title: Evidence for Fas-dependent and Fas-independent mechanisms in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: To determine whether Fas or Fas ligand (FasL) plays a role in susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we bred a TCR transgenic mouse specific for the Ac1-11 peptide of myelin basic protein to mice with inactivating mutations in Fas (lpr) or FasL (gld). Disease induction by peptide immunization in such mice produced similar disease scores, demonstrating that Fas/FasL interactions were not necessary to generate EAE. However, adoptive transfer experiments showed evidence that these interactions can play a role in the pathogenesis of EAE, shown most dramatically by the absence of disease following transfer of cells from a normal myelin basic protein TCR transgenic mouse into a Fas-deficient lpr recipient. Furthermore, transfer of cells lacking FasL (gld) into normal or gld recipients gave a diminished disease score. Thus, Fas/FasL interactions can play a role in the pathogenesis of EAE, but they are not required for disease to occur.
authors.affiliation: Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. bonnie.dittel@yale.edu
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Dittel
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Janeway
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002460:Cell Line; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016207:Cytokines; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D019014:fas Receptor