Lc. Lin et al., DYSREGULATION OF T-HELPER CELL CYTOKINES IN AUTOIMMUNE-PRONE NZB X NZW F1-MICE, Scandinavian journal of immunology, 42(4), 1995, pp. 466-472
Multifactorial involvement in the pathogenesis of autoimmune NZB/W F1
mice has been well documented. To further elucidate the role of cytoki
nes in the disease development of murine lupus, single spleen cells is
olated from NZB/W F1 and non-autoimmune C57BL/6 mice were stimulated w
ith T cell mitogens or anti-CD3 antibody at pre-determined optimal con
centration. Supernatants were collected and assayed for production of
cytokines including IL-2, gamma-IFN, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10. In bo
th young and old mice, cytokine profiles by mitogen-stimulated T cells
showed higher TH2 (type 2 T helper) cell-related cytokine production
in NZB/W F1 mice compared to those in non-autoimmune C57BL/6 mice. In
contrast, cytokines produced by TH1 (type 1 T helper) cells, such as g
amma-IFN and IL-2, were lower in NZB/W F1 mice by stimulation with eit
her mitogen or anti-CD3 antibody. In addition, cytokine production at
different time points also demonstrated decreased gamma-IFN and increa
sed IL-4 levels by anti-CD3 stimulated splenic cells in autoimmune NZB
/W F1 mice. Furthermore, the IL-10 levels produced by lipopolysacchari
de (LPS)-stimulated splenic and peritoneal exudate cells were higher i
n young NZB/W F1 mice compared to those in C57BL/6 mice. Our data sugg
est that dysregulation between TH1 and TH2 cells may play an important
role in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity in NZB/W F1 mice.