Spontaneous inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) resembling human ulcerative colitis develops in mice mutant for the T cell receptor alpha gene (TCR-alpha-/-). TCR-alpha-/- mice lack TCR-alpha/beta+ cells but contain TCR-gamma/delta+ cells and a small population of a unique CD4+, TCR-alpha-/beta+(low) cells. Since all the immunoglobulin (Ig) classes are present in these mice, help to B cells must be provided by cells other than TCR-alpha/beta+ cells. In the present study, we found serum levels of IgG1 and IgG2 to be markedly increased in TCR-alpha-/- mice with IBD as compared to TCR-alpha-/- mice without IBD or TCR-alpha+/- controls. An increase in IgG1-, IgG2a- and IgA- but not IgM-secreting mesenteric lymph node (MLN) B cells was detected in TCR-alpha-/- mutant mice. There was also a marked increase in MLN B cells secreting autoantibody (IgG) to tropomyosin, a cytoskeletal protein. Examination of the hyperplastic MLN showed a marked increase in the number of B, TCR-delta+, and CD4+ TCR-alpha-/beta+ cells, similar to the cell population observed at the site of colonic inflammation. Analysis of spontaneous cytokine production by MLN cells using an enzyme-linked immunospot assay, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction showed a decrease of interleukin 2 (IL-2) but a marked increase of IL-4 and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production in TCR-alpha-/- mice with IBD as compared to TCR-alpha-/- mice without IBD and TCR alpha+/- control mice. Both TCR-alpha-/beta+ and TCR-delta+ cells were found to be capable of producing IL-4; IFN-gamma was produced mostly by non-T cells, many of which were shown to be CD3- NK 1.1+ cells. We propose that the cytokine imbalance present in these mice results in expansion of B cells, production and switching of autoantibodies to IgG2 subclass, and development of IBD. It is possible that the unusual CD4+ TCR-alpha-/beta+ population and expanded TCR-gamma/delta+ population present in TCR-alpha-/- mice plays a central role in this abnormal immune response.
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1 March 1996
Article|
March 01 1996
Cytokine imbalance and autoantibody production in T cell receptor-alpha mutant mice with inflammatory bowel disease.
A Mizoguchi,
A Mizoguchi
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
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E Mizoguchi,
E Mizoguchi
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
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C Chiba,
C Chiba
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
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G M Spiekermann,
G M Spiekermann
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
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S Tonegawa,
S Tonegawa
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
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C Nagler-Anderson,
C Nagler-Anderson
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
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A K Bhan
A K Bhan
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
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A Mizoguchi
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
E Mizoguchi
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
C Chiba
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
G M Spiekermann
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
S Tonegawa
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
C Nagler-Anderson
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
A K Bhan
Immunopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02114, USA.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1996) 183 (3): 847–856.
Citation
A Mizoguchi, E Mizoguchi, C Chiba, G M Spiekermann, S Tonegawa, C Nagler-Anderson, A K Bhan; Cytokine imbalance and autoantibody production in T cell receptor-alpha mutant mice with inflammatory bowel disease.. J Exp Med 1 March 1996; 183 (3): 847–856. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.183.3.847
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