Epicutaneous immunization with autoantigenic peptides induces T suppressor cells that prevent experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.
Information on how suppressor/regulatory T cells can be generated directly in vivo and prevent autoimmunity remains fragmentary. We show here that epicutaneous immunization (ECi) with the immunodominant peptide of myelin basic protein (MBP), Ac1-11, protects mice that are transgenic for an Ac1-11-specific T cell receptor against both the induced and spontaneous forms of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). This protection was antigen specific and antigen dose dependent, and was mediated by CD4(+)/CD25(-) T cells whose suppressive activity required cell-cell contact and could transfer protection to naive recipients. These ECi-induced suppressor T cells controlled naive MBP-specific CD4 T cells by inhibiting both their activation and their capacity to secrete IFN-gamma. There was no CD4 T cell infiltration in the brain of protected mice. Finally, ECi with autoantigenic peptides protected two nontransgenic models from relapsing-remitting EAE in an antigen-specific and antigen dose-dependent manner.
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination
D001324:Autoantigens; D016207:Cytokines; D010455:Peptides; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma