title: CD137 signaling interferes with activation and function of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in induced tolerance to experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.
abstract: Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), a model for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is a T cell-mediated disease inducible with mouse thyroglobulin (mTg). Pretreatment with mTg, however, can induce CD4+ T cell-mediated tolerance to EAT. We demonstrate that CD4+CD25+ regulatory cells are critical for the tolerance induction, as in vivo depletion of CD25+ cells abrogated established tolerance, and CD4+CD25+ cells from tolerized mice suppressed mTg-responsive cells in vitro. Importantly, administration of an agonistic CD137 monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibited tolerance development, and the mediation of established tolerance. CD137 mAb also inhibited the suppression of mTg-responsive cells by CD4+CD25+ cells in vitro. Signaling through CD137 likely resulted in enhancement of the responding inflammatory T cells, as anti-CD137 did not enable CD4+CD25+ T cells to proliferate in response to mTg in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Lieping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-chi M
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000378:metabolism*; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505715:Tnfrsf9 protein, mouse; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9; D013954:Thyroglobulin