title: Regulatory T cells attenuate Th17 cell-mediated nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration in a model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Nitrated alpha-synuclein (N-alpha-syn) immunization elicits adaptive immune responses to novel antigenic epitopes that exacerbate neuroinflammation and nigrostriatal degeneration in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of Parkinson's disease. We show that such neuroimmune degenerative activities, in significant measure, are Th17 cell-mediated, with CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cell (Treg) dysfunction seen among populations of N-alpha-syn-induced T cells. In contrast, purified vasoactive intestinal peptide induced and natural Tregs reversed N-alpha-syn T cell nigrostriatal degeneration. Combinations of adoptively transferred N-alpha-syn and vasoactive intestinal peptide immunocytes or natural Tregs administered to MPTP mice attenuated microglial inflammatory responses and led to robust nigrostriatal protection. Taken together, these results demonstrate Treg control of N-alpha-syn-induced neurodestructive immunity and, as such, provide a sound rationale for future Parkinson's disease immunization strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Jessica A L
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hutter
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.forename: R Lee
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Mosley
authors.forename: Howard E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gendelman
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D004298:Dopamine