[Influence of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha on the development of T and B cells in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor a (PPARa) in the function and development of murine immune system.


METHODS
Wild-type and PPARa-null C57B/6 mice were sacrificed after 7-day dietary treatment of with peroxisome proliferator (PP). The changes in the weight of the thymus and spleen and cell numbers from the thymus and spleen were observed. The alterations of the cell phenotypes in bone marrow, thymus and spleen were determined by immunofluorescent staining using anti-mouse CD3, CD4, CD8a, CD19, IgM or CD45R/220 mAb through FACS analysis. The proliferation of T or B cells in response to ConA or LPS, respectively, was analyzed by 3H-TdR labeling. The PPARa mRNA expression in the bone marrow, thymus and spleen was examined by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
PP treatment caused significant decreases in the weight and cell numbers of thymus and spleen and proliferative responsiveness of lymphocytes to ConA and LPS in wild-type mice, whereas these effects were significantly weaker in PPARalpha-null mice. The significant decreases of the CD4+ CD8+ population existed in the thymus and pro/pre-B cells and total B220+ cells in the bone marrow of wild-type mice with PP treatment, but not in PPARa-null mice. Interestingly, PPARalpha expression was detected in mouse thymus and spleen, rather than bone marrow.


CONCLUSIONS
PPARalpha plays a major role in the PP-induced immunomodulation, indirectly affecting the development of T and B cells.
Yang
Jin
J
Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. dryangjin@sina.com
Li
Ang
A
Yang
Qian
Q
Li
Xu
X
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D054448:Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D047493:PPAR alpha; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators; D012333:RNA, Messenger