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Protection Against Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis Is Mediated By Interleukin-10-Producing T Cells That Are Controlled By Dendritic Cells, Ya Li, Janet S. Heuser, Stanley D. Kosanke, Mark E. Hemric, Madeleine W. Cunningham

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) can be induced in the Lewis rat by cardiac myosin or its cryptic S2-16 peptide epitope (amino acids1052 to 1076). To investigate cellular mechanisms and the role of antigen-presenting cells in regulation of myocarditis, we induced protection against EAM in Lewis rats by administration of S2-16 peptide in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA). Protection to EAM was associated with activation of S2-16-reactive splenocytes secreting high levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and reduced levels of interferon- and IL-2. Adoptive transfer of S2-16:IFA-induced splenocytes producing IL-10 suppressed myocarditis induction in syngeneic recipients, suggesting their regulatory cell nature. However, exposure of …