Cytokine imbalance and autoantibody production in T cell receptor-alpha mutant mice with inflammatory bowel disease - PubMed (original) (raw)

Cytokine imbalance and autoantibody production in T cell receptor-alpha mutant mice with inflammatory bowel disease

A Mizoguchi et al. J Exp Med. 1996.

Abstract

Spontaneous inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) resembling human ulcerative colitis develops in mice mutant for the T cell receptor alpha gene (TCR-alpha-/-). TCR-alpha-/- mice lack TCR-alpha/beta+ cells but contain TCR-gamma/delta+ cells and a small population of a unique CD4+, TCR-alpha-/beta+(low) cells. Since all the immunoglobulin (Ig) classes are present in these mice, help to B cells must be provided by cells other than TCR-alpha/beta+ cells. In the present study, we found serum levels of IgG1 and IgG2 to be markedly increased in TCR-alpha-/- mice with IBD as compared to TCR-alpha-/- mice without IBD or TCR-alpha+/- controls. An increase in IgG1-, IgG2a- and IgA- but not IgM-secreting mesenteric lymph node (MLN) B cells was detected in TCR-alpha-/- mutant mice. There was also a marked increase in MLN B cells secreting autoantibody (IgG) to tropomyosin, a cytoskeletal protein. Examination of the hyperplastic MLN showed a marked increase in the number of B, TCR-delta+, and CD4+ TCR-alpha-/beta+ cells, similar to the cell population observed at the site of colonic inflammation. Analysis of spontaneous cytokine production by MLN cells using an enzyme-linked immunospot assay, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction showed a decrease of interleukin 2 (IL-2) but a marked increase of IL-4 and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production in TCR-alpha-/- mice with IBD as compared to TCR-alpha-/- mice without IBD and TCR alpha+/- control mice. Both TCR-alpha-/beta+ and TCR-delta+ cells were found to be capable of producing IL-4; IFN-gamma was produced mostly by non-T cells, many of which were shown to be CD3- NK 1.1+ cells. We propose that the cytokine imbalance present in these mice results in expansion of B cells, production and switching of autoantibodies to IgG2 subclass, and development of IBD. It is possible that the unusual CD4+ TCR-alpha-/beta+ population and expanded TCR-gamma/delta+ population present in TCR-alpha-/- mice plays a central role in this abnormal immune response.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. J Clin Invest. 1985 Jul;76(1):311-8 -PubMed
    1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995 Aug 1;92(16):7420-4 -PubMed
    1. Anal Biochem. 1987 Apr;162(1):156-9 -PubMed
    1. J Immunol Methods. 1988 Nov 25;115(1):31-7 -PubMed
    1. J Immunol. 1989 Feb 15;142(4):1095-101 -PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources