Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Mice depleted of CD25+ regulatory T cells develop various organ-specific autoimmune diseases including uveoretinitis. In this study, we examined what kinds of cytokines are produced in mice depleted of the regulatory T cells, and whether the remaining T cells recognize retinal autoantigen. Methods: (B6 x A/J) F1 mice were treated with or without anti-CD25 mAbs. Their spleen cells were collected, and mRNA expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-15, and IFN-g was analyzed by RNase protection assay. In addition, their splenic T cells were cultured with S-Ag or IRBP as known retinal autoantigen, or BSA as the control, and proliferation responses and production of IFN-gamma and IL-10 were measured. Results: Spleen cells obtained from mice depleted of CD25+ T cells expressed IL-6 and IFN-gamma mRNA in the absence of additional stimulation in vitro. Moreover, spleen cells of mice depleted of CD25+ cells showed proliferation responses to both S-Ag and IRBP, that the T cells produced IFN-gamma but not IL-10. Conclusion: Th1-type T cells specific for S-Ag and IRBP are activated in mice depleted of CD25+ T cells, suggesting that these T cells are responsible for induction of uveoretinitis spontaneously.
Keywords: 612 uveitis-clinical/animal model • 327 autoimmune disease • 435 immunomodulation/immunoregulation