The effects of pregnancy on myelin basic protein-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats: suppression of clinical disease, modulation of cytokine expression in the spinal cord inflammatory infiltrate and suppression of lymphocyte proliferation by pregnancy sera.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was performed to explore the effects of pregnancy on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with myelin basic protein (MBP) (MBP-EAE).


METHODS
MBP-EAE was induced in pregnant and non-pregnant rats and severity of disease evaluated. Serum from pregnant and non-pregnant rats was used in standard lymphocyte proliferation assays. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate the expression of cytokine mRNA in the inflammatory cells obtained from the spinal cord of rats on day 15 after inoculation.


RESULTS
Pregnant rats developed less severe disease than non-pregnant rats. Serum from pregnant rats suppressed the proliferation of T lymphocytes in response to MBP. There was significantly increased expression of IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-alpha mRNA in the spinal cord infiltrate of pregnant rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating humoral factors and alteration in cytokine production by inflammatory cells may contribute to the suppression of EAE in pregnant rats.
Harness
J
J
Department of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
McCombe
P A
PA
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein