In trans T cell tolerance diminishes autoantibody responses and exacerbates experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

J Immunol. 2008 Feb 1;180(3):1508-16. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.3.1508.

Abstract

A number of Ag-specific approaches have been developed that ameliorate experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for the human autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. Translation to humans, however, remains a consideration, justifying the search for more insight into the mechanism underlying restoration of self-tolerance. Ig-proteolipid protein (PLP) 1 and Ig-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) are Ig chimeras carrying the encephalitogenic PLP 139-151 and MOG 35-55 amino acid sequence, respectively. Ig-PLP1 ameliorates EAE in SJL/J (H-2(s)) mice while Ig-MOG modulates the disease in C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) animals. In this study, we asked whether the chimeras would suppress EAE in F(1) mice expressing both parental MHC alleles and representing a polymorphism with more relevance to human circumstances. The results show that Ig-MOG modulates both PLP1 and MOG peptide-induced EAE in the F(1) mice, whereas Ig-PLP1 counters PLP1 EAE but exacerbates MOG-induced disease. This in trans aggravation of MOG EAE by Ig-PLP1 operates through induction of PLP1-specific T cells producing IL-5 that sustained inhibition of MOG-specific Abs leading to exacerbation of EAE. Thus, in trans T cell tolerance, which should be operative in polymorphic systems, can aggravate rather than ameliorate autoimmunity. This phenomenon possibly takes place through interference with protective humoral immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Chimera / genetics
  • Chimera / immunology*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / genetics
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology*
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein / genetics
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein / immunology
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / genetics
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / immunology
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptides / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Epitopes
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Interleukin-5
  • MOG protein, human
  • Mog protein, mouse
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides
  • Plp1 protein, mouse
  • myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (35-55)
  • myelin proteolipid protein (139-151)