• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.116-125
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• 2001

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) production has been described as a double-edged sword eliciting both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in different immune reactions. This work was undertaken to investigate the immunoregulatory role of NO in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and experimental allergic uveitis (EAU). Method: We examined whether molsidomine (MSDM), a NO donor, administration to the myelin basic protein (MBP)- or interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP)-immunized rats could suppress EAE development by shifting toward the Th2 cytokine response. In the EAE experiments, the rats were treated orally with MSDM (10 mg/kg/day) at the early stage (-1~4 days) or throughout the experimental period (-1~15 days). Results: This resulted in significant amelioration of the disease and mild clinical symptoms, while MBP-immunization without MSDM administration showed severe EAE development. A marked reduction in inflammation was also observed in the spinal cord, indicating the crucial role of NO in the pathogenesis of EAE in in vivo. In the EAU experiments, a 24 h pre-treatment with MSDM prior to IRBP immunization resulted in significant inhibition of the disease. Furthermore, MSDM administration for 2 1 days completely reduced the incidence and severity of EAU. To investigate whether MSDM could modulate cytokine switching from Th 1 to Th2, culture supernatants of MBP- or IRBP-stimulated inguinal lymphocytes were analyzed. MSDM treatment enhanced IL-10 secretion but decreased IFN-${\gamma}$. IL-4 was undetectable in all groups. In contrast, the MBP-or IRBP-immunized rats without MSDM secreted high concentrations of IFN-${\gamma}$, but low concentrations of IL-10. Conclusion: In conclusion, NO administation suppresses EAE and EAU by modulating the Th1/Th2 balance during inflammatory immune responses. This work further suggests that NO may be useful in the therapeutic control of autoimmune disease.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.534-539
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• 2021

IL-10⁺ regulatory B (Breg) cells play a vital role in regulating the immune responses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, colitis, and contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Several stimulants such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), CD40 ligand, and IL-21 spur the activation and maturation of IL-10⁺ Breg cells, while the epigenetic mechanism for the IL-10 expression remains largely unknown. It is well accepted that the histone acetylation/deacetylation is an important mechanism that regulates the expression of IL-10. We found that entinostat, an HDAC inhibitor, stimulated the induction of IL-10⁺ Breg cells by LPS in vitro and the formation of IL-10⁺ Breg cells to suppress CHS in vivo. We further demonstrated that entinostat inhibited HDAC1 from binding to the proximal region of the IL-10 expression promoter in splenic B cells, followed by an increase in the binding of NF-κB p65, eventually enhancing the expression of IL-10 in Breg cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2003

Background: CTLA4 (CD152), which is expressed on the surface of T cells following activation, has a much higher affinity for B7 molecules comparing to CD28, and is a negative regulator of T cell activation. In contrast to stimulating and agonistic capabilities of monoclonal antibodies specific to CTLA-4, CTLA4Ig fusion protein appears to act as CD28 antagonist and inhibits in vitro and in vivo T cell priming in variety of immunological conditions. We've set out to confirm whether inhibition of the CD28-B7 costimulatory response using a soluble form of human CTLA4Ig fusion protein would lead to persistent inhibition of alloreactive T cell activation. Methods: We have used CHO-$dhfr^-$ cell-line to produce CTLA4Ig fusion protein. After serum free culture of transfected cell line we purified this recombinant molecule by using protein A column. To confirm characterization of fusion protein, we carried out a series of Western blot, SDS-PAGE and silver staining analyses. We have also investigated the efficacy of CTLA4Ig in vitro such as mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) & cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response and in vivo such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), graft versus host disease (GVHD) and skin-graft whether this fusion protein could inhibit alloreactive T cell activation and lead to immunosuppression of activated T cell. Results: In vitro assay, CTLA4Ig fusion protein inhibited immune response in T cell-specific manner: 1) Human CTLA4Ig inhibited allogeneic stimulation in murine MLR; 2) CTLA4Ig prevented the specific killing activity of CTL. In vivo assay, human CTLA4Ig revealed the capacities to induce alloantigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in mouse model: 1) GVHD was efficiently blocked by dose-dependent manner; 2) Clinical score of EAE was significantly decreased compared to nomal control; 3) The time of skin-graft rejection was not different between CTLA4Ig treated and control group. Conclusion: Human CTLA4Ig suppress the T cell-mediated immune response and efficiently inhibit the EAE, GVHD in mouse model. The mechanism of T cell suppression by human CTLA4Ig fusion protein may be originated from the suppression of activity of cytotoxic T cell. Human CTLA4Ig could not suppress the rejection in mouse skin-graft, this finding suggests that other mechanism except the suppression of cytotoxic T cell may exist on the suppression of graft rejection.