title: Induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the absence of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2.
abstract: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a CD4(+) T cell-dependent, organ-specific autoimmune model commonly used to investigate mechanisms involved in the activation of autoreactive T(h)1 cells. Mitogen-activated protein kinases such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (Jnk) 1 and 2 play an important role in the differentiation of naive precursors into T(h)1 or T(h)2 effector cells. To investigate the role of Jnk2 on autoimmunity, Jnk2(-/-) and wild-type mice were immunized with the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55 peptide and the onset of EAE studied. Surprisingly, Jnk2(-/-) mice were as susceptible to EAE as wild-type mice, regardless of whether low or high antigen doses were used to induce disease. In vitro stimulation of lymph node cells from Jnk2(-/-) and wild-type mice resulted in comparable proliferation in response to MOG35-55, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and concanavalin A. MOG35-55-specific T cells lacking Jnk2 showed a T(h)1 cytokine profile with IFN-gamma, but no IL-4 or IL-5 production. No differences in the types of infiltrating cells or myelin destruction in the central nervous system were found between Jnk2(-/-) and wild-type mice, indicating that lack of Jnk2 does not alter the effector phase of EAE. Our results suggest that, despite involvement in T(h)1/T(h)2 differentiation in vitro, Jnk2 is necessary neither for the induction nor effector phase of MOG35-55-induced EAE and nor is it required for antigen-specific IFN-gamma production.
authors.affiliation: Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington South, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nicolson
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freland
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delahunt
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Flavell
authors.forename: B Thomas
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Bäckström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C445081:myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (35-55); D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases