Agonistic anti‐CD40 promotes early development and increases the incidence of severe thyroid epithelial cell hyperplasia (TEC H/P) in CD4−/− mice

Immunity, Inflammation and Disease

Shiguang Yu²  Edward F. Downey¹ 

[1] Departments of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri;Department of Veterans Affairs Research Service, Columbia, Missouri

关键词: Autoimmunity;    fibrosis;    hyperplasia;    inflammation;    T cells;   

DOI  :  10.1002/iid3.5

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

IFN-γ−/−NOD.H-2h4 mice develop thyroid epithelial cell hyperplasia (TEC H/P) characterised by abnormal proliferation of thyrocytes and infiltration of thyroids by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. CD8+ T cells from mice with severe TEC H/P transfer similar lesions to SCID recipients, whereas CD4+ T cells transfer mild TEC H/P. CD4− and CD8− deficient IFN-γ−/−NOD.H-2h4 mice were generated to determine if CD4+ T cells were required for initial activation of the CD8+ T cells that transfer TEC H/P. After 6–8 months on NaI water, only 2 of 60 CD8−/− mice developed severe TEC H/P, whereas 31 of 101 CD4−/− mice developed severe TEC H/P and fibrosis comparable in severity to that of IFN-γ−/− mice. However, splenocytes from CD4−/− mice with severe TEC H/P did not effectively transfer severe TEC H/P to SCID recipients. When CD4−/− donors were given agonistic anti-CD40 mAb, most developed severe TEC H/P and their cells transferred severe TEC H/P to SCID recipients. These results indicate that agonistic anti-CD40 can provide an important signal for activation of autoreactive CD8+ T cells that transfer severe TEC H/P. Therefore, targeting or blocking CD40 could provide effective therapy for diseases involving hyperplasia and fibrosis mediated by CD8+ T cells.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

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