CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T cells, are required for the development of experimental autoimmune gastritis.
Murine autoimmune gastritis, induced by neonatal thymectomy, is characterized by a mononuclear infiltrate within the gastric mucosa, loss of parietal and zymogenic cells and circulating autoantibodies to the gastric H/K ATPase. The infiltrate contains both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Here we have investigated the roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the development of gastritis by in vivo treatment with depleting rat anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies. Depletion of CD4+ T cells decreased the incidence of gastric mononuclear infiltrates from 63% (5/8), observed in normal rat immunoglobulin G (IgG)-injected mice, to 8% (1/12) and also abolished the production of antigastric autoantibodies. In contrast, depletion of CD8+ T cells did not reduce the incidence of gastritis. The absence of CD8+ T cells in the infiltrate of the stomach of anti-CD8(+)-treated mice was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. These results argue that neonatal thymectomy-induced autoimmune gastritis is mediated by CD4+ T cells and that CD8+ T cells do not play a significant role in the development of the gastric lesion.
De Silva
H D
HD
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Monash University Medical School, Prahran, Melbourne, Australia.
Van Driel
I R
IR
La Gruta
N
N
Toh
B H
BH
Gleeson
P A
PA
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013934:Thymectomy
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G