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The problem of this study is that of developing a testing procedure for multiple-choice tests which would increase the relationship between test scores and a criterion. The procedure investigated in this research was one in which subjects took a multiple-choice test but were required to continue responding on each item until the correct answer was obtained. The total number of responses was used as the score on the test. The purpose of this research was to investigate the possibility of increasing predictability by changing the procedure of administering the test, rather than changing the test itself.

In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), microglia become activated due to the autoimmune inflammatory response which is directed against the central nervous system (CNS). Following the first disease relapse, microglia remain activated and do not return to a resting state during remissions. Chronically-activated microglia release inflammatory mediators that cause CNS tissue damage, and as such, MS progression has been associated with widespread, chronic microglial activation that correlates with neurodegeneration. To date, only one histone demethylase, Jmjd3, has been described to have a role in inflammation. In agreement with this, up-regulation of Jmjd3 expression was observed following microglial treatment with several pro-inflammatory stimuli, including a range of toll-like receptors ligands and cytokines, suggesting a universal role of Jmjd3 during microglial activation. Subsequent ChIP-qPCR assays revealed that Jmjd3 was recruited to the promoters of Il6, Ccl3, Ccl5 and Nos2 following activation, which, in turn, presented a decrease in their H3K27me3 levels. Using an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS, Jmjd3 expression was shown to be increased in activated microglia from mice in the acute and late phases of disease. Immunization with complete Freud’s adjuvant (CFA) alone, also caused microglial activation with Jmjd3 induction, indicating a CFA-mediated TLR2 and TLR4 stimulation of microglia. Further investigation, in which primary microglia were isolated from mice deficient in Jmjd3 (Jmjd3-/-), however demonstrated that the absence of Jmjd3 alone had no resultant effect on the expression of a subset of immune response and inflammation related genes, including the Jmjd3 target genes Il6, Ccl3, Ccl5 and Nos2, before or after activation. This suggested that Jmjd3 acts in concert with a repertoire of other demethylases to facilitate microglia activation, and as such was rendered redundant in this setting. Deciphering the epigenetic profile of microglia in MS and determining whether it is involved in the maintenance of chronic microglial activation in the progressive phase of the disease remains an important line of investigation, and through a clearer understanding of its role in MS pathophysiology, could lead to the development of novel therapeutic interventions in the future.

Das koinhibitorische Molekül B7-H1 beeinflusst adaptive Immunantworten und ist vermutlich an den Mechanismen zur Aufrechterhaltung peripherer Toleranz und der Limitierung inflammatorischen Schadens beteiligt. Zusätzlich kommt DZ eine entscheidende Bedeutung in der Entwicklung, Aufrechterhaltung und Regulation ZNS-spezifischer Autoimmunität und Inflammationsprozessen zu. Um den B7-H1/PD-1-Signalweg eingehender zu untersuchen, wurden adaptive Immunantworten und die Zielorgan-spezifische Infiltration im Modell der MOG35-55-induzierten EAE analysiert, einem Tiermodell der MS, das durch neurologische Schädigungen und progressive Paralyse bedingt durch die inflammatorische Demyelinisierung im ZNS charakterisiert ist. Im Vergleich zu Wildtyptieren zeigten B7-H1-/- Mäuse einen beschleunigten Krankheitsbeginn und eine signifikante Steigerung des Schweregrads der EAE. Periphere MOG35-55-spezifische IFNg-/IL-17-Immunzellantworten traten in B7-H1-/- Mäusen verfrüht und verstärkt auf, klangen allerdings auch schneller ab. Im ZNS persistierte jedoch eine signifikant höhere Anzahl aktivierter, Neuroantigen-spezifischer T-Zellen während allen Phasen der EAE, wobei diese Zellen ebenfalls größere Mengen proinflammatorischer Zytokine sezernieren konnten. Experimente mit APZ-assoziiertem B7-H1, die einen direkten inhibitorischen Effekt auf die Aktivierung und Proliferation MOG35-55-spezifischer Effektorzellen zeigten, unterstützen die Hypothese, dass parenchymale Expression von B7-H1 ausschlaggebend für das Schicksal von T-Zellen im Zielorgan ist. B7-H1 stellt damit ein Schlüsselmolekül für die Kontrolle parenchymaler Immunreaktionen dar. Nachdem die Relevanz von B7-H1 auf APZ in vitro bewiesen werden konnte, wurde der Einfluss von B7-H1 auf systemisch oder intrazerebral injizierten DZ mit immunogenem oder tolerogenem Phänotyp untersucht. Intravenöse Applikation von tolerogenen B7-H1-/- DZ resultierte in einer besseren Protektion gegen EAE, und dieser Effekt war von einer gesteigerten Produktion Tr1-/Th2-typischer Zytokine sowie einer verstärkten Sekretion von IL-4 und IL-13 durch CD1d-restringierte T-Zellen in der Peripherie begleitet. Die Anzahl Neuroantigen-spezifischer T-Zellen, die proinflammatorische Zytokine sezernierten, war dementsprechend sowohl in der Peripherie als auch im ZNS reduziert. In diesem Zusammenhang konnte für B7-H1 eine wesentliche Beteiligung an der Inhibition der Aktivierung antigen-spezifischer, regulatorischer T-Zellen und CD1d-restringierter T-Zellen gefunden werden. Bei der Injektion intrazerebraler DZ bewirkten tolerogene DZ im Vergleich zu immunogenen DZ eine Reduktion der ZNS-Infiltration mit CD4+ T-Zellen in der frühen Phase der Erkrankung. Außerdem konnte eine Veränderung des intrazerebralen Zytokinmilieus von IFNg/IL-17 exprimierenden enzephalitogenen T-Zellen zu IL-10+ regulatorischen T-Zellen gezeigt werden. B7-H1-Defizienz auf APZ verstärkte diesen Effekt und führte dadurch in den Mäusen zur partiellen Protektion gegen klinische Symptome der EAE. Zusätzlich wurde die Beteiligung von B7-H1 an der Rekrutierung und ZNS-lokalisierten Induktion der Proliferation CD8+ regulatorischer T-Zellen durch DZ beschrieben. Unabhängig vom Phänotyp der DZ wurde eine bereits in der frühen Phase vorhandene und dauerhaft expandierende Population von CD8+ T-Zellen im ZNS DZ[B7-H1-/-]-injizierter Mäuse gefunden. Diese Zellen konnten in vitro die Proliferation MOG35-55-spezifischer CD4+ T-Zellen supprimieren und wirkten so mutmaßlich an der Abmilderung der EAE mit. Zusammengefasst zeigen die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit die entscheidende Bedeutung von B7 H1 auf DZ als immuninhibitorisches Molekül, das sowohl enzephalitogene als auch regulatorische T-Zell-Antworten moduliert und damit zur Limitation von Immunantworten beiträgt. / The coinhibitory B7-H1 molecule influences adaptive immune responses and has been proposed to contribute to the mechanisms maintaining peripheral tolerance and limiting inflammatory damage in parenchymal organs. Additionally, DC emerge as crucial immune cell population during development, maintenance and regulation of CNS-specific autoimmunity and inflammation. To further explore the B7-H1/PD1 pathway in CNS autoimmune inflammation, adaptive immune responses and target organ infiltration were analysed in MOG35-55-induced EAE, an animal model of MS characterized by neurological impairment and progressive paralysis resulting from inflammatory demyelination in the CNS. In comparison to wildtype mice B7 H1-/- mice exhibited an accelerated disease onset and significantly exacerbated EAE severity. Peripheral MOG35-55-specific IFNg/IL-17 T cell responses occurred earlier and enhanced in B7-H1-/- mice, but ceased more rapidly. In the CNS, however, significantly higher numbers of activated neuroantigen-specific T cells persisted during all stages of EAE and were able to secrete higher amounts of proinflammatory cytokines. Experiments showing a direct inhibitory role of APC-derived B7-H1 on the activation and proliferation of MOG35-55-specific effector cells support the assumption that parenchymal B7 H1 is pivotal for delineating T cell fate in the target organ. Therefore, B7-H1 represents a key molecule in the control of parenchymal immune reactions. Having shown the critical relevance of B7-H1 on APC in vitro, the influence of B7-H1 expression on systemically or intracerebrally injected DC displaying an immunogenic or tolerogenic phenotype was investigated. Intravenous application of tolerogenic B7-H1-/- DC resulted in a more efficient protection from EAE, accompanied by an increased peripheral production of Tr1/Th2 cytokines and a pronounced secretion of IL-4 and IL-13 by CD1d-restricted T cells. In accordance, numbers of neuroantigen-specific T cells secreting proinflammatory cytokines were reduced both in the periphery and in the CNS. Here, a substantial contribution of B7-H1 to inhibition of activation of antigen-specific, regulatory T cells and CD1d-restricted T cells could be found. Using intracerebral DC injections, a reduction of early CNS CD4+ T cell infiltration was shown for tolerogenic DC compared to immunogenic DC. Furthermore, alteration of the intracerebral cytokine milieu containing IFNg+/IL-17+ encephalitogenic T cells to IL 10+ regulatory T cells was demonstrated. B7-H1 deficiency on DC enhanced this effect, thereby mediating partial protection of mice from clinical signs of EAE. Additionally, involvement of B7-H1 expression on the ability of DC to recruit and induce proliferation of CD8 regulatory T cells locally in the CNS was described. Regardless of DC phenotype, an early and consistently expanding population of CD8+ T cells was observed in the CNS of DC[B7-H1-/-]-injected mice, which was able to suppress proliferation of MOG35-55-specific CD4+ T cells in vitro and thus probably contributes to EAE amelioration in vivo. Taken together, the findings of this study demonstrate the critical importance of DC-derived B7-H1 as an immune-inhibitory molecule capable of modulating both encephalitogenic and regulatory T cell responses thus contributing to the confinement of immune responses.