['In multiple sclerosis (MS) and its widely used animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), autoreactive T cells contribute importantly to central nervous system (CNS) tissue damage and disease progression. Promoting apoptosis of autoreactive T cells may help eliminate cells responsible for inflammation and may delay disease progression and decrease the frequency and severity of relapse. Programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) is a protein known to accelerate apoptosis in response to various stimuli. However, the effects of recombinant human PDCD5 (rhPDCD5) on encephalitogenic T cell-mediated inflammation remain unknown.', 'We examined the effects of intraperitoneal injection of rhPDCD5 (10 mg/kg) on EAE both prophylactically (started on day 0 post-EAE induction) and therapeutically (started on the onset of EAE disease at day 8), with both of the treatment paradigms being given every other day until day 25. Repeated measures two-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis.', 'We showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of rhPDCD5 were due to a decrease in Th1/Th17 cell frequency, accompanied by a reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ and IL-17A, and were observed in both prophylactic and therapeutic regimens of rhPDCD5 treatment in EAE mice. Moreover, rhPDCD5-induced apoptosis of myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells, along with the upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2, and with activated caspase 3.'] Is recombinant human PDCD5 ( rhPDCD5 ) protein protective in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis?