The Role of Mononuclear Cell Deficiency in the Production of Neutrophilic Allergic Encephalomyelitis: Parabiosis Experiments 1

Summary

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) produced during a transient period of mononuclear cell deficiency and relative neutrophilic leukocytosis induced by cyclophosphamide is characterized by neutrophilic rather than mononuclear cell infiltrates. Parabiosis to a normal animal increased the mononuclear content and inhibited the neutrophils in the infiltrates, presumably because the normal parabiont replenished the nonspecific mononuclear cells made deficient by cyclophosphamide. This evidence supports the hypothesis that neutrophilic infiltrates in EAE are caused by a deficiency of nonspecific mononuclear cells, and that mononuclear infiltrates in ordinary forms of EAE are reactive, nonspecific cells.

We are grateful for assistance from Dr. E. M. Hoenig, J. Torg, R. Zaplin, F. Strebel and Lillian Levine; for cyclophosphamide from Dr. W. A. Zygmunt of Mead Johnson & Co.; and for pertussis vaccine from Dr. H. B. Devlin of Parke, Davis & Co.