Adoptive protection from experimental myasthenia gravis with T cells from mice treated nasally with acetylcholine
Cristina Monfardini1, Monica Milani, Norma Ostlie
1Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Abstract:
Nasal administration of synthetic CD4(+) epitopes of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) prevents experimental myasthenia gravis (EMG) in C57Bl/6 mice, but not in IL4-deficient C57Bl/6 (IL4(-/-)) mice. Here we verify that nasal tolerance requires IL4, by showing that CD4(+) cells from C57Bl/6 mice treated nasally with a pool of AChR CD4(+) epitopes protected IL4(-/-) mice from EMG and caused a reduced production of anti-AChR antibody. CD4(+) cells from C57Bl/6 mice treated with unrelated peptides or sham-treated did not induce protection. CD4(+) cells from C57Bl/6 mice treated with just one AChR peptide protected IL4(-/-) mice from EMG without affecting antibody synthesis.
Related Concept Videos
Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...
Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology
Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...

