Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein-specific T Cell Receptor Transgenic Mice Develop Spontaneous Autoimmune Optic Neuritis

Overview

Journal J Exp Med

Specialties Allergy & Immunology
General Medicine

Date 2003 May 7

PMID 12732654

Citations 409

Authors

Estelle Bettelli

Maria Pagany

Howard L Weiner

Christopher Linington

Raymond A Sobel

Vijay K Kuchroo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered to be an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that in many patients first presents clinically as optic neuritis. The relationship of optic neuritis to MS is not well understood. We have generated novel T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice specific for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). MOG-specific transgenic T cells are not deleted nor tolerized and are functionally competent. A large proportion (>30%) of MOG-specific TCR transgenic mice spontaneously develop isolated optic neuritis without any clinical nor histological evidence of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Optic neuritis without EAE could also be induced in these mice by sensitization with suboptimal doses of MOG. The predilection of these mice to develop optic neuritis is associated with higher expression of MOG in the optic nerve than in the spinal cord. These results demonstrate that clinical manifestations of CNS autoimmune disease will vary depending on the identity of the target autoantigen and that MOG-specific T cell responses are involved in the genesis of isolated optic neuritis.

Citing Articles

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