| First Author | Meehan TF | Year | 2002 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 99 |
| Issue | 8 | Pages | 5557-60 |
| PubMed ID | 11929984 | Mgi Jnum | J:76066 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2178496 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.082100699 |
| Citation | Meehan TF, et al. (2002) CD8+ T cells are not necessary for 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99(8):5557-60 |
| abstractText | In addition to its role in calcium and phosphorous homeostasis, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)] appears to be a modulator of the immune system. Administration of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) prevents disease in several autoimmune animal models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The vitamin D receptor is believed to mediate this activity. Among cells of the immune system, CD8(+) T cells have the highest levels of the vitamin D receptor. Because CD8(+) T cells have been implicated as both suppressors and effectors of the inflammation associated with multiple sclerosis and EAE, we examined the question of whether the 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) suppression of EAE occurs through a CD8(+) T cell-dependent mechanism. To test this hypothesis, mice that are homozygous knockouts for the alpha chain of the CD8 receptor and have been characterized as lacking functional CD8(+) T cells (CD8(+) -/-) were provided 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) in their diet before EAE induction. Although CD8(+) -/- mice fed the same diet lacking 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) have a high incidence of EAE, EAE did not occur in CD8(+) -/- mice fed the diet containing 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3). We conclude that CD8(+) T cells neither are needed nor do they play a role in the prevention of EAE by 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3). |
