IFN-gamma determines distinct clinical outcomes in autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory disease of the CNS initiated by autoreactive CD4(+) T cells. EAE classically presents with a progressive ascending paralysis and is a model of multiple sclerosis that recapitulates some aspects of the disease. In this report we describe a mouse strain that spontaneously develops a severe, nonclassical form of EAE with 100% incidence. The distinct clinical phenotype is marked initially by a slight head tilt, progressing to a severe head tilt, spinning, or a rotatory motion. Classical EAE spontaneously occurs in myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific TCR transgenic RAG-1(-/-) mice (referred to as T/R(-)), whereas nonclassical EAE spontaneously occurs in T/R(-) IFN-gamma(-/-) mice (T/R(-)gamma(-)). Thus, the TCR recognizes the same Ag (MBP) and uses identical TCR in both cases. The cellular infiltrate in nonclassical EAE is predominantly found in the brainstem and cerebellum, with very little inflammation in the spinal cord, which is primarily affected in classical disease. Importantly, depending on the genetic makeup and priming conditions of the MBP-specific T cells, nonclassical disease can occur in the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophilic, neutrophilic, or monocytic characteristics. Finally, we believe that nonclassical spontaneous EAE could be a useful model for the study of some characteristics of multiple sclerosis not observed in classical EAE, such as the inflammatory responses in the brainstem and cerebellum that can cause vertigo.
Wensky
Allen K
AK
Molecular Pathogenesis Program, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Furtado
Glaucia C
GC
Marcondes
Maria Cecilia Garibaldi
MC
Chen
Shaohua
S
Manfra
Denise
D
Lira
Sergio A
SA
Zagzag
David
D
Lafaille
Juan J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019674:Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; C405722:myelin basic protein 1-11; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D007371:Interferon-gamma