IgG subclass switching is associated with the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide in NOD mice

We have recently shown that a single dose of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide 35-55 produces a relapsing-remitting demyelinating disease similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) in Lewis rats. In this study we have assessed the possibility that a subclass of anti-MOG_35-55 antibodies influences the clinical outcome of these diseases by examining the classes and isotypes of anti-MOG₃5_-55 antibody produced during the course of MOG_35-55-induced demyelinating disease in NOD mice. Following immunization, 7 of the 21 injected mice had only mild diseases, while the 14 others had severe progressive and/or relapsing-remitting diseases. There were no differences in anti-MOG_35-55 IgG, IgA, IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 antibody titers between the severe and mild symptoms groups. High levels of IgG2b antibody to MOG_35-55 were detected in all mice with severe symptoms. In contrast, none of the mice which contracted a mild disease produced anti-MOG_35-55 IgG2b. These results suggest that in NOD mice, the IgG2b antibody response to MOG_35-55 is associated with the severity of this MS-like demyelinating disease.