The Effects of Intradermal Vaccination with DNA Encoding for the T-cell Receptor on the Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in B10.PL Mice

Intradermal gene administration was found to induce a more profound immune response than direct intramusclular gene injection. We performed intradermal vaccination of B10.PL mice with DNA encoding for the V 8.2 region of the T-cell receptors (TCR). Three weeks later, these mice were immunized with rat myelin basic protein (MBP). Daily mean clinical scores and mortality rate were lower in this group compared with controls. The proliferative responses of lymph node cells to rat MBP were slightly less in the vaccination groups than in the control groups (p<0.05). However, we detected no differences between the two groups with regard to the production of MBP-specific IgG, IgG1, & IgG2a antibodies. The levels of cytokine mRNA expression in the vaccination groups were observed higher than in the control groups without antigen-specific stimulation, but all of cytokine expressions between the vaccination and control groups after antigen-specific stimulation were identical. These results demonstrate that intradermal DNA vaccines encoding for TCR might prove to be useful in the control of autoimmune disease.

Neurological complications due to Semple-type antirabies vaccine. Clinical and therapeutic aspects.

Thirty nine patients with neuroparalytic accidents due to the use of Semple-type antirabies vaccine were studied. The mean age of the patients was 25.8 +/- 13.2 years. The suspected source of infection was the bite of a dog in 36 (92.3%) cases. The mean interval between the first dose of ARV and the onset of neurological deficits was 14.4 +/- 8.7 days. The number of doses was 7 or less in 28 (71.8%) and more than 7 in 11 (28.2%) cases. With regard to neurological deficits, 5 (12.8%) had encephalopathy, 1 (2.6%) had encephalomyeloradiculopathy, 12 (30.7%) had cervical myeloradiculopathy, 4 (10.3%) had dorsolumbar myeloradiculopathy and 17 (43.6%) had polyradiculopathy. Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid analysis was done in 31 (79.5%) cases and was abnormal in 15 (48.4%), in the form of pleocytosis or raised protein or both. Electroencephalogram was done in 24 (61.5) cases and was abnormal in 7 (29.2%); in 6 (85.7%) of theme the abnormalities were subclinical. Electroneuromyography was done in 15 (38.5%) patients and was abnormal in 13 (72.2%). Visual evoked potentials were studied in 11 (28.2%) cases and were abnormal in 2 (18.2%). Thirty six (92.3%) cases received steroids and 25 (64.1%) received cyclophosphamide in addition. The therapeutic results were better in those who received cyclophosphamide. Three patients died; One died due to respiratory failure and two due to unrelated causes while on respirator. The latter two were autopsied, and findings in the brain were unremarkable.