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Regulatory T cell–based immunotherapies in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis
Author(s) -
Souroujon Miriam C.,
Aricha Revital,
Feferman Tali,
Mizrachi Keren,
Reuveni Debby,
Fuchs Sara
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06844.x
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , immunology , t cell , immunotherapy , autoimmune disease , medicine , autoimmunity , antibody , immune system
Establishment of tolerance in myasthenia gravis (MG) involves regulatory T (T reg ) cells. Experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) in rats is a suitable model for assessing the contribution of T reg cells to the immunopathology of the disease and for testing novel T reg cell–based treatment modalities. We have studied two immunotherapeutic approaches for targeting of T reg cells in myasthenia. By one approach we demonstrated that treatment of sick rats by ex vivo –generated exogenous T reg cells derived from healthy donors suppressed EAMG. By a different approach, we aimed at affecting the endogenous T reg /Th17 cell balance by targeting IL‐6, which has a key role in controlling the equilibrium between pathogenic Th17 and suppressive T reg cells. We found that treatment of myasthenic rats by neutralizing anti‐IL‐6 antibodies shifted this equilibrium in favor of T reg cells and led to suppression of EAMG. Our results show that T reg cells could serve as potential targets in treating MG patients.