title: Role of tolerogen conformation in induction of oral tolerance in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.
abstract: We recently demonstrated that oral or nasal administration of recombinant fragments of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) prevents the induction of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) and suppresses ongoing EAMG in rats. We have now studied the role of spatial conformation of these recombinant fragments in determining their tolerogenicity. Two fragments corresponding to the extracellular domain of the human AChR alpha-subunit and differing in conformation were tested: Halpha1-205 expressed with no fusion partner and Halpha1-210 fused to thioredoxin (Trx), and designated Trx-Halpha1-210. The conformational similarity of the fragments to intact AChR was assessed by their reactivity with alpha-bungarotoxin and with anti-AChR mAbs, specific for conformation-dependent epitopes. Oral administration of the more native fragment, Trx-Halpha1-210, at the acute phase of disease led to exacerbation of EAMG, accompanied by an elevation of AChR-specific humoral and cellular reactivity, increased levels of Th1-type cytokines (IL-2, IL-12), decreased levels of Th2 (IL-10)- or Th3 (TGF-beta)-type cytokines, and higher expression of costimulatory factors (CD28, CTLA4, B7-1, B7-2, CD40L, and CD40). On the other hand, oral administration of the less native fragments Halpha1-205 or denatured Trx-Halpha1-210 suppressed ongoing EAMG and led to opposite changes in the immunological parameters. It thus seems that native conformation of AChR-derived fragments renders them immunogenic and immunopathogenic and therefore not suitable for treatment of myasthenia gravis. Conformation of tolerogens should therefore be given careful attention when considering oral tolerance for treatment of autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barchan
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Souroujon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000096:biosynthesis; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000235:genetics; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D019013:CD40 Antigens; C497964:CD86 protein, human; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; C497966:Cd86 protein, rat; C556708:Ctla4 protein, rat; D016207:Cytokines; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D000069594:Abatacept