|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Articles |
Department of Pathology, Medical Center of the University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland; and Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany
 |
Abstract |
|---|
 Top Abstract Materials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Mice of the (NZB x NZW)F1 hybrid, mice of the MRL strain homozygous for the lpr gene (lymphoproliferation), and of the BXSB/MpJ strain carrying an autoimmune acceleration gene present on the Y chromosome, Yaa (Y-linked autoimmune acceleration), spontaneously develop a severe immune complex–mediated glomerulonephritis resembling human SLE (1). The spontaneous production of pathogenic IgG autoantibodies in these lupusprone mice reflects the intrinsic abnormal hyperactivity of B cells and their interaction with CD4+ Th cells in which the pattern of cytokine expression may have important immunopathological consequences (2). Among cytokines produced by Th cells, IL-4 has been shown to have important regulatory properties on humoral immune responses. First described as a costimulator for the proliferation of resting B cells, IL-4 has been also shown to enhance the expression of Ia molecules on resting B cells, to induce IgG1 and IgE antibody production, and to play a predominant role in vitro in the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into the Th type 2 subset (3). Notably, Th2 cells play an essential role in some humoral responses through the action of their cytokines such as IL-5, -6, and -10 on B cells (4–6).
In view of the B cell–stimulatory properties and Th2 promoting activity ascribed to IL-4, it can be speculated that IL-4 may be involved in the development of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune diseases such as SLE. In fact, IL-4 has been shown to be an important mediator in the pathogenesis of murine lupus-like diseases induced by graftversus-host and host-versus-graft reactions, or by chemicals (7). This notion is also supported by the findings that treatment of lupus-prone (NZB x NZW)F1 mice with mAbs specific for the Th2-related cytokines IL-6 or -10 markedly delays onset of autoimmune disease (8, 9), and that administration of IL-5 or -10 is able to induce autoimmune anemia in anti-RBC autoantibody transgenic mice (10). It is, however, not yet known whether IL-4 promotes disease development in spontaneous murine models of SLE.
To address this question, we determined the effect of constitutive expression of an IL-4 transgene by B cells on the development and progression of lupus-like syndrome. For this purpose, we have used the (NZW x C57BL/ 6.Yaa)F1 murine model of SLE (11), in which the development of an autoimmune syndrome in male mice is dependent on the abnormal autosomal NZW genome, and the presence of an unidentified mutant gene Yaa located on the Y chromosome derived from the lupus-prone BXSB strain (12). The IL-4 transgene was introduced into this lupusprone background by crossing C57BL/6.Yaa (B6.Yaa) males with females of the 129/Sv–IL-4 transgenic strain, which contains a single copy of murine IL-4–encoding cDNA under the control of IgH enhancer/promoter (13), and then crossing the F1 male progeny with NZW females. Our analysis of the development of SLE in these lupusprone mice indicates that the constitutive expression of the IL-4 transgene in B cells does not promote, but prevents, the development of lupus-like autoimmune syndrome, and provides a possible explanation for the capacity of IL-4 to control SLE by downregulating Th1-mediated IgG subclasses of autoantibodies.
mAb and Cytofluorometric Analysis.
Antigens and Immunization Protocols.
Serological Assays.
The presence of IgG anti–DNA antibodies was assessed by ELISA as previously described (15). Results are expressed in titration units (U/ml) in reference to a standard curve obtained from 3–4-mo-old MRL-lpr/lpr mice. Titers of IgG subclass anti–DNA were determined by ELISA using IgG subclass specific antibodies (Southern Biotechnology Assoc.). The titers are the highest dilutions still giving a positive signal (log2 titers) in the ELISA, in which twofold serum dilutions were tested starting from 1:100 dilution.
Serum levels of gp70-anti–gp70 immune complexes (gp70 IC) were quantified by ELISA combined with the precipitation of the serum with polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight 6,000), which precipitates only the antibody-bound gp70, and not free gp70, as described (16). Results are expressed as µg/ml of gp70 complexed with anti-gp70 autoantibodies by referring to a standard curve obtained from NZB sera with known amounts of gp70.
Serum levels of IgM and IgG subclasses of anti-HGG and anti– NIP antibodies were measured by ELISA in which HGG or NIP15-BSA were used as coating antigens. Titers of anti-HGG and anti-NIP of individual Ig isotypes are expressed as the highest serum dilution giving a positive signal (log2 titers) in the ELISA, in which twofold serum dilutions were tested starting from 1:100 dilution.
Histopathology.
Statistical Analysis.
Materials and Methods
Top
Abstract
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Mice.
The 129/Sv IL-4 transgenic mutant strain (pEP-IL-4), which contains one copy of murine IL-4–encoding cDNA under the control of IgH enhancer/promoter, was generated by transfecting a murine-embryonic stem cell line with an IL-4 expression vector, described previously (13). B6.Yaa mice were established by backcross procedures, as described previously (11). NZW mice were purchased from Harlan Olac Ltd. (Oxon, UK). NZW x (pEP-IL-4 x B6.Yaa) mice were obtained by local breeding in our own animal facility. The inheritance of IL-4 transgene was ascertained by assessing an increased Ia expression by peripheral blood B lymphocytes. Blood samples were collected by orbital sinus puncture, and the sera were stored at –20°C until use.
The following mAbs were used: LO-MM-9 (anti–mouse µ chain), Y-3P (anti-I-Ab), and H81.98.21.1 (anti-I-E). For immunofluorescence analysis, mAbs were purified on protein G–sepharose and coupled to FITC or biotin; staining the cells was done as described by Rolink et al. (14). PE-labeled avidin was purchased from CALTAG Labs. (South San Francisco, CA). Spleen cells from 2-mo-old mice were first stained with FITC-labeled anti–mouse µ chain mAb, and then incubated in absence or in presence of biotinylated antiI-A or I-E mAb's, before incubation with PE-labeled avidin. 104 events were analyzed with a lymphocyte gate as defined by light scatter with a FACScan® (Becton Dickinson, Mountain View, CA).
Mice were immunized intravenously with 400 µg of heat-aggregated human IgG (HGG)1 in PBS or 10 µg (4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrophenyl) acetyl (NIP)- Ficoll in PBS. NIP-Ficoll was a gift from Dr. A. Rolink (Basel Institute for Immunology, Basel, Switzerland). Sera were collected 10 d later. LPS-induced polyclonal Ig responses were determined by injecting mice intraperitoneally with 25 µg LPS from Salmonella minnesota R595, and collecting sera 8 d later for IgM analysis, and 15 d later for IgG subclass analysis.
Total levels of serum IgM and IgG subclasses were determined by ELISA as previously described (15), using alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat antibodies specific for mouse Ig classes and subclasses (purchased from Southern Biotechnology Assoc., Birmingham, AL). The Ig concentrations were determined by referring to standard curves obtained with known concentrations of mouse Ig (Southern Biotechnology Assoc., and ICN Biomedicals, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA).
Samples of all major organs were obtained at autopsy, and histological sections were stained with periodic acid–Schiff reagent. Glomerulonephritis was evaluated based on the intensity and extent of pathological changes as described (11).
Statistical analysis was performed with the Wilcoxon two-samples test. P >5% were considered insignificant.
Results
Top
Abstract
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Prevention of Lupus-like Nephritis By IL-4 Transgene Expression in the (NZW x B6.Yaa)F1 Murine Model of SLE.
To determine whether constitutive IL-4 transgene expression may influence the development of the autoimmune SLE syndrome in (NZW x B6.Yaa)F1 mice, pEP-IL-4 female transgenic mice were crossed with B6.Yaa males, and the resulting (pEP-IL-4 x B6.Yaa)F1 male mice bearing the IL-4 transgene and the Yaa gene were then crossed with NZW females, thus generating lupus-prone NZW x (pEP-IL-4 x B6.Yaa) male mice. Consistent with previous analysis of pEP-IL-4 transgenic mice (13), most splenic B cells of IL-4 transgenic NZW x (pEP-IL-4 x B6.Yaa) mice exhibited a markedly increased (5–10-fold) expression of I-A and I-E molecules, as compared with nontransgenic littermates (Fig. 1 A).
|
Serological Characteristics in the IL-4 Transgenic Mice.
The protective effect of the IL-4 transgene did not appear to be associated with a reduction of total serum IgG anti-DNA autoantibodies (although titers were 1.5-fold lower in IL-4 transgenic mice; 4 mo: P <0.05, 8 mo: P >0.1, Fig. 2 A), but rather with marked changes in IgG subclasses (Fig. 2 B). In fact, IgG3 anti-DNA antibodies were barely detectable in transgenic mice (P <0.0001) even at one year of age (data not shown), and IgG2a anti-DNA antibodies were reduced (P <0.001), while IgG1 anti-DNA levels were increased in the transgenic mice (P <0.05). Total IgG subclass levels also differed in transgenic mice in a comparable way; there was a two– to fourfold increase of IgG1 (P <0.005), but two-fold and 10-fold decreases of IgG2a (P <0.001) and IgG3 (P <0.0001), respectively (Fig. 2 C).
|
Reduced Production of IgG2a and IgG3 versus IgG1 Antibodies Against T Cell–dependent, But Not T Cell–independent, Antigens in IL-4 Transgenic Mice.
The changes in IgG subclasses may result from a direct effect of the transgenic IL-4 expressed by the B cells on these cells, or from an IL-4 action modulating the Th1 and Th2 responses; IFN-
produced by Th1 cells and IL-4 secreted by Th2 cells are known to regulate reciprocally IgG class switching, the former promoting the Ig switch to IgG2a and IgG3 subclasses, and the latter to the IgG1 subclass (20, 21). To address this question, transgenic mice and their nontransgenic littermates were immunized either with the T cell–dependent antigen, HGG, the T cell-independent antigen NIPFicoll, or stimulated by the injection of LPS, a polyclonal B cell activator. Transgenic mice developed a limited IgG2a and IgG3 response (P <0.005), but a comparable IgG1 anti–HGG response (Fig. 3 A), whereas no significant differences in IgG subclass responses were observed in the anti– NIP antibody response in both groups of mice (Fig. 3 B). In addition, the pattern of antigen-nonspecific polyclonal Ig production following the injection of LPS was essentially identical in both groups of mice, except for a greater increase of IgG3 in transgenic mice, which is likely to be related to the fact that basal levels of IgG3 were markedly diminished in the latter mice (Fig. 3 C).
|
|
Discussion |
|---|
|
TopAbstractMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
The protection from SLE in association with the changes in IgG subclass responses as a result of the IL-4 transgene expression by B cells can be mediated either by a direct effect of the transgenic IL-4 on B cells, or by an IL-4 action on the modulation of the Th1 and Th2 responses. However, the lack of effect of the IL-4 transgene on the induction of IgG1 antibody production during T cell–independent (antigen-specific and nonspecific) activation of B cells strongly argues against a direct effect of the IL-4 transgene on the IgG class switching in B cells. This may be due in part to a low level of expression of the IL-4 transgene (13), as the pEP-IL-4 transgenic mice do not spontaneously exhibit any significant isotype alterations, although the transgene expression is sufficient to maintain Ia hyperexpression on B cells. Instead, the results obtained with the stimulation with T cell–dependent antigen suggest that the decrease of IgG3 and IgG2a autoantibody production in the transgenic mice is most likely due to the inhibitory effect of IL-4 on the development of the Th1 subset. This is consistent with the previous demonstration that pEP-IL-4 transgenic mice are more susceptible to Leishmania major infection than nontransgenic mice (22) in which Th1 cells play a crucial role in protection against L. major infection (23). The lack of effect on IgM and IgG3 antibody responses to T cell– independent antigens, together with the absence of significant effect on the serum levels of IgM antibodies reactive with bromelain-treated mouse red blood cells and the total number of IgMbright IgDdull, Mac-1+ B-1 peritoneal cells (our unpublished results), further rule out an IL-4 effect not mediated by T cells.
The beneficial effect of the IL-4 transgene is thus likely to be a result of a downregulation of Th1 responses involved in autoantibody production in our murine SLE model. This notion is supported by our recent observation that the progression of lupus nephritis in MRL mice bearing the Yaa or lpr (Fas) mutation correlates with an increased production of IgG2a and IgG3 versus IgG1 antibodies in parallel to an enhanced expression of IFN- versus IL-4 mRNA by CD4+ T cells (24). In addition, it has been shown that repeated injections of recombinant IFN- can accelerate the development of SLE, and treatment with anti–IFN- mAb or soluble IFN- receptors can inhibit the progression of SLE in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice (25, 26). Although one cannot rule out the possibility that proinflammatory Th1 cytokines may be involved in the immunopathogenetic process of glomerular lesions thus participating in the progression of the disease, an attractive possibility is that IFN- producing Th1 cells may promote the production of autoantibodies with more immunopathological consequences. It has been shown that murine IgG3 mAb are extremely nephritogenic, and generate lupus-like glomerular lesions through their cryoglobulin activity related to the unique structure of the 3 constant region (27, 28). Several studies have also shown that IgG3 levels correlate well with the development of murine lupus nephritis (24, 29–31). In addition, the complement activating IgG2a antibodies may be more nephritogenic than IgG1 antibodies. Although the IgG subclasses present in the gp70 IC have not been established, treatments such as early thymic irradiation, which retard the progression of SLE in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice, lead to a selective decrease in the levels of both IgG3 and gp70 IC (31), suggesting that IgG3 may be one of the major IgG subclasses of anti-gp70 autoantibodies; this would explain the remarkable suppression of the gp70 IC in the IL-4 transgenic mice.
When interpreting the protection given by IL-4 transgene expression against this murine SLE, it should not be assumed that the autoimmune manifestations of the SLE disease are based solely on a Th1 type autoimmune response, since Th2 type cytokines such as IL-6 and -10 are apparently involved (8, 9), perhaps in relation to these cytokines' ability to augment the overall production of pathogenic autoantibodies by promoting the terminal differentiation of activated B cells (4–6). In fact, many immune responses do not reflect an absolute Th1 or Th2 pattern, but seem to be functionally dominated either by Th1 (IFN-) or Th2 (IL-4) cytokines (3), and therefore, as suggested by a study of Klinman and Steinberg (32), an altered ratio of IFN-/IL-4 producing T cells could determine the nature, strength, and duration of systemic autoimmune responses. It should also be noted that the spontaneous production of IgG anti-DNA autoantibodies in lupus-prone (NZB x NZW)F1 mice was shown to reflect the intrinsic abnormality of B cells, as well as their hyperactivity to normal levels of immunostimulatory cytokines such as IL-5 (33, 34). Clearly, it will be important to determine whether IL-4 transgene expression also leads to protection against SLE in other murine models such as (NZB x NZW)F1 and MRL-lpr/lpr mice, and to address the issue of whether IL-4–induced immune deviation can provide protection from ongoing disease (35), since this would help establish new strategies for the development of therapeutic approaches in SLE and related human autoimmune diseases.
|
Acknowledgments |
|---|
Submitted: 2 October 1996
1Abbreviations used in this paper: gp70 IC, gp70-anti-gp70 immune complex; HGG, human IgG; NIP, 4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrophenyl acetyl.
|
References |
|---|
|
TopAbstractMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
1 Andrews BS, Eisenberg RA, Theofilopoulos AN, Izui S, Wilson CB, McConahey PJ, Murphy ED, Roths JB & Dixon FJ. Spontaneous murine lupus-like syndromes. Clinical and immunopathological manifestations in several strains, J Exp Med, 1978, 148, 1198–1215.
