The cytokine signature of MOG-specific CD4 cells in the EAE of C57BL/6 mice

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 170; no. 1; pp. 105 - 114
• Main Authors: Hofstetter, Harald H., Karulin, Alexey Y., Forsthuber, Thomas G., Ott, Patrick A., Tary-Lehmann, Magdalena, Lehmann, Paul V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 30-12-2005
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen-Presenting Cells - metabolism; Autoimmunity; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - immunology; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - metabolism; Epitopes; Glycoproteins - immunology; Immunologic Memory; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin-12 - deficiency; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-4 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-4 - blood; Interleukin-4 - deficiency; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-6 - deficiency; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Myelin Proteins; Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein - immunology; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; Neuroimmunology; Peptide Fragments - immunology; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - metabolism; T cells; Autoimmunity; proteolipid protein; MOG; Cytokines; multiple sclerosis; MS; dLN; EAE; myelin basic protein; T cells; Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis; draining lymph node; PLP; MBP; myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; Neuroimmunology
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.09.004

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis. While EAE is mediated by the cytokines produced by specific T cells, the cytokine signature of these effector cells is unresolved. We tested CD4 cells from MOG peptide 35–55 immunized C57BL/6 mice for their peptide induced cytokine production on antigen presenting cells of the respective cytokine knockout mice, or wild type mice. IL-4 and IL-6 production was seen on wild type antigen presenting cells, suggesting that IL-4 and IL-6 are not T cell products. In contrast, IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-3 were found to be produced by the MOG specific CD4 cells. Understanding the cognate vs. bystander cytokine production in EAE might help dissect the contribution of cytokines to the pathogenesis of the disease.