Treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with antisense oligonucleotides against the low affinity neurotrophin receptor

Abstract

Upregulated expression of the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75) in the central nervous system (CNS) during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) has recently been demonstrated. To investigate whether p75 plays a role in disease pathogenesis, we adopted a gene therapy approach, utilizing antisense oligonucleotides to downregulate p75 expression during EAE. Phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (AS), nonsense oligonucleotides (NS) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were injected daily for 18 days after immunization of SJL/J (H-2s)-mice with myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) peptide 139-151. In the AS group, there was a statistically significant reduction in both the mean ..