Induction of relapsing paralysis in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by bacterial superantigen (original) (raw)

Nature volume 365, pages 642–644 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

THE role of infection in the pathogenesis of clinical relapses that occur in most autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, remains to be established1,2. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) serves as a model for multiple sclerosis, with episodes of relapsing paralysis3–9. In certain strains of mice, T-lym-phocytes expressing the V/β8 T-cell receptor (TCR)6–8 engage the amino-terminal epitope Ac 1–11 of myelin basic protein, leading to EAE. The bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) activates V/β8-expressing T cells. Here we show that after immunization with Ac 1–11, or after transfer of encephalitogenic T-cell lines or clones reactive to Acl-11, SEB induces exacerbation or relapses of paralytic disease in mice that are in clinical remission following an initial episode of paralysis, and triggers paralysis in mice with subclinical disease. Tumour necrosis factor has a critical role in the mechanism underlying SEB-induced exacerbation of disease, because anti-tumour necrosis factor antibody given in vivo delays the onset of paralysis triggered by SEB. On reactivation of autoaggressive cells through their T-cell receptor, superantigens may induce clinical relapses of autoimmune disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305, USA
    Stefan Brocke, Christopher Piercy, Anand Gautam, Koenraad Gijbels & Lawrence Steinman
  2. Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305, USA
    Amitabh Gaur & C. Garrison Fathman

Authors

  1. Stefan Brocke
  2. Amitabh Gaur
  3. Christopher Piercy
  4. Anand Gautam
  5. Koenraad Gijbels
  6. C. Garrison Fathman
  7. Lawrence Steinman

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Brocke, S., Gaur, A., Piercy, C. et al. Induction of relapsing paralysis in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by bacterial superantigen.Nature 365, 642–644 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/365642a0

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