Biomaterial Database

Cytokine production and the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune neuritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. 1998

J Zhu, and E Mix, and H Link

Division of Neurology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. jie.zhu@cnsf.ki.se

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome, GBS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) are prototypes of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases affecting the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Perivascular accumulation of macrophages and T lymphocytes in the PNS, and high levels systemically of PNS myelin antigen-reactive T cells are characteristic features of both diseases, thereby suggesting a pathogenic role for immunoregulatory cytokines. Here we summarise recent studies that have clearly documented that Th1/Th2/Th3 cytokines are differently upregulated during various clinical phases of EAN and GBS. The observations indicate that the role of cytokines in immune regulation and autoimmune disease is more complex than a simple Th1-Th2 dichotomy would suggest. New treatments may be searched for that counteract this complex cytokine imbalance. Treatments with antibodies that selectively target certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as with immunomodulatory preparations that promote cytokines that beneficially influence the disease course should be in focus of future therapeutic trials.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009444	Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental	An experimental animal model for the demyelinating disease of GUILLAINE-BARRE SYNDROME. In the most frequently used protocol, animals are injected with a peripheral nerve tissue protein homogenate. After approximately 2 weeks the animals develop a neuropathy secondary to a T cell-mediated autoimmune response directed towards the MYELIN P2 PROTEIN in peripheral nerves. Pathologic findings include a perivascular accumulation of macrophages and T lymphocytes in the peripheral nervous system, similar to that seen in the Guillaine-Barre syndrome. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1314; J Neuroimmunol 1998 Apr 1;84(1):40-52)	Allergic Neuritis, Experimental,Autoimmune Neuritis, Experimental,Neuritis, Experimental Allergic,EAN (Experimental Allergic Neuritis),EAN (Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis),Experimental Allergic Neuritis,Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis,Experimental Autoimmune Neuropathy,Neuritis, Experimental Autoimmune,Autoimmune Neuropathies, Experimental,Autoimmune Neuropathy, Experimental,Experimental Autoimmune Neuropathies,Neuropathies, Experimental Autoimmune,Neuropathy, Experimental Autoimmune
D011129	Polyradiculoneuropathy	Diseases characterized by injury or dysfunction involving multiple peripheral nerves and nerve roots. The process may primarily affect myelin or nerve axons. Two of the more common demyelinating forms are acute inflammatory polyradiculopathy (GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME) and POLYRADICULONEUROPATHY, CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING. Polyradiculoneuritis refers to inflammation of multiple peripheral nerves and spinal nerve roots.	Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease, Peripheral,Demyelinating Autoimmune Disease, Peripheral,Demyelinating Disease, Peripheral Autoimmune,Peripheral Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease,Polyradiculoneuritis,Polyradiculoneuritides,Polyradiculoneuropathies
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001327	Autoimmune Diseases	Disorders that are characterized by the production of antibodies that react with host tissues or immune effector cells that are autoreactive to endogenous peptides.	Autoimmune Disease,Disease, Autoimmune,Diseases, Autoimmune
D015551	Autoimmunity	Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities
D016207	Cytokines	Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.	Cytokine