Modulation of T cell function by alpha-fetoprotein: An in vivo study on porcine thyroid peroxidase-induced experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in transgenic mice producing human alpha-fetoprotein.
Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis was induced in transgenic mice (TG-3) producing human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and in control mice by immunization of porcine thyroid peroxidase (TPO). Development of thyroiditis accompanied with mononuclear cell infiltration was observed in 6 out of 8 treated control mice. In contrast, the development was significantly suppressed in TG-3 mice and mild histologic change was observed in only 1 out of 8 TG-3 mice (p < 0. 05). Serum anti-TPO antibody titers gradually increased in TG-3 mice as well as in control mice and there were no significant differences. In vitro phytohemagglutinin response of splenocytes from TG-3 mice was lower than that from control mice. Significantly reduced numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ splenocytes, total thymocytes, and CD4+ thymocytes were found in the nontreated TG-3 mice as compared with those in control mice. These results suggest that ubiquitously produced AFP modulates in vivo T cell development and/or T cell-dependent immune responses.
Matsuura
E
E
Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Kang
Y
Y
Kitakawa
H
H
Ogata
A
A
Kotani
T
T
Ohtaki
S
S
Nishi
S
S
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase