Autoantigen-loaded Polymeric Microparticles associate with B cells and promote tolerogenic antigen presentation in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42337240.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-74641-5.
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Abstract
Almost 1 million people in the United States suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). Current therapies suppress protective immunity and are non-curative. Antigen-specific therapies can selectively suppress autoreactive cells, preserving protective immunity. B cell dysregulation, a major driver of MS, remains largely untargeted for antigen-specific tolerance. We hypothesize that targeting B cells with antigen-loaded microparticles will enhance therapeutic efficacy. Here, we demonstrate that antigen-loaded acetalated dextran microparticles (AMP) surface-associate with B cells and enhance IL-10 secretion and MHCII expression, promoting tolerogenic antigen presentation. Leveraging this property, we developed a therapy using myelin oligodendrocyte (MOG<sub>35-55</sub>) peptide-loaded AMPs associated with B cells (MOG-AMP-B). Administering MOG-AMP-Bs in a late therapeutic model of multiple sclerosis resulted in unprecedented recovery, reducing central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, downregulating activated dendritic cells and macrophages, and increasing regulatory T- and B cells. MOG-AMP-Bs did not reduce the ability of animals to respond to a viral infection, representing a highly effective antigen-specific therapy for restoring immune balance in autoimmunity.