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Mantegazza R, Cordiglieri C, Consonni A, Baggi F. Animal models of myasthenia gravis: utility and limitations. Int J Gen Med 2016; 9:53-64. [PMID: 27019601 PMCID: PMC4786081 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s88552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by the immune attack of the neuromuscular junction. Antibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) induce receptor degradation, complement cascade activation, and postsynaptic membrane destruction, resulting in functional reduction in AChR availability. Besides anti-AChR antibodies, other autoantibodies are known to play pathogenic roles in MG. The experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) models have been of great help over the years in understanding the pathophysiological role of specific autoantibodies and T helper lymphocytes and in suggesting new therapies for prevention and modulation of the ongoing disease. EAMG can be induced in mice and rats of susceptible strains that show clinical symptoms mimicking the human disease. EAMG models are helpful for studying both the muscle and the immune compartments to evaluate new treatment perspectives. In this review, we concentrate on recent findings on EAMG models, focusing on their utility and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Mantegazza
- Neurology IV Unit, Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Cordiglieri
- Neurology IV Unit, Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Consonni
- Neurology IV Unit, Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Fulvio Baggi
- Neurology IV Unit, Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
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Tirotta I, Mastropietro A, Cordiglieri C, Gazzera L, Baggi F, Baselli G, Bruzzone MG, Zucca I, Cavallo G, Terraneo G, Baldelli Bombelli F, Metrangolo P, Resnati G. A Superfluorinated Molecular Probe for Highly Sensitive in Vivo19F-MRI. J Am Chem Soc 2014; 136:8524-7. [DOI: 10.1021/ja503270n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Cordiglieri C, Marolda R, Franzi S, Cappelletti C, Giardina C, Motta T, Baggi F, Bernasconi P, Mantegazza R, Cavalcante P. Innate immunity in myasthenia gravis thymus: pathogenic effects of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling on autoimmunity. J Autoimmun 2014; 52:74-89. [PMID: 24397961 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is the main site of immune sensitization to AChR in myasthenia gravis (MG). In our previous studies we demonstrated that Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 is over-expressed in MG thymuses, suggesting its involvement in altering the thymic microenvironment and favoring autosensitization and autoimmunity maintenance processes, via an effect on local chemokine/cytokine network. Here, we investigated whether TLR4 signaling may favor abnormal cell recruitment in MG thymus via CCL17 and CCL22, two chemokines known to dictate immune cell trafficking in inflamed organs by binding CCR4. We also investigated whether TLR4 activation may contribute to immunodysregulation, via the production of Th17-related cytokines, known to alter effector T cell (Teff)/regulatory T cell (Treg) balance. We found that CCL17, CCL22 and CCR4 were expressed at higher levels in MG compared to normal thymuses. The two chemokines were mainly detected around medullary Hassall's corpuscles (HCs), co-localizing with TLR4(+) thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and CCR4(+) dendritic cells (DCs), that were present in higher number in MG thymuses compared to controls. TLR4 stimulation in MG TECs increased CCL17 and CCL22 expression and induced the production of Th17-related cytokines. Then, to study the effect of TLR4-stimulated TECs on immune cell interactions and Teff activation, we generated an in-vitro imaging model by co-culturing CD4(+) Th1/Th17 AChR-specific T cells, naïve CD4(+)CD25(+) Tregs, DCs and TECs from Lewis rats. We observed that TLR4 stimulation led to a more pronounced Teff activatory status, suggesting that TLR4 signaling in MG thymic milieu may affect cell-to-cell interactions, favoring autoreactive T-cell activation. Altogether our findings suggest a role for TLR4 signaling in driving DC recruitment in MG thymus via CCL17 and CCL22, and in generating an inflammatory response that might compromise Treg function, favoring autoreactive T-cell pathogenic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cordiglieri
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Roberta Marolda
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Sara Franzi
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Cristina Cappelletti
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Carmelo Giardina
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Azienda Ospedaliera Bolognini Seriate, Via Paterno 21, 24068 Seriate Bergamo, Italy.
| | - Teresio Motta
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Azienda Ospedaliera Bolognini Seriate, Via Paterno 21, 24068 Seriate Bergamo, Italy.
| | - Fulvio Baggi
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Pia Bernasconi
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Renato Mantegazza
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Paola Cavalcante
- Neurology IV Unit, Neurological Institute 'Carlo Besta', Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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