Abstract |
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis, is an autoimmune disorder seen in mice and rats following immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP) or MBP-derived peptides. IFN- gamma, a cytokine produced by a variety of cells, is involved in many inflammatory and immune regulatory events. Contradictory results concerning exacerbations and the disease course were seen comparing injections of IFN-gamma in humans suffering from multiple sclerosis to studies using anti-IFN-gamma Abs in mice with EAE. To study the role of IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma-producing cells in EAE, we crossed IFN-gamma knockout mice (H-2b) (unable to produce IFN-gamma due to the disruption of the IFN-gamma gene) with an EAE-susceptible mouse strain, B10.PL (H-2u). EAE was seen in IFN-gamma knockout mice, heterozygotic (IFN-gamma +/-) mice, as well as wild-type littermates following immunization with MBP. Histologic analyses of the central nervous system of IFN-gamma knockout mice with EAE revealed massive infiltrates composed of lymphocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes. We conclude that the presence of IFN-gamma is not crucial to the induction or the clinical course of EAE.
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Authors | I A Ferber, S Brocke, C Taylor-Edwards, W Ridgway, C Dinisco, L Steinman, D Dalton, C G Fathman |
Journal | Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
(J Immunol)
Vol. 156
Issue 1
Pg. 5-7
(Jan 01 1996)
ISSN: 0022-1767 [Print] United States |
PMID | 8598493
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Disease Susceptibility
(immunology)
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental
(etiology, genetics, immunology)
- Female
- Interferon-gamma
(genetics, immunology)
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Molecular Sequence Data
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