Biomedical subjects

Michael Afentoulis

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Afentoulis.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Association of CD45(dim)VLA-4 (+) cells with the NKT cell lineage and their selective expression of IL-13, IP-15, and CCR3 transcripts.

INTRODUCTION: Estrogen (E2) was shown to prevent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and to produce a novel population of regulatory CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells. Although their appearance was dependent upon an elevated hormonal level, E2 was not required for their production, as they also were induced by immunization with Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a component of complete Freund's adjuvant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Molecular techniques, including ribonuclease protection assays and quantitative RT-PCR, were used to provide further characterization of CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells. Moreover, we determined the developmental requirements of the CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells using genetically modified mice and extensive flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: Characterization of CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) mRNA profile revealed highly elevated levels of CD16, CD44, CCR3, IP-15, and IL-13 transcripts compared with their CD45(high)VLA-4(+) counterparts. Furthermore, we found up-regulation of anti-apoptotic bcl-w and bcl-xl genes and transcripts encoding the TCRalpha and CD8alpha homodimer. The production of CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells was evident in nude mice and in MHC class II- and beta2-microglobulin, but not in CD1-deficient mice, suggesting a crucial role for CD1 in their induction. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells might resemble natural killer T cells and imply possible roles for IL-13 and IP-15 in the protective function of CD45(dim)VLA-4(+) cells. A better understanding of how these cells, also occurring naturally during pregnancy, suppress the harmful immune response of EAE may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to combat multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Treatment of passive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in SJL mice with a recombinant TCR ligand induces IL-13 and prevents axonal injury.

The major goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of a rTCR ligand (RTL) construct (I-A(s)/proteolipid protein (PLP)-139-151 peptide = RTL401) for treatment of SJL/J mice developing passive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that did not involve coimmunization with the highly inflammatory CFA. Our results demonstrated clearly that RTL401 was highly effective in treating passive EAE, with kinetics of recovery from disease very similar to treatment of actively induced EAE. The potent RTL401 treatment effect was reflected by a partial reduction of infiltrating mononuclear cells into CNS, minimal inflammatory lesions in spinal cord, and preservation of axons injured in vehicle-treated mice during the progression of EAE. Interestingly, in the absence of CFA, RTL401 treatment strongly enhanced production of the Th2 cytokine, IL-13, in spleen, blood, and spinal cord tissue, with variable effects on other Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and no significant effect on the Th3 cytokine, TGF-beta1, or on FoxP3 that is expressed by regulatory T cells. Moreover, pretreatment of PLP-139-151-specific T cells with RTL401 in vitro induced high levels of secreted IL-13, with lesser induction of other pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Given the importance of IL-13 for protection against EAE, these data strongly implicate IL-13 as a dominant regulatory cytokine induced by RTL therapy. Pronounced IL-13 levels coupled with marked reduction in IL-6 levels secreted by PLP-specific T cells from blood after treatment of mice with RTL401 indicate that IL-13 and IL-6 may be useful markers for following effects of RTL therapy in future clinical trials in multiple sclerosis.

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PubMed2005

Ethinyl estradiol treats collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1LacJ mice by inhibiting the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.

We previously demonstrated the therapeutic effects of ethinyl estradiol (EE), an orally active estrogen and a component of birth control pills, in encephalitogenic autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this study, we report the effectiveness of EE in treating collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) induced with bovine type II collagen (bCII) in DBA/1LacJ mice, a CIA susceptible strain. Both low and high doses of EE notably suppressed clinical and histological signs of CIA in a dose-dependent manner compared to vehicle-treated controls. Oral treatment with EE decreased proliferation and secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, TNF-alpha IFN-gamma, MCP-1 and IL-6 by bCII peptide-specific T cells, production of bCII-specific IgG2a antibodies, and mRNA for cytokines, chemokines and chemokine receptors in joint tissue. This is the first report demonstrating effective treatment of joint inflammation and clinical signs of CIA with orally administered ethinyl estradiol, thus supporting its possible clinical use for treating rheumatoid arthritis in humans.

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PubMed2004

Transplanted human bone marrow contributes to vascular endothelium.

