title: The role of interferon-gamma in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system.
abstract: The role of interferon-gamma in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system was investigated. Administration of rat recombinant interferon-gamma markedly augmented both myelin-induced and T-cell line-mediated experimental autoimmune neuritis. Conversely, in vivo application of a monoclonal antibody to interferon-gamma suppressed the disease. Clinical and electrophysiological findings were corroborated by semiquantitative morphometric analysis. Mechanisms responsible for the enhancing effects of interferon-gamma include upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen expression in the nerve lesion, increased cellular influx of T cells and macrophages, and heightened macrophage activity with enhanced release of toxic oxygen species. These observations establish a pivotal role of the cytokine interferon-gamma in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, West Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: van der Meide
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fierz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heininger
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Toyka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*; D009444:Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma