binding sites declined (from 6.5 +/- 0.7 to 4.1 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg protein; P < 0.01) with no significant change in the affinity for phlorizin (0.64 +/- 0.08 and 0.59 +/- 0.06 microM). In the cortex homogenate, cystine concentration, which was undetectable in controls, increased to 0.97 +/- 0.09 nmol 1/2 cystine/mg protein. Two hours after CDME administration, ATP content declined to approximately 50% of control values. This decline was transient, and ATP content was recovered to control values 5 h after CDME administration. The treatment did not affect ouabain-sensitive adenosinetriphosphatase activity (40.0 +/- 3.9 and 38.6 +/- 4.7 nmol Pi.mg protein-1.min-1) or the number and affinity of ouabain binding sites (Bmax = 1.48 +/- 0.25 and 1.44 +/- 0.18 pmol/mg, and Kd = 0.68 +/- 0.09 and 0.72 +/- 0.12 microM, respectively). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1993

Endogenous antigen presentation by autoantigen-transfected Epstein-Barr virus-lymphoblastoid cells. I. Generation of human thyroid peroxidase-reactive T cells and their T cell receptor repertoire.

To develop a model for endogenous thyroid autoantigen presentation, we transfected EBV-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-LCL), established from patients with autoimmune thyroid disease and normal controls, with cDNA for the human thyroid autoantigen thyroid peroxidase (hTPO). hTPO-antigen presentation to patient peripheral blood T cells was demonstrated after stimulation in vitro for 7 d with irradiated hTPO-transfected or untransfected autologous EBV-LCL. Anti-hTPO-reactive T cells were subsequently cloned in the presence of irradiated, autologous hTPO-transfected EBV-LCL and IL-2.10 T cell-cloned lines exhibited specific hTPO-induced proliferation (stimulation indices of 2.1-7.9) towards autologous hTPO-transfected EBV-LCL, and were subjected to human T cell receptor (hTCR) V gene analysis, using the PCR for the detection of V alpha and V beta hTcR gene families. The results indicated a preferential use of hTCR V alpha 1 and/or V alpha 3 in 9 of the 10 lines. In contrast, hTCR V beta gene family use was more variable. These data demonstrate a model for the endogenous presentation of human thyroid peroxidase in the absence of other thyroid specific antigens. The high frequency of antigen-specific T cells obtained from PBMC using this technique will facilitate further studies at both the functional and hTCR V gene level.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMed1993

Prevention and reversal of adoptively transferred, chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with a single high dose cytoreductive treatment followed by syngeneic bone marrow transplantation.

A chronic relapsing form of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE) was induced in SJL/J mice by adoptive transfer of lymph node cells (LNC) sensitized to guinea pig myelin basic protein (GMBP). We examined the efficacy of high dose immunosuppressive regimens (cyclophosphamide [CY] 300 mg/kg or total body irradiation [TBI] 900 cGy) followed by syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (SBMT) in prevention and treatment of already established CR-EAE. Treatment with TBI and SBMT on day 5 after the induction of CR-EAE, just before the onset of clinical signs, completely inhibited the appearance of the paralytic signs. The same treatment, applied 4 d after the clinical onset of the disease, led to a significant regression of the paralytic signs and to a total inhibition of spontaneous relapses during a follow-up period of 2 mo. Challenge of mice with GMBP+CFA 78 d after the passive induction of CR-EAE induced a relapse of the disease 7 d later in almost all of the untreated mice; in contrast, the same challenge given to TBI+SBMT-treated mice caused a delayed relapse (30 d later) in only a minority (3/7) of the challenged mice. In vitro lymphocytic proliferative responses to GMBP and purified protein derivative were significantly lower in TBI/SBMT-treated mice before and after the GMBP challenge, although these mice were fully immunocompetent, as evidenced by their normal lymphocytic proliferation to concanavalin A (ConA) and the FACS analysis of their lymphocytic subpopulations. A similar beneficial therapeutic effect was observed in mice treated with CY followed by SBMT, after the onset of CR-EAE. Our results could support possible clinical applications of similar therapeutic strategies, involving acute immunosuppression followed by stem cell transplantation and retolerization of the reconstituting immune cells in life-threatening neurological and multisystemic autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Reactivity to myelin antigens in multiple sclerosis. Peripheral blood lymphocytes respond predominantly to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

Although T cell responses to the quantitatively major myelin proteins, myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP), are likely to be of importance in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), cell-mediated autoimmune responses to other myelin antigens, in particular quantitatively minor myelin antigens, such as myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and the central nervous system-specific myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), could also play a prevalent role in disease initiation or progression. Highly purified myelin antigens were used in this study to assess cell-mediated immune response to MOG in MS patients, in the context of the reactivity to other myelin antigens, MBP, PLP, and MAG. The greatest incidence of proliferative response by MS peripheral blood lymphocytes was to MOG, as 12 of 24 patients tested reacted and, of these, 8 reacted to MOG exclusively. In contrast, only 1 control individual of 16 tested reacted positively to MOG. The incidence of responses to MBP, PLP, and MAG did not differ greatly between MS patients and control individuals. A predominant T cell reactivity to MOG in MS suggests an important role for cell-mediated immune response to this antigen in the pathogenesis of MS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

T-cell receptor V gene use in autoimmune thyroid disease: direct assessment by thyroid aspiration.

We have examined the hTcR V gene family use of T-cells present in the aspiration thyroid biopsy specimens of patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease (n = 8) and Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis (n = 5). Nine of the 13 specimens had cytologically identified thyroid follicular cells, and 12 of the 13 contained human thyroglobulin-specific mRNA, confirming successful sampling. Of 18 hTcR V alpha and 19 hTCR V beta gene families tested for in the individual aspirates, a mean +/- SEM of 6.8 +/- 0.9 V alpha and 9.6 +/- 1.4 V beta gene families were present in the Graves' aspirates, while 12.2 +/- 1.7 and 16.8 +/- 0.4 V alpha and V beta gene families were present in the aspirates of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These samples, which offer a window onto the natural history of autoimmune thyroid disease, demonstrate significant hTcR V alpha and beta gene restriction in hyperthyroid Graves' disease, but much less restriction of both V alpha and V beta gene families in Hashimoto's disease. Such data extend our earlier information based only on examination of highly selected surgical specimens of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease to the much more typical patient. We conclude that hTcR V gene restriction of varying degrees is present in the majority of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, but appears to be more easily detected in Graves', rather that Hashimoto's, disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Expansion of a unique subpopulation of cytotoxic T cells that express a C alpha V delta 1 T-cell receptor gene in a patient with severe persistent neutropenia.

CD8+ T-lymphocyte populations may be expanded in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic idiopathic neutropenia and may be involved in suppression of granulopoiesis. In this report, we have analyzed the T-cell receptor (TCR) used by the T lymphocytes of a patient with chronic severe neutropenia. Using specific oligonucleotides in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify cDNA specific for the different families of the V alpha, V beta, and V delta TCR genes, and monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to examine T-lymphocyte subsets and their TCR, a persistent expansion of CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes and a reduced repertoire of TCR V alpha and V beta genes were found in the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) preparations. A predominant portion of the T lymphocytes expressed a unique TCR structure. Thus, we found that, despite the fact that 98% of the T cells expressed alpha beta TCR on the surface membrane and less than 2% expressed tau delta TCR, nonetheless, 40% to 60% of the T cells stained positively with anti V delta 1 MoAb. Using the PCR analysis, the V delta 1 gene segment was found to be rearranged to C alpha, rather than to C delta genes. The expanded C alpha V delta 1+ cells, which are found only rarely in normal PB, expressed CD8 and were cytotoxic, and the C alpha V delta 1 receptor was functional in cytotoxicity. This constitutes the first description of an expansion of cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes expressing a functional "hybrid" C alpha V delta 1 gene in vivo, and suggests a pathogenic role for CD8+ C alpha V delta 1+ cells in some patients with idiopathic neutropenia.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and induction of tolerance with acute immunosuppression followed by syngeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inducible autoimmune disease widely used as a model of the acute/relapsing stage of multiple sclerosis. In the present study we examined the effect of acute immunosuppression induced by total body irradiation (TBI) (900 to 1100 centigray (cGy)) or by a single high dose of cyclophosphamide (CY) (300 mg/kg), followed by syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (SBMT), on the development of EAE in SJL/J mice. EAE was induced in SJL/J mice by immunization with spinal cord homogenate in adjuvant. Treatment with TBI (900 cGy) and SBMT on day 6 postimmunization caused a delayed onset and a marked reduction in the incidence and severity of EAE. A higher dose of irradiation (1100 cGy) or the administration of CY followed by SBMT completely abrogated the development of paralysis. None of the 21 mice treated with CY and SBMT, and only 1 of 7 mice treated with TBI (1100 cGy) and SBMT developed clinical signs of EAE during a period of 3 months. Furthermore, mice treated with CY and SBMT became resistant to rechallenge with the same encephalitogenic inoculum. In addition, the lymphocytes obtained from these mice did not proliferate in vitro in response to myelin basic protein or tuberculin-purified protein derivative, unlike lymphocytes from immunized but untreated animals. This absence of reactivity was not associated with alterations in the proportion of the L3T4 and Lyt-2 T-cell subsets nor with a loss in T cell competence as evidenced by the full response of lymphocytes to the T cell mitogen Con A and to a nonrelevant Ag (OVA). Our results indicate that the elimination of effector lymphocytes either by myeloablative doses of CY or ionizing irradiation followed by rescue with SBMT inhibits the development of the autoimmune process in EAE and leads to induction of tolerance to the immunizing Ag by newly developing lymphocytes. This approach of combining immunoablation and reconstitution with autologous bone marrow transplantation may be applicable in the treatment of life-threatening neurologic autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B as a potent suppressant of T lymphocytes: trace levels suppress T lymphocyte proliferative responses.

