Ingested ACTH blocks Th17 production by inhibiting GALT IL-6.

Background: EAE is an inflammatory autoimmune process of the CNS that resembles multiple sclerosis (MS) and provides a useful animal model for the evaluation of mechanisms of action for potential immunomodulatory therapies. Oral ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) can decrease clinical disease, IL-17 and Th1-like encephalitogenic IFN-γ secretion and increase T frequency. The mechanism by which oral ACTH decreases inflammatory proteins and increases T cell frequencies is unknown.

Objective: IL-6 is a pivotal cytokine in the gut that determines the relative frequencies of Th17 vs T cells. We examined whether oral ACTH inhibited IL-6 in the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in EAE.

Design/methods: B6 mice were immunized with MOG peptide 35-55 and gavaged with scrambled ACTH (scrambled melanocyte stimulating hormone [scrambled α-MSH]) or ACTH 1-39 during ongoing disease.

Results: Ingested (oral) ACTH inhibited ongoing clinical disease. In the lamina propria (LP) immune compartment, there were significantly less CD11b + IL-6 and IL-17 producing lymphocytes from ACTH fed mice compared to s-MSH fed mice. There was also a decrease in the frequency of IL-17 and IFN-γ producing spleen cells and an increase in CD4 + FoxP3+ T cell frequency in ACTH fed mice compared to s-MSH fed control spleens. There were less IFN-γ producing CNS lymphocytes in ACTH fed mice compared to s-MSH fed control CNS.

Conclusions: Ingested ACTH inhibits EAE clinical disease by inhibiting IL-6 in the GALT.