Quetiapine, an Atypical Antipsychotic, Is Protective against Autoimmune-Mediated Demyelination by Inhibiting Effector T Cell Proliferation

Quetiapine (Que), a commonly used atypical antipsychotic drug (APD), can prevent myelin from breakdown without immune attack. Multiple sclerosisis (MS), an autoimmune reactive inflammation demyelinating disease, is triggered by activated myelin-specific T lymphocytes (T cells). In this study, we investigated the potential efficacy of Que as an immune-modulating therapeutic agent for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model for MS. Que treatment was initiated on the onset of MOG(35–55) peptide induced EAE mice and the efficacy of Que on modulating the immune response was determined by Flow Cytometry through analyzing CD4(+)/CD8(+) populations and the proliferation of effector T cells (CD4(+)CD25(−)) in peripheral immune organs. Our results show that Que dramatically attenuates the severity of EAE symptoms. Que treatment decreases the extent of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell infiltration into the spinal cord and suppresses local glial activation, thereby diminishing the loss of mature oligodendrocytes and myelin breakdown in the spinal cord of EAE mice. Our results further demonstrate that Que treatment decreases the CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell populations in lymph nodes and spleens of EAE mice and inhibits either MOG(35–55) or anti-CD3 induced proliferation as well as IL-2 production of effector T cells (CD4(+)CD25(−)) isolated from EAE mice spleen. Together, these findings suggest that Que displays an immune-modulating role during the course of EAE, and thus may be a promising candidate for treatment of MS.