Gonnella PA, Del Nido PJ, McGowan FX. Oral tolerization with cardiac myosin peptide (614-629) ameliorates experimental autoimmune myocarditis: role of STAT 6 genes in BALB/CJ mice.
J Clin Immunol 2009;
29:434-43. [PMID:
19353248 DOI:
10.1007/s10875-009-9290-z]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2008] [Accepted: 03/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) is mediated by myocardial infiltration by myosin-specific T cells secreting inflammatory cytokines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
To clarify the role of cytokines in EAM, we compared STAT 6-deficient ((-/-)) with STAT 4(-/-) and wild-type (BALB/CJ) mice following immunization with cardiac myosin peptide (614-629).
RESULTS
Wild-type mice developed severe disease with a small increase in severity in STAT 6(-/-) mice, while STAT 4(-/-) mice were resistant to EAM. STAT 6(-/-) mice had increased splenocyte proliferation and INF-gamma production versus wild type, while STAT 4(-/-) mice had decreased proliferation and INF-gamma. Following oral administration of myosin (614-629), tolerization was induced in wild-type mice evidenced by amelioration of myocarditis and up-regulation of IL-4. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from orally tolerized mice resulted in inhibition of disease in STAT 6(-/-) mice.
CONCLUSION
These results demonstrate that oral tolerization ameliorates EAM in BALB/CJ mice and indicate a down-regulatory role for STAT 6 genes.
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