Inflammatory caspases are critical for enhanced cell death in the target tissue of Sjögren's syndrome before disease onset

To date, little is known about why exocrine glands are subject to immune cell infiltrations in Sj?gren's syndrome (SjS). Studies with SjS-prone C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice showed altered glandular homeostasis in the submandibular glands (SMX) at 8 weeks before disease onset and suggested the potential involvement of inflammatory caspases (caspase-11 and -1). To determine whether inflammatory caspases are critical for the increased epithelial cell death before SjS-like disease, we investigated molecular events involving caspase-11/caspase-1 axis. Our results revealed concurrent upregulation of caspase-11 in macrophages, STAT-1 activity, caspase-1 activity and apoptotic epithelial cells in the SMX of C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 at 8 weeks. Caspase-1, a critical factor for interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-18 secretion, resulted in an elevated level of IL-18 in saliva. Interestingly, TUNEL-positive cells in the SMX of C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 were not colocalized with caspase-11, indicating that caspase-11 functions in a noncell autonomous manner. Increased apoptosis of a human salivary gland (HSG) cell line occurred only in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS-) and interferon (IFN)-gamma-stimulated human monocytic THP-1 cells, which was reversed when caspase-1 in THP-1 cells was targeted by siRNA. Taken together, our study discovered that inflammatory caspases are essential in promoting a pro-inflammatory microenvironment and influencing increased epithelial cell death in the target tissues of SjS before disease onset.     

Identification of possible candidate genes regulating Sjögren's syndrome-associated autoimmunity: a potential role for <Emphasis Type="Italic">TNFSF4</Emphasis>in autoimmune exocrinopathy

Introduction

Sjögren syndrome (SjS) is a systemic autoimmune disease in which an immunological attack primarily against the salivary and lacrimal glands results in the loss of acinar cell tissue and function, leading to stomatitis sicca and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. In recent years, two genetic regions, one on chromosome 1 (designated autoimmune exocrinopathy 2 or Aec2) and the second on chromosome 3 (designated autoimmune exocrinopathy 1 or Aec1) derived from nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, have been shown to be necessary and sufficient to replicate SjS-like disease in nonsusceptible C57BL/6 mice.

Methods

Starting with the SjS-susceptible C57BL/6-derived mouse, referred to as C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2, we generated a large set of recombinant inbred (RI) lines containing portions of Aec2 as a means of identifying more precisely the genetic elements of chromosome 1 responsible for disease development.

Results

Disease profiling of these RI lines has revealed that the SjS susceptibility genes of Aec2 lie within a region located at approximately 79 ± 5 cM distal to the centromere, as defined by microsatellite markers. This chromosomal region contains several sets of genes known to correlate with various immunopathological features of SjS as well as disease susceptibility genes for both type 1 diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosus in mice. One gene in particular, tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily member 4 (or Ox40 ligand), encoding a product whose biological functions correlate with both physiological homeostasis and immune regulations, could be a potential candidate SjS susceptibility gene.

Conclusions

These new RI lines represent the first step not only in fine mapping SjS susceptibility loci but also in identifying potential candidate SjS susceptibility genes. Identification of possible candidate genes permits construction of models describing underlying molecular pathogenic mechanisms in this model of SjS and establishes a basis for construction of specific gene knockout mice.

     

Gene therapy using IL-27 ameliorates Sj?gren's syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy

Introduction

Sjögren''s syndrome (SjS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by decreased salivary and lacrimal gland secretions, resulting in severe dry mouth and dry eyes. Recent studies have suggested that T_H17 cells and its signature cytokine IL-17 are involved in the underlying pathogenic mechanisms leading to destructive inflammation and autoimmunity. In the present study, we examined whether IL-27, a natural inhibitor of T_H17 activity, could down-regulate or reverse SjS in C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice, a model of primary-SjS.

Methods

Recombinant serotype 2 adeno-associated viral (AAV2) vectors expressing either IL-27 (rAAV2-IL27) or LacZ (rAAV2-LacZ) were injected into 6 or 14 week-old C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice. Changes in IL-27, IL-17, and IL-10 cytokine levels in peripheral blood were determined by ELISAs, while flow cytometry analyses were used to quantify cytokine-positive splenocytes. Histological assessment of salivary glands, anti-nuclear autoantibody (ANA) staining, and stimulated saliva flow rates were used to profile SjS disease severity.

Results

Mice systemically treated with intravenous rAAV2-IL27 injections at either 6 or 14 weeks of age exhibited long-term elevated levels of serum IL-27 with concomitantly reduced levels of IL-17 compared with sera from mice injected with rAAV2-LacZ or saline out to 20 weeks post-inoculation. Most importantly, disease profiles revealed that rAAV2-IL27 treatment had little effect on lymphocytic focus (LF) scores, but resulted in structural changes in LF, lower titers of ANAs with changes in staining patterns, and a less severe clinical disease as determined by saliva flow rates.

Conclusions

These data support the concept that IL-27, when provided exogenously, can induce a suppressive effect on SjS development and thus may be an effective therapeutic agent for regulating T_H17 pro-inflammatory activity in autoimmune diseases where the T_H17 system has been shown to play an important role in their pathogenesis.     

Innate Immune Signaling Induces Interleukin-7 Production from Salivary Gland Cells and Accelerates the Development of Primary Sj?gren’s Syndrome in a Mouse Model

Elevated IL-7 in the target tissues is closely associated with multiple autoimmune disorders, including Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). We recently found that IL-7 plays an essential role in the development and onset of primary SS (pSS) in C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice, a well-defined mouse model of primary SS. However, environmental signals that cause excessive IL-7 production are not well-characterized. Innate immune signaling plays a critical role in shaping the adaptive immune responses including autoimmune responses. We and others have previously shown that innate immune signaling can induce IL-7 expression in lungs and intestines of C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we characterized the effects of poly I:C, a double-stranded RNA analog and toll-like receptor 3 agonist, on the induction of IL-7 expression in salivary glands and on pSS development. We showed that poly I:C administration to C57BL/6 mice rapidly induced IL-7 expression in the salivary glands in a type 1 IFN- and IFN-γ-dependent manner. Moreover, poly I:C-induced IL-7 contributed to the optimal up-regulation of CXCL9 in the salivary glands, which may subsequently promote recruitment of more IFN-γ-producing T cells. Repeated administration of poly I:C to C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice accelerated the development of SS-like exocrinopathy, and this effect was abolished by the blockade of IL-7 receptor signaling with a neutralizing antibody. Finally, poly I:C or a combination of IFN-α and IFN-γ induced IL-7 gene expression and protein production in a human salivary gland epithelial cell line. Hence, we demonstrate that IL-7 expression in the salivary gland cells can be induced by poly I:C and delineate a crucial mechanism by which innate immune signals facilitate the development of pSS, which is through induction of IL-7 in the target tissues.     

Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Isotype-Specific Autoreactive B Cell Repertoires in Sj?gren’s Syndrome

Microengraving is a novel technology that uses an array of microfabricated subnanoliter wells to isolate and characterize secreted proteins from larger number of single cells. This printing technique permits the capture and characterization of secreted antibodies on glass slides. Here, we profiled the antigenic repertoires of B cells reacting against salivary gland tissues in Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS), an autoimmune disease targeting the exocrine glands. Single-cell suspensions of spleen and cervical lymph node cells prepared from normal C57BL/6 and SjS-susceptible (SjS^s) C57BL/6.NOD-AecAec2 mice were dispersed into subnanoliter wells (nanowells). Capture slides preincubated with mouse immunoglobulins were used for printing. Detection antibodies included fluorescence conjugated anti-IgG1, salivary gland lysates of C57BL/6 and SjS^s mice. Results indicate an increase in the frequency of IgG1-secreting cells in the spleen of SjS^s mice compared to C57BL/6 mice. Cells from the lymph node of SjS^s mice yield higher instances of IgG1 reactive against salivary gland antigens than cells from the lymph nodes of C57BL/6 mice. These data demonstrate the isotype-specific reactivity of antibodies during the autoimmune process, and further reveals significant differences in the non-autoimmune and autoimmune antibody repertoires. These results support the generation of self-reactive B cell repertoires during the autoimmune process, at the same time, verifying that microengraving of single cells might allow for identification of novel biomarkers in SjS.     

IL-4-STAT6 signal transduction-dependent induction of the clinical phase of Sjögren's syndrome-like disease of the nonobese diabetic mouse

NOD.B10-H2(b) and NOD/LtJ mice manifest, respectively, many features of primary and secondary Sj?gren's syndrome (SjS), an autoimmune disease affecting primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands leading to xerostomia (dry mouth) and xerophthalmia (dry eyes). B lymphocytes play a central role in the onset of SjS with clinical manifestations dependent on the appearance of autoantibodies reactive to multiple components of acinar cells. Previous studies with NOD.IL4(-/-) and NOD.B10-H2(b).IL4(-/-) mice suggest that the Th2 cytokine, IL-4, plays a vital role in the development and onset of SjS-like disease in the NOD mouse model. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which IL-4 controls SjS development, a Stat6 gene knockout mouse, NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-), was constructed and its disease profile was defined and compared with that of NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(+/+) mice. As the NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice aged from 4 to 24 wk, they exhibited leukocyte infiltration of the exocrine glands, produced anti-nuclear autoantibodies, and showed loss and gain of saliva-associated proteolytic enzymes, similar to NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(+/+) mice. In contrast, NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice failed to develop glandular dysfunction, maintaining normal saliva flow rates. NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice were found to lack IgG1 isotype-specific anti-muscarinic acetylcholine type-3 receptor autoantibodies. Furthermore, the IgG fractions from NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) sera were unable to induce glandular dysfunction when injected into naive recipient C57BL/6 mice. NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice, like NOD.B10-H2(b).IL4(-/-) mice, are unable to synthesize IgG1 Abs, an observation that correlates with an inability to develop end-stage clinical SjS-like disease. These data imply a requirement for the IL-4/STAT6-pathway for onset of the clinical phase of SjS-like disease in the NOD mouse model.     

Role for MyD88, TLR2 and TLR9 but not TLR1, TLR4 or TLR6 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The potential roles of TLRs in the cause and pathogenesis of autoimmune CNS inflammation remain contentious. In this study, we examined the effects of targeted deletions of TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, TLR9, and MyD88 on the induction of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG(35-55)) peptide/CFA/pertussis toxin-induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Although C57BL/6.Tlr1(-/-), C57BL/6.Tlr4(-/-) and C57BL/6.Tlr6(-/-) mice showed normal susceptibility to disease, signs were alleviated in female C57BL/6.Tlr2(-/-) and C57BL/6.Tlr9(-/-) mice and C57BL/6.Tlr2/9(-/-) mice of both sexes. C57BL/6.Myd88(-/-) mice were completely protected. Lower clinical scores were associated with reduced leukocyte infiltrates. These results were confirmed by passive adoptive transfer of disease into female C57BL/6.Tlr2(-/-) and C57BL/6.Tlr9(-/-) mice, where protection in the absence of TLR2 was associated with fewer infiltrating CD4(+) cells in the CNS, reduced prevalence of detectable circulating IL-6, and increased proportions of central (CD62L(+)) CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells. These results provide a potential molecular mechanism for the observed effects of TLR signaling on the severity of autoimmune CNS inflammation.     

A role for the Cr2 gene in modifying autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production against nuclear Ags. Recent studies suggest that the Cr2 gene, which encodes for complement receptor (CR)1 and CR2, is important in disease susceptibility. Because the precise disease phenotype related to this gene, in isolation or in relation to other genetic loci, is not known, we analyzed C57BL/6 mice with a targeted mutation in Cr2 (C57BL/6.Cr2(-/-)) with or without a concomitant mutation in Fas (C57BL/6.lpr Cr2(-/-)). The Cr2(null) mutation in a C57BL/6.lpr background markedly increases the serum concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2b and the levels of antinuclear and anti-dsDNA Abs as compared with C57BL/6.lpr controls. There is also a trend for higher concentrations of IgG2a and IgG3. In contrast, isolated deficiencies in either these CRs or Fas have a limited effect in the production of anti-dsDNA Abs. Moreover, the Cr2(null) mutation does not affect other disease manifestations. These findings demonstrate that abnormalities in CR1 and CR2 may be linked to the production of autoantibodies by modifying the effect of other systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility genes. Phenotypic expression of other disease manifestations need additional Cr2-independent genetic factors.     

Local delivery of AAV2-CTLA4IgG decreases sialadenitis and improves gland function in the C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome

Introduction

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is a key negative costimulatory molecule that displays a wide range of anti-inflammatory properties and is currently approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis as a recombinant fusion protein (CTLA4IgG). To better understand the role of CTLA4IgG in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), we generated a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector serotype 2 (AAV2) expressing a chimera of mouse CTLA-4 fused with a human immunoglobulin (AAV2-CTLA4IgG) and observed the effect of this molecule in C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice, an animal model of pSS.

Methods

A recombinant adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV-2) vector was constructed encoding a CTLA4IgG fusion protein. The AAV2-CTLA4IgG vector and an AAV2 control vector encoding beta galactosidase (LacZ) were administered by retrograde cannulation of the submandibular glands of C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice. Protein expression was measured by ELISA and salivary glands were assessed for inflammation and activity.

Results

Recombinant CTLA4IgG blocked B7 expression on macrophages in vitro. In vivo, localized expression of CTLA4IgG in the salivary glands of C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice inhibited the loss of salivary gland activity and decreased T and B cell infiltration as well as dendritic cells and macrophages in the glands compared with control mice. In addition a decrease in several proinflammatory cytokines and an increase in transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) expression were also observed.

Conclusions

These data suggest expression of CTLA4IgG in the salivary gland can decrease the inflammation and improve the xerostomia reported in these mice.     

Resistance to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in IL-6-deficient mice is associated with reduced germinal center formation and C3 production

To provide direct genetic evidence for a role of IL-6 in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), IL-6 gene KO (IL-6(-/-)) mice in the C57BL/6 background were immunized with Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and evaluated for EAMG. Only 25% of AChR-immunized IL-6(-/-) mice developed clinical EAMG compared to 83% of C57BL/6 (wild-type) mice. A significant reduction in the secondary anti-AChR Ab of IgG, IgG(2b), and IgG(2c), but not the primary or secondary IgM response was observed in AChR-immunized IL-6(-/-) mice, suggesting a possible defect in T cell help and class switching to anti-AChR IgG(2) isotype. The AChR-specific lymphocyte proliferative response, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 production were suppressed in AChR-immunized IL-6(-/-) mice. EAMG resistance in IL-6(-/-) mice was associated with a significant reduction in germinal center formation and decreased serum complement C3 levels. The data provide the first direct genetic evidence for a key role of IL-6 in the autoimmune response to AChR and in EAMG pathogenesis.     

The effect of C1 inhibitor on intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury

Complement activation and neutrophil stimulation are two major components in events leading to ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury. C1 inhibitor (C1INH) inhibits activation of each of the three pathways of complement activation and of the contact system. It is also endowed with anti-inflammatory properties that are independent of protease inhibition. The goal of these studies was to investigate the role and mechanism of C1INH in alleviating IR-induced intestinal injury. C57BL/6, C1INH-deficient (C1INH(-/-)), bradykinin type 2 receptor-deficient (Bk2R(-/-)), and C3-deficient mice (C3(-/-)) were randomized into three groups: sham operated control, IR, and IR + C1INH-treated groups. Ischemia was generated by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery followed by reperfusion. C1INH or reactive center-cleaved inactive C1INH (iC1INH) was injected intravenously before reperfusion. IR resulted in intestinal injury in C57BL/6, C1INH(-/-), Bk2R(-/-), and C3(-/-) mice with significantly increased neutrophil infiltration into intestinal tissue. In each mouse strain, C1INH treatment reduced intestinal tissue injury and attenuated leukocyte infiltration compared with the untreated IR group. C1INH inhibited leukocyte rolling in the mesenteric veins of both C57BL/6 and C3-deficient mice subjected to IR. C1INH treatment also improved the survival rate of C57BL/6 and C1INH(-/-) mice following IR. Similar findings were observed in the IR animals treated with iC1INH. These studies emphasize the therapeutic benefit of C1INH in preventing intestinal injury caused by IR. In addition to the protective activities mediated via inhibition of the complement system, these studies indicate that C1INH also plays a direct role in suppression of leukocyte transmigration into reperfused tissue.     

Complement activation via alternative pathway is critical in the development of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization: role of factor B and factor H

The objective of this study was to explore the role of classical, lectin, and alternative pathways of complement activation in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The classical and alternative pathways were blocked in C57BL/6 mice by small interfering RNAs (siRNA) directed against C1q and factor B, respectively. C4(-/-) mice developed CNV similar to their wild-type controls and inhibition of C1q by siRNA had no effect on the development of CNV. In contrast, CNV was significantly inhibited (p < 0.001) in C5(-/-) mice and C57BL/6 mice treated with factor B siRNA. Inhibition of the alternative pathway by factor B siRNA resulted in decreased levels of membrane attack complex and angiogenic factors-vascular endothelial growth factor and TGF-beta2. Furthermore, factor B was up-regulated in complement sufficient C57BL/6 mice at day 1 postlaser and remained elevated at day 7. Significantly reduced levels of factor H were observed at day 3 in these animals. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that activation of the factor B-dependent alternative pathway, but not the classical or lectin pathways, was essential for the development of CNV in mouse model of laser-induced CNV. Thus, specific blockade of the alternative pathway may represent a therapeutically relevant strategy for the inhibition of CNV.     

Spontaneous autoimmunity in 129 and C57BL/6 mice-implications for autoimmunity described in gene-targeted mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder in which complex genetic factors play an important role. Several strains of gene-targeted mice have been reported to develop SLE, implicating the null genes in the causation of disease. However, hybrid strains between 129 and C57BL/6 mice, widely used in the generation of gene-targeted mice, develop spontaneous autoimmunity. Furthermore, the genetic background markedly influences the autoimmune phenotype of SLE in gene-targeted mice. This suggests an important role in the expression of autoimmunity of as-yet-uncharacterised background genes originating from these parental mouse strains. Using genome-wide linkage analysis, we identified several susceptibility loci, derived from 129 and C57BL/6 mice, mapped in the lupus-prone hybrid (129 × C57BL/6) model. By creating a C57BL/6 congenic strain carrying a 129-derived Chromosome 1 segment, we found that this 129 interval was sufficient to mediate the loss of tolerance to nuclear antigens, which had previously been attributed to a disrupted gene. These results demonstrate important epistatic modifiers of autoimmunity in 129 and C57BL/6 mouse strains, widely used in gene targeting. These background gene influences may account for some, or even all, of the autoimmune traits described in some gene-targeted models of SLE.     

Tumour necrosis factor receptor deficiency alters anxiety-like behavioural and neuroendocrine stress responses of mice

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is known to be involved in anxiety and the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. To examine the role of its receptors in neuroendocrine immunomodulation, we studied behaviour, corticosterone production and T-cell activation in mice with a C57BL/6J background and deficient for one or both TNF receptors (TNFR1-/-, TNFR2-/-, and TNFR1+2-/-) compared to wildtype C57BL/6J mice with and without psychological stress. Stress was induced by social disruption (SDR), and anxiety-like behaviour was examined using the elevated plus maze (EPM). Anxiety of unstressed TNFR1+2-/- mice was increased compared to C57BL/6J mice as shown by reduced ratios of entries into open arms relatively to total entries. SDR-stressed TNFR1+2-/- mice showed reduced ratios of entries into open arms relatively to total entries, reduced ratios of distances walked in open relatively to distances walked in both arms and reduced time in open arms compared to C57BL/6J mice. Locomotor activity of unstressed and SDR-stressed TNFR1-/- and TNFR2-/- mice was reduced. Serum corticosterone concentrations of control mice do not differ between mouse strains. However, TNFR1+2-/- mice had significantly higher corticosterone concentrations than C57BL/6J mice after SDR. EPM testing significantly increased corticosterone concentrations in all strains. Mitogen-induced activation-marker expression was reduced in TNFR1-/- T-helper cells under control and stress conditions, while activation marker expression of TNFR2-/- and TNFR1+2-/- cells was only slightly affected by stress compared to C57BL/6J T cells. Our study suggests that both TNF receptors contribute to anxiety-like behaviour and corticosterone responses, whereas TNFR1 has a larger impact on T-cell activation.     

The role of complement in cryoglobulin-induced immune complex glomerulonephritis

Many forms of glomerulonephritis are triggered by Ab localization in the glomerulus, but the mechanisms by which this induces glomerular inflammation are not fully understood. In this study we investigated the role of complement in a mouse model of cryoglobulin-induced immune complex glomerulonephritis. Several complement-deficient mice on a C57BL/6 and BALB/c genetic background were used and compared with strain-matched, wild-type controls. Cryoglobulinemia was induced by i.p. injection of 6-19 hybridoma cells producing an IgG3 cryoglobulin with rheumatoid factor activity against IgG2a of allotype a present in BALB/c, but not C57BL/6, mice. Thus, the cryoprecipitate in C57BL/6 mice consisted of the IgG3 cryoglobulin only (type I cryoglobulinemia) compared with IgG3-IgG2a complexes in BALB/c (type II cryoglobulinemia). The survival of mice was not affected by complement deficiency. Glomerular influx of neutrophils was significantly less in C3-, factor B-, and C5-deficient mice compared with wild-type and C1q-deficient mice. It did not correlate with C3 deposition, but did correlate with the amount of C6 deposited. Deficiency of CD59a, the membrane inhibitor of the membrane attack complex, did not induce an increase in neutrophil infiltration, suggesting that the generation of C5a accounts for the effects observed. There was no apparent difference between cryoglobulinemia types I and II regarding the role of complement. Our results suggest that in this model of cryoglobulin-induced glomerulonephritis the neutrophil influx was mediated by C5 activation with the alternative pathway playing a prominent role in its cleavage. Thus, blocking C5 is a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing renal injury in cryoglobulinemia.     