Recent evidence indicates that bone marrow is a source of endothelial progenitor cells that are mobilized into the peripheral blood in response to cytokines or tissue injury. Previously, we showed that functional endothelial cells (ECs) can be clonally derived from phenotypically defined hematopoietic stem cells. To determine the EC potential of human bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells, blood vessels in sex-mismatched transplant recipients were evaluated. EC outcomes were identified by using a combination of immunohistochemistry and XY interphase FISH. Donor-derived ECs were detected in the skin and gut of transplant recipients with a mean frequency of 2% and could readily be distinguished from CD45-expressing hematopoietic stem cells. None of the >4,000 ECs examined had more than two sex chromosomes, consistent with an absence of cell fusion. Y chromosome signals were not detected in sex-matched female recipients, excluding the vertical transmission of male cells. None of the recipients evaluated before hematopoietic engraftment demonstrated donor-derived ECs, indicating a close linkage between the recovery of hematopoiesis and EC outcomes. Transplantable bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells may represent novel therapeutic targets for hematopoietic and vascular disease.

Biopsy↗

PubMed2004

Cutting edge: estrogen drives expansion of the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell compartment.

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells are crucial to the maintenance of tolerance in normal individuals. However, the factors regulating this cell population and its function are largely unknown. Estrogen has been shown to protect against the development of autoimmune disease, yet the mechanism is not known. We demonstrate that estrogen (17-beta-estradiol, E2) is capable of augmenting FoxP3 expression in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of naive mice with E2 increased both CD25(+) cell number and FoxP3 expression level. Further, the ability of E2 to protect against autoimmune disease (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis) correlated with its ability to up-regulate FoxP3, as both were reduced in estrogen receptor alpha-deficient animals. Finally, E2 treatment and pregnancy induced FoxP3 protein expression to a similar degree, suggesting that high estrogen levels during pregnancy may help to maintain fetal tolerance. In summary, our data suggest E2 promotes tolerance by expanding the regulatory T cell compartment.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

T lymphocytes do not directly mediate the protective effect of estrogen on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Gender influences mediated by 17 beta-estradiol (E2) have been associated with susceptibility to and severity of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. In this regard, we have shown that estrogen receptor-alpha (Esr1) is crucial for the protective effect of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) in murine experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. The expression of estrogen receptors among various immune cells (eg, T and B lymphocytes, antigen-presenting cells) suggests that the therapeutic effect of E2 is likely mediated directly through specific receptor binding. However, the target immune cell populations responsive to E2 treatment have not been identified. In the current study, we induced EAE in T-cell-deficient, severe combined immunodeficient mice or in immunocompetent mice with encephalitogenic T cells from wild-type Esr1+/+ or Esr1 knockout (Esr1-/-) donors and compared the protective E2 responses. The results showed that E2-responsive, Esr1+/+ disease-inducing encephalitogenic T cells were neither necessary nor sufficient for E2-mediated protection from EAE. Instead, the therapeutic response appeared to be mediated through direct effects on nonlymphocytic, E2-responsive cells and down-regulation of the inflammatory response in the central nervous system. These results provide the first demonstration that the protective effect of E2 on EAE is not mediated directly through E2-responsive T cells and raise the alternative possibility that nonlymphocytic cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, or other nonlymphocytic cells are primarily responsive to E2 treatment in EAE.

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PubMed2003

Transplanted adult hematopoietic stems cells differentiate into functional endothelial cells.

During early embryogenesis, blood vessels and hematopoietic cells arise from a common precursor cell, the hemangioblast. Recent studies have identified endothelial progenitor cells in the peripheral blood, and there is accumulating evidence that a subset of these cells is derived from precursors in the bone marrow. Here we show that adult bone marrow-derived, phenotypically defined hematopoietic stem cells (c-kit+, Sca-1+, lineage-) give rise to functional endothelial cells. With the exception of the brain, donor-derived cells are rapidly integrated into blood vessels. Durably engrafted endothelial cells express CD31, produce von Willebrand factor, and take up low-density lipoprotein. Analysis of DNA content indicates that donor-derived endothelial cells are not the products of cell fusion. Self-renewal of stem cells with hematopoietic and endothelial cell potential was revealed by serial transplantation studies. The clonal origin of both hematopoietic and endothelial cell outcomes was established by the transfer of a single cell. These results suggest that adult bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells may serve as a reservoir for endothelial cell progenitors.

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