| First Author | Shi FD | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 167 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 3000-6 |
| PubMed ID | 11509651 | Mgi Jnum | J:119462 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3702243 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.167.5.3000 |
| Citation | Shi FD, et al. (2001) Control of the autoimmune response by type 2 nitric oxide synthase. J Immunol 167(5):3000-6 |
| abstractText | Immune defense against pathogens often requires NO, synthesized by type 2 NO synthase (NOS2). To discern whether this axis could participate in an autoimmune response, we immunized NOS2-deficient mice with the autoantigen acetylcholine receptor, inducing muscle weakness characteristic of myasthenia gravis, a T cell-dependent Ab-mediated autoimmune disease. We found that the acetylcholine receptor-immunized NOS2-deficient mice developed an exacerbated form of myasthenia gravis, and demonstrated that NOS2 expression limits autoreactive T cell determinant spreading and diversification of the autoantibody repertoire, a process driven by macrophages. Thus, NOS2/NO is important for silencing autoreactive T cells and may restrict bystander autoimmune reactions following the innate immune response. |
