全反式维甲酸对乙酰胆碱受体特异性淋巴细胞的免疫调控作用

目的:观察全反式维甲酸(ATRA)对乙酰胆碱受体(AChR)特异性淋巴细胞的体外调控作用,探讨其治疗重症肌无力(MG)的可能机制。方法:建立完全弗氏佐剂(CFA)对照组及实验性自身免疫性重症肌无力(EAMG)组大鼠,并获取淋巴结单个细胞悬液,以ACh R97-116多肽片段以及不同浓度的ATRA体外培养72 h,采用流式细胞仪法、CCK-8法、ELISA法分别检测活细胞比例、细胞凋亡和周期的改变以及Th亚群的格局和B细胞抗体分泌能力的变化。结果:ATRA显著降低活细胞比例(P0.001);不同浓度的ATRA均促进了特异性细胞群的凋亡(P0.001),且呈剂量依赖性,而ATRA未改变AChR特异性淋巴细胞的生长周期;ATRA处理后,CFA和EAMG组的淋巴细胞增殖均受到明显抑制,且ATRA对ACh R特异性的淋巴细胞的抑制明显(EAMG组,P0.01)于CFA组(P0.05);ATRA干预后,ACh R特异性CD4+T淋巴细胞的比例下降(P0.01),且ATRA促进了Th2、Treg细胞亚群百分比(P_(IL-4)0.001,P_(Foxp3)0.001),而抑制了促炎性的Th17、Th1细胞亚群百分比(P_(IL-17)0.05,P_(IFN-γ)0.001);ATRA能够降低ACh R特异性B细胞的抗体分泌能力(P0.01)。结论:ATRA不仅能抑制ACh R特异性T细胞功能,同时也能抑制ACh R特异性B细胞功能,其在MG的临床治疗中可能起治疗作用。     

S100/RAGE在实验性自身免疫性重症肌无力中对T细胞的作用及其机制研究

目的:探讨RAGE及其配体S100B在实验性自身免疫性重症肌无力(EAMG)中对T细胞的作用及其相关机制。方法:选取体重160-180g的Lewis大鼠,并将其随机分为EAMG模型组和CFA对照组。EAMG模型组大鼠通过尾根部注入200μL含有R-ACh R97-116肽段的免疫乳剂,并于初始免疫后的第30天尾根部追加免疫一次;CFA对照组大鼠为免疫乳剂中不含有R-ACh R97-116肽段。采用流式细胞术检测和比较两组大鼠CD4+T细胞上RAGE的表达情况;ELISA方法检测淋巴细胞培养上清中IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-17、TGF-β、IL-6和S100B的表达水平;采用S100B体外干预淋巴细胞,进一步检测S100B对EAMG大鼠T细胞增殖、亚型分布、细胞因子分泌的影响。结果:在疾病发生的晚期时相(初次免疫后第45天),EAMG组淋巴细胞CD4+T细胞上RAGE的表达明显高于CFA组(P0.001),血清中RAGE的配体S100B的表达也高于CFA组(P0.001);体外加入S100B干预能促进T淋巴细胞的增殖,与未干预组相比较差异显著(P0.05);S100B刺激后,Th1细胞和Th17细胞的百分比进一步增高,Th2细胞和Treg细胞百分比下降(PTh10.05,PTh170.05,PTh20.05,PTreg0.05),IFN-γ和IL-17的表达上调(PIFN-γ0.05,PIL-170.05),而IL-4和TGF-β表达下降(PTGF-β0.01,PIL-40.05),Th17细胞的调控因子IL-6表达升高(PIL-60.05)。结论:RAGE及其配体S100B参与EAMG的发病过程,在晚期时相中表现出明显的致病性;RAGE与S100B相互作用可以上调T细胞的致病性作用,加重四种辅助性T细胞之间的网络失衡。     

