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Regulatory T-cell defect in the arthritis-susceptible DBA/1 mouse
Arthritis Research & Therapy volume 7, Article number: P39 (2005)
Background
DBA/1 mice are susceptible to collagen-induced arthritis and to low-grade spontaneous inflammatory arthritis in elderly males. CD4+CD25+ T cells have been implicated in the suppression of arthritis in the susceptible DBA/1 strain [1, 2] and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [3]. We have studied the function of the CD4+CD25+ T-cell subset in DBA/1 and arthritis-non-susceptible C57Bl/6 male mice.
Methods
The frequencies of CD4+CD25+ T cells were assessed in lymph nodes and the spleen of DBA/1 and C57Bl/6 mice by FACS analysis. Spleens were harvested from adult male DBA/1 and BALB/c mice. CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25- T cells were purified using Miltenyi reagents and a VarioMACS. Proliferation assays in response to either Concanavalin A (1 μg/ml) or soluble anti-CD3 (0.1–10 μg/ml) were performed using 5e4 CD4+CD25- cells with 1e5 irradiated adherent splenocytes as antigen-presenting cells. Co-culture of CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25- T cells in a 1:1 ratio was used to assess suppression. Cytokines (IL-2, interferon gamma, IL-4, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor alpha, IL-6, IL-17, IL-15) were measured in the tissue culture supernatant after 36 hours incubation. Proliferation was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation. Suppression ratios (SRs) were calculated as follows: SR = (response from CD25+:CD25- T-cell coculture) / (response from CD25- T cells alone). SRs in DBA/1 and C57Bl/6 mice were compared using Student's t test.
Results
The frequency of CD4+CD25+ T cells was comparable in the spleen and lymph nodes of DBA/1 and C57Bl/6 mice. SRs were higher (i.e. less suppression) in proliferation assays from DBA/1 mice compared with C57Bl/6 mice, which were stimulated with anti-CD3 (P = 0.03). DBA/1 cultures were generally associated with higher cytokine levels. Cytokine SRs were higher (i.e. less suppression) for DBA/1 compared with C57Bl/6 cultures for IL-6 and IL-17. SRs were lower (i.e. more suppression) for DBA/1 compared with C57Bl/6 cultures for IL-4 and IL-10.
Conclusions
The arthritis-susceptible DBA/1 mouse strain appears to have a functional defect in the CD4+ CD25+ T-cell compartment. IL-4 and IL-10 are efficiently suppressed by CD4+CD25+ T cells. Suppression of IL-6 and IL-17 appears to be defective. This may partly explain the susceptibility of DBA/1 mice to erosive arthritis.
References
Morgan ME, Sutmuller RP, Witteveen HJ, van Duivenvoorde LM, Zanelli E, Melief CJ, Snijders A, Offringa R, de Vries RR, Toes RE: CD25+ cell depletion hastens the onset of severe disease in collagen-induced arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2003, 48: 1452-1460. 10.1002/art.11063.
Loughry A, Fairchild S, Athanasou N, Edwards J, Hall FC: Inflammatory arthritis and dermatitis in thymectomized CD25+ cell depleted adult mice. Rheumatology. 2005,
Ehrenstein MR, Evans JG, Singh A, Moore S, Warnes G, Isenberg DA, Mauri C: Compromised function of regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis and reversal by anti-TNFalpha therapy. J Exp Med. 2004, 200: 277-285. 10.1084/jem.20040165.
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Fairchild, S., Schenk, M., Doffinger, R. et al. Regulatory T-cell defect in the arthritis-susceptible DBA/1 mouse. Arthritis Res Ther 7 (Suppl 1), P39 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1186/ar1560
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/ar1560