Helicobacter pylori Immunomodulative Properties in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Aims: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) has been epidemiologically linked to central nervous system diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), but experimental evidence on the field is lacking. The present study addresses the relative effect of Hp-strain SS1 (Hp- SS1) systemic immunization on the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS. Methods: C57Bl/6 mice were immunized with Hp-SS1 antigen(s) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) (n=8); with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide (MOG 35-55 ) and Hp-SS1 in IFA (n=8); with Hp-SS1 antigen(s) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) (n=8); or with MOG 35-55 and CFA (n=7). Three naive mice were also included. EAE clinical score and weight were daily evaluated. Proliferation of total spleen and draining lymph nodes' cells in the presence of Hp-SS1 antigen(s), concavalin A and MOG 35-55 , was quantified. Results: Mice immunized with Hp-SS1 did not show evidence of clinical disease. However, based on proliferation assay, mice immunized with Hp-SS1 antigen(s) in IFA exhibited similar proliferation when stimulated with MOG 35-55