Dietary ribonucleotides increase antigen-specific type 1 T-helper cells in the regional draining lymph nodes in young BALB/cJ mice.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the mechanisms of ribonucleotide action on type 1 T-helper cell (Th1) responses against ovalbumin (OVA) in Th2-biased BALB/cJ mice.


METHODS
Mice were fed a ribonucleotide-free or ribonucleotide-supplemented diet and given OVA subcutaneously with incomplete Freund's adjuvant at 3 and 6 wk. Costimulatory molecule expression (CD86 and CD154), the state of naive versus effecter/memory Th cells, and the frequency of OVA-specific resting versus activated Th1/Th2 cells were accessed in cells from the regional draining lymph nodes. OVA challenge increased CD86, but not CD154, expression. Effector/memory stage Th/cytotoxic T cells increased after the first and second OVA challenges.


RESULTS
Dietary ribonucleotides did not affect the expression of any of these cell surface molecules. Antigen-specific Th1 and Th2 cells increased 10 d after the first OVA dose and 5 d after the second OVA dose. Further, dietary ribonucleotides increased OVA-specific resting and activated Th1 cells 10 d after the first OVA dose and decreased OVA-specific resting Th2 cells 5 d after the second OVA dose.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary ribonucleotides may attenuate skewed Th2 responses by augmenting clonal expansion of OVA-specific Th1 cells, suppressing expansion of OVA-specific Th2 cells in Th2-biased BLAB/cJ mice, and not affecting antigen non-specific cell surface markers.
Jyonouchi
Harumi
H
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. jyonouRa@umdnj.edu
Sun
Sining
S
Winship
Timothy
T
Kuchan
Matthew J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D015703:Antigens, CD; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; C497965:Cd86 protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012265:Ribonucleotides; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D010047:Ovalbumin