芪参地黄颗粒对实验性自身免疫性重症肌无力大鼠B细胞介导的免疫机制研究

摘要 目的：探讨芪参地黄颗粒对实验性自身免疫性重症肌无力（EAMG）大鼠B细胞介导的免疫机制。方法：通过Rα97-116肽段和完全弗氏佐剂免疫,成功将30只Lewis大鼠构建EAMG模型,将EAMG大鼠随机分为模型组、芪参地黄颗粒低、中、高剂量组和阳性药组,每组6只。进一步观察大鼠体重及临床症状,检测血清中乙酰胆碱受体抗体（AChR-Ab）含量、脾脏组织CD19和CD27的蛋白表达、B淋巴细胞刺激因子（BAFF）、B细胞趋化因子CXC配体13（CXCL13）、C-X-C趋化因子受体5型（CXCR5） mRNA表达。结果：经给药治疗后芪参地黄颗粒低、中、高剂量组和阳性药组与模型组相比体重增加（P＜0.05）,临床症状评分均下降（P＜0.05）。经给药治疗后,与模型组相比,芪参地黄颗粒低、中、高剂量组血清中AChR-Ab含量均降低（P<0.05）,芪参地黄颗粒中、高剂量组脾脏组织CD27蛋白表达、CD19蛋白表达和BAFF mRNA表达降低（P＜0.05）,芪参地黄颗粒高剂量组脾脏组织CXCL13和CXCR5 mRNA表达降低（P＜0.05）,且芪参地黄颗粒中、高剂量组脾脏组织CD19蛋白表达较阳性药组下降（P＜0.05）。结论：芪参地黄颗粒通过降低EAMG大鼠CD19和CD27蛋白、BAFF、CXCL13和CXCR5 mRNA的表达,减少B细胞的分化增殖,抑制B细胞产生AChR-Ab,减少对乙酰胆碱受体的破坏,使EAMG大鼠体重增加,临床症状得到改善。     

IFN-γ鼻黏膜免疫耐受治疗EAMG的实验研究

探讨鼻黏膜给予少量IFN-γ对实验性自身免疫性重症肌无力(EAMG)鼻黏膜免疫耐受的逆转作用。在用自身抗原乙酰胆碱受体(AChR)和完全弗氏佐剂(CFA)免疫Lewis大鼠之前,通过鼻黏膜分别给予重组大鼠IFN-γ(5 000 U/只);AChR IFN-γ或单独给予AChR,另外给予等量AChR的同时,腹膜注射IFN-γ(5 000 U/只)。评估不同组对EAMG发病的影响。可见,鼻黏膜单独给予AChR有效诱导EAMG免疫耐受,而同时给予AChR和IFN-γ与对照组(只给予PBS)相比扩大了T、B细胞对AChR的免疫应答,出现了与对照组相似的临床症状。相反,AChR IFN-γi.p.不影响对EAMG的耐受,鼻黏膜单独给予IFN-γ对EAMG的临床症状没有影响。经不同途径给予IFN-γ对免疫耐受有不同的影响:鼻黏膜给予少量IFN-γ可以打破免疫耐受;而经腹腔给予IFN-γ不会影响免疫耐受。     

RIG-I敲除293T细胞系的建立及其对B型流感病毒复制的影响

CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术是通过人工设计的单向导RNA(Single-guide RNA,sgRNA)指导Cas9蛋白对目的基因靶位点进行特异性的识别、结合和切割后,通过细胞的非同源末端连接或同源末端重组修复机制来完成对基因组的敲除与敲入的编辑技术。RIG-I是机体的一种模式识别受体,能够识别胞质中的含5′-三磷酸基团的RNA,并通过与下游信号分子MAVS相互作用,激活IRF3/7和NF-κB,从而启动I型干扰素和炎性因子的表达。已有研究表明,B型流感病毒(IBV)在感染早期能够上调RIG-I的表达水平。为了探索RIG-I是否为B型流感病毒激活抗病毒天然免疫信号通路的主要受体及其对IBV复制的影响,本研究利用CRISPR-Cas9技术对293T细胞中的RIG-I基因进行了敲除,经嘌呤霉素压力筛选到了一株稳定敲除RIG-I基因的293T(RIG-I-/-293T)细胞系。Western blotting检测发现,IBV或仙台病毒感染后该细胞系中RIG-I不再表达,说明该敲除细胞系构建成功。IBV感染RIG-I-/-293T细胞后,干扰素、炎性因子及干扰素刺激基因的转录水平与野生型293T细胞相比明显下降,并且在RIG-I-/-293T细胞中检测不到p65和IRF3磷酸化,表明IBV感染早期细胞因子的表达主要依赖于RIG-I信号通路的激活。IBV在野生型及RIG-I-/-293T细胞中的多步生长曲线表明,RIG-I可抑制IBV的复制。以上结果表明,RIG-I敲除的293T细胞系构建成功,RIG-I是IBV激活下游抗病毒天然免疫信号通路的主要受体之一,且对IBV的复制具有负调控作用,该研究为探索IBV的感染机制奠定了基础。     

