A Novel Murine Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Fusion Protein, MOGtag, Induces Appropriate Autoimmune B Cell Germinal Center Responses And Central Nervous System Autoimmune Disease

Author

Amy K. Dang, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Microbiology and Immunology

Supervisor

Dr. Steven M. Kerfoot

Abstract

The clinical success of B cell-depleting therapies in multiple sclerosis (MS) has identified an important, yet poorly understood pathogenic role for B cells in disease. An animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), is typically induced through immunization with short myelin-derived peptides. B cells recognize whole proteins and not peptides, therefore their activation and involvement in peptide models of EAE is largely excluded. The goal of this study was to develop a novel fusion myelin protein reagent (MOG_tag) to induce autoimmune responses in mice that incorporate T and B cell recognition of antigen. Characterization of the autoimmune response revealed the formation of a T cell-dependent germinal center B cell response. Further, immunization with MOG_tag resulted in a chronic disease with evidence of an ongoing immune response, and central nervous system pathology featuring T cell infiltration of white and gray matter as well as formation of meningeal B cell clusters.

Recommended Citation

Dang, Amy K., "A Novel Murine Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Fusion Protein, MOGtag, Induces Appropriate Autoimmune B Cell Germinal Center Responses And Central Nervous System Autoimmune Disease" (2015). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 2729.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/2729