Prevention of murine EAE by oral hydrolytic enzyme treatment.

Abstract

Clinical trials that test the efficacy of Phlogenzym (consisting of the hydrolytic enzymes bromelain and trypsin and the anti-oxidant rutosid) as a treatment for T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are presently ongoing. We tested the effects of Phlogenzym treatment in the murine model for MS, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a disease induced in SJL mice by immunization with proteolipid protein (PLP) peptide 139-151. Oral administration of Phlogenzym resulted in complete protection from EAE. In Phlogenzym-treated mice, the dose response curve of the PLP:139-151-specific T cell response was shifted to the right, that is, the primed T cells required higher peptide concentrations to become activated. Additionally, the T cell response to this peptide was shifted towards the T helper 2 cytokine profile. Both effects are consistent with an increased T cell activation threshold. In support of this interpretation, we found that the accessory molecules CD4, CD44, and B7-1 (all of which are involved in T cell co-stimulation) were cleaved by Phlogenzym, while CD3 and MHC class II molecules (which are involved in the recognition of antigens by T cells) and LFA-1 were unaffected. These data show the efficacy of oral Phlogenzym treatment in an animal model of T cell-mediated autoimmune disease and suggest that the protective effect might be the result of an increase in the activation threshold of the autoreactive T lymphocytes brought about by the cleavage of accessory molecules involved in the interaction of T cells and antigen presenting cells.

• Authors: O S Targoni, M Tary-Lehmann, P V Lehmann
• Journal: Journal of autoimmunity (J Autoimmun) Vol. 12 Issue 3 Pg. 191-8 (May 1999) ISSN: 0896-8411 [Print] England
• PMID: 10222028 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Chemical References

• Autoantigens
• Drug Combinations
• Interleukin-5
• Myelin Proteolipid Protein
• Peptide Fragments
• Phlogenzym
• myelin proteolipid protein (139-151)
• Interleukin-4
• Rutin
• Interferon-gamma
• Bromelains
• Trypsin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Autoantigens (immunology)
• Bromelains (therapeutic use)
• Drug Combinations
• Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental (drug therapy)
• Female
• Interferon-gamma (biosynthesis)
• Interleukin-4 (biosynthesis)
• Interleukin-5 (biosynthesis)
• Mice
• Multiple Sclerosis (drug therapy)
• Myelin Proteolipid Protein (immunology)
• Peptide Fragments (immunology)
• Rutin (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Th1 Cells (immunology)
• Th2 Cells (immunology)
• Trypsin (therapeutic use)