梅花鹿胸腺素beta10基因真核表达载体的构建及鉴定

转录组测序发现Tβ10在鹿茸中高表达,为了研究Tβ10与鹿茸生长发育间的关系,构建Tβ10真核表达载体。使用Trizol法提取梅花鹿鹿茸总RNA,PCR技术特异性扩增梅花鹿Tβ10基因,利用酶切位点将目的片段插入真核表达载体VR1012构建表达质粒,通过Fugene~?6将质粒瞬时转染到293T细胞中,使用Western blotting和免疫荧光方法检测目的基因的表达。结果发现克隆得到的梅花鹿Tβ10基因长度为129bp,编码42个氨基酸,成功构建真核表达载体VR1012-Tβ10-HA,转染后使用Western blotting方法检测到梅花鹿Tβ10在293T细胞中表达,免疫荧光方法证明梅花鹿Tβ10主要定位在细胞浆中。     

RAB5A蛋白G81R位点突变对其功能的影响

为探讨G81R位点突变对RAB5A蛋白功能的影响,将RAB5A G81R突变体和正常RAB5A反义RNA分别插入pcDNA3．1／V5-His TOPO真核表达载体,并转染到Anip973细胞。用Western blot方法检测稳定转染后细胞RAB5A蛋白的表达水平,通过血清饥饿法使Anip973和转染后的细胞同步化,停滞于G0～G1期,再恢复血清培养使细胞从G0～G1期释放,用流式细胞分析仪分析细胞周期各时相细胞百分比。结果显示RAB5A G81R突变体的反义RNA可完全封闭Anip973细胞中RAB5A的表达,正常RAB5A反义RNA部分封闭RAB5A表达。并且,Anip973细胞周期的长短与RAB5A的表达程度成反比。RAB5A G81R反义RNA能够有效地阻断Anip973细胞中RAB5A蛋白的表达。阻断或降低RAB5A的表达可延长细胞周期。     

中华蜜蜂溶血肽基因在杆状病毒系统中的表达

构建含中华蜜蜂溶血肽基因的重组转移载体pBacHT-GFPTAccM,转化受体菌DH10Bac,得重组穿梭载体Bacmid-GFPTAccM, Lipofectin介导其基因组DNA转染粉纹夜蛾细胞系Tn-5B1-4。SDS-PAGE分析表明,感染重组杆状病毒Bacmid-GFPTAccM的细胞表达产物在约为34 kD处出现特异性条带,其表达量约占细胞总蛋白的3%。Western blotting和细胞表达时相动态分析证明中华蜜蜂溶血肽基因已在粉纹夜蛾细胞系Tn-5B1-4中进行了成功的表达。     

口蹄疫病毒结构蛋白VP0抑制Ⅰ型干扰素信号通路的激活

【目的】研究口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)结构蛋白VP0对Ⅰ型干扰素信号通路的影响。【方法】通过反转录PCR构建VP0真核表达载体,利用Western blotting验证VP0蛋白转染HEK-293T细胞后的表达情况;Real-time PCR检测VP0蛋白对FMDV在BHK细胞上复制的影响,检测VP0蛋白对SeV诱导的干扰素信号通路分子RIG-I、IRF3、IFN-β及下游刺激基因ISG15、ISG20表达的影响;双荧光素酶报告基因检测系统检测VP0蛋白对SeV诱导的IFN-β和NF-κB启动子激活以及对RIG-I样受体(RIG-I-like receptors,RLRs)信号通路分子激活IFN启动子的影响;免疫共沉淀检测VP0蛋白与RLRs信号通路中关键分子的相互作用。【结果】成功构建了p CAGGs-VP0真核表达载体,可以在HEK-293T细胞中表达;FMDV感染后的4–6 h,VP0蛋白显著促进FMDV在BHK细胞上的复制(P0.01或P0.05);VP0蛋白明显抑制干扰素下游刺激基因的表达(P0.01或P0.05)。在双荧光素酶报告基因检测实验中,VP0蛋白抑制SeV诱导IFN-β和NF-κB的活化具有剂量依赖性(P0.01),并对RIG-I、MDA5、VISA、TBK1和IRF3介导的IFN-β产生具有抑制作用,但是对IRF7没有明显的影响。免疫共沉淀显示VP0蛋白可与IRF3发生相互作用。【结论】证实VP0蛋白可以通过与IRF3相互作用来抑制Ⅰ型干扰素信号通路的激活。     

