concanavalin-a and Demyelinating-Diseases

We have recently demonstrated that ConA-induced suppressor cell function is defective in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). To assess whether this defect plays a role in disease activity and its reversal is important in recovery, we studied modifications of ConA-induced suppressor cell function induced by prednisone and plasma exchange in 20 patients with CIDP. We found a significant increase towards normal of ConA-induced suppressor cell function after treatment in concurrence with clinical improvement. Induction of suppression, presumably through favorable modifications of the cytokine network or other humoral mediators, might be one, among others, of the mechanisms through which prednisone and plasma exchange are effective in CIDP.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Child; Chronic Disease; Combined Modality Therapy; Concanavalin A; Cytokines; Demyelinating Diseases; Female; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Plasma Exchange; Polyradiculoneuropathy; Prednisone

The presence of a resident T lymphocyte population in the meninges of normal SJL/J mice has been detected by the use of the T cell-specific mitogen concanavalin A. Optimal conditions for [3H]thymidine incorporation were studied. An antigen-specific meningeal T cell proliferative response in SJL/J mice, primed by intracerebral inoculation of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus, was also detected. This response indicated that leptomeningeal mononuclear cell infiltrations are involved in the immune response that triggers the demyelinating disease.

Topics: Animals; Antigens; Cell Separation; Concanavalin A; Demyelinating Diseases; Lymphocyte Activation; Maus Elberfeld virus; Meninges; Mice; T-Lymphocytes; Thymidine

Supernatants of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), containing lymphokines, isolated from MS patients and healthy subjects were tested for demyelinating activity in organotypic culture of the rat cerebellum. PBL were isolated on Ficoll-paque gradient and cultures in RPMI 1640 medium for 72 h with or without phytohemagglutinin and Concanavalin A. Both stimulated and unstimulated PBL supernatants from MS patients consistently demyelinated cerebellum cultures. The supernatants of unstimulated PBL from healthy subjects did not produce demyelination, however, slight effect was present in the cultures treated with PBL stimulated supernatants. The results indicate that lymphokines might be involved in demyelination in MS.

Topics: Adult; Animals; Concanavalin A; Culture Techniques; Demyelinating Diseases; Humans; Lymphocytes; Lymphokines; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Phytohemagglutinins; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

Passive transfer of experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) lymph node cells (LNC) by intraneural injection did not produce significant demyelination. EAN-LNC stimulated with myelin in vitro produced mild demyelination while those incubated with Concanavalin A had no effect. The lack of demyelination by unstimulated EAN-LNC is in contrast to the marked demyelination produced by intraneural injection of EAN serum. The mononuclear cell infiltration and demyelination of classical EAN seem to require both cellular and humoral immune responses.

Topics: Animals; Blood; Concanavalin A; Demyelinating Diseases; Female; Lymphocytes; Male; Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Rats

Topics: Animals; Brain Chemistry; Concanavalin A; Demyelinating Diseases; Distemper; Dogs; Immunoglobulins; Lymphocyte Activation; Phytohemagglutinins; Time Factors

Topics: Animals; BCG Vaccine; Cattle; Cell Extracts; Concanavalin A; Demyelinating Diseases; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Eye; Female; Freund's Adjuvant; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; Male; Mycobacterium bovis; Rabbits; Skin Tests; Tissue Extracts; Tuberculin; Tuberculosis, Bovine