2 Theofilopoulos AN. The basis of autoimmunity. I. Mechanisms of aberrant self-recognition, Immunol Today, 1995, 16, 90–98.[Medline]
3 Paul WE & Seder RA. Lymphocyte responses and cytokines, Cell, 1994, 76, 241–251.[Medline]
4 Hamaoka T & Ono S. Regulation of B-cell differentiation, Annu Rev Immunol, 1986, 4, 167–204.[Medline]
5 Kishimoto T. The biology of interleukin-6, Blood, 1989, 74, 1–10.
6 Rousset F, Garcia E, Defrance T, Péronne C, Vezzio N, Hsu DH, Kastelein R, Moore KW & Banchereau J. Interleukin 10 is a potent growth and differentiation factor for activated human B lymphocytes, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1992, 89, 1890–1893.
7 Goldman M, Druet P & Gleichmann E. TH2 cells in systemic autoimmunity: insights from allogeneic diseases and chemically-induced autoimmunity, Immunol Today, 1991, 12, 223–227.[Medline]
8 Finck BK, Chan B & Wofsy D. Interleukin 6 promotes murine lupus in NZB/NZW F1 mice, J Clin Invest, 1994, 94, 585–591.[Medline]
9 Ishida H, Muchamuel T, Sakaguchi S, Andrade S, Menon S & Howard M. Continuous administration of anti-interleukin 10 antibodies delays onset of autoimmunity in NZB/W F1 mice, J Exp Med, 1994, 179, 305–310.
10 Nisitani S, Tsubata T, Murakami M & Honjo T. Administration of interleukin-5 or -10 activates peritoneal B-1 cells and induces autoimmune hemolytic anemia in antierythrocyte autoantibody-transgenic mice, Eur J Immunol, 1995, 25, 3047–3052.[Medline]
11 Izui S, Higaki M, Morrow D & Merino R. The Y chromosome from autoimmune BXSB/MpJ mice induces a lupus-like syndrome in (NZW x C57BL/6)F1 male mice, but not in C57BL/6 male mice, Eur J Immunol, 1988, 18, 911–915.[Medline]
12 Izui S, Iwamoto M, Fossati L, Merino R, Takahashi S & Ibnou-Zekri N. The Yaagene model of systemic lupus erythematosus, Immunol Rev, 1995, 144, 137–156.[Medline]
13 Müller W, Kühn R & Rajewsky K. Major histocompatibility complex class II hyperexpression on B cells in interleukin 4-transgenic mice does not lead to B cell proliferation and hypergammaglobulinemia, Eur J Immunol, 1991, 21, 921–925.[Medline]
14 Rolink AG, Melchers F & Palacios R. Monoclonal antibodies reactive with the mouse interleukin-5 receptor, J Exp Med, 1989, 169, 1693–1701.
15 Luzuy S, Merino J, Engers H, Izui S & Lambert PH. Autoimmunity after induction of neonatal tolerance to alloantigens: role of B cell chimerism and F1 donor B cell activation, J Immunol, 1986, 136, 4420–4426.[Abstract]
16 Merino R, Fossati L, Lacour M, Lemoine R, Higaki M & Izui S. H-2 linked control of the Yaagene induced acceleration of lupus-like autoimmune disease in BXSB mice, Eur J Immunol, 1992, 22, 295–299.[Medline]
17 Yoshiki T, Mellors RC, Strand M & August JT. The viral envelope glycoprotein of murine leukemia virus and the pathogenesis of immune complex glomerulonephritis of New Zealand mice, J Exp Med, 1974, 140, 1011–1027.[Abstract]
18 Izui S, McConahey PJ, Clark JP, Hang LM, Hara I & Dixon FJ. Retroviral gp70 immune complexes in NZB x NZW F2 mice with murine lupus nephritis, J Exp Med, 1981, 154, 517–528.
19 Maruyama N, Furukawa F, Nakai Y, Sasaki Y, Ohta K, Ozaki S, Hirose S & Shirai T. Genetic studies of autoimmunity in New Zealand mice, J Immunol, 1983, 130, 740–746.[Abstract]
20 Snapper CM & Paul WE. Interferon- and B cell stimulatory factor-1 reciprocally regulate Ig isotype production, Science (Wash DC), 1987, 236, 944–947.
21 Snapper CM, McIntyre TM, Mandler R, Pecanha LMT, Finkelman FD, Lees A & Mond JJ. Induction of IgG3 secretion by interferon-: a model for T cell–independent class switching in response to T cell–independent type 2 antigens, J Exp Med, 1992, 175, 1367–1371.
