Treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by feeding myelin basic protein conjugated to cholera toxin B subunit.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.93.14.7196
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:35:50Z
• Authors: J B Sun; C Rask; T Olsson; J Holmgren; C Czerkinsky
• Keywords: Cholera toxin; Encephalomyelitis

Oral administration of autoantigens can prevent and partially suppress autoimmune diseases in a number experimental models, Depending on the dose antigen fed, this approach appears to involve distinct yet reversible short-lasting mechanisms (anergy/deletion suppression) usually requires repeated feeding large (suppression) massive (anergy/deletion) amounts be effective. Most importantly, is relatively less effective animals already systemically sensitized fed antigen, such as harboring autoreactive T cells and, thus, presumably also humans suffering from an disorder. We have previously shown that single minute antigens conjugated cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) effectively delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions immune animals. now report small myelin basic protein (MBP) CTB either before or after disease induction protected rats encephalomyelitis. Such treatment was suppressing interleukin 2 production proliferative responses lymph node MBP involving with much larger (50- 100-fold) doses free MBP. Different latter treatment, which led decreased interferon-gamma nodes, low-dose oral CTB-MBP associated increased production. greatly reduced level leukocyte infiltration into spinal cord tissue compared These results suggest protection encephalomyelitis achieved by CTB-conjugated autoantigen involves immunomodulating are those implicated conventional protocols tolerance induction.