title: The negative regulators Foxj1 and Foxo3a are up-regulated by a peptide that inhibits systemic lupus erythematosus-associated T cell responses.
abstract: A peptide (hCDR1) based on the complementarity determining region-1 of an anti-DNA antibody ameliorates systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in induced and spontaneous lupus models. Our objectives were to determine the effects of hCDR1 on TCR signaling and on its negative regulators, Foxj1 and Foxo3a. BALB/c mice were immunized with the SLE-inducing anti-DNA antibody, designated 16/6Id, and treated with hCDR1. hCDR1 treatment specifically inhibited IFN-gamma secretion by T cells in association with down-regulated T-bet expression and NF-kappaB activation; however, GATA-3 expression was not affected. Furthermore, TCR signaling (ZAP-70 phosphorylation) was inhibited, and the mRNA expression of the two modulators of Th1 activation, Foxj1 and Foxo3a, was significantly up-regulated. The latter were also elevated in SLE-afflicted (NZBxNZW)F1 mice that were treated with hCDR1. Addition of TGF-beta, which was elevated following treatment with hCDR1, to T cells from 16/6Id immunized mice, up-regulated Foxj1 and Foxo3a mRNA expression, similarly to hCDR1. In contrast, anti-TGF-beta antibodies added to hCDR1-treated T cells abrogated its effect. Thus, hCDR1 elevates TGF-beta, which contributes to the up-regulation of T cell Foxj1 and Foxo3a expression, leading to inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and IFN-gamma secretion, which is required for the maintenance of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dayan
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hershkoviz
authors.forename: Liora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cahalon
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lider
authors.forename: Edna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mozes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D000071316:Forkhead Box Protein O3; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C481963:FOXJ1 protein, mouse; D000071316:Forkhead Box Protein O3; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C474033:FoxO3 protein, mouse; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C516151:edratide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase