CHARACTERIZATION OF A THYROIDITIS-INDUCING THYROGLOBULIN-SPECIFIC T-CELL CLONE RESTRICTED BY THE H-2 MOLECULE OF A LOW RESPONDER MOUSE STRAIN

We established a thyroglobulin (Tg)-specific, thyroiditis-inducing T-c ell clone, B12G, from B6C3F1 mice by the immunization of mouse Tg with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Klebsiella strain LEN (03:K1). B12G was Thy-1.2+, CD3+, CD4+, CD18+, and CD8-, and could transfer thyroiditis to recipient mice after in vitro stimulation with mouse or bovine Tg. Histological examination showed severe thyroiditis with predominant i nfiltrations of polymorphonuclear cells; few mononuclear cells were ob served. B12G proliferated in response to bovine, mouse, porcine, and r at Tg in the presence of irradiated spleen cells, but did not respond to chicken or human Tg. H-2b, a low-responder haplotype of experimenta l autoimmune thyroiditis, governed the response of the clone to Tg. B1 2G produced interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-6, but not IL-2 or interferon- gamma (IFN-gamma), on stimulation with mouse Tg. These findings were d ifferent from characteristics of previously reported Tg-specific T-cel l clones from high-responder mice in terms of epitope specificity and cytokine production pattern, raising the possibility that the specific ities and functions of T cells involved in the development of autoimmu ne thyroiditis in low-responder mice differ from those in high respond ers.