A Mechanism for the Major Histocompatibility Complex–linked Resistance to Autoimmunity

The genetic factors that contribute to the etiology of type 1 diabetes are still largely uncharacterized. However, the genes of the MHC (HLA in humans) have been consistently associated with susceptibility to disease. We have used several transgenic mice generated in our laboratory, bearing susceptible or resistant HLA alleles, in the absence of endogenous MHC class II (Aβo), to study immune responses to the autoantigen glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 and its relevance in determining the association between autoreactivity and disease pathogenesis. Mice bearing diabetes-susceptible haplotypes, HLA DR3 (DRB1*0301) or DQ8 (DQB1*0302), singly or in combination showed spontaneous T cell reactivity to rat GAD 65, which is highly homologous to the self Ag, mouse GAD 65. The presence of diabetes-resistant or neutral alleles, such as HLA DQ6 (DQB1*0602) and DR2 (DRB1*1502) prevented the generation of any self-reactive responses to rat GAD. In addition, unmanipulated Aβo/DR3, Aβo/DQ8, and Aβo/DR3/DQ8 mice recognized specific peptides, mainly from the N-terminal region of the GAD 65 molecule. Most of these regions are conserved between human, mouse, and rat GAD 65. Further analysis revealed that the reactivity was mediated primarily by CD4+ T cells. Stimulation of these T cells by rat GAD 65 resulted in the generation of a mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine profile in the Aβo/DR3/DQ8, Aβo/DR3, and Aβo/DQ8 mice. Thus, the presence of diabetes-associated genes determines whether immune tolerance is maintained to islet autoantigens, but autoreactivity in itself is not sufficient to induce diabetes.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Type 1 Diabetes-Predisposing MHC Alleles Influence the Selection of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) 65-Specific T Cells in a Transgenic Model

Abraham

Marietta

et al. 2001

“…Contribution of DRB1 molecule toward T cell selection is further supported by the fact that DW10 mice mount milder response to CII immunization than DW4 mice and negative littermates although the major response is restricted by A q molecule. These findings are reminiscent of the MHC linked protection described in diabetes model (41). According to this model, MHC molecules provide dominant resistance to a given autoimmune disease by deleting the most pathogenic autoreactive T cells rather than all autoreactive T cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

HLA-DRB10402 (DW10) Transgene Protects Collagen- Induced Arthritis-Susceptible H2Aq and DRB10401 (DW4) Transgenic Mice from Arthritis

Taneja¹,

Taneja

Behrens³

et al. 2003

To investigate the role of HLA-DR4 in predisposition to arthritis, we generated transgenic mice carrying DRB1*0401 and DRB1*0402 genes. We have previously shown that DRB1*0401 molecule renders B10.RQB3 (H2Aq) mice susceptible to porcine and human type II collagen-induced arthritis. We report that the introduction of DRB1*0402 transgene does not lead to development of arthritis in mice when they are immunized with porcine and human type II collagen. In addition, DRB1*0402 protects B10.RQB3 mice against developing arthritis with bovine type II collagen. These data show that DRB1 can modulate the disease mediated by Aq. In vivo depletion of DRB1*0402 did not lead to induction of collagen-induced arthritis in transgenic mice. In vitro cytokine analysis shows that mice protected from collagen-induced arthritis produce lower amounts of Th1 and higher levels of Th2 type cytokines upon immunization with type II collagen. Protection of mice was also related to higher apoptosis in DW10 mice as indicated by higher amounts of BclII in response to type II collagen. On the basis of our observations in HLA transgenic mice, we hypothesize that DRB1 polymorphism can modulate disease by shaping the T cell repertoire in thymus and select autoreactive T cells.

“…First, the DRB3 and DRB4 genes are omitted from consideration despite their importance in many immune responses (15,16) and the fact that even single chain MHC class II genes can profoundly influence expression of autoimmune disease such as IDDM (17)(18)(19). Second, expression of independent transgenes ignores the possibility that multiple genes in the class II region contribute to disease susceptibility through interactions during positive and negative selection of the T cell repertoire or through aspects of their peripheral coregulation (20,21). Finally, any role for pseudogenes (e.g., DQB2/ A2), intergenic "junk" (22), or endogenous retroviral DNA sequences contained within MHC haplotypes (23) cannot be assessed by a single or multiple independent transgene approach.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A 320-Kilobase Artificial Chromosome Encoding the Human HLA DR3-DQ2 MHC Haplotype Confers HLA Restriction in Transgenic Mice

Chen

Dudek

Wijburg

et al. 2002

MHC class II haplotypes control the specificity of Th immune responses and susceptibility to many autoimmune diseases. Understanding the role of HLA class II haplotypes in immunity is hampered by the lack of animal models expressing these genes as authentic cis-haplotypes. In this study we describe transgenic expression of the autoimmune prone HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype from a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) containing an intact ∼320-kb region from HLA DRA to DQB2. In YAC-transgenic mice HLA DR and DQ gene products were expressed on B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, but not on T cells indicating cell-specific regulation. Positive selection of the CD4 compartment by human class II molecules was 67% efficient in YAC-homozygous mice lacking endogenous class II molecules (Aβnull/null) and expressing only murine CD4. A broad range of TCR Vβ families was used in the peripheral T cell repertoire, which was also purged of Vβ5-, Vβ11-, and Vβ12-bearing T cells by endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus-encoded superantigens. Expression of the HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype on the Aβnull/null background was associated with normal CD8-dependent clearance of virus from influenza-infected mice and development of CD4-dependent protection from otherwise lethal infection with Salmonella typhimurium. HLA DR- and DQ-restricted T cell responses were also elicited following immunization with known T cell determinants presented by these molecules. These findings demonstrate the potential for human MHC class II haplotypes to function efficiently in transgenic mice and should provide valuable tools for developing humanized models of MHC-associated autoimmune diseases.