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Maruoka R, Aoki N, Kido M, Iwamoto S, Nishiura H, Ikeda A, Chiba T, Watanabe N. Splenectomy prolongs the effects of corticosteroids in mouse models of autoimmune hepatitis. Gastroenterology 2013; 145:209-220.e9. [PMID: 23523671 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2012] [Revised: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Most patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) initially respond to treatment with corticosteroids but often experience a relapse after treatment is withdrawn. BALB/c mice with disruption of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1(-/-) mice) that undergo thymectomy 3 days after birth develop a deregulated immune system, have reduced numbers of Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells, and develop fulminant hepatic failure that resembles acute-onset AIH in humans. We examined whether splenectomy overcomes corticosteroid insufficiency and reduces the severity of AIH in these mice. We also developed a mouse model of chronic AIH to investigate the effects of splenectomy. METHODS After thymectomy, BALB/c PD-1(-/-) mice were treated with dexamethasone before or after induction of AIH; splenectomy was performed in mice that had and had not been treated with dexamethasone. Neonatal C57BL/6 PD-1(-/-) mice underwent thymectomy to create a model of chronic AIH. RESULTS Injection of dexamethasone before or after induction of AIH prevented development of fatal AIH in BALB/c PD-1(-/-) mice. However, injection of dexamethasone after induction of AIH did not suppress splenic production of follicular helper T cells, and discontinuation of dexamethasone led to a relapse of AIH. Splenectomy (even without administration of dexamethasone) prevented AIH. Neonatal C57BL/6 PD-1(-/-) mice that underwent thymectomy developed chronic hepatitis with fibrosis and hypergammaglobulinemia and produced antinuclear antibodies; AIH was found to be induced in the spleen. Splenectomy reduced liver inflammation in these mice and in BALB/c PD-1(-/-) mice with AIH. CONCLUSIONS AIH can be induced in mice via disruption of PD-1 and thymectomy; these cause the same disruptions in immune regulation in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice but produce different phenotypes. Splenectomy overcomes corticosteroid insufficiency in mice and prolongs the effects of dexamethasone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryutaro Maruoka
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Aoki
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kido
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoru Iwamoto
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hisayo Nishiura
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Aki Ikeda
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Chiba
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Norihiko Watanabe
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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Chabot S, Fakhfakh A, Béland K, Lamarre A, Oldstone MBA, Alvarez F, Djilali-Saiah I. Mouse liver-specific CD8(+) T-cells encounter their cognate antigen and acquire capacity to destroy target hepatocytes. J Autoimmun 2012; 42:19-28. [PMID: 23137675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
CD8(+) T-cell immune response to liver antigens is often functionally diminished or absent. This may occur via deletion of these autoaggressive T-cells, through the acquisition of an anergic phenotype, or via active suppression mediated by other cell populations. We generated a double transgenic model in which mice express CD8(+) T-cells specific for the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus nucleoprotein (LCMV-NP) and LCMV-NP as a hepatic neo-autoantigen, to study the immunological response of potentially liver antigen autoaggressive CD8(+) T-cells. Autoreactive transgenic CD8(+) T-cells were analyzed for functionality and cytotoxic effector status. Despite severe peripheral deletion of liver-specific CD8(+) T-cells, a fraction of autoreactive NP-specific CD8(+) T-cells accumulate in liver, resulting in hepatocyte injury and production of auto-antibodies in both male and female mice. NP-specific intrahepatic T-cells showed capacity to proliferate, produce cytokines and up-regulate activation markers. These data provide in vivo evidence that autoreactive CD8(+) T-cells are activated in the liver and developed an inflammatory process, but require additional factors to cause severe autoimmune destruction of hepatocytes. Our new model will provide a valuable tool for further exploration of the immunological response involved in inflammatory liver diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Chabot
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Division, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Xenobiotic exposure and autoimmune hepatitis. HEPATITIS RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2010; 2010:248157. [PMID: 21253536 PMCID: PMC3021850 DOI: 10.1155/2010/248157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2010] [Accepted: 11/09/2010] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Although genetics contributes to the development of autoimmune diseases, it is clear that "environmental" factors are also required. These factors are thought to encompass exposure to certain drugs and environmental pollutants. This paper examines the mechanisms that normally maintain immune unresponsiveness in the liver and discusses how exposure to certain xenobiotics such as trichloroethylene may disrupt those mechanisms and promote autoimmune hepatitis.
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Buxbaum J, Qian P, Allen PM, Peters MG. Hepatitis resulting from liver-specific expression and recognition of self-antigen. J Autoimmun 2008; 31:208-15. [PMID: 18513923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2008.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Liver-specific immune reactivity in response to aberrant expression of antigen on the surface of hepatocytes is thought to be a major factor in development of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Persistent inflammation develops when these antigens are not eliminated and/or responses are not appropriately regulated. We have developed transgenic mice (OVA-HEP), which express chicken ovalbumin on the surface of hepatocytes. These mice are tolerant to ovalbumin, develop normally and have shown no evidence of liver or other disease up to 2 years of age. Adoptive transfer of naïve ovalbumin-specific T cells into OVA-HEP transgenic mice led to liver-specific inflammation in a dose dependent manner. This hepatic necroinflammation was dependent upon CD8(+) Valpha2 OVA-specific T cells, was limited to the liver, and was augmented by OVA-specific CD4(+) T cell help; but did not result from adoptive transfer of ovalbumin-specific CD4 T cells alone. The response was self-limited but persistent inflammation developed after repeated transfer of antigen-specific T cells. This model of T cell recognition of antigen on hepatocytes may be used to understand many liver-specific aspects of the immune response in autoimmune hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Buxbaum
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Buxbaum J, Qian P, Khuu C, Shneider BL, Daikh DI, Gershwin ME, Allen PM, Peters MG. Novel model of antigen-specific induction of bile duct injury. Gastroenterology 2006; 131:1899-906. [PMID: 17087941 PMCID: PMC4113411 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2006.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2006] [Accepted: 09/07/2006] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Biliary-directed inflammation is an important cause of acute and chronic liver disease. We developed and characterized a transgenic mouse model of immune-mediated hepatobiliary injury. METHODS Ovalbumin (OVA)-BIL mice were developed using 3.0 kilobase of the rat apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter promoter to drive aberrant expression of a membrane form of ovalbumin (OVA) on biliary epithelium. Liver inflammation resulted from adoptive transfer of OVA-specific T cells. Liver immune cells were characterized to determine the mechanism of the response by assessing activation, proliferation, and intracellular cytokine expression. RESULTS OVA-BIL transgenic mice were tolerant to OVA, without evidence of liver disease. Adoptive transfer of OVA-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells into naïve OVA-BIL mice led to biliary-centered necroinflammatory damage in a dose-dependent manner. This inflammation absolutely required CD8+ T cells and was augmented by CD4+ T cells. Adoptively transferred OVA CD8+ cells homed to and proliferated in the liver but not the spleen. These activated, adoptively transferred cytotoxic T lymphocytes produced elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma. CONCLUSIONS T-cell recognition of antigen aberrantly expressed on bile duct epithelium induced an acute necroinflammatory response specific to the liver, with activation, proliferation, and cytokine production predominantly by the OVA-specific cytotoxic T cells. Thus, OVA BIL represents an antigen-specific animal model of inflammatory bile duct injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Buxbaum
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0538, USA
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Robinson RT, French MA, Kitzmiller TJ, Gorham JD. Restriction of the CD4+ T-cell receptor repertoire prevents immune pathology in TGF-beta1 knockout mice. J Transl Med 2006; 86:815-28. [PMID: 16751781 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.3700439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice with a targeted deletion in TGF-beta1 spontaneously develop CD4+ T-cell-dependent multifocal inflammatory disease and autoimmune pathology. T cells from TGF-beta1-/- mice are strongly activated, but the mechanisms that lead to T-cell activation and organ pathology are not well understood. Recent work shows that TGF-beta1 raises the threshold for signaling through the TCR, suppressing the response of T cells to mitogenic stimuli. This suggests the possibility that CD4+ T cells in TGF-beta1-/- mice become aberrantly activated and cause damage in response to physiologic inputs that ordinarily are not sufficient for cell activation, such as homeostatic MHC-TCR interactions, cytokines, or adhesion molecules. This model predicts that pathology is largely antigen-independent, and that CD4+ T cells, regardless of antigen specificity, will become activated in TGF-beta1-/- mice, with subsequent organ pathology. To test this model, we crossed BALB/c-TGF-beta1-/- mice with the DO11.10 TCR transgenic mouse. To obviate the possible development of nonclonotypic TCRs, we also bred in a deficiency in RAG-1. Cohorts of highly inbred BALB/c background TGF-beta1-/- mice with an increasingly restricted CD4+ T-cell repertoire (TGF-beta1-/- mice; DO11.10-TGF-beta1-/- mice; DO11.10-RAG-1-/-TGF-beta1-/- mice) were then analyzed for inflammatory organ pathology and T-cell activation. The data show that progressively restricting the CD4+ T-cell repertoire improved survival, ameliorated target organ pathology, and reduced T-cell activation to control levels. Therefore, these results find no support for the involvement of atypical T-cell activation pathways in disease in TGF-beta1-/- mice. Rather, T-cell activation and pathology in TGF-beta1-/- mice appear to be functions of typical TCR activation pathways. This supports the hypothesis that immune pathology in TGF-beta1-/- mice is self-antigen triggered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Robinson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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Ichiki Y, Aoki CA, Bowlus CL, Shimoda S, Ishibashi H, Gershwin ME. T cell immunity in autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmun Rev 2005; 4:315-21. [PMID: 15990080 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2005.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2004] [Accepted: 01/11/2005] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
T cells play a central role in the immunopathogenesis of AIH. Until recently CD4+ T cells were thought to be critical for disease development, increasing evidence has shown that CD8+ T and gammadelta T cells also play a significant role. The predisposition of certain HLA genotypes to AIH as well as the clonal expansion of a limited number of T cell receptors suggests that the presentation of a self-antigen or a molecular mimic may be responsible for the initiation of the immune response. Given the association of AIH with viral hepatitis, it is thought that the loss of tolerance begins with an infection of hepatocytes and subsequent cytolysis by CD8+ T cells. The presentation of self-antigens or molecular mimics leads to activation and clonal expansion of T cells; this process may be increased by impaired regulatory T cells and a defect in apoptosis. Ultimately T cells initiate B cell production of autoantibodies, proinflammatory cytokines and finally hepatocyte cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Ichiki
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, TB192, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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8
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Lu J, Basu A, Melenhorst JJ, Young NS, Brown KE. Analysis of T-cell repertoire in hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia. Blood 2004; 103:4588-93. [PMID: 14988156 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2003-11-3959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAA) is a syndrome of bone marrow failure following an acute attack of seronegative hepatitis. Clinical features and liver histology suggest a central role for an immune-mediated mechanism. To characterize the immune response, we investigated the T-cell repertoire (T-cell receptor [TCR] Vβ chain subfamily) of intrahepatic lymphocytes in HAA patients by TCR spectratyping. In 6 of 7 HAA liver samples, a broad skewing pattern in the 21 Vβ subfamilies tested was observed. In total, 62% ± 18% of HAA spectratypes showed a skewed pattern, similar to 68% ± 18% skewed spectratype patterns in 3 of 4 patients with confirmed viral hepatitis. Additionally, the T-cell repertoire had similarly low levels of complexity. In the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of a separate group of HAA patients prior to treatment, 60% ± 15% skewed spectratypes were detected, compared with only 18% ± 8% skewed spectratypes in healthy controls. After successful immunosuppressive treatment, an apparent reversion to a normal T-cell repertoire with a corresponding significant increase in T-cell repertoire complexity was observed in the HAA samples. In conclusion, our data suggest an antigen-driven T-cell expansion in HAA and achievement of a normal T-cell repertoire during recovery from HAA. (Blood. 2004;103:4588-4593)
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Lu
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bldg 10, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892-1652, USA
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9
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Löhr HF, Pingel S, Weyer S, Fritz T, Galle PR. Individual and common antigen-recognition sites of liver-derived T cells in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Scand J Immunol 2003; 57:384-90. [PMID: 12662302 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3083.2003.01236.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is characterized by dense T-cell infiltrations in the liver tissue, but little is known how T cells influence the pathogenesis. To address this question, the distribution of T-cell receptor variable beta-chain (TCR Vbeta) transcripts of peripheral blood and liver-infiltrating T cells from previously untreated patients with newly diagnosed acute exacerbated AIH was investigated. Furthermore, the lengths and sequences of complementary-determining region 3 (CDR3) were studied. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and CDR3 spectratyping revealed multiple clonal expansions of liver-infiltrating T cells but not peripheral T cells within various TCR Vbeta families. Further analysis of overexpressed TCR Vbeta transcripts using TCR beta-chain-joining element (TCR Jbeta)-specific primers in a nested PCR showed characteristic Vbeta/Jbeta combinations. Subsequent sequencing of CDR3 regions from PCR products confirmed the clonality of T-cell expansions and the usage of common and individual CDR3 motifs. In conclusion, the clonality of expanded T cells within the liver tissue during early clinical manifestation of untreated AIH indicated that autoantigen-specific T cells accumulate at the inflammation site. Individual and common CDR3 motifs argued for predominant epitopes that were recognized by liver-infiltrating T cells in AIH patients.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Base Sequence
- Biopsy
- Clone Cells/immunology
- Complementarity Determining Regions/biosynthesis
- Complementarity Determining Regions/genetics
- Complementarity Determining Regions/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Hepatitis, Autoimmune/immunology
- Hepatitis, Autoimmune/metabolism
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Molecular Sequence Data
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- H F Löhr
- Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55122 Mainz, Germany.
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Abstract
Autoimmune liver diseases in humans are characterized by chronic active hepatitis with serum autoantibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia and liver pathology showing necroinflammatory disease and fibrosis. There are an increasing number of autoantigens believed to be associated with various autoimmune liver diseases. This review will briefly outline human autoimmune hepatitis and the immunology of the liver. Various murine models of liver inflammation will be discussed, including transgenic and non-transgenic models, with emphasis on how these models aid in our knowledge of the mechanisms of disease development and chronicity. There are limitations with all of the models, including a preponderance of T-cell-focused responses. Murine models do not easily develop fibrosis, a hallmark of autoimmune hepatitis in humans. Different experimental models may not reach the same conclusions with differences between immune responses. However, this multiplicity of responses does not necessarily imply that these models are inappropriate for the study of liver immunology and autoimmune liver diseases, as different autoantigens may induce different liver responses. Knowledge of how the liver differs from other immune organs is essential to further our understanding of liver-specific autoimmunity. The plethora of antigens implicated in autoimmune hepatitis in humans predicts that multiple mechanisms may play a role in precipitating disease in the susceptible individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion G Peters
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0538, USA.
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Fox CK, Furtwaengler A, Nepomuceno RR, Martinez OM, Krams SM. Apoptotic pathways in primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis. LIVER 2001; 21:272-9. [PMID: 11454191 DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0676.2001.021004272.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are two autoimmune diseases with unknown etiologies that primarily target the liver. In both diseases, liver lesions are accompanied by large infiltrates of mononuclear cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if either the Fas-mediated or the granule-exocytosis pathways contribute to apoptosis in these diseases. METHODS To determine the involvement of apoptosis in tissue injury we examined liver tissue for DNA fragmentation and morphological characteristics of apoptosis. The major cytotoxic pathways of activated lymphocytes were compared by quantitating the levels of transcripts for FasL and granzyme B, and expression was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of these molecules. RESULTS In both diseases, apoptosis was observed. However, the main cell types undergoing apoptosis were hepatocytes in AIH, and biliary epithelial cells in PBC. In AIH the levels of FasL and granzyme B mRNA were increased over the levels detected in normal liver, while in PBC only the levels of granzyme B were elevated. Additionally, in AIH, the ratio of FasL transcripts to granzyme B transcripts was elevated, reflecting a possible increase in the relative contribution of FasL to the progression of the disease. Immunoprecipitation studies further support an increase in FasL protein expression in AIH. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that both FasL and granzyme B contribute to the apoptosis observed in AIH and PBC. However, FasL appears to play a more prominent role in the induction of hepatocyte apoptosis and tissue destruction in AIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K Fox
