Oral administration of type I interferon modulates the course of experimental allergic neuritis.
We investigated the effect of oral administration of type I interferon (IFN) in experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) in Lewis rats immunized with bovine peripheral nerve myelin. Starting at 7 days preceding immunization, rats were fed daily until sacrifice either with 5000 U rat IFN-alpha/beta or mock-IFN. The clinical severity of EAN was significantly reduced in IFN-alpha/beta fed animals compared to mock-IFN fed controls. Demyelination, but not inflammation, was decreased in IFN-alpha/beta fed compared to mock-IFN fed rats at day 20 after immunization. In situ IFN-gamma production and inflammation were reduced when evaluated by immunocytochemistry at day 13 after immunization. Spleen cells from IFN-alpha/beta fed compared to mock-IFN fed EAN rats showed significantly reduced proliferation to stimulation with Con A or peripheral nerve myelin. IFN-gamma production in draining lymph node cells was significantly reduced after stimulation with bovine peripheral nerve myelin. Our data suggest that oral administration of IFN-alpha/beta reduces the severity of EAN, possibly by a reduction in IFN-gamma production.
Vriesendorp
F J
FJ
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston 77030, USA.
Flynn
R E
RE
Khan
M
M
Pappolla
M A
MA
Brod
S A
SA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009444:Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D016207:Cytokines; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007371:Interferon-gamma