Immunomodulation of streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis. Identification of inflammatory cells and regulatory T cell subsets by mercuric chloride and in vivo CD8 depletion.
Streptococcal cell wall (SCW)-induced arthritis is a chronic, erosive polyarthritis which can be induced in susceptible Lewis rats by one intraperitoneal injection of a sterile, aqueous suspension of SCW. The chronic phase of the disease is dependent on T cells. Mercuric chloride is an immunomodulating agent, causing autoimmunity in BN rats, but an OX8+ cell-mediated immunosuppression in Lewis rats. Therefore, we investigated the effect of mercuric chloride, whether or not combined with in vivo OX8 depletion, on SCW-induced arthritis in Lewis rats. We show that (a) depletion of OX8+ cells leads to a more chronic arthritis with a more rapid onset, (b) treatment with mercuric chloride induces a rapidly developing disease which is not chronic, and (c) treatment with mercuric chloride and OX8+ cell depletion induces an arthritis with a very rapid onset and enhanced chronicity. Together with histological data this suggests an important role for OX8+ T cells in controlling both the acute and chronic phase of the disease. In addition, mercuric chloride seems to induce an early activation of T cells resulting in an enhanced onset of disease, which is controlled later by enhanced activation of OX8+ cells.
van den Broek
M F
MF
Department of Rheumatic Diseases, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
de Heer
E
E
van Bruggen
M C
MC
de Roo
G
G
Kleiverda
K
K
Eulderink
F
F
van den Berg
W B
WB
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D008627:Mercuric Chloride