Astrocytes are specialized cells of the CNS that are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. In acute and relapsing-remitting experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, the neutrophil chemoattractant CXC chemokines macrophage-inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 and KC are associated with reactive astrocytes in the parenchyma. In vitro treatment o...

Allergic and autoimmune diseases have been considered to be at the opposite sides of the spectrum of the immune response. Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, are considered T helper 1 (Th1)-mediated diseases, and allergic disorders, such as asthma, food allergy or rhinitis, are considered to be Th2-mediated. ...

several religions recommend periods of fasting. one of the most frequently asked questions of ms patients before the holy month of ramadan is weather fasting might have an unfavorable effect on their disease course. this debate became more challenging after the publication of experimental studies suggesting that calorie restriction prior to disease induction attenuates disease severity. we cond...

background and objectives: multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. this is due to migration of peripherally activated lymphocytes to central nervous system leading to inflammatory lesions. however, liver has an anti-inflammatory microenvironment. myelin expression in the liver of transgenic mice suppresses inflammatory lesions within central nervous system. ...

The effect of gangliosides on the clinical expression of experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), a PNS counterpart of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), was tested in Lewis rats sensitized with bovine intradural root myelin in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). A mixture of bovine brain gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b) was injected intramuscularly at a daily dose of 20 mg per kg be...

Regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) expressing the Foxp3 transcription factor are critical modulators of autoimmunity. Foxp3(+) Tregs may develop in the thymus as a population distinct from conventional Foxp3(-) αβ T cells (Tconvs). Alternatively, plasticity in Foxp3 expression may allow for the interconversion of mature Tregs and Tconvs. We examined >160,000 TCR sequences from Foxp3(+) or Foxp3(-...

The cell dynamics associated with induction of peripheral T cell tolerance remain largely undefined. In this study, an in vivo model was adapted to two-photon microscopy imaging, and T cell behavior was analyzed on tolerogen-induced modulation. FcγR-deficient (FcγR(-/-)) mice were unable to resist or alleviate experimental allergic encephalomyelitis when treated with Ig-myelin oligodendrocyte g...

Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) is an abundant myelin constituent expressed exclusively by oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the CNS. We report that MOBP causes experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and is associated with multiple sclerosis. First, we note that purified recombinant MOBP inoculated into SJL/J mice produces CNS disease. Tests of overlapping p...

Induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is facilitated in a genetically resistant BALB/c mouse strain by a nonpathogenic strain of a neurotropic alphavirus, Semliki Forest virus (SFV-A7). One possible explanation for this enhancement is virus infection of endothelial cells (EC), causing increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier. We have now sought evidence for virus infecti...

Female SJL mice preferentially mount Th1-immune responses and are susceptible to the active induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. By contrast, young adult male SJL are resistant to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis due to an APC-dependent induction of Th2 cells. The basis for this gender-dependent differential T cell induction was examined by analysis of macrophage APC cyt...