Studies from Harvard University, Center for Neurologic Diseases describe new findings in encephalomyelitis therapy
2007 NOV 19 -- Researchers detail in 'JAGGED1 and delta1 differentially regulate the outcome of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,' new data in encephalomyelitis. "Notch signaling plays an important role during T cell development in the thymus and in T cell activation but the role of Notch in autoimmunity is not clear. We investigated the role of Jagged1 and Delta1 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis," scientists in the United States report. "During experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, Delta1 expression is up-regulated on dendritic cells and B cells after priming while Jagged1 is up-regulated only on dendritic cells. Administration of anti-Jagged1 Ab exacerbated clinical disease while that of anti-Delta1 Ab reduced the severity of the clinical disease. In contrast, administration of Jagged1-Fc protected from disease, that of Delta1-Fc exacerbated disease. Treatment with Jagged1-Fc was associated with increased IL-10-producing Ag-specific cells in the CNS, while anti-Jagged1 decreased the frequency of IL-10-producing cells. Treatment with Delta1-Fc increased Th1 cells in the CNS, while anti-Delta-1 decreased the frequency of Th1 cells. Manipulation of Delta1 or Jagged1 had no effect on the frequency of Th17 cells or FoxP3(+) cells. Moreover, Jagged1 may play a role in CNS homeostasis because murine astrocytes specifically express Jagged1 that is up-regulated by TGF-beta, whereas IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-17 decrease Jagged1 expression," wrote W. Elyaman and colleagues, Harvard University, Center for Neurologic Diseases. The researchers concluded: "Our study provides novel data about differential roles of Notch ligands in regulating inflammation in the periphery as well as in the CNS." Elyaman and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Immunology (JAGGED1 and delta1 differentially regulate the outcome of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Journal of Immunology, 2007;179(9):5990-8). For more information, contact W. Elyaman, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Boston, MA 02115 USA.. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Immunology is: American Association Immunologists, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Keywords: United States, Boston, Encephalomyelitis Therapy, Autoimmune Disease, Autoimmune Disorder, Central Nervous System Disease, Central Nervous System Infection, Encephalomyelitis, Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, Immunology, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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