CD43 modulates severity and onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model of multiple sclerosis characterized by infiltration of activated CD4(+) T lymphocytes into tissues of the CNS. This study investigated the role of CD43 in the induction and progression of EAE. Results demonstrate that CD43-deficient mice have reduced and delayed clinical and histological disease severity relative to CD43(+/+) mice. This reduction was characterized by decreased CD4(+) T cell infiltration of the CNS of CD43(-/-) mice but similar numbers of Ag-specific T cells in the periphery, suggesting a defect in T cell tracking to the CNS. The absence of CD43 also affected cytokine production, as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55-specific CD43(-/-) CD4(+) T cells exhibited reduced IFN-gamma and increased IL-4 production. CD43(-/-) CD4(+) MOG-primed T cells exhibited reduced encephalitogenicity relative to CD43(+/+) cells upon adoptive transfer into naive recipients. These results suggest a role for CD43 in the differentiation and migration of MOG(35-55)-specific T cells in EAE, and identify it as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.