title: Serum exosomes in pregnancy-associated immune modulation and neuroprotection during CNS autoimmunity.
abstract: In multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), relapses are markedly reduced during pregnancy. Exosomes are lipid-bound vesicles and are more abundant in the serum during pregnancy. Using murine EAE, we demonstrate that serum exosomes suppress T cell activation, promote the maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC), and pregnancy exosomes facilitate OPC migration into active CNS lesions. However, exosomes derived from both pregnant and non-pregnant mice reduced the severity of established EAE. Thus, during pregnancy, serum exosomes modulate the immune and central nervous systems and contribute to pregnancy-associated suppression of EAE.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, 208 Bricker Hall, 190 North Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: NaTosha N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Gatson
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Akshata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almad
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: McTigue
authors.forename: Caroline C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Whitacre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
keywords: Exosome; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; Multiple sclerosis; Oligodendrocyte precursor cell; Pregnancy