TY - JOUR
T1 - Interleukin-4 deficiency facilitates development of experimental myasthenia gravis and precludes its prevention by nasal administration of CD4+-epitope sequences of the acetylcholine receptor
AU - Karachunski, Peter I.
AU - Ostlie, Norma S.
AU - Okita, David K.
AU - Conti-Fine, Bianca M.
PY - 1999/3/1
Y1 - 1999/3/1
N2 - Immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) causes experimental myasthenia gravis (EMG). We investigated EMG in interleukin (IL)-4 knock out B6 (KO) mice that lack Th2 cells. EMG was more frequent in KO than in wild type B6 mice. KO and B6 mice developed similar amounts of anti-AChR antibodies. They were IgG2a and IgG2b in KO mice, IgG1 and IgG2b in B6 mice. CD4+ cells from KO and B6 mice recognized the same AChR epitopes. Nasal administration of synthetic AChR CD4+ epitopes reduced antibody synthesis and prevented EMG in B6, not in KO mice. Thus, Th2 cells may have protective functions in EMG.
AB - Immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) causes experimental myasthenia gravis (EMG). We investigated EMG in interleukin (IL)-4 knock out B6 (KO) mice that lack Th2 cells. EMG was more frequent in KO than in wild type B6 mice. KO and B6 mice developed similar amounts of anti-AChR antibodies. They were IgG2a and IgG2b in KO mice, IgG1 and IgG2b in B6 mice. CD4+ cells from KO and B6 mice recognized the same AChR epitopes. Nasal administration of synthetic AChR CD4+ epitopes reduced antibody synthesis and prevented EMG in B6, not in KO mice. Thus, Th2 cells may have protective functions in EMG.
KW - Acetylcholine receptor
KW - Autoimmunity
KW - Experimental myasthenia gravis
KW - Nasal tolerance
KW - Th2 cells
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033104002&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033104002&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0165-5728(98)00262-8
DO - 10.1016/S0165-5728(98)00262-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 10229117
AN - SCOPUS:0033104002
SN - 0165-5728
VL - 95
SP - 73
EP - 84
JO - Journal of Neuroimmunology
JF - Journal of Neuroimmunology
IS - 1-2
ER -