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Stanford, CA 94305-5492, USA
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12
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Okamoto R, Yamamoto K, Yabushita K, Okano N, Shimada N, Matsumura S, Mizuno M, Higashi T, Tsuji T. T cell repertoire in primary biliary cirrhosis: a common T cell clone and repertoire change after treatment. J Clin Immunol 2001; 21:278-85. [PMID: 11506198 DOI: 10.1023/a:1010983325927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
T cell repertoire was analyzed in three early-stage primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism. Multiple expanded clones were demonstrated in livers and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of all three patients. Comparison of the repertoire of different parts of the liver demonstrated the presence of common clones in various Vbeta families. Comparison of the repertoire between the liver and PBL demonstrated that both CD4 and CD8 T cell clones were expanded. Sequence analysis of complementarity determining region 3 of the expanded clones revealed that relatively conserved amino acids were utilized in each patient and that an identical CD4 T cell clone having Vbeta16 was present in all three patients. The number of expanded T cell clones in PBL decreased markedly after the treatment with prednisolone. These results suggest that common T cell clones may play a pathogenic role in PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Okamoto
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Japan
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Kurokawa M, Tong J, Matsui T, Masuko-Hongo K, Yabe T, Nishioka K, Yamamoto K, Kato T. Paired cloning of the T cell receptor alpha and beta genes from a single T cell without the establishment of a T cell clone. Clin Exp Immunol 2001; 123:340-5. [PMID: 11207667 PMCID: PMC1905975 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2001.01437.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell receptors, which recognize antigen peptides on MHC molecules, are essential probes for the analysis of T cell antigen specificity. The identification of paired T cell receptor (TCR) chains, alpha/beta or gamma/delta, usually requires the establishment of T cell clones, which is not always available. In this study, we tried, as an alternative method, the paired cloning of TCR alpha/beta genes directly from a single T cell. T cells were sorted as a single cell from which RNA was extracted. Then, TCR alpha/beta CDR3 regions were amplified from the single cell-derived cDNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to determine their sequences. We successfully identified pairs of TCR alpha/beta genes, and reconstructed the TCR molecule by a bacterial expression system. This strategy makes it possible to obtain recombinant TCR molecules from a single T cell without cellular cloning and promotes the investigation of T cell antigen specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kurokawa
- Rheumatology, Immunology and Genetic Program, Institute of Medical Science, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
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Arenz M, Pingel S, Schirmacher P, Meyer zum Büschenfelde KH, Löhr HF. T cell receptor Vbeta chain restriction and preferred CDR3 motifs of liver-kidney microsomal antigen (LKM-1)-reactive T cells from autoimmune hepatitis patients. LIVER 2001; 21:18-25. [PMID: 11169068 DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0676.2001.210103.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/BACKGROUND The liver-kidney-microsomal antigen (LKM-1) has been recognized as a major CD4+ T cell antigen in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The aim of this study was to characterize the antigen recognition sites of the variable T cell receptor beta-chain (TCRBV) of T cells specific to LKM-1. METHODS By repeated stimulation of T cells with a recombinant LKM-1 antigen or an LKM-derived peptide followed by limited dilution, we generated T cell clones. Usage of TCRBV was analyzed by RT-PCR and CDR3 antigen recognition sites were sequenced. RESULTS The 18 LKM-1 specific T cell clones isolated from six AIH patients preferentially expressed the TCR elements BV9, BV5S2+S3, BV6, and BV13S1. Four BV9+ T cell clones rearranged the joining element JB1S3 within their CDR3 regions. JB2S3 was detected in another four clones together with BV5S2+S3 or BV13S1. A conserved sequence motif, Q(N)G(X)N, was seen in the diversity regions of five clones (36%). In order to identify T cells expressing the preferred TCRBV molecules in situ, immunohistologic examination of liver biopsies was performed. In AIH patients an accumulation of T cells expressing TCRBV 13S1, BV8 and BV5S3 was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our data define TCRBV restriction and preferred CDR3 features of LKM-1 specific T cells. The in situ localization of T cells expressing these restricted TCR molecules may suggest a pathogenic relevance of LKM-1 specific cellular immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Arenz
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
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15
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Inada H, Yoshizawa K, Ota M, Katsuyama Y, Ichijo T, Umemura T, Tanaka E, Kiyosawa K. T cell repertoire in the liver of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Hum Immunol 2000; 61:675-83. [PMID: 10880738 DOI: 10.1016/s0198-8859(00)00129-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune chronic liver disease characterized by the destruction of the bile ducts with an accumulation of lymphocytes. To investigate the roles of T cells accumulating around the bile ducts, we analyzed the clonality of alphabeta T cell populations in the livers of patients with PBC by size spectratyping and sequencing of the T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta transcripts.TCR Vbeta spectratyping of PBC patients showed several skewed complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) size patterns suggestive of clonal predominance as well as Gaussian-like patterns suggestive of polyclonal expansion. We observed Vbeta4 clones sharing the Gly (G)-G motif in the CDR3 nDn regions and a Vbeta4-Jbeta2.7 combination in three patients bearing HLA-DR2 and -DQ1. G-Leu (L)-Ala (A) or G-L motifs were also seen in the nDn regions of Vbeta17 with Jbeta2.1 of the two patients having HLA-A26. However, there were no whole CDR3-shared clones in any of the patients. In conclusion, we have observed that T cell clones are heterogeneous in each patient, but that they have some common motifs in the TCR Vbeta CDR3. We strongly suggest that these clonally expanded T cells might be involved in the immunopathogenesis of PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Inada
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi, Matsumoto, Japan
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Yoshizawa K, Ota M, Katsuyama Y, Ichijo T, Inada H, Umemura T, Tanaka E, Kiyosawa K. T cell repertoire in the liver of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Hum Immunol 1999; 60:806-15. [PMID: 10527387 DOI: 10.1016/s0198-8859(99)00058-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite a large number of T cells infiltrating into the liver of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), little is known about their roles or target antigens. To investigate the roles of these T cells in the pathogenesis of AIH, we have studied the clonality of alphabeta T cell populations in liver tissue by size spectratyping the complementarity-determining region (CDR)3 size lengths of T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta-chain transcripts. Analysis of nine AIH patients who had the HLA DR4 haplotype showed clonal expansion in all samples. More than two T cell clones expanded in most patients. Although the expression of the TCR Vbeta genes was different among the nine patients, clonal expansion of T cells expressing either TCR Vbeta2, 3, 4, 16, or 22 was observed in two patients or more. TCR Vbeta4 clones expanded in 5 cases. Cloning and sequencing of TCR Vbeta CDR3 from PCR products revealed no whole CDR3-shared clones among different patients. In conclusion, several T cell clonotypes first recognize target antigens, then expand and accumulate in the liver of AIH patients. These suggest heterogeneity of autoantigens and the complexity of AIH immunopathogenesis in individual patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Yoshizawa
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
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Nishimura T, Ohta A. A Critical Role for Antigen-Specific Th1 Cells in Acute Liver Injury in Mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 1999. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.162.11.6503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
A novel liver injury model was established in mice by targeting of OVA-containing liposomes into the liver, followed by adoptive transfer of OVA-specific Th1 cells. Combined treatment of mice with OVA-containing liposomes and Th1 cell transfer caused an increase in serum transaminase activity that was paralleled with an elevation of serum IFN-γ levels. In sharp contrast, OVA-specific Th2 cell transfer resulted in an increase of serum IL-4 levels, but did not induce liver injury. Neither NK, NK T, nor CD8+ T cells were required for the Th1-induced liver injury. The liver injury was blocked by anti-IFN-γ mAb and anti-TNF-α mAb, but not by anti-Fas ligand mAb. The Fas/Fas ligand independency was also demonstrated using Fas-deficient lpr mice. These findings indicate that Th1 cells are the major effector cells in acute liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Nishimura
- *Section of Genetic Engineering, Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Cell Transplantation, and
- †Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Bohseidai, Isehara, Japan
| | - Akio Ohta
- *Section of Genetic Engineering, Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Cell Transplantation, and
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