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Department of Neurology

Houston, Texas

BCM neurologists see patients through the Baylor Clinic and some of the world's leading specialty clinics.
Department of Neurology
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Cytokine Research and Mechanism of Beta-interferon

Principal Investigators

Jingwu Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.
Ying C.Q. Zang, M.D., Ph.D.

Summary

There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that aberrant immune responses play an important role in the MS disease process. It is thought that the inflammatory process in the CNS is associated with aberrant trafficking of pro-inflammatory T cells that are activated in the periphery and that T cell migration is facilitated by chemokines. Consistent with this hypothesis is the recent finding that specific receptors for certain cytokines and chemokines are overexpressed in the MS brain.

The role of chemokine-induced T cell migration is studied in MS patients and controls using the Boyden chemotactic system. Immunomodulating agents are currently under investigation for their potential role in suppressing migration of myelin autoreactive T cells. This study has begun to produce some important information on the role of chemokines in the CNS inflammatory process in MS and the mechanism whereby chemokine-induced T cell migration is regulated. Another important aspect of this research is to define the molecular mechanism underlying down-regulation of the expression and interaction of chemokine receptors by immunomodulating agents.

Cytokine profile of the regulatory cells induced by T cell vaccination.

Cytokine profile of the regulatory cells induced by T cell vaccination.

Selected References

  1. Hermans, G., Mertens, N., Hauben, L., Stinissen, P., Raus, J. and Zhang, J. (1997) The cytokine profile of MBP-reactive T cells and early lines in multiple sclerosis and healthy controls. Annals of Neurology 42:18.
  2. Vandevyver, C., Motmans, K., Stinissen, P. Zhang, J, and Raus, J. (1998) Cytokine mRNA profile of myelin basic protein reactive T-cell clones in patients with multiple sclerosis. Autoimmunity 28:77.
  3. Kozovska, M., Hong, J., Zang, Y., Li, S., Rivera, V., Killian, J. and Zhang, J. (1999) Cytokine regulation of myelin basic protein-reactive T cells by beta-interferon in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurology 53:1692.
  4. Singh, R., Zang, Y., Shrivastava, A., Hong, J., Li, S., Tejada-Simon, M., Kozovska, M., Killian, J. Rivera, V. and Zhang, J. (1999) Th1 and Th2 deviation induced by altered peptide ligand: Regulation of Lck, Fyn and Zap-70. Journal of Immunology. 163:6393.
  5. Zang, Y., Halder, J., Samanta, A., Hong, J., Rivera, V., and Zhang, J. (2000) Immunoregulation and blocking antibodies induced by beta interferon treatment in MS. Neurol. 55:397.
  6. Zang, Y., Samanta, A., Halder, J., Hong, J., Rivera, V., and Zhang, J., (2000) Aberrant T cell migration towards RANTES and Mip-1alfa is associated with one-expression of CCR5 in patients with multiple sclerosis. Brain. 123:1874.
  7. Zang, Y., Halder, J., Samanta, A., Hong, J., Rivera, V., and Zhang, J., (2001) Inhibitation of chemokine-induced T cell migration by beta interferon in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 112:117.
  8. Zang, Y., Halder, J., Hong, J., Rivera, V.M., Zhang, J. (2002). Regulation of T cell migration and cytokine profile by Estriol: inhibition of transcription factor NF-kB. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 124, 106-114.
  9. Hong, J., Tejada-Simon, M., Rivera, V., Zang, Y.C.Q., and Zhang J. (2002) Anti-Viral Properties of Interferon Beta Treatment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis, 8, 237-242.
  10. Zhang, J., Hutton G., and Zang Y.(Invited review)(2002) A comparison of the mechanisms of action of interferon beta and glatiramer acetate in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (Invited review). Clinical Therapeutics, 24, 1998-2021.
  11. Zang, Y.C.Q. Hong, J., Rivera, V., Killian, J., and Zhang J.(2003) Induction and Reactivity of Human Anti-Idiotypic T Cells Recognizing TCR CDR3 Determinants of Myelin Basic Protein-Reactive T Cells. International Immunology, 15,1073-1080.
  12. Salama, H., Hong. J., Y., El-Mongui, A., and Zhang, J. (in press) Blocking effects of serum reactive antibodies induced by Copolymer-I treatment in multiple sclerosis. Brain.