Small molecule-mediated upregulation of CCR7 ameliorates murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by accelerating T-cell homing

Publication date: December 2017
Source:International Immunopharmacology, Volume 53
Author(s): Xin Li, Tingting Lu, Wenwen Xue, Yixuan Wang, Qiong Luo, Huiming Ge, Renxiang Tan, Yan Shen, Qiang Xu
Impairing the infiltration of immune cells into the CNS is a promising target for suppressing the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Here, we found that oral administration of a synthetic small molecular compound Fc24 showed potential preventive effects on the development of EAE, including the reduction in EAE severity and a delay in the onset of the disease. Fc24 facilitated the accumulation of both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells within spleen and lymph nodes, while having no effect on MOG-specific T cell responses. Furthermore, CCR7 expression was upregulated by Fc24 on activated T cells in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by ERK activation in the treated T cells in response to CCL19. These findings demonstrate that small molecule-mediated CCR7 upregulation might ameliorate EAE by facilitating T cell homing into and within lymphoid organs, and that Fc24 may be a potential candidate for modifying the development of EAE.



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