title: Epicutaneous (EC) immunization with type II collagen (COLL II) induces CD4(+) CD8(+) T suppressor cells that protect from collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have shown previously that epicutaneous (EC) immunization with protein antigen induces T suppressor cells that alleviate inflammatory response in contact hypersensitivity reactions, in an animal model of multiple sclerosis, and in TNBS-induced colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  DBA/1 mice were EC immunized with type II collagen (COLL II) spread over a gauze patch on days 0 and 4. On day 7, patches were removed and mice were intradermally (id) immunized with COLL II in CFA to induce collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our work shows that EC immunization with 100μg of COLL II prior to CIA induction reduces disease severity as determined by macroscopic evaluation. Reduced disease severity after EC immunization with COLL II correlates with milder histological changes found in joint sections. Experiments with the three non-cross-reacting antigens COLL II, ovalbumin (OVA) and myelin basic protein (MBP) showed that skin-induced suppression is antigen non-specific. Transfer experiments show that EC immunization with COLL II induces suppressor cells that belong to the population of CD4(+) CD8(+) double positive lymphocytes. Flow cytometry experiments showed increased percentage of CD4(+) CD8(+) RORγt(+) cells in axillary and inguinal lymph nodes isolated from mice patched with COLL II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maneuver of EC immunization with a protein antigen that induces suppressor cells to inhibit inflammatory responses may become an attractive, noninvasive, needle-free therapeutic method for different clinical situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marcińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majewska-Szczepanik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biała
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Woźniak
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: mmszczep@cyf-kr.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szczepanik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D024043:Collagen Type II; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010047:Ovalbumin
keywords: CD4(+)CD8(+)RORγt(+) suppressor T cells; Collagen-induced arthritis; Cytokines; Epicutaneous immunization