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Age-dependent, polyclonal hyperactivation of t cells is reduced in TNF-negative gld/gld mice

  • Florian Wiede
  • , A Roomberg
  • , Erika Cretney
  • , Anja Lechner
  • , Phillip Fromm
  • , Leia Wren
  • , Mark J Smyth
  • , Heinrich Korner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The generalized lymphoproliferative disorder (gld) mouse strain is characterized by severe splenomegaly/lymphadenopathy, the production of autoimmune antibodies, and the appearance of CD4/CD8-negative T cells. An additional TNF deficiency of gld/gld mice attenuates the course of the disorder through a yet-unknown mechanism. In this study, we could demonstrate that the reduced splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy in B6.gld/gld.TNF-/- mice were correlated with a decreased peripheral T cell proliferation rate and a delayed polyclonal activation. A comparative analysis of naive T cells and memory/effector T cells showed an age-dependent difference in the T cell activation pattern in the spleen of B6.gld/gld and B6.gld/gld.TNF-/- mice. T cells from B6.gld/gld.TNF-/- spleens and lymph nodes showed significantly higher levels of CCR7 and CD62 ligand on their surface compared with B6.gld/gld mice when mice of the same age were compared. Additionally, we found an increased titer of the Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma in the serum of B6.gld/gld mice, whereas the concentration of IFN-gamma was markedly reduced in the serum of B6.gld/gld.TNF-/- mice. These findings support the hypothesis that increased T cell activation and proliferation in the presence of TNF contribute to the exacerbation of the gld syndrome.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)108 - 116
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology
Volume85
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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