Small molecule-mediated upregulation of CCR7 ameliorates murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by accelerating T-cell homing

•Oral administration of Fc24 prevented the development of EAE in mice.•Fc24 facilitated T cell accumulation within spleen and lymph nodes.•Fc24 had no effect on MOG-specific T cell responses.•CCR7 expression was upregulated by Fc24 on activated T cells.

Impairing the infiltration of immune cells into the CNS is a promising target for suppressing the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Here, we found that oral administration of a synthetic small molecular compound Fc24 showed potential preventive effects on the development of EAE, including the reduction in EAE severity and a delay in the onset of the disease. Fc24 facilitated the accumulation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells within spleen and lymph nodes, while having no effect on MOG-specific T cell responses. Furthermore, CCR7 expression was upregulated by Fc24 on activated T cells in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by ERK activation in the treated T cells in response to CCL19. These findings demonstrate that small molecule-mediated CCR7 upregulation might ameliorate EAE by facilitating T cell homing into and within lymphoid organs, and that Fc24 may be a potential candidate for modifying the development of EAE.