Protective role of gammadelta T cells in spontaneous ocular inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
A role for gammadelta T cells in immunoregulation has been shown in a number of studies, but in the absence of infection or induced disease, mice lacking gammadelta T cells generally appear to be healthy. That certain mice lacking gammadelta T cells often spontaneously develop keratitis, characterized by a progressive and destructive inflammation of the cornea is reported here.


METHODS
The keratitis developing in these mice was characterized in terms of prevalence in males versus females, age of onset, and histologic features. Attempts were made to understand the underlying causes of the disease by removing alphabeta T cells, altering sex hormones, and reconstituting gammadelta T cells.


RESULTS
The development of keratitis in these mice depended on the C57BL/10 genetic background, and was much more common among females than males. The incidence of the disease increased with age, exceeding 80% in females greater than 18 weeks old. Evidence that the keratitis in these mice is at least partly autoimmune in nature, and that despite its prevalence in females, male hormones do not protect against the disease is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate an important role for gammadelta T cells in maintaining immune balance in the eye. The mice described in this study represent a potential new small animal model of keratitis.
O'Brien
Rebecca L
RL
Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. obrienr@njc.org
Taylor
Molly A
MA
Hartley
Jacqueline
J
Nuhsbaum
Tanja
T
Dugan
Steve
S
Lahmers
Kevin
K
Aydintug
M Kemal
MK
Wands
J M
JM
Roark
Christina L
CL
Born
Willi K
WK
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D017668:Age of Onset; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015994:Incidence; D007634:Keratitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009919:Orchiectomy; D015995:Prevalence; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta