Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access

Abstract

PD-1 Interaction with PD-L1 but not PD-L2 on B-cells Mediates Protective Effects of Estrogen against EAE

Sheetal Bodhankar, Danielle Galipeau, Arthur A Vandenbark and Halina Offner

Increased remissions in multiple sclerosis (MS) during late pregnancy may result from high levels of sex steroids such as estrogen and estriol. Estrogen (E2=17β-estradiol) protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), but the cellular basis for E2-induced protection remains unclear. Treatment with relatively low doses of E2 can protect against clinical and histological signs of MOG-35-55 induced EAE through mechanisms involving the PD-1 coinhibitory pathway and B-cells. The current study evaluated the contribution of PD-1 ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, on B-cells in E2-mediated protection against EAE in WT, PD-L1-/- and PD-L2-/- mice. Unlike PD-L2- /- mice that were fully protected against EAE after E2 treatment, E2-implanted PD-L1-/- mice were fully susceptible to EAE, with increased numbers of proliferating Th1/Th17 cells in the periphery and severe cellular infiltration and demyelination in the CNS. Moreover, transfer of B-cells from MOG-immunized PD-L1-/- or PD-L2-/- donors into E2- preconditioned B-cell deficient μMT-/- recipient mice revealed significantly reduced E2-mediated protection against EAE in recipients of PD-L1-/- B-cells, but near-complete protection in recipients of PD-L2-/- B-cells. We conclude that PD-1 interaction with PD-L1 but not PD-L2 on B-cells is crucial for E2-mediated protection in EAE and that strategies that enhance PD-1/PD-L1 interactions might potentiate E2 treatment effects in MS.