Complex role of the IL-4 receptor alpha in a murine model of airway inflammation: expression of the IL-4 receptor alpha on nonlymphoid cells of bone marrow origin contributes to severity of inflammation.

Recent studies have suggested the IL-4Ralpha expressed on lung epithelium is necessary for TH2-mediated goblet cell differentiation and mucus hypersecretion in a murine model of allergic lung disease. However, the IL-4Ralpha is expressed on numerous cell types that could contribute to the overall pathology and severity of asthma. The relative role of the receptor on these cells has not yet been conclusively delineated.

Nasal instillation of gpMBP can exacerbate murine EAE: effect of mucosal priming is an age-dependent phenomenon.

Nasal installation or oral feeding of antigens can alter the subsequent immune response in animals and humans. Most mucosal treatments with antigens tend to down-regulate disease, inducing full tolerance or immune deviation; however, priming has also been reported. We evaluated the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in (SJL x B10.

Strain-dependent effect of nasal instillation of antigen on the immune response in mice.

Background: Nasal instillation is an effective method for inducing antigen-specific immune tolerance. However, it is not clear how a tolerization scheme established in one mouse strain will perform when used in a mouse of a different haplotype.

Objectives: To compare the antigen-specific recall responses in four mouse strains--BALB/c, C57BL/6, NOD, and B10.

Gene transfer of Ig-fusion proteins into B cells prevents and treats autoimmune diseases.

Based on the tolerogenic properties of IgG carriers and B cell Ag presentation, we developed a retrovirally mediated gene expression approach for treatment of autoimmune conditions. In this study, we show that the IgG-Ag retroviral constructs, expressing myelin basic protein (MBP) or glutamic acid decarboxylase in B cells, can be used for the treatment of murine models for multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Transduction of syngeneic B cells with MBP-IgG leads to the amelioration of ongoing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced by the transfer of primed cells from PLxSJL F(1) mice with ongoing disease and could be effective even after symptoms appeared.