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The IFN pregnancy recognition hormone IFN-tau blocks both development and superantigen reactivation of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis without associated toxicity.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Soos, JM; Subramaniam, PS; Hobeika, AC; Schiffenbauer, J; Johnson, HM
Published in: J Immunol
September 1, 1995

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating autoimmune disease if the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, the type I IFN, IFN-beta-1b was demonstrated to be a useful immunotherapy for MS. During treatment with IFN-beta-1b, toxicity at higher doses has been observed. IFN-tau, discovered for its role in the reproductive cycle, possesses all of the functions normally ascribed to the type I IFNs but lacks the toxicity normally associate with IFN treatment in vitro. We have examined the effects of IFN-tau treatment on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model useful for the study of MS. EAE is a model of Ag-induced autoimmunity that can be modulated by bacterial superantigen to resemble the relapsing-remitting pattern of autoimmune disease observed in MS. IFN-tau was able to prevent development of EAE as effectively as IFN-beta but without associated toxicity such as lymphocyte suppression and weight loss. In addition, IFN-tau was able to prevent superantigen reactivation of EAE akin to the reduction in disease exacerbations observed in IFN-beta-1b treated MS patients. Mechanisms by which IFN-tau may prevent EAE include reduced proliferation in response to the autoantigen myelin basic protein and reduced TNF-alpha production. Thus, IFN-tau may prove to be a promising new IFN therapy for MS in light of its ability to prevent EAE and the lack of toxicity exhibited by this novel IFN.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Immunol

ISSN

0022-1767

Publication Date

September 1, 1995

Volume

155

Issue

5

Start / End Page

2747 / 2753

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets
  • Superantigens
  • Sheep
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice
  • Lymphocyte Activation
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM

Published In

J Immunol

ISSN

0022-1767

Publication Date

September 1, 1995

Volume

155

Issue

5

Start / End Page

2747 / 2753

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets
  • Superantigens
  • Sheep
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice
  • Lymphocyte Activation