title: IL-5-deficient mice are susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model commonly used to investigate mechanisms involved in the activation of self-reactive T cells. Whereas auto-reactive T(h)1 cells are believed to be involved in the generation of EAE, T(h)2 cells can induce EAE in immunocompromised hosts. Since the T(h)2 cytokine IL-5 can influence the nature and severity of disease, we investigated the role of IL-5 in the EAE model. Wild-type C57BL/6J and IL-5(-/-) mice were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)(35-55) peptide and the development of EAE observed. Our results show that IL-5(-/-) mice developed EAE with a similar day of onset and comparable severity to wild-type mice. Primed T cells isolated from IL-5(-/-) mice proliferated equally to wild-type cells in response to antigen challenge with MOG(35-55). Antigen-specific T cells from IL-5(-/-) mice produced IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but no IL-4 or IL-10, indicating that a predominant T(h)1 environment was induced following immunization. No differences in the types of cells infiltrating into the central nervous system were observed between IL-5(-/-) and wild-type mice. Our results suggest that IL-5 is not directly involved in the initiation or effector phase of MOG(35-55)-induced EAE in immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice.
authors.affiliation: Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, PO Box 7060, Wellington South, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: Claude C A
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: B Thomas
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Bäckström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C445081:myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (35-55); D007371:Interferon-gamma