Question

A mouse model for multiple sclerosis is induced by immunizing mice with murine central nervous system proteins mixed with Complete Freund’s adjuvant. This adjuvant contains components that stimulate both TLR2 and TLR4. The adjuvant is essential to the development of autoimmunity because:

a. It activates dendritic cells to up-regulate co-stimulatory molecules.

b. It prevents the differentiation of CD4 T_H2 effector cells.

c. It induces copious amounts of type I interferons.

d. It prevents the production of TGF-b by astrocytes in the central nervous system.

e. It promotes tissue damage that mimics a central nervous system viral infection.

Answer 1

The adjuvant is a substance used with a weak antigen to modulate the immune responses. It accelerates, prolongs, or enhance antigen-specific immune responses after combination with specific antigens. It is also used to study the autoimmune responses using self-antigen without involving any major immune deviation. Freund's adjuvants are components that are used for induction protocols of many experimental animal models of autoimmune disease.

As it induces the immune response option b and d are not possible because it prevents the immune components. Adjuvants don’t promote tissue damage that mimics a central nervous system viral infection because Freund's adjuvants are composed of inactivated and dried mycobacteria and not virus, hence option e is eliminated. There is evidence that Complete Freund’s adjuvant activates dendritic cells to up-regulate co-stimulatory molecules. Hence option A is the correct option.