Constitutively active aryl hydrocarbon receptor expressed specifically in T-lineage cells causes thymus involution and suppresses the immunization-induced increase in splenocytes.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor belonging to the basic helix-loop-helix-PER-ARNT-SIM superfamily. Xenobiotics, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, bind the receptor and trigger diverse biological reactions. Thymocyte development and T cell-dependent immune reactions are sensitive targets of AhR-dependent 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxicity. However, the exact role of the AhR in T cells in animals exposed to exogenous ligands has not been clarified because indirect effects of activated AhR in other cell types cannot be excluded. In this study, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice expressing a constitutively active mutant of AhR under the regulation of a T cell-specific CD2 promoter to examine AhR function in T cells. The mRNAs of the constitutively active mutant of AhR and an AhR-induced gene, CYP1A1, were expressed in the thymus and spleen of the Tg mice. The transgene expression was clearly detected in the thymocytes, CD4, and CD8 T cells, but not in the B cells or thymus stromal cells. These Tg mice had a decreased number of thymocytes and an increased percentage of CD8 single-positive thymocytes, but their splenocytes were much less affected. By contrast, the increase in number of T cells and B cells taking place in the spleen after immunization was significantly suppressed in the Tg mice. These results clearly show that AhR activation in the T-lineage cells is directly involved in thymocyte loss and skewed differentiation. They also indicate that AhR activation in T cells and not in B cells suppresses the immunization-induced increase in both T cells and B cells.
Nohara
Keiko
K
Environmental Health Sciences Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. keikon@nies.go.jp
Pan
Xiaoqing
X
Tsukumo
Shin-Ichi
S
Hida
Azumi
A
Ito
Tomohiro
T
Nagai
Haruko
H
Inouye
Kaoru
K
Motohashi
Hozumi
H
Yamamoto
Masayuki
M
Fujii-Kuriyama
Yoshiaki
Y
Tohyama
Chiharu
C
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic