Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein–specific T Cell Receptor Transgenic Mice Develop Spontaneous Autoimmune Optic Neuritis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered to be an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that in many patients first presents clinically as optic neuritis. The relationship of optic neuritis to MS is not well understood. We have generated novel T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice specific for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). MOG-specific transgenic T cells are not deleted nor tolerized and are functionally competent. A large proportion (>30%) of MOG-specific TCR transgenic mice spontaneously develop isolated optic neuritis without any clinical nor histological evidence of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Optic neuritis without EAE could also be induced in these mice by sensitization with suboptimal doses of MOG. The predilection of these mice to develop optic neuritis is associated with higher expression of MOG in the optic nerve than in the spinal cord. These results demonstrate that clinical manifestations of CNS autoimmune disease will vary depending on the identity of the target autoantigen and that MOG-specific T cell responses are involved in the genesis of isolated optic neuritis

Genetic variation in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein expression and susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is encoded within the RT1.M region of the rat MHC a susceptibility locus for MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We report that the enhanced susceptibility of Brown Norway (BN) rats to MOG-EAE is associated with higher expression of MOG mRNA and protein in the nervous system than in the less susceptible Lewis (LEW) strain. MOG mRNA was also detected in the immune system, but there was no correlation with disease susceptibility. These results suggest that differences in the expression of MOG in the target organ, rather than in the immune system may influence susceptibility to MOG-EAE. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Technical, economical and social assessment of photovoltaics in the frame of the net-metering law for the Province of Salta, Argentina

Central and Northern Argentinean regions possess a high potential for the generation of solar energy. The realization of this potential is an alternative to alleviate the strong dependence on imports of fossil energy and to reduce the CO2 emissions of the country. However, the adoption of photovoltaics (PV) is still in an incipient state. It is undermined by a context of heavily subsidized electricity prices, high equipment and installation costs and a lack of information, training and experience in handling PV technology. This paper presents a techno-economical assessment of the application of the recently enacted net-metering law for promoting renewable energies (RE) in the Province of Salta (Northwest Argentina) for the case of PV. The assessment shows under which conditions and for which types of consumers it is profitable to adopt PV in the context of the law. This analysis is supported by a participatory planning approach as a study of stakeholders' attitudes towards RE, intentions to adopt PV and their knowledge about the law. The results of this study and the economical analysis serve to provide recommendations aimed at increasing the level of PV adoption in the province.Fil: Ramirez Camargo, Luis. Deggendorf Institute of Technology; Alemania. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences; AustriaFil: Franco, Ada Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas; ArgentinaFil: Sarmiento Barbieri, Nilsa Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Belmonte, Silvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Escalante, Karina Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; ArgentinaFil: Pagany, Raphaela. Deggendorf Institute of Technology; AlemaniaFil: Dorner, Wolfgang. Deggendorf Institute of Technology; Alemani

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is expressed in the peripheral nervous system of rodents and primates

The myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is a minor CNS myelin-specific protein that is an important candidate autoantigen in multiple sclerosis. We now report that MOG mRNA transcripts are present in the peripheral nervous system of rodents and primates at levels approximately ten-fold lower than in brain as demonstrated by real time PCR. A major source of this signal are Schwann cells which are also shown to express MOG protein within their cytoplasm in vitro by immunohistochemistry. Expression of MOG by Schwann cells associated with tissue innervation may account for the widespread distribution of low levels of MOG mRNA transcripts, and potentially may provide a source of antigen that can influence the composition and function of the MOG-specific immune repertoire. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland. All rights reserved