Neuroantigen-specific, tolerogenic vaccines: GM-CSF is a fusion partner that facilitates tolerance rather than immunity to dominant self-epitopes of myelin in murine models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Table 3 GMCSF-PLP prevented a subsequent bout of EAE induced by challenge with PLP139-151 in CFA

Pre-treatment^a	Mean cum. score^b	Median cum. score^b	Mean max. score^b	Median max. score^b	% mean initial weight^b	Incidence of EAE^c	Mean # days with severe EAE^b
Saline	43.1 ± 36.3	37.3	2.9 ± 1.5	3.5	87.1%	7 of 8	13.6 ± 12.8
PLP139-151	37.2 ± 35.4	31.0	2.5 ± 1.8	3.0	88.8%	6 of 8	12.4 ± 12.6
GMCSF-PLP	0.1 ± 0.4	0.0	0.1 ± 0.4	0.0	97.9%	1 of 8	0.0 ± 0.0
TTV vs saline	p = 0.002		p = 0.002		p = 0.004	p = 0.010	p = 0.047
TTV vs PLP	p = 0.011		p = 0.007		p = 0.016	p = 0.041	ns

^a SJL mice were treated with 2 nmoles of GMCSF-PLP (n = 8 each group), 2 nmoles of PLP139-151, or saline. Injections were subcutaneous in saline and were given on days -21, -14, and -7 (total combined dose of 6 nmoles) before active challenge on day 0 (200 ug of PLP139-151 in CFA). Table 3 and Figure 6 represent the same experiment. Data were analyzed as described for Table 1.
^b Mice were scored daily for clinical signs of EAE through day 50.
^c Incidence of EAE was the same as the incidence of severe EAE. Severe EAE was defined as ataxia through full hindlimb paresis or paralysis (clinical score of 2.0 or greater).

ISSN: 1471-2172