Programmed death ligand 1 regulates a critical checkpoint for autoimmune myocarditis and pneumonitis in MRL mice.
MRL/MpJ-Fas(lpr) (MRL-Fas(lpr)) mice develop a spontaneous T cell and macrophage-dependent autoimmune disease that shares features with human lupus. Interactions via the programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway down-regulate immune responses and provide a negative regulatory checkpoint in mediating tolerance and autoimmune disease. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway suppresses lupus nephritis and the systemic illness in MRL-Fas(lpr) mice. For this purpose, we compared kidney and systemic illness (lymph nodes, spleen, skin, lung, glands) in PD-L1 null (-/-) and PD-L1 intact (wild type, WT) MRL-Fas(lpr) mice. Unexpectedly, PD-L1(-/-);MRL-Fas(lpr) mice died as a result of autoimmune myocarditis and pneumonitis before developing renal disease or the systemic illness. Dense infiltrates, consisting of macrophage and T cells (CD8(+) > CD4(+)), were prominent throughout the heart (atria and ventricles) and localized specifically around vessels in the lung. In addition, once disease was evident, we detected heart specific autoantibodies in PD-L1(-/-);MRL-Fas(lpr) mice. This unique phenotype is dependent on MRL-specific background genes as PD-L1(-/-);MRL(+/+) mice lacking the Fas(lpr) mutation developed autoimmune myocarditis and pneumonitis. Notably, the transfer of PD-L1(-/-);MRL(+/+) bone marrow cells induced myocarditis and pneumonitis in WT;MRL(+/+) mice, despite a dramatic up-regulation of PD-L1 expression on endothelial cells in the heart and lung of WT;MRL(+/+) mice. Taken together, we suggest that PD-L1 expression is central to autoimmune heart and lung disease in lupus-susceptible (MRL) mice.
Lucas
Julie A
JA
Laboratory of Molecular Autoimmune Disease, Renal Division, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Menke
Julia
J
Rabacal
Whitney A
WA
Schoen
Frederick J
FJ
Sharpe
Arlene H
AH
Kelley
Vicki R
VR
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D010455:Peptides / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D011828:Radiation Chimera / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C498919:Cd274 protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C491383:Pdcd1 protein, mouse; D010455:Peptides; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D019014:fas Receptor