Staphylococcal enterotoxins have long been known to be powerful stimulators of T lymphocytes in mouse and man. In a previous study we showed that high concentrations of staphylococcal enterotoxin serotype B (SEB) failed to stimulate strong proliferative responses by Lewis rat T lymphocytes. Moreover, concentrations of SEB (10-50 micrograms/ml) that stimulated optimal mouse T lymphocyte proliferative responses suppressed a mitogen- or antigen-induced rat T lymphocytes proliferative responses. The present study shows that SEB at low concentrations (as low as 10(-3)-10(-4) micrograms/ml) and often also trace levels (about 10(-6)-10(-7) micrograms/ml) suppresses both rat and mouse T lymphocytes proliferative responses to mitogen or antigen. Furthermore, under different circumstances, SEB may have conflicting effects on the same T cells. While high concentrations (1-50 micrograms/ml) of SEB stimulate certain mouse T cell clones, low concentrations or trace levels have a potent suppressive effect on the same clones. The results indicate that the in vitro conflicting effects of SEB on the same T cells are concentration dependent and may reflect its in vivo effects on SEB-reactive T lymphocytes. The suppression of the mitogen- or antigen-induced stimulation of T cell clones by SEB was direct and did not require the agency of suppressor cells. Furthermore, the suppression by low amounts of SEB was not major histocompatibility complex restricted and affected a large proportion of both rat and mouse T lymphocyte subpopulation, regardless of their antigenic specificity. The concomitant suppressogenic and stimulatory characteristics of SEB support the conclusion that, under different conditions, SEB can be considered a "super-suppressogen" as well as a "super-antigen". Overall, the results suggest that SEB, and possibly other bacterial toxins, could be useful in immunomodulation of specific T cell responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Chronic-relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE): treatment and induction of tolerance, with high dose cyclophosphamide followed by syngeneic bone marrow transplantation.

We examined the effect of acute immunosuppression with high dose cyclophosphamide (CY), followed by syngeneic T-cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation (SBMT) on chronic-relapsing autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE) induced in SJL/J mice by immunization with mouse spinal cord homogenate (MSCH) in adjuvant. Treatment of mice on day 9 post immunization, before the appearance of clinical signs of the disease, delayed the onset of paralysis, but did not affect its clinical course. Treatment on day 2-3 after the first clinical signs led to complete regression of the disease. During a period of 3 months, only one of the 15 mice treated after the the onset of CR-EAE relapsed, as compared to a total of 21 relapses in the 15 untreated animals. A rechallenge with MSCH in adjuvant on day 78 after immunization induced a severe relapse in all untreated mice, with 78% mortality; in contrast, only 25% of mice treated with CY and SBMT relapsed when similarly rechallenged. Lymphocytes from mice treated with CY and SBMT showed reduced in vitro proliferative responses to myelin basic protein (GMBP) and PPD, even after the rechallenge with MSCH. Our results show that high dose CY for elimination of immunocompetent lymphocytes, followed by SBMT rescue, suppresses CR-EAE and induces tolerance to the immunizing antigens. These results may encourage attempts to apply a similar therapeutic principle in life-threatening human neurological autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Delineation of tissue damage mechanisms in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). I. Cell detachment and lysis induced by encephalitogenic CD4+ T lymphocytes.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) reactive CD4+ T lymphocytes, capable of inducing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), were examined for their ability to damage target cells of central nervous system (CNS) origin. Damage was assessed by monitoring detachment of adherent astrocytes from substratum and astrocyte lysis. MBP-specific, but non-encephalitogenic CD4+ T cells mediated astrocyte detachment but not lysis. However, encephalitogenic CD4+ T cell lines were more efficient in causing astrocyte detachment and could also cause astrocyte lysis. The detachment and lytic activities of the MBP-reactive T cell lines tested were often independent of the presence of specific antigen, and were not restricted to syngeneic major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens. MBP often augmented the detaching and, if lytic, lytic activities of these T cells. The encephalitogenic CD4+ T cells also detached and lysed allogeneic 'bystander' fibroblasts in the presence of unlabelled syngeneic astrocytes, suggesting the involvement of a soluble mediator(s). Although MBP is essential for the initiation of EAE, the presence of MBP on cells of CNS origin, such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, does not appear to be necessary for their damage by MBP-specific CD4+ T cells. Immune CD4+ T cells, which penetrate the CNS, may disorganize brain tissue structure by lysing astrocytes directly and by damaging other brain cells indirectly by soluble mediators. Thus cellular detachment, in addition to cell lysis, mediated by MBP-specific CD4+ cells may contribute to EAE pathogenesis.

Animals↗