Regulatory T Cells by Mucosal Immunization

Harnessing Humoral Immune Responses for Treatments of Spinal Cord Injuries and Alzheimer s Disease 

The first line of defense in any injured dssue is the innate immune response, characterized by acdvity of the phagocydc immune cells (Paape et al., 2000), however, this response is dghtly cond olled by adapdve immunity, namely T cells. There are different subpopuladons of CD4+ T cells, each responsible for a certain type of immune response. Thl cells, for example. 

From the immune privilege status and immunosuppressive d eatments considered for almost any neurodegeneradve con-cUdons, our understanding of the neuro-immune interacdons underw ent a significant evoludon and cuiTent therapies are aimed to modulate and boost rather than suppress and eliminate immune assistance in the brain. 

Naturally occurring regulatory CD4h- CD25h- T cells are denved from the thymus. 

Glutamate is a part of both killing machinery and neuronal coimnunication 

Recently Cop-1 was assessed for its neuroprotective properties, due to its partial cross-recognition with myelin basic protein. Immunization with Cop-1 significantly improved neuronal survival following acute injury of myelinated central and peripheral neurons. Recently Cop-1 was found to be neuroprotective also under various chronic conditions and under severe mental dysfunctions. While the mechanism for its neuroprotective properties is not well understood, it was shown that immunization with Cop-1 induces T cells that can pass through the Blood-Brain Barrier and to accumulate in the injured site. Upon migration to the brain, these cells induce production of growth factors by glial cells as well as 

In early experiments aimed at boosting of the innate response in the injured CNS to facilitate better phagocytosis of myelin debris, it was found that implantation of homologous macrophages in the completely transected spinal cords of adult rats, it was demonstrated partial recovery of motor function (manifested by locomotor activity scored in an open field) and electrophysio-logical activity (assessed by motor-evoked potential responses) (Rapalino et al., 1998). These behavioral manifestations were also reflected in the electrophysiological recovery of motor-evoked potential responses in the implanted rats. 

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