title: Type I IFN protects against antigen-induced arthritis.
abstract: Autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involve immune reactions against specific antigens. The type I IFN system is suspected to promote autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus, but may also dampen immune reactions in e.g. inflammatory bowel disease. This prompted us to investigate the role of type I IFN in antigen-induced arthritis (AIA). The importance of type I IFN in methylated (m) BSA-induced arthritis was studied by using mice deficient for the type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) and by administration of the IFN-α activator viral double-stranded (ds) RNA or recombinant IFN-α at antigen sensitization. In IFNAR knock-out mice, arthritis severity was significantly higher than in WT mice. Administration of dsRNA at antigen sensitization protected WT but not IFNAR KO mice from arthritis. Also, addition of recombinant IFN-α during the immunization, but not the induction phase of arthritis, almost abolished arthritis. Protection mediated by IFN-α was accompanied by delayed and decreased antigen-specific proliferative responses, including impaired lymph node recall responses after intra-articular antigenic challenge. In conclusion, we demonstrate that type I IFN can prevent joint inflammation by downregulating antigen-specific cellular immunity.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Guiyang, Guizhou, P R China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Jaya Prakash
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chalise
authors.forename: Sudeep Chenna
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Narendra
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnusson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine