Myelin basic protein–specific T helper 2 (Th2) cells cause experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in immunodeficient hosts rather than protect them from the …

JJ Lafaille, FV Keere, AL Hsu, JL Baron… - The Journal of …, 1997 - rupress.org
JJ Lafaille, FV Keere, AL Hsu, JL Baron, W Haas, CS Raine, S Tonegawa
The Journal of experimental medicine, 1997rupress.org
Chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and
rheumatoid arthritis are caused by CD4+ Th1 cells. Because Th2 cells antagonize Th1 cell
functions in several ways, it is believed that immune deviation towards Th2 can prevent or
cure autoimmune diseases. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a
demyelinating disease used as a model for multiple sclerosis. Using an adoptive transfer
system we assessed the role of Th1 and Th2 cells in EAE. In vitro generated Th1 and Th2 …
Chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis are caused by CD4+ Th1 cells. Because Th2 cells antagonize Th1 cell functions in several ways, it is believed that immune deviation towards Th2 can prevent or cure autoimmune diseases. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a demyelinating disease used as a model for multiple sclerosis. Using an adoptive transfer system we assessed the role of Th1 and Th2 cells in EAE. In vitro generated Th1 and Th2 cells from myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific TCR transgenic mice were transferred into normal and immunodeficient mice. Th1 cells caused EAE in all recipients after a brief preclinical phase. Surprisingly, Th2 cells also caused EAE in RAG-1 KO mice and in αβ T cell–deficient mice, albeit after a longer preclinical phase. Normal or γδ T cell–deficient mice were resistant to EAE induced by Th2 cells. The histopathological features of this disease resembled those of an allergic process. In addition, disease induction by Th1 cells was not altered by coadmininstration of Th2 cells in any of the recipients. These findings indicate that MBP-specific Th2 cells have the potential to induce EAE and that the disease induced by previously activated Th1 cells cannot be prevented by normal lymphocytes nor by previously activated Th2 cells.
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