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Dendritic cells treated with chloroquine modulate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Rodolfo Thomé1, Luidy Kazuo Issayama1, Rosaria DiGangi1
1Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
Immunology and Cell Biology
|November 13, 2013
Summary
Chloroquine (CQ) modulates dendritic cells (DCs), reducing their antigen presentation. Transferring these CQ-modulated DCs lessens experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) severity, offering a potential treatment strategy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chloroquine (CQ), an antimalarial, modulates immune responses and reduces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) severity.
- Disease suppression mechanisms involve regulatory T cells (Tregs) and potentially Tregs-independent pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate chloroquine's effect on dendritic cell (DC) phenotype and function.
- To assess if transferring CQ-modulated DCs can ameliorate EAE.
Main Methods:
- CQ treatment of bone marrow-derived DCs.
- Phenotypic and functional analysis of DCs.
- Coculture experiments with T cells.
- Adoptive transfer of CQ-modulated DCs into EAE mice.
Main Results:
- CQ altered DC ultrastructure and reduced antigen presentation molecules.
- CQ-treated DCs diminished T cell proliferation in vitro.
- Adoptive transfer of CQ-modulated DCs (DC-CQ) reduced EAE clinical signs.
- DC-CQ modulated immune responses against neuroantigens.
Conclusions:
- Chloroquine directly modulates DCs, impacting their function.
- CQ-modulated DC transfer is a potential therapeutic strategy for EAE.
- This approach may mitigate drug toxicity associated with systemic CQ administration.
