Cs. Constantinescu et al., IL-12 reverses the suppressive effect of the CD40 ligand blockade on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), J NEUR SCI, 171(1), 1999, pp. 60-64
Blockade of the CD40 ligand (CD40L)-CD40 interaction suppresses experimenta
l autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Since this interaction induces IL-12,
an essential cytokine for EAE induction, we hypothesized that CD40L blocka
de may suppress EAE through IL-12, inhibition. Here we show that exogenous
IL-12, abolishes the ability of anti-CD40L monoclonal antibodies to prevent
EAE. Anti-IL-12 antibodies prevent this reversal and protect from EAE. The
se results show that IL-12 is sufficient to overcome CD40L blockade and sug
gest that, of the multiple consequences of the CD40L-CD40 interaction IL-12
induction is an essential one far induction of EAE. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie
nce B.V. All rights reserved.