title: Dysregulation of T helper cell cytokines in autoimmune prone NZB x NZW F1 mice.
abstract: Multifactorial involvement in the pathogenesis of autoimmune NZB/W F1 mice has been well documented. To further elucidate the role of cytokines in the disease development of murine lupus, single spleen cells isolated from NZB/W F1 and non-autoimmune C57BL/6 mice were stimulated with T cell mitogens or anti-CD3 antibody at pre-determined optimal concentration. Supernatants were collected and assayed for production of cytokines including IL-2, gamma-IFN, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10. In both young and old mice, cytokine profiles by mitogen-stimulated T cells showed higher TH2 (type 2 T helper) cell-related cytokine production in NZB/W F1 mice compared to those in non-autoimmune C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, cytokines produced by TH1 (type 1 T helper) cells, such as gamma-IFN and IL-2, were lower in NZB/W F1 mice by stimulation with either mitogen or anti-CD3 antibody. In addition, cytokine production at different time points also demonstrated decreased gamma-IFN and increased IL-4 levels by anti-CD3 stimulated splenic cells in autoimmune NZB/W F1 mice. Furthermore, the IL-10 levels produced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenic and peritoneal exudate cells were higher in young NZB/W F1 mice compared to those in C57BL/6 mice. Our data suggest that dysregulation between TH1 and TH2 cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity in NZB/W F1 mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, China.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines