Dendritic cells exposed in vitro to TGF- beta 1 ameliorate experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) is an animal model for human myasthenia gravis (MG), characterized by an autoaggressive T-cell-dependent antibody-mediated immune response directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of the neuromuscular junction. Dendritic cells (DC) are uniqu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical and experimental immunology 2002-02, Vol.127 (2), p.214-219
Main Authors: Yarilin, D, Duan, R, Huang, Y, Xiao, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acetylcholine receptors
transforming growth factor-^b1
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Summary:Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) is an animal model for human myasthenia gravis (MG), characterized by an autoaggressive T-cell-dependent antibody-mediated immune response directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of the neuromuscular junction. Dendritic cells (DC) are unique antigen-presenting cells which control T- and B-cell functions and induce immunity or tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that DC exposed to TGF- beta 1 in vitro mediate protection against EAMG. Freshly prepared DC from spleen of healthy rats were exposed to TGF- beta 1 in vitro for 48 h, and administered subcutaneously to Lewis rats (2 x 10 super(6)DC/rat) on day 5 post immunization with AChR in Freund's complete adjuvant. Control EAMG rats were injected in parallel with untreated DC (naive DC) or PBS. Lewis rats receiving TGF- beta 1-exposed DC developed very mild symptoms of EAMG without loss of body weight compared with control EAMG rats receiving naive DC or PBS. This effect of TGF- beta 1-exposed DC was associated with augmented spontaneous and AChR-induced proliferation, IFN- gamma and NO production, and decreased levels of anti-AChR antibody-secreting cells. Autologous DC exposed in vitro to TGF- beta 1 could represent a new opportunity for DC-based immunotherapy of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.
ISSN:0009-9104
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.01748.x