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Abstract #6207 Published in IGR 2-2
T cell immunity to copolymer 1 confers neuroprotection on the damaged optic nerve: possible therapy for optic neuropathies
Kipnis J; Yoles E; Porat Z; Cohen A; Mor F; Sela M; Cohen IR; Schwartz MProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2000; 97: 7446-7451
The authors recently reported that the post-traumatic spread of degeneration in the damaged optic nerve can be attenuated by the adoptive transfer of autoimmune T cells specific to myelin basic protein. However, it would be desirable to obtain immune neuroprotection free of any possible autoimmune disease. In an attempt to obtain disease-free immune neuroprotection, they used the synthetic four-amino acid polymer copolymer 1 (Cop-1), which is known not to be encephalitogenic despite its cross-reactivity with myelin basic protein. The authors show here that active immunization with Cop-1 administered in adjuvant, as well as adoptive transfer of T cells reactive to Cop-1, can inhibit the progression of secondary degeneration after crush injury of the rat optic nerve. These results have implications for the treatment of optic neuropathies.
Dr. J. Kipnis, Departments of Neurobiology and Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
Classification:
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
