Differentiation of primary adult microglia alters their response to TLR8-mediated activation but not their capacity as APC

Activated microglia are found in a variety of neuroinflammatory disorders where they have attributed roles as effector as well as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Critical determinants for the multifaceted role of microglia are the differentiation potential of microglia and their mode of activation. In this study, we have investigated the effects...

Non-invasive measurement of brain damage in a primate model of multiple sclerosis

Early recognition of whether a product has potential as a new therapy for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) relies upon the quality of the animal models used in the preclinical trials. The promising effects of new treatments in rodent models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) have rarely been reproduced in patients suffering from...

1H-NMR spectroscopy combined with pattern recognition analysis reveals characteristic chemical patterns in urines of MS patients and non-human primates with MS-like disease

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy in combination with pattern recognition techniques were used to investigate the composition of organic compounds in urines from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), patients with other neurological diseases (OND) and healthy controls (H). Using a valid animal model of MS, namely the...

Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of a humanized monoclonal antibody against the IL-2 receptor (DACLIZUMAB) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rhesus monkeys

CD40 in clinical inflammation: From multiple sclerosis to atherosclerosis

The interactions of CD40 and CD40L have been known for some time to critically regulate B-cell responses with respect to proliferation, isotype switching, antibody production, and memory formation. More recent findings demonstrated that CD40 can be expressed on several other antigen-presenting cell (APC) types such as macrophages, dendritic...

Collagen-induced arthritis in rhesus monkeys: Evaluation of markers for inflammation and joint degradation

The objective of this study was to analyse parameters in rhesus monkey collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) with which the inflammation and destruction of the joints can be described in quantitative terms. CIA was induced in genetically susceptible and resistant monkeys, which can be distinguished on the basis of the dominant resistance marker Mamu...

Expression of accessory molecules and cytokines in acute EAE in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus)

Accessory molecules and cytokines are involved in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rodent models, and are potential targets for immunotherapy. Evaluation of such experimental therapies requires appropriate animal models. Therefore, we analysed the expression of selected...

Urinary collagen crosslinks to monitor bone and cartilage degradation in collagen-induced arthritis in rhesus monkeys

Induction of type II collagen-specific antibody production in blood lymphocyte cultures of Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) with collagen-induced arthritis using the immobilized native antigen

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Rhesus monkeys previously immunized with bovine type II collagen to induce arthritis were cultured with the same antigen. Because the native protein is poorly soluble in culture medium a heating step is often used. The antigen in this form induced PBMC proliferation, but epitopes for the induction...