Analysis of the cellular mechanism underlying inhibition of EAE after treatment with anti-NKG2A F(ab')2

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Feb 9;107(6):2562-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0914732107. Epub 2010 Jan 21.

Abstract

Autoimmune encephalomyelitis may be ameliorated experimentally by enhancing NK cell-mediated elimination of activated autoreactive T cells through a mutation that interrupts the interaction between Qa-1(b) and CD94/NKG2A. Here we evaluate the ability of an anti-NKG2A F(ab')(2) Ab to enhance elimination of autoreactive T cells and reduce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Anti-NKG2A F(ab')(2) treatment diminishes progression of both myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced EAE in intact C57BL/6 mice and after adoptive transfer of disease-causing T cells. Analyses of the underlying mechanism revealed that administration of anti-NKG2A F(ab')(2) Ab reduces CD4(+) T recall responses to MOG and skews the proportion of IL-17- and IFNgamma-producing CD4(+) T cells toward the protective IL-4- and IL-10-secreting CD4(+) T cell subpopulations. CD94/NKG2A-dependent inhibition of inflammatory damage to spinal cord is associated with decreased infiltration of T cells and reduced microglia activation in the central nervous system. Because anti-NKG2A F(ab')(2) treatment had no detectable effect on the numbers or activity of T and B lymphocytes and NK cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues, this anti-NKG2A-based approach may represent a safe and effective therapy for this CNS disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System / drug effects
  • Central Nervous System / immunology
  • Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / immunology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / therapy*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / chemistry
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / immunology
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / immunology*
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Interleukin-17
  • Mog protein, mouse
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma