title: Vra4 congenic rats with allelic differences in the class II transactivator gene display altered susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Presentation of Ag bound to MHC class II (MHC II) molecules to CD4+ T cells is a key event in adaptive immune responses. Genetic differences in MHC II expression in the rat CNS were recently positioned to allelic variability in the CIITA gene (Mhc2ta), located within the Vra4 locus on rat chromosome 10. In this study, we have examined reciprocal Vra4-congenic strains on the DA and PVGav1 backgrounds, respectively. After experimental nerve injury the strain-specific MHC II expression on microglia was reversed in the congenic strains. Similar findings were obtained after intraparenchymal injection of IFN-gamma in the brain. Expression of MHC class II was also lower on B cells and dendritic cells from the DA.PVGav1-Vra4- congenic strain compared with DA rats after in vitro stimulation with IFN-gamma. We next explored whether Vra4 may affect the outcome of experimental autoimmune disease. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, DA.PVGav1-Vra4 rats displayed a lower disease incidence and milder disease course compared with DA, whereas both PVGav1 and PVGav1.DA-Vra4 rats were completely protected. These results demonstrate that naturally occurring allelic differences in Mhc2ta have profound effects on the quantity of MHC II expression in the CNS and on immune cells and that this genetic variability also modulates susceptibility to autoimmune neuroinflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Neuroimmunology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harnesk
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swanberg
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ockinger
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lidman
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallström
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobell
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piehl
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D020296:Animals, Congenic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020078:Neurogenic Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D019051:Rhizotomy; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; C083728:MHC class II transactivator protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators