Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Cutting Edge: Cd4+Cd25+ Regulatory T Cells Contribute To Gender Differences In Susceptibility To Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, Jay Reddy, Hanspeter Waldner, Xingmin Zhang, Zsolt Illes, Kai W. Wucherpfennig, Raymond A. Sobel, Vijay K. Kuchroo

Jay Reddy Publications

Female B10.S mice are highly resistant to proteolipid protein (PLP) 139–151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and depletion of PLP 139–151- reactive CD4+CD25+regulatory T (Treg) cells can slightly increase their EAE susceptibility. Although male B10.S mice are moderately susceptible to EAE, we report that depletion of Treg cells in male B10.S mice before immunization with PLP 139–151 renders them highly susceptible to severe EAE with more CNS neutrophil infiltrates than nondepleted controls. Increased susceptibility is associated with an enhanced PLP 139–151-specific T cell response and greater production of IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17. Male CD4+CD25+ effector cells depleted of Treg cells proliferate …