First Author | Mieza MA | Year | 1996 |
Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 156 |
Issue | 10 | Pages | 4035-40 |
PubMed ID | 8621946 | Mgi Jnum | J:32945 |
Mgi Id | MGI:80433 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.156.10.4035 |
Citation | Mieza MA, et al. (1996) Selective reduction of V alpha 14+ NK T cells associated with disease development in autoimmune-prone mice. J Immunol 156(10):4035-40 |
abstractText | A novel peripheral T cell subset characterized by the expression of a NK marker and invariant TCR encoded by V alpha 14 J alpha 281 gene segments with a 1-base N-region was investigated in relation to autoimmune disease development. First, we observed that invariant V alpha 14+ NK T cells are specifically reduced with aging in C57BL/6 lpr/lpr or MRL lpr/lpr mice, whereas no change was observed in age-matched control C57BL/6 or MRL +/+ mice as determined by FACS analysis and RNase protection assay. This reduction precedes the disease development and could also be detected in other autoimmune disease-prone mice, such as C3H gld/gld and (NZB x NZW)F1 mice. These results suggest that the specific decrease in invariant V alpha 14+ NK T cells correlates strongly with the development of autoimmunity. Second, injection of MRL lpr/lpr mice with anti-V alpha 14 mAb resulted in the early onset and exacerbation of lymphosplenomegaly due to the accumulation of abnormal CD3+ B220+ CD4-CD8- T cells as well as an increase in the titers of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies. These results indicate that V alpha 14+ NK T cells regulate autoimmune responses and play a crucial role in controlling the development of autoimmune diseases. |