Characterization of migration parameters on peripheral and central nervous system T cells following treatment of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with CRYAB.

CRYAB, a small heat shock protein, was previously shown to decrease neuroinflammation in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). We investigated whether the expression of cell adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors on peripheral and spinal cord T cells, that could possibly affect their migration to the central nervous system, was altered following EAE CRYAB treatment. Less LFA-1+ lymphocytes and lower levels of iTAC, MCP-5 and MIG were observed in spinal cords of CRYAB-injected EAE animals. In addition, fewer blood T cells expressed CCR6, CXCR4 and CCR7 and in vivo-derived CRYAB EAE CD4+ lymphocytes were less migratory towards a MIP-3alpha gradient in vitro.