TY - JOUR
T1 - IFN-α treatment suppresses the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis
AU - Shenoy, Mohan
AU - Baron, Samuel
AU - Wu, Bo
AU - Goluszko, Elzbieta
AU - Christadoss, Premkumar
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an Ab-mediated autoimmune neuromuscular disease and is linked to MHC class II β-chain polymorphism. Corticosteroids and azathioprine are the primary immunosuppressive drugs used in the treatment of MG. These drugs have significant side effects and have limited efficacy. Therefore, drugs with fewer side effects and greater efficacy are being sought. IFN-α is a potent immunomodulator and has been shown to down- regulate MHC class II expression on lymphoid cells. MHC class II expression is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Because of the immunomodulating effects of IFN-α and its effect on the MHC class II expression, we tested the therapeutic efficacy of IFN-α on EAMG induced by immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in CFA. IFN- α (105 IU three times weekly for 5 wk) treatment started 1 wk after the second immunization with AChR in CFA, when autoimmunity to AChR is well established, reduced the incidence of clinical EAMG by more than 50% in two separate experiments (p = 0.04 and 0.008). Therefore, IFN-α could be a potential agent for the control of MG, and other Ab-mediated autoimmune diseases.
AB - Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an Ab-mediated autoimmune neuromuscular disease and is linked to MHC class II β-chain polymorphism. Corticosteroids and azathioprine are the primary immunosuppressive drugs used in the treatment of MG. These drugs have significant side effects and have limited efficacy. Therefore, drugs with fewer side effects and greater efficacy are being sought. IFN-α is a potent immunomodulator and has been shown to down- regulate MHC class II expression on lymphoid cells. MHC class II expression is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Because of the immunomodulating effects of IFN-α and its effect on the MHC class II expression, we tested the therapeutic efficacy of IFN-α on EAMG induced by immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in CFA. IFN- α (105 IU three times weekly for 5 wk) treatment started 1 wk after the second immunization with AChR in CFA, when autoimmunity to AChR is well established, reduced the incidence of clinical EAMG by more than 50% in two separate experiments (p = 0.04 and 0.008). Therefore, IFN-α could be a potential agent for the control of MG, and other Ab-mediated autoimmune diseases.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 7751658
AN - SCOPUS:0029039293
SN - 0022-1767
VL - 154
SP - 6203
EP - 6208
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
IS - 11
ER -