22 Leal LMCC, Moss DW, Kühn R, Müller W & Liew FY. Interleukin-4 transgenic mice of resistant background are susceptible to Leishmania major infection, Eur J Immunol, 1993, 23, 566–569.[Medline]
23 Sher A & Coffman RL. Regulation of immunity to parasites by cells and T cell–derived cytokines, Annu Rev Immunol, 1992, 10, 385–409.[Medline]
24 Takahashi S, Fossati L, Iwamoto M, Merino R, Motta R, Kobayakawa T & Izui S. Imbalance towards TH1 predominance is associated with acceleration of lupus-like autoimmune syndrome in MRL mice, J Clin Invest, 1996, 97, 1597–1604.[Medline]
25 Jacob CO, Van der Meide PH & McDevitt HO. In vivo treatment of (NZB x NZW)F1 lupus-like nephritis with monoclonal antibody to interferon, J Exp Med, 1987, 166, 798–803.
26 Ozmen L, Roman D, Fountoulakis M, Schmid G, Ryffel B & Garotta G. Experimental therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus: the treatment of NZB/W mice with soluble interferon- receptor inhibits the onset of glomerulonephritis, EurJ Immunol, 1995, 25, 6–12.[Medline]
27 Berney T, Fulpius T, Shibata T, Reininger L, Van Snick J, Shan H, Weigert M, Marshak-Rothstein A & Izui S. Selective pathogenicity of murine rheumatoid factors of the cryoprecipitable IgG3 subclass, Int Immunol, 1992, 4, 93–99.
28 Fulpius T, Spertini F, Reininger L & Izui S. Immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region determines the pathogenicity and the antigen-binding activity of rheumatoid factor, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1993, 90, 2345–2349.
29 Takahashi S, Nose M, Sasaki J, Yamamoto T & Kyogoku M. IgG3 production in MRL/lpr mice is responsible for development of lupus nephritis, J Immunol, 1991, 147, 515–519.[Abstract]
30 Steinberg BJ, Smathers PA, Frederiksen K & Steinberg AD. Ability of the xidgene to prevent autoimmunity in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice during the course of their natural history, after polyclonal stimulation, or following immunization with DNA, J Clin Invest, 1982, 70, 587–597.[Medline]
31 Erausquin C, Merino R, Izui S, Fernandez-Sueiro L, Saez F, Fernandez F, Rodriguez-Valverde V & Merino J. Therapeutic effect of early thymic irradiation in (NZB x NZW)F1 mice, associated with a selective decrease in the levels of IgG3 and gp-70–anti-gp70 immune complexes, Cell Immunol, 1995, 161, 207–212.[Medline]
32 Klinman DM & Steinberg AD. Inquiry into murine and human lupus, Immunol Rev, 1995, 144, 157–193.[Medline]
33 Reininger L, Radaszkiewicz T, Kosco M, Melchers F & Rolink AG. Development of autoimmune disease in SCID mice populated with long-term in vitro proliferating (NZB x NZW)F1 pre-B cells, J Exp Med, 1992, 176, 1343–1353.
34 Herron LR, Coffman RL, Bond MW & Kotzin BL. Increased autoantibody production by NZB/NZW B cells in response to IL-5, J Immunol, 1988, 141, 842–847.[Abstract]
35 Röcken M, Racke M & Shevach EM. IL-4–induced immune deviation as antigen-specific therapy for inflammatory autoimmune disease, Immunol Today, 1996, 17, 225–231.[Medline]
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
eightfold after immunization. Each symbol represents the value from one individual. (C) LPS-induced polyclonal IgM and IgG subclass responses in 6-mo-old IL-4 transgenic (right) and nontransgenic mice (left). IgM and IgG subclass levels determined 8 and 15 d, respectively, after the LPS injection (filled column), were compared with those before the injection (open column). The number in parentheses indicates the fold-increase of each Ig isotype after the LPS injection. The means of five mice (± 1 SD) are shown.