稳定表达小鼠CD40L的NIH3T3细胞系的建立及其在B细胞培养和激活中的应用

该研究构建小鼠CD40L真核表达重组质粒pcDNA3.1-mCD40L,通过电转法将重组质粒转至NIH3T3细胞中。利用G418对转染后细胞进行压力筛选,获得稳定转染细胞株。提取稳定转染细胞株RNA,通过RT-PCR法检测Neo基因的mRNA表达情况。分离稳定转染细胞上清,利用ELISA法检测小鼠CD40L蛋白水平的表达情况。RT-PCR结果显示,Neo基因能够在稳定转染细胞中表达,ELISA结果显示,获得的稳定转染细胞株NIH3T3-mCD40L细胞上清中CD40L的表达量高达1.286 ng/mL。进一步活性研究表明,该细胞系能够在体外与IL-2和IL-21共同作用培养B细胞至14天,并刺激B细胞产生特异性抗体。该细胞系的成功构建,为利用体外B细胞分离培养和活化法分离特异性单克隆抗体奠定了良好的基础。     

Characterization of peripheral blood acetylcholine receptor-binding B cells in experimental myasthenia gravis

In myasthenia gravis (MG), the neuromuscular transmission is impaired by antibodies (Abs) specific for muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Anti-AChR Abs can be detected in the serum of MG patients, although their levels do not correlate with disease severity. In this study, we developed a flow cytometric assay for the detection of peripheral blood AChR-specific B cells to characterize B cell phenotypes associated with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Alexa-conjugated AChR was used as a probe for AChR-specific B cells (B220+Ig+). Mice with EAMG had significantly elevated frequencies of AChR-specific IgG2+ and IgM+ B cells. While the frequencies of IgG2+ B cells and plasma anti-AChR IgG2 levels significantly correlated with the clinical grades of EAMG, the frequencies of IgM+ B cells and plasma anti-AChR IgM levels did not. These results indicate that the frequency of AChR-specific and IgG1+ (mouse IgG2 equivalent) peripheral blood B cells and anti-AChR IgG1 levels could be potential biomarkers for MG disease severity.     

B7-1 costimulatory molecule is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Following immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR), MHC class II-restricted, AChR-specific CD4 cell activation is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in C57BL/6 mice. To study the contributions of B7-1 and B7-2 costimulatory molecules in EAMG, B7-1, B7-2, and B7-1/B7-2 gene knockout (KO) mice were immunized with Torpedo AChR in CFA. Compared with wild-type C57BL6 mice, B7-1 and B7-1/2 KO mice were resistant to EAMG development. B7-1 KO mice had reduced anti-AChR Ab compared with C57BL/6 mice. However, neither B7-1 nor B7-2 gene disruption impaired AChR-induced or dominant alpha(146-162) peptide-induced in vitro lymphoproliferative responses. Blocking of the B7-1 or B7-2 molecule by specific mAbs in vivo led to a reduction in the AChR-specific lymphocyte response, and the reduction was more pronounced in mice treated with anti-B7-2 Ab. The findings implicate B7-1 molecules as having a critical role in the induction of EAMG, and the resistance of B7-1 KO mice is associated with suppressed humoral, rather than suppressed AChR-specific, T cell responses. The data also point to B7-2 molecules as being the dominant costimulatory molecules required for AChR-induced lymphocyte proliferation.     

Blockade of CD40 ligand suppresses chronic experimental myasthenia gravis by down-regulation of Th1 differentiation and up-regulation of CTLA-4

Myasthenia gravis (MG) and experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) are T cell-dependent Ab-mediated autoimmune disorders, in which the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is the major autoantigen. Th1-type cells and costimulatory factors such as CD40 ligand (CD40L) contribute to disease pathogenesis by producing proinflammatory cytokines and by activating autoreactive B cells. In this study we demonstrate the capacity of CD40L blockade to modulate EAMG, and analyze the mechanism underlying this disease suppression. Anti-CD40L Abs given to rats at the chronic stage of EAMG suppress the clinical progression of the autoimmune process and lead to a decrease in the AChR-specific humoral response and delayed-type hypersensitivity. The cytokine profile of treated rats suggests that the underlying mechanism involves down-regulation of AChR-specific Th1-regulated responses with no significant effect on Th2- and Th3-regulated AChR-specific responses. EAMG suppression is also accompanied by a significant up-regulation of CTLA-4, whereas a series of costimulatory factors remain unchanged. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from anti-CD40L-treated rats does not protect recipient rats against subsequently induced EAMG. Thus it seems that the suppressed progression of chronic EAMG by anti-CD40L treatment does not induce a switch from Th1 to Th2/Th3 regulation of the AChR-specific immune response and does not induce generation of regulatory cells. The ability of anti-CD40L treatment to suppress ongoing chronic EAMG suggests that blockade of CD40L may serve as a potential approach for the immunotherapy of MG and other Ab-mediated autoimmune diseases.     

