Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0014070 (encephalomyelitis)
 13,017 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Understanding complex diseases will benefit the recognition of the properties of the gene networks that control biological functions. Here, we set out to model the gene network that controls T-cell activation in humans, which is critical for the development of autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The network was established on the basis of the quantitative expression from 104 individuals of 20 genes of the immune system, as well as on biological information from the Ingenuity database and Bayesian inference. Of the 31 links (gene interactions) identified in the network, 18 were identified in the Ingenuity database and 13 were new and we validated 7 of 8 interactions experimentally. In the MS patients network, we found an increase in the weight of gene interactions related to Th1 function and a decrease in those related to Treg and Th2 function. Indeed, we found that IFN-ss therapy induces changes in gene interactions related to T cell proliferation and adhesion, although these gene interactions were not restored to levels similar to controls. Finally, we identify JAG1 as a new therapeutic target whose differential behaviour in the MS network was not modified by immunomodulatory therapy. In vitro treatment with a Jagged1 agonist peptide modulated the T-cell activation network in PBMCs from patients with MS. Moreover, treatment of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with the Jagged1 agonist ameliorated the disease course, and modulated Th2, Th1 and Treg function. This study illustrates how network analysis can predict therapeutic targets for immune intervention and identified the immunomodulatory properties of Jagged1 making it a new therapeutic target for MS and other autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:A network analysis of the human T-cell activation gene network identifies JAGGED1 as a therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. 1803 Mar 50

Interferon-tau (IFN-tau) is a type I IFN originally discovered for its role as a pregnancy recognition hormone in ruminant animals such as sheep and cows. IFN-tau possesses all of the biological properties ascribed to the other type I IFNs including antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory activities. However, IFN-tau differs in that it is relatively nontoxic to cells at high concentrations as compared to the toxicity normally associated with IFNs-alpha and -beta and the type II IFN, IFN-gamma. IFN-tau was examined for its ability to prevent the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS), in humans. IFN-tau prevents development of EAE as effectively as IFN-beta, a type I IFN currently being used for the treatment of MS. Unlike IFN-beta, however, IFN-tau treated mice did not develop leucopenia or experience bodyweight loss indicative of toxicity. Superantigens can induce relapses in EAE, similar to those that are observed in patients with relapsing-remitting MS; IFN-tau blocks superantigen reactivation of EAE. The inhibitory effect of IFN-tau on induction of EAE and reactivation by superantigen involves suppression of myelin basic protein and superantigen activation of T cells as well as suppressed induction of inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha. In addition, IFN-tau has been shown to reduce immunologically mediated spontaneous fetal resorption. Thus, IFN-tau has considerable potential for treatment of autoimmune and immunologically mediated disorders, including MS.
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PMID:Interferon-tau: prospects for clinical use in autoimmune disorders. 1803 Nov 21

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common human inflammatory, demyelinating and degenerative disorder of the CNS. Based mostly on work in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, CD4(+) T cells were long thought to play the crucial role in MS pathogenesis. Only more recently has it been recognized that other effector cell types, including CD8(+) T cells, gammadelta-T cells and B lymphocytes may also have an important role in disease initiation and perpetuation. The expression of soluble inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and free radicals, may be one of the late pathways mediating CNS tissue damage. In addition, in virtually all patients with MS, an oligoclonal banding pattern of antibodies can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, the cause of MS still remains unknown. Specifically, no single foreign or self antigen has been identified to account for clinical disease activity or the presence of surrogate disease markers. All approved pharmacotherapies have anti-inflammatory or immunoregulatory properties and work in early stages of the disease. In a recent clinical trial, BHT-3009, a DNA vaccine encoding full-length human myelin basic protein, was tested in patient with MS. BHT-3009 was safe and well tolerated. In addition, immunization with BHT-3009 induced anti-inflammatory antigen-specific immune changes consisting of a marked decrease in T-cell proliferation of IFN gamma production and a reduction in titers of myelin-specific autoantibodies in the CSF. This review will discuss these intriguing observations and the overall potential of DNA vaccination in MS.
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PMID:DNA-based vaccines: the future of multiple sclerosis therapy? 1834 67

MHC variant peptides are analogues of immunogenic peptides involving alterations of the MHC-binding residues, thereby altering the affinity of the peptide for the MHC molecule. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that immunization of WT B6 mice with 45D, a low-affinity MHC variant peptide of MOG(35-55), results in significantly attenuated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), yet IFN-gamma production is comparable to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)(35-55)-immunized mice. In light of these findings, we asked whether IFN-gamma was required for the reduced encephalitogenicity of the weak ligand 45D in EAE. In this study, we report that immunization of mice deficient in IFN-gamma or its receptor with 45D exhibit significant EAE signs compared with 45D-immunized wild-type B6 mice. Moreover, 45D-immunized IFN-gamma(-/-) and IFN-gammaR(-/-) mice demonstrate MOG tetramer-positive CD4(+) T cells within the CNS and display substantial numbers of MOG-specific CD4(+) T cells in the periphery. In contrast, wild-type mice immunized with 45D exhibit reduced numbers of MOG-specific CD4(+) T cells in the periphery and lack MOG tetramer- positive CD4(+) T cells in the CNS. Importantly, the increased encephalitogenicity of 45D in mice lacking IFN-gamma or IFN-gammaR was not due to deviation toward an enhanced IL-17-secreting phenotype. These findings demonstrate that IFN-gamma significantly attenuates the encephalitogenicity of 45D and are the first to highlight the importance of IFN-gamma signaling in setting the threshold level of responsiveness of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells to weak ligands.
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PMID:Loss of IFN-gamma enables the expansion of autoreactive CD4+ T cells to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by a nonencephalitogenic myelin variant antigen. 1835 66

The action of type I interferons in the central nervous system (CNS) during autoimmunity is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate elevated interferon beta concentrations in the CNS, but not blood, of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for CNS autoimmunity. Furthermore, mice devoid of the broadly expressed type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) developed exacerbated clinical disease accompanied by a markedly higher inflammation, demyelination, and lethality without shifting the T helper 17 (Th17) or Th1 cell immune response. Whereas adoptive transfer of encephalitogenic T cells led to enhanced disease in Ifnar1(-/-) mice, newly created conditional mice with B or T lymphocyte-specific IFNAR ablation showed normal EAE. The engagement of IFNAR on neuroectodermal CNS cells had no protective effect. In contrast, absence of IFNAR on myeloid cells led to severe disease with an enhanced effector phase and increased lethality, indicating a distinct protective function of type I IFNs during autoimmune inflammation of the CNS.
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PMID:Distinct and nonredundant in vivo functions of IFNAR on myeloid cells limit autoimmunity in the central nervous system. 1848 63

Mechanisms that prevent inappropriate or excessive interleukin-17-producing T helper (Th17) cell responses after microbial infection may be necessary to avoid autoimmunity. Here, we define a pathway initiated by engagement of type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) expressed by dendritic cells (DC) that culminated in suppression of Th17 cell differentiation. IFNAR-dependent inhibition of an intracellular translational isoform of Osteopontin, termed Opn-i, derepressed interleukin-27 (IL-27) secretion and prevented efficient Th17 responses. Moreover, Opn-i expression in DC and microglia regulated the type and intensity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Mice containing DC deficient in Opn-i produced excessive amounts of IL-27 and developed a delayed disease characterized by an enhanced Th1 response compared with the dominant Th17 response of Opn-sufficient mice. Definition of the IFNAR-Opn-i axis that controls Th17 development provides insight into regulation of Th cell sublineage development and the molecular basis of type I interferon therapy for MS and other autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:Engagement of the type I interferon receptor on dendritic cells inhibits T helper 17 cell development: role of intracellular osteopontin. 1861 69

Disease progression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is regulated by programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligands, B7-H1 (programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)) and B7-DC (PD-L2). B7-H1 and B7-DC have negative regulatory effects upon binding PD-1 on activated T cells and B7-H1 deficiency increases severity of both diabetes and EAE. However, the role of PD-L expression on different APC in the CNS in regulating local T-cell function during relapsing EAE has not been examined. Our data show that the majority of CNS CD4+ T cells isolated during acute EAE are PD-1+, and T cells specific for relapse-associated epitopes express PD-1 upon antigen stimulation in the CNS. B7-H1 and B7-DC are differentially expressed on discrete APC populations in the inflamed CNS. B7-H1 and PD-1 have mainly inhibitory functions on CNS T cells. B7-H1 negatively regulates the stimulation of activated PD-1+ T(H) cells, in co-cultures with microglia and different CNS-infiltrating APC presenting endogenously processed peptides. The preponderance of IFN-gamma+ versus IL-17+ T cells in the CNS of B7-H1(-/-) mice suggests that B7-H1 more selectively suppresses T(H)-1 than T(H)-17 responses in vivo. In contrast, blockade of B7-DC has less pronounced regulatory effects. Overall, the results demonstrate that B7-H1 expressed by CNS myeloid APC negatively regulates T-cell activation during acute relapsing EAE.
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PMID:PD-1 ligands expressed on myeloid-derived APC in the CNS regulate T-cell responses in EAE. 1882 52

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of Multiple Sclerosis, is induced after injection of PLP(139-151) myelin peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant into SJL/J mice. During EAE, T cells and macrophages infiltrate the brain, produce cytokines IL-17, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, or IL-6, and bring about autoimmune neuroinflammation. However, infiltrating T cells which simultaneously produce IL-17 and IL-10 or infiltrating CD4(-) NKT cells that produce IFN-gamma protect against EAE. Resveratrol, a plant polyphenol, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. To determine if resveratrol can relieve EAE, SJL/J mice were administered diets enriched in resveratrol at EAE injection. EAE symptoms were significantly less compared with controls in mice fed resveratrol. At day 56 of EAE, splenic T cells from mice fed 0%, 0.04% or 0.08% resveratrol that were restimulated with PLP(139-151) produced similar levels while splenic T cells from mice fed 0.02% resveratrol produced significantly higher levels of IL-17, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha. At peak EAE (day 14), mice fed resveratrol had higher numbers of IL-17+ T cells, IL-17+/IL-10+ T cells, and CD4(-)IFN-gamma+ cells in the brain and spleen compared with controls. Adoptive transfer of day 14 EAE encephalogenic T cells into mice fed resveratrol reduced the severity of EAE. In addition, resveratrol directly suppressed expression of IL-6 and IL-12/23 p40 but increased expression of IL-12 p35 and IL-23 p19 from macrophages. Therefore resveratrol protection against EAE is not associated with declines in IL-17+ T cells but is associated with rises in IL-17+/IL-10+ T cells and CD4(-)IFN-gamma+ and with repressed macrophage IL-6 and IL-12/23 p40 expression.
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PMID:Decreased severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis during resveratrol administration is associated with increased IL-17+IL-10+ T cells, CD4(-) IFN-gamma+ cells, and decreased macrophage IL-6 expression. 1902 3

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a human CNS autoimmune demyelinating disease. Epidemiological evidence has suggested a role for virus infection in the initiation and/or exacerbation of MS. Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced demyelinating disease serves as a relevant mouse model for MS. TMEV-infected mice develop a demyelinating disease with clinical symptoms beginning around 35 days after infection, which is associated with development of myelin-specific, PLP(139-151), CD4(+) T cell responses. Viruses have been suggested to initiate autoimmune disease through bystander activation of immune cells or through bystander damage to tissue during infection. We examined the effect of the innate immune response on development of autoimmune demyelinating disease by altering the innate immune response through administration of innate immune cytokines, IFN-alpha or IFN-beta, or antiserum against the type I IFNs during the innate immune response to TMEV. Administration of IFN-beta, but not IFN-alpha, to TMEV- infected mice led to reduced myelin-specific CD4(+) T cell responses and reduced demyelinating disease, which was associated with decreased immune cell infiltration into the CNS and increased expression of IL-10 in the CNS. Conversely, administration of antiserum to IFN-beta led to a more severe demyelinating disease. In addition, administration of poly(I:C), which is an innate immune agonist, to TMEV-infected mice during the innate immune response resulted in decreased myelin-specific CD4(+) T cell responses and reduced demyelinating disease. These results demonstrate that activating or enhancing the innate immune response can reduce the subsequent initiation and progression of the autoimmune response and demyelinating disease.
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PMID:The innate immune response affects the development of the autoimmune response in Theiler's virus-induced demyelinating disease. 1938 Aug 18

IL-17-producing CD4(+) T (Th17) cells are pathogenic in many autoimmune diseases. The induction and expansion of Th17 cells is directed by cytokines, including IL-23 and IL-1beta, produced by innate immune cells through activation of pathogen recognition receptors. The NF-kappaB and IFN regulatory factor families of transcriptional factors mediate IL-12 production; however, distinct signaling pathways appear to be required for IL-23 production. In this study, we show that inhibition of ERK MAPK suppressed IL-23 and IL-1beta production by dendritic cells stimulated with TLR or dectin-1 agonists but did not affect IL-12p70 production. Furthermore, an ERK inhibitor suppressed the ability of Ag-pulsed TLR-activated dendritic cells to induce Ag-specific Th17 cells in vivo, but interestingly also inhibited the induction of Th1 cells. Treatment with an ERK inhibitor attenuated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), when administered either at the induction phase of acute EAE or during remission in the relapsing-remitting EAE model. This was associated with significant suppression of autoantigen-specific Th17 and Th1 responses. The suppressive effect of the ERK inhibitor on attenuation of EAE was reversed by administration of IL-1beta and IL-23. Our findings suggest that ERK MAPK plays a critical and hitherto undescribed role in activating innate production of IL-23 and IL-1beta, which promote pathogenic T cell responses, and therefore represents an important target for therapeutic intervention against autoimmune diseases.
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PMID:Inhibition of ERK MAPK suppresses IL-23- and IL-1-driven IL-17 production and attenuates autoimmune disease. 1957 Aug 28


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