Involvement of natural killer T cells in C57BL/6 mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis.
A subset of murine T lymphocytes sharing receptor structures with natural killer cells, named natural killer T cells, has characteristics distinct from conventional T cells and natural killer cells. The DBA/1 strain commonly used for collagen-induced arthritis induction does not express the natural killer 1.1 molecule, a marker for defining murine natural killer T cells. Therefore, collagen-induced arthritis was induced in the C57BL/6 strain carrying natural killer 1.1 marker and the role of natural killer T cells was examined in this model. The collagen-induced arthritis was induced successfully in the C57/BL6 strain with near 70% incidence. Lower percentages of natural killer T cells in lymphoid organs including spleen and lymph node and higher percentages of natural killer T cells in synovium were found in mice with severe inflamed joints as compared with those with mild inflamed joints. The results suggested an infiltration of natural killer 1.1+ CD3+ natural killer T cells into inflamed synovium in the model of collagen-induced arthritis. Although the preliminary results of natural killer 1.1 monoclonal antibody depletion experiments failed to alleviate the gravity of arthritis, such a C57BL/6 mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis may provide a tool in the study of therapeutic manipulation of natural killerT cells in human autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Section ofAllergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC. wangcr@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Chrong-Reen
CR
Wang
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
D003094:Collagen