title: Epicutaneous Immunization with Collagen Induces TCRαβ Suppressor T Cells That Inhibit Collagen-Induced Arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have shown previously, in an animal model of multiple sclerosis and in TNBS-induced colitis, that epicutaneous (EC) immunization with protein antigen induces T suppressor cells that strongly inhibit the inflammatory response in contact hypersensitivity reactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  EC immunization was performed by applying to the shaved skin of the mouse dorsum a gauze patch soaked with a solution containing various amounts of type II collagen (COLL II) in a volume of 100 µl of PBS on days 0 and 4. On day 7 the patches were removed and mice were intradermally (i.d.) immunized with COLL II to induce collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study shows that EC immunization with 100 or 30 μg of COLL II reduces disease severity, whereas lower doses (10 or 3 μg) do not affect CIA. Decreased disease severity observed after EC immunization with COLL II correlates with reduced myeloperoxidase activity in joint tissue and with reduced production of anti-citrullinated protein and anti-COLL II IgG2a antibodies. Transfer experiments show that EC immunization with COLL II induces suppressor cells that belong to the population of TCRαβ lymphocytes and that EC-induced suppression declines with time. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments show that IL-17A plays an important role in EC-induced suppression of CIA. EC application of COLL II at the first signs of CIA also results in disease suppression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The suppression of inflammatory responses by T suppressor cells induced through EC immunization of a protein antigen may become an attractive noninvasive therapeutic method for a variety of clinical situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marcińska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majewska-Szczepanik
authors.forename: Katarzyna Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Maresz
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szczepanik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D016207:Cytokines; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D009195:Peroxidase