A peptide vaccine that prevents experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by specifically blocking T cell help.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune (EA) MG, are caused by T cell-dependent autoantibodies that react with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) on muscle and interfere with neuromuscular transmission. Thus, selective inactivation of CD4(+) AChR-specific T helper cells should lower AChR Ab levels and ameliorate disease. In the Lewis rat model of EAMG, alpha chain residues 100-116 of the AChR represent the dominant T cell epitope, which is important in helping Ab responses to this autoantigen. In the present report, we have applied a new design technique that requires no knowledge of Ag receptor sequences on errant T cells in order to develop a synthetic peptide vaccine against T cells reactive with the aforementioned T cell epitope. Immunization with the peptide 1) induced polyclonal and monoclonal Ab, which inhibited AChR 100-116 stimulation of AChR-sensitized lymphocytes and recognized Vbeta15 containing T cell receptors on AChR 100-116-specific T cell lines and clones; 2) lowered AChR Ab levels; 3) reduced the loss of muscle AChR; and 4) lessened the incidence and severity of EAMG. These findings suggest a new strategy for the functional abrogation of epitope-specific T cells that could have potential application to human autoimmune diseases.     

C5 gene influences the development of murine myasthenia gravis

The influence of the C5 gene and C5 deficiency on murine experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) susceptibility was evaluated. Two co-isogenic strains, B10.D2/nSn (C5 sufficient) and B10.D2/oSn (C5 deficient), which are genetically identical except for the C5 gene locus, were immunized with acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in CFA to induce myasthenia gravis. Both strains had equivalent concentration of serum autoantibodies to muscle AChR and antibodies bound to muscle AChR. C5-sufficient B10.D2/nSn, but not C5-deficient B10.D2/oSn, demonstrated increased incidence of clinical disease and death and lost significant amounts of muscle AChR. Therefore, C5 deficiency in B10.D2/oSn prevented EAMG. C5 gene, which codes for C component C5, may influence EAMG pathogenesis through activation of the terminal lytic C sequence (C5 to C9) required for muscle AChR destruction, which is the primary pathology.     

Induction of peripheral tolerance to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by acetylcholine receptor-pulsed dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DC) are usually regarded as antigen-presenting cells involved in T cell activation, but DC also directly and indirectly affect B cell activation, antibody synthesis, and isotype switch. In the present study, bone marrow (BM)-derived DC from healthy rats were pulsed in vitro with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and injected subcutaneously into healthy Lewis rats. No clinical signs of the first phase of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) were observed during 3 weeks of observation. Upon immunization with AChR and complete Freund's adjuvant, the rats that had received AChR-pulsed DC did not develop clinical EAMG. This tolerance of rats injected with AChR-pulsed DC was associated with reduced expression of B cell-activating factor (BAFF) and by reduced numbers of B cells among splenic mononuclear cells (MNC) compared to rats injected with medium or unpulsed DC. Anti-AChR IgG antibody-secreting cells were decreased, while the ratio of IgG1:IgG2b isotypes was enhanced in rats treated with AChR-pulsed DC compared to control EAMG rats. These results demonstrate that AChR-pulsed DC induce peripheral tolerance to EAMG by possibly inhibiting the expression of BAFF and production of anti-AChR antibodies, providing a possible potential for immunotherapy of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.     

