Experimental induction of most autoimmune diseases appears to depend on the activation of CD4+ T helper cells, while CD8+ lymphocytes may have a role in disease progression. To study the role of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets in T cell-dependent autoimmunity, mice lacking CD4 or CD8 molecules after gene targeting were injected with cardiac myosin to induce organ specific autoimmune myocarditis. Mice homozygous for the CD8 mutation (CD8-/-) developed significantly more severe disease as compared to CD4+/-CD8+/- controls. Surprisingly, CD4-/- mice developed autoimmune myocarditis with infiltration of TCR alpha beta +CD4-CD8- T cells in the heart tissue and appearance of autoantibodies. These data demonstrate that the lack of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells has no significant influence on the initiation of autoimmune myocarditis. CD4+ and CD8+ cells regulate disease severity and these results may explain the occurrence of autoimmunity in CD4 immunodeficiencies.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 November 1993
Article|
November 01 1993
The induction of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in mice lacking CD4 or CD8 molecules [corrected]
J M Penninger,
J M Penninger
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
N Neu,
N Neu
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
E Timms,
E Timms
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
V A Wallace,
V A Wallace
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
D R Koh,
D R Koh
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
K Kishihara,
K Kishihara
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
C Pummerer,
C Pummerer
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
T W Mak
T W Mak
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
J M Penninger
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
N Neu
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
E Timms
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
V A Wallace
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
D R Koh
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
K Kishihara
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
C Pummerer
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
T W Mak
Amgen Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1993) 178 (5): 1837–1842.
Citation
J M Penninger, N Neu, E Timms, V A Wallace, D R Koh, K Kishihara, C Pummerer, T W Mak; The induction of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in mice lacking CD4 or CD8 molecules [corrected]. J Exp Med 1 November 1993; 178 (5): 1837–1842. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.178.5.1837
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionEmail alerts
Advertisement