Distinct contribution of IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-10 to T cell-mediated spontaneous autoimmune arthritis in mice.
Cytokines play key roles in spontaneous CD4(+) T cell-mediated chronic autoimmune arthritis in SKG mice, a new model of rheumatoid arthritis. Genetic deficiency in IL-6 completely suppressed the development of arthritis in SKG mice, irrespective of the persistence of circulating rheumatoid factor. Either IL-1 or TNF-alpha deficiency retarded the onset of arthritis and substantially reduced its incidence and severity. IL-10 deficiency, on the other hand, exacerbated disease, whereas IL-4 or IFN-gamma deficiency did not alter the disease course. Synovial fluid of arthritic SKG mice contained high amounts of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-1, in accord with active transcription of these cytokine genes in the afflicted joints. Notably, immunohistochemistry revealed that distinct subsets of synovial cells produced different cytokines in the inflamed synovium: the superficial synovial lining cells mainly produced IL-1 and TNF-alpha, whereas scattered subsynovial cells produced IL-6. Thus, IL-6, IL-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 play distinct roles in the development of SKG arthritis; arthritogenic CD4(+) T cells are not required to skew to either Th1 or Th2; and the appearance of rheumatoid factor is independent of joint inflammation. The results also indicate that targeting not only each cytokine but also each cell population secreting distinct cytokines could be an effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Hata
Noriko
N
Sakaguchi
Hiroyuki
H
Yoshitomi
Yoichiroh
Y
Iwakura
Kenji
K
Sekikawa
Yoshiaki
Y
Azuma
Chieko
C
Kanai
Eiko
E
Moriizumi
Takashi
T
Nomura
Takashi
T
Nakamura
Shimon
S
Sakaguchi
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013585:Synovitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10