Dosage and organic acid residue of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein_35–55 peptide influences immunopathology and development of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) serves as a model for studying multiple sclerosis, with immunization strategies utilizing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)_35–55 peptide, emulsified in adjuvant enriched with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). This study examined the effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as an adjuvant, alongside the impact of MOG_35–55 peptide doses and their residual counter ions on EAE development. We found that BCG can be effectively used to induce EAE with similar incidence and severity as heat-killed H37Ra, contingent upon the appropriate MOG_35–55 peptide dose. Different immunization doses of MOG_35–55 peptide significantly affect EAE development, with higher doses leading to a paradoxical reduction in disease activity, probably due to peripheral tolerance mechanisms. Furthermore, doses of MOG_35–55 peptides with acetate showed a more pronounced effect on disease development compared to those containing trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), suggesting the potential influence of residual counter ions on EAE activity. We highlighted the feasibility of applying BCG to the establishment of EAE for the first time. Our findings emphasized the importance of MOG_35–55 peptide dosage and composition in modulating EAE development, offering insights into the mechanisms of autoimmunity and tolerance. This could have implications for autoimmune disease research and the design of therapeutic strategies.