Open AccessMacrophages in T cell line‐mediated, demyelinating, and chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats
Author(s) -
HUITINGA I.,
RUULS S. R.,
JUNG S.,
ROOIJEN N.,
HARTUNG H. P.,
DIJKSTRA C. D.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1995.tb03675.x
Subject(s) - experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis , encephalomyelitis , myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein , myelin , immunology , multiple sclerosis , myelin basic protein , macrophage , t cell , medicine , central nervous system , biology , immune system , endocrinology , in vitro , biochemistry
SUMMARY About 50% of the mononuclear cells in the perivascular lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) of rats suffering from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) are blood‐borne macrophages. In this study we investigated the role of these macrophages in different variants of EAE, using a liposome‐mediated macrophage depletion technique. Intravenously injected liposomes containing dichloromethylene diphosphonate (C1 2 MDP) are ingested by macrophages and cause temporary and selective elimination of these cells. Macrophage depletion during EAE induced by a T cell line specific for myelin basic protein (MBP; T cell‐EAE) suppresses development of neurological signs of EAE. T cell‐EAE with pronounced demyelination as induced by an additionally injected MoAb directed against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) was also significantly ameliorated after macrophage depletion. During chronic relapsing EAE (CR‐EAE) the occurrence of relapses was prevented or suppressed, provided that the liposomes were injected before the initiation of a putative relapse. A chronic progressive course of CR‐EAE was not modified by CI 2 MDP containing liposome treatment. Histologic examination of the CNS of liposome‐treated animals confirmed decreased infiltration of macrophages into the parenchyma in the rats with T cell and AD‐EAE, whereas T cells were still present.