Suppression of experimental autoimmune neuritis by ABR-215062 is associated with altered Th1/Th2 balance and inhibited migration of inflammatory cells into the peripheral nerve tissue

The therapeutic effects of ABR-215062, which is a now immunoregulator derived from Linomide, have been evaluated in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), a CD4(+) T cell-mediated animal model of Guillain-Barre syndrome in man. In previous studies, we reported that Linomide suppressed the clinical EAN and myelin antigen-reactive T and B cell responses. Here EAN induced in Lewis rats by inoculation with peripheral nerve myelin PO protein peptide 180-199 and Freund's complete adjuvant was strongly suppressed by ABR-2 15062 administered daily subcutaneously from the day of inoculation. ABR-215062 dose-dependently reduced the incidence of EAN, ameliorated clinical signs and inhibited PO peptide 180-199-specific T cell responses as well as also the decreased inflammation and demyelination in the peripheral nerves. The suppression of clinical EAN was associated with inhibition of the inflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, as well as the enhancement of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 in lymph node cells and periphery nerve tissues, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. These effects indicate that ABR-215062 may mediate its effects by regulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and suggest that ABR-215062 is potentially a new chemical entity for effective treatment of autoimmune diseases. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.