Aug 14, 2009
MS-like Disease in Mice Suppressed by Fusing Two Immune Proteins
Researchers from Canada report that mice with an MS-like disease recovered, and the immune attack driving the disease was suppressed, when the team administered “GIFT15” – a compound formed by fusing two immune proteins. Jacques Galipeau, MD (McGill University, Montreal) and colleagues report their findings in Nature Medicine (August 9, 2009, Epub ahead of print).
Background: Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. Immune T cells have long been known to be major players in this attack, but evidence is mounting on the role of B cells as well. Researchers have reported that – much like a subset of T cells called “T regs” can regulate, or suppress, the immune attack – a subset of “B regs” exists that might be able to do the same.
The Study: Dr. Galipeau’s team had developed a compound called GIFT15 by fusing together two immune messenger proteins (GM-CSF and interleukin-15). They originally intended to use the compound to stimulate the immune system to reject tumors, but discovered that it had a potent and unexpected ability to suppress the immune system. In further studies, they added GIFT15 to B cells isolated in lab dishes, and found that it transformed the cells into B regs. To test their immune-suppressing characteristics, the team then administered the B regs to mice with EAE, an MS-like disease. They found that treatment suppressed the immune attack and resolved clinical symptoms.
Comment: “This is a novel strategy because it focuses on amplifying the abilities of the body’s own immune B cells to turn off the immune attack, but much more research is necessary before we know if this approach will ultimately be useful for treating humans with MS – not just mice – safely and effectively,” says John Richert, MD, Executive Vice President of Research and Clinical Programs for the National MS Society. “We look forward to hearing more about B regs and how they might be harnessed in therapeutic strategies for MS.”