T lymphocytes are not the target for estradiol-mediated suppression of DTH in reconstituted female severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice.
Oestrogen has the capacity to suppress T cell-dependent DTH. To explore the mechanisms whereby oestrogen exerts its effects on the immune system we have used SCID mice which are largely devoid of functional T and B lymphocytes, hence being unable to raise DTH, but display intact antigen-presenting capacity. Transfer of lymphocytes to SCID mice restores the DTH capacity. In order to analyse if oestrogen down-regulates DTH by a direct action on T cells we reconstituted SCID mice with either splenocytes or thymocytes from congenic C.B-17 or allogeneic B6 donor mice. Either donor or recipient mice were exposed to estradiol before cell transfer. DTH response was registered in recipient SCID mice 1 and 3 weeks after challenge with oxazolone (OXA). SCID mice receiving estradiol-exposed spleen cells from congenic or allogeneic donor mice displayed lower DTH responses compared with control mice. In contrast, SCID mice receiving estradiol-exposed thymocytes from congenic donor mice showed no significant difference in DTH response compared with control mice. Estradiol-treated SCID mice, transferred with either spleen cells or thymocytes from congenic, hormonally non-treated donors, displayed a significantly lower DTH response compared with control mice. In contrast, estradiol-treated SCID mice receiving hormonally non-treated allogeneic spleen cells showed no difference in DTH response compared with control mice. The results show that T lymphocytes are not the target cell population for estradiol-mediated suppression of DTH in reconstituted female SCID mice.
Taube
M
M
Department of Rheumatology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
Svensson
L
L
Carlsten
H
H
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016513:Mice, SCID; D010081:Oxazolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010081:Oxazolone; D004958:Estradiol