Oral tolerance in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: serum and salivary antibody responses.
We have recently reported that the oral administration of myelin basic protein (MBP) prior to encephalitogenic challenge results in suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We examined the serum and salivary antibody responses to MBP in orally tolerant rats using an avidin-biotin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum anti-MBP IgA and IgG, but not IgM levels are suppressed in orally tolerant versus control rats. This suppression is time dependent and is confined to the period when animals would otherwise be manifesting EAE clinical signs. In contrast, there is an increase in salivary anti-MBP IgA levels in MBP-fed rats relative to vehicle-fed controls. Thus, MBP-induced unresponsiveness is demonstrable at the humoral level, and moreover, a discrete compartmentalization between the serum and salivary anti-MBP responses exists.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
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Fuller
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Pearl
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Whitacre
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein