Transfer of myelin-specific cells deviated in vitro towards IL-4 production ameliorates ongoing experimental allergic neuritis

A causal role of IL-4 (Th2) production for recovery in experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) was indicated by experiments where Th1-like autoreactive cell populations, taken from the induction phase of the disease, were deviated to extensive secretion of IL-4 in a selective fashion, by ex vivo stimulation with autoantigen in the presence of IL-4. The deviated cells were adoptively transferred to EAN rats at a time just prior to the onset of clinical signs. This treatment ameliorated EAN compared with sham treatment. This therapeutic approach, with generation of autoreactive IL-4-secreting cells ex vivo followed by subsequent adoptive transfer, may become a new selective treatment of organ-specific autoimmune diseases since, in contrast to previous attempts, it is done in a physiological and technically easy way.