Glatiramer acetate attenuates the activation of CD4+ T cells by modulating STAT1 and -3 signaling in glia

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 17:7:40484. doi: 10.1038/srep40484.

Abstract

Interactions between immune effector cells of the central nervous system appear to directly or indirectly influence the progress/regression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we report that glial STAT1 and -3 are distinctively phosphorylated following the interaction of activated lymphocytes and glia, and this effect is significantly inhibited by glatiramer acetate (GA), a disease-modifying drug for MS. GA also reduces the activations of STAT1 and -3 by MS-associated stimuli such as IFNγ or LPS in primary glia, but not neurons. Experiments in IFNγ- and IFNγ receptor-deficient mice revealed that GA-induced inhibitions of STAT signaling are independent of IFNγ and its receptor. Interestingly, GA induces the expression levels of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 and -3, representative negative regulators of STAT signaling in glia. We further found that GA attenuates the LPS-triggered enhancement of IL-2, a highly produced cytokine in patients with active MS, in CD4+ T cells co-cultured with glia, but not in CD4+ T cells alone. Collectively, these results provide that activation of glial STATs is an essential event in the interaction between glia and T cells, which is a possible underlying mechanism of GA action in MS. These findings provide an insight for the development of targeted therapies against MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Glatiramer Acetate / pharmacology*
  • Interferon gamma Receptor
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Neuroglia / drug effects
  • Neuroglia / metabolism*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphotyrosine / metabolism
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Interferon / metabolism
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein
  • Phosphotyrosine
  • Glatiramer Acetate
  • Interferon-gamma