Expression of Immunoregulatory Molecules by Thyrocytes Protects Nonobese Diabetic-H2h4 Mice from Developing Autoimmune Thyroiditis

  • Mami Nakahara
    Department of Medical Gene Technology (M.N., Y.N., O.S., R.S.), Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
  • Yuji Nagayama
    Department of Medical Gene Technology (M.N., Y.N., O.S., R.S.), Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
  • Ohki Saitoh
    Department of Medical Gene Technology (M.N., Y.N., O.S., R.S.), Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
  • Rintaro Sogawa
    Department of Medical Gene Technology (M.N., Y.N., O.S., R.S.), Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
  • Shigenobu Tone
    Department of Biochemistry (S.T.), Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki 701-01, Japan
  • Norio Abiru
    Immunology, Endocrinology and Metabolism (M.N., N.A.), Department of Medical and Dental Sciences, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan

抄録

<jats:p>One approach to prevent tissue destruction by autoimmune attack in organ-specific autoimmune diseases is to protect the target tissue from autoimmune reaction, regardless of its persistent activity. To provide proof-of-principle for the feasibility of this approach, the immunoregulatory molecules, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, were expressed in the thyroid glands using adenovirus vector in nonobese diabetic-H2h4 mice that spontaneously develop thyroiditis. Mice were anesthetized, and the thyroid glands were exposed by neck dissection, followed by in situ infection with adenovirus vector (5 × 1010 particles per mouse) twice or thrice, starting 1 d or 4 wk before mice were supplied with sodium iodine (NaI) water. After 8 wk NaI provision, the extent of thyroiditis, serum titers of antithyroglobulin antibodies, and cytokine expression in the spleen were examined. In situ infection of adenovirus expressing TRAIL or indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, but not green fluorescent protein, significantly suppressed thyroiditis scores. However, antithyroglobulin antibody titers and expression levels of cytokines (interferon-γ and IL-4) in the spleen remained unaltered. Importantly, adenovirus infection 4 wk after NaI provision was also effective at suppressing thyroiditis. The suppressive effect of TRAIL appears to be mediated at least partly by accumulation of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells into the thyroid glands. Thus, localized expression of immunoregulatory molecules efficiently protected the thyroid glands from autoimmune attack without changing the systemic autoimmunity in nonobese diabetic-H2h4 mice. This kind of immunological intervention, although it does not suppress autoimmune reactivity, may have a potential for treating organ-specific autoimmune diseases.</jats:p><jats:p>The feasibility of in situ expression of the immuno-regulatory molecules to prevent tissue destruction by autoimmune attack in organ-specific autoimmune diseases is discussed.</jats:p>

収録刊行物

  • Endocrinology

    Endocrinology 150 (3), 1545-1551, 2008-11-06

    The Endocrine Society

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