Regulation of antibody production by helper T cell clones in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Ten acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-specific T cell clones from Lewis rats were studied. These clones had various AChR subunit and peptide specificities, and proliferated in response to antigen on appropriate APC. All the T cell clones were CD4+CD8- and OX22-, helped anti-AChR antibody production by AChR-primed lymph node B cells, and could secrete IL-2. However, several lines of evidence suggested that IL-2 was not the lymphokine that mediated T cell help. B cells primed with native AChR and then exposed in culture to very low concentrations of native AChR effectively presented the Ag to the T cell lines, presumably due to uptake via Ag receptors, but primed B cells were no more effective than were non-specific APC at presenting a synthetic AChR peptide which is recognized by AChR-specific T cells but not by AChR-specific B cells. Increasing AChR doses produced an antibody production response that was bell shaped and low doses stimulated, whereas higher AChR concentrations suppressed the antibody production response. Evidence suggested that AChR exerted its inhibitory effect through the T cells, but not via IL-2.     

Proteasome inhibition with bortezomib depletes plasma cells and autoantibodies in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Bortezomib, an inhibitor of proteasomes, has been reported to reduce autoantibody titers and to improve clinical condition in mice suffering from lupus-like disease. Bortezomib depletes both short- and long-lived plasma cells; the latter normally survive the standard immunosuppressant treatments targeting T and B cells. These findings encouraged us to test whether bortezomib is effective for alleviating the symptoms in the experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) model for myasthenia gravis, a disease that is characterized by autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of skeletal muscle. Lewis rats were immunized with saline (control, n = 36) or Torpedo AChR (EAMG, n = 54) in CFA in the first week of an experimental period of 8 wk. After immunization, rats received twice a week s.c. injections of bortezomib (0.2 mg/kg in saline) or saline injections. Bortezomib induced apoptosis in bone marrow cells and reduced the amount of plasma cells in the bone marrow by up to 81%. In the EAMG animals, bortezomib efficiently reduced the rise of anti-AChR autoantibody titers, prevented ultrastructural damage of the postsynaptic membrane, improved neuromuscular transmission, and decreased myasthenic symptoms. This study thus underscores the potential of the therapeutic use of proteasome inhibitors to target plasma cells in Ab-mediated autoimmune diseases.     

IL-1 receptor antagonist-mediated therapeutic effect in murine myasthenia gravis is associated with suppressed serum proinflammatory cytokines, C3, and anti-acetylcholine receptor IgG1

In myasthenia gravis (MG), TNF and IL-1beta polymorphisms and high serum levels of these proinflammatory cytokines have been observed. Likewise, TNF and IL-1beta are critical for the activation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-specific T and B cells and for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) induced by AChR immunization. We tested the therapeutic effect of human recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in C57BL/6 mice with EAMG. Multiple daily injections of 0.01 mg of IL-1ra administered for 2 wk following two AChR immunizations decreased the incidence and severity of clinical EAMG. Furthermore, IL-1ra treatment of mice with ongoing clinical EAMG reduced the clinical symptoms of disease. The IL-1ra-mediated suppression of clinical disease was associated with suppressed serum IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, C3, and anti-AChR IgG1 without influencing total serum IgG. Therefore, IL-1ra could be used as a nonsteroidal drug for the treatment of MG.     

Role of tolerogen conformation in induction of oral tolerance in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

We recently demonstrated that oral or nasal administration of recombinant fragments of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) prevents the induction of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) and suppresses ongoing EAMG in rats. We have now studied the role of spatial conformation of these recombinant fragments in determining their tolerogenicity. Two fragments corresponding to the extracellular domain of the human AChR alpha-subunit and differing in conformation were tested: Halpha1-205 expressed with no fusion partner and Halpha1-210 fused to thioredoxin (Trx), and designated Trx-Halpha1-210. The conformational similarity of the fragments to intact AChR was assessed by their reactivity with alpha-bungarotoxin and with anti-AChR mAbs, specific for conformation-dependent epitopes. Oral administration of the more native fragment, Trx-Halpha1-210, at the acute phase of disease led to exacerbation of EAMG, accompanied by an elevation of AChR-specific humoral and cellular reactivity, increased levels of Th1-type cytokines (IL-2, IL-12), decreased levels of Th2 (IL-10)- or Th3 (TGF-beta)-type cytokines, and higher expression of costimulatory factors (CD28, CTLA4, B7-1, B7-2, CD40L, and CD40). On the other hand, oral administration of the less native fragments Halpha1-205 or denatured Trx-Halpha1-210 suppressed ongoing EAMG and led to opposite changes in the immunological parameters. It thus seems that native conformation of AChR-derived fragments renders them immunogenic and immunopathogenic and therefore not suitable for treatment of myasthenia gravis. Conformation of tolerogens should therefore be given careful attention when considering oral tolerance for treatment of autoimmune diseases.