title: The role of cellular proliferation in the induction of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in mice.
abstract: Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) can be induced in susceptible strains of mice by injection of mouse thyroglobulin (MTg) and adjuvant. Lymphocytes from immunized mice develop a proliferative response to MTg which generally correlates with the development of EAT. We utilize a cell transfer system wherein spleen cells from CBA/J mice primed with MTg and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo are activated by culture with MTg in vitro to transfer EAT to naive recipients. In vivo priming of CBA/J mice is required to develop an antigen specific proliferative response to MTg. This response is optimal between 48 and 90 hr of culture at an MTg concentration of 125-250 micrograms/ml. The correlation between proliferation and transfer of EAT is not absolute as primed Balb/c X CBA/J F1 and AKR lymphocytes do not proliferate detectably in response to MTg but can be activated to transfer EAT; primed Balb/c lymphocytes neither proliferate nor transfer EAT. Proliferation per se is not sufficient to activate cells to transfer EAT as culture with nonspecific mitogens is not effective in activating primed CBA/J spleen cells to transfer EAT. However, lymphoblasts generated during in vitro culture of primed CBA/J spleen cells with MTg are responsible for transfer of EAT; small lymphocytes are ineffective. We conclude that antigen specific proliferation in response to MTg is essential in activating lymphocytes in vitro to transfer EAT.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D017710:Lymphocyte Transfusion; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000637:transplantation; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013954:Thyroglobulin