Laquinimod (ABR-215062)

Cell experiment:

Purified CD11b+ cells from laquinimod- or vehicle-treated mice are cultured with naive CD4+ cells isolated from laquinimod- or vehicle-treated 2D2 mice and antigen (MOG p35-55, 20 µg/mL). Cells are cultured in 96-well microtitre plates at a concentration of 0.25×106 cells/mL. Culture medium consisted of RPMI 1640 supplemented with L-glutamine (2 mM), sodium pyruvate (1 mM), penicillin (100 U/mL), streptomycin (0.1 mg/mL), 2-mercaptoethanol (5×10-5 M) and 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum. Cells are incubated for 48 h and pulsed for 18 h with 1 µCi per well of [3H]-thymidine before harvesting.

Animal experiment:

Seven to 10-week-old female C57BL/6, DBA/1 or SJL/J mice are injected subcutaneously with 50 µg MOG p35-55, 50 µg rMOG or 100 µg PLP p139-151, respectively, in complete Freund's adjuvant. After immunization and 2 days later, mice receive 200 ng (C57BL/6) or 100 ng (SJL/J) pertussis toxin intraperitoneally (i.p.). For adoptive transfer, donor SJL/J mice are immunized as described above and treated daily with laquinimod or vehicle. 10 days later, cells from draining lymph nodes and spleen are isolated, re-stimulated for 48 h (20 µg/mL PLP p139-151), and injected i.p. into naive SJL/J recipients (107 cells per mouse). Animals are observed daily and clinical scores are assessed as follows: 0, no signs; 1, decreased tail tone; 2, mild monoparesis or paraparesis; 3, severe paraparesis; 4, paraplegia and/or quadraparesis; and 5, moribund or death.

References:

[1]. Schulze-Topphoff, Ulf., et al. Laquinimod, a quinoline-3-carboxamide, induces type II myeloid cells that modulate central nervous system autoimmunity. PLoS One (2012), 7(3), e33797.
[2]. Toubi E, et al. Laquinimod modulates B cells and their regulatory effects on T cells in Multiple Sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 2012 Oct 15;251(1-2):45-54.
[3]. Brück W, et al. Reduced astrocytic NF-κB activation by laquinimod protects from cuprizone-induced demyelination. Acta Neuropathol. 2012 Sep;124(3):411-24.