Passive immunization with myelin basic protein activated T cells suppresses axonal dieback but does not promote axonal regeneration following spinal cord hemisection in adult rats

Int J Neurosci. 2012 Aug;122(8):458-65. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2012.678443. Epub 2012 Apr 25.

Abstract

The previous studies suggested that some subpopulations of T lymphocytes against central nervous system (CNS) antigens, such as myelin basic protein (MBP), are neuroprotective. But there were few reports about the effect of these T cells on axon regeneration. In this study, the neonatally thymectomied (Tx) adult rats which contain few T lymphocytes were subjected to spinal cord hemisection and then passively immunized with MBP-activated T cells (MBP-T). The regeneration and dieback of transected axons of cortico-spinal tract (CST) were detected by biotin dextran amine (BDA) tracing. The behavioral assessments were performed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale. We found that passive transferring of MBP-T could attenuate axonal dieback. However, no significant axon regeneration and behavioral differences were observed among the normal, Tx and sham-Tx (sTx) rats with or without MBP-T passive immunization. These results indicate that passive transferring of MBP-T cells can attenuate axonal dieback and promote neuroprotection following spinal cord injury (SCI), but may not promote axon regeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Biotin / analogs & derivatives
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dextrans
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Immunization, Passive / methods*
  • Locomotion / physiology
  • Myelin Basic Protein / immunology
  • Nerve Regeneration / immunology
  • Pyramidal Tracts / metabolism
  • Pyramidal Tracts / pathology
  • Pyramidal Tracts / physiopathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Recovery of Function / immunology*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / immunology*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes / classification
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Thymectomy

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • Dextrans
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • biotinylated dextran amine
  • Biotin