GITR-FC Fusion Protein Inhibits GITR Triggering and Protects from the Inflammatory Response Following Spinal Cord Injury

摘要

We evaluated the effect of GITR-Fc fusion protein (Glucocorticoid-In-duced Tumor necrosis factor receptor-Related) against spinal cord injury (SCI) in GITR'" and wild type (GITR~(+/+)) mice. Notably, a less pronounced disease was induced in GITR~(-/-)' as compared to GITR~(+/+) mice. Administration of GITR-Fc ameliorated SCI-induced inflammation in GITR~(+/+) mice as evaluated through expression of inflammatory markers (IL-lb and TNF-alpha) and T lymphocyte infiltration. GITR-Fc was effective in GITR~(+/+) but not in GITR~(-/-) suggesting that its anti-inflammatory action is due to inhibition of GITR triggering and not to GITRL activation. In conclusion, GITR plays a role in SCI and administration of GITR-Fc results in amelioration of SCI severity prompting further studies on the potential anti-inflammatory properties of GITR-Fc.