B7-1 costimulatory molecule is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Following immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR), MHC class II-restricted, AChR-specific CD4 cell activation is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in C57BL/6 mice. To study the contributions of B7-1 and B7-2 costimulatory molecules in EAMG, B7-1, B7-2, and B7-1/B7-2 gene knockout (KO) mice were immunized with Torpedo AChR in CFA. Compared with wild-type C57BL6 mice, B7-1 and B7-1/2 KO mice were resistant to EAMG development. B7-1 KO mice had reduced anti-AChR Ab compared with C57BL/6 mice. However, neither B7-1 nor B7-2 gene disruption impaired AChR-induced or dominant alpha(146-162) peptide-induced in vitro lymphoproliferative responses. Blocking of the B7-1 or B7-2 molecule by specific mAbs in vivo led to a reduction in the AChR-specific lymphocyte response, and the reduction was more pronounced in mice treated with anti-B7-2 Ab. The findings implicate B7-1 molecules as having a critical role in the induction of EAMG, and the resistance of B7-1 KO mice is associated with suppressed humoral, rather than suppressed AChR-specific, T cell responses. The data also point to B7-2 molecules as being the dominant costimulatory molecules required for AChR-induced lymphocyte proliferation.     

Spontaneous Autoimmunity in 129 and C57BL/6 Mice—Implications for Autoimmunity Described in Gene-Targeted Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder in which complex genetic factors play an important role. Several strains of gene-targeted mice have been reported to develop SLE, implicating the null genes in the causation of disease. However, hybrid strains between 129 and C57BL/6 mice, widely used in the generation of gene-targeted mice, develop spontaneous autoimmunity. Furthermore, the genetic background markedly influences the autoimmune phenotype of SLE in gene-targeted mice. This suggests an important role in the expression of autoimmunity of as-yet-uncharacterised background genes originating from these parental mouse strains. Using genome-wide linkage analysis, we identified several susceptibility loci, derived from 129 and C57BL/6 mice, mapped in the lupus-prone hybrid (129 × C57BL/6) model. By creating a C57BL/6 congenic strain carrying a 129-derived Chromosome 1 segment, we found that this 129 interval was sufficient to mediate the loss of tolerance to nuclear antigens, which had previously been attributed to a disrupted gene. These results demonstrate important epistatic modifiers of autoimmunity in 129 and C57BL/6 mouse strains, widely used in gene targeting. These background gene influences may account for some, or even all, of the autoimmune traits described in some gene-targeted models of SLE.     

Role of complement and complement membrane attack complex in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV), or choroidal angiogenesis, is the hallmark of age-related macular degeneration and a leading cause of visual loss after age 55. The pathogenesis of new choroidal vessel formation is poorly understood. Although inflammation has been implicated in the development of CNV, the role of complement in CNV has not been explored experimentally. A reliable way to produce CNV in animals is to rupture Bruch's membrane with laser photocoagulation. A murine model of laser-induced CNV in C57BL/6 mice revealed the deposition of C3 and membrane attack complex (MAC) in the neovascular complex. CNV was inhibited by complement depletion using cobra venom factor and did not develop in C3(-/-) mice. Anti-murine C6 Abs in C57BL/6 mice inhibited MAC formation and also resulted in the inhibition of CNV. Vascular endothelial growth factor, TGF-beta2, and beta-fibroblast growth factor were elevated in C57BL/6 mice after laser-induced CNV; complement depletion resulted in a marked reduction in the level of these angiogenic factors. Thus, activation of complement, specifically the formation of MAC, is essential for the development of laser- induced choroidal angiogenesis in mice. It is possible that a similar mechanism may be involved in the pathophysiology of other angiogenesis essential diseases.