Genetic control of the immune response to collagen. I. Quantitative determination of response levels by multiple I-region genes

In vivo modulation of murine collagen induced arthritis

The effects of in vivo modulation of murine collagen induced arthritis with monoclonal anti-CD4 antibodies, monoclonal anti-Ia antibodies, and gamma interferon are reviewed. We detail the mechanism of action of monoclonal anti-CD4 antibody on humoral and cell mediated immune responses and discuss the implications for designing therapeutic strategies. To further explore the induction of collagen induced arthritis, a syngeneic cell transfer system using collagen primed T lymphocytes is described. This cell transfer system provides an opportunity to study the role of CD4 positive T lymphocytes in arthritis induction during a short, defined time period.

Characteristics of cellular immune responses to collagen type I or collagen type II

We have examined the murine cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to collagens type I (CI) and type II (CII) as measured by in vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity responses. We have verified the histopathology and kinetics of the cell-mediated immune responses. Predominant cell-mediated responses were obtained 7, 10, or 14 days following immunization. A presumed antibody-mediated reaction was observed at later times (e.g., greater than 21 days following immunization). The CMI responses to the collagens show a strain-dependent relationship. For CI, the CMI response profile shows H-2b greater than or equal to H-2k = H-2q much greater than H-2d. For bovine CII, the response profile is H-2d greater than H-2b = H-2k = H-2q; the chick CII response profile is H-2q = H-2k greater than H-2b = H-2d, and in limited testing, only the H-2q strain could generate murine CII-specific cell-mediated immune responses. The CII-specific CMI response is cross-reactive with CII from several species of animals, but not with CI. Further, the collagen-specific CMI response can be elicited with certain cyanogen-bromide fragments of bovine CII. Finally, our study also demonstrates that there is a non-H-2-linked locus(i) involved in the development of CII-induced arthritis.

Role of the H-2s haplotype in survival of mice after infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

In studies of the resistance of inbred mice to infection with Trypanosoma cruzi Peru, mouse strain B10.S was the only strain which survived the infection resulting from the inoculation of 10(3) trypomastigotes. This is the only inbred mouse strain studied to survive infection. To investigate the effect of the H-2 haplotype on survival, C57BL/10 congenic mouse strains bearing H-2S recombinant haplotypes and mouse strains A.SWSn/J and SJL/J were tested for their ability to overcome the T. cruzi infection. None of the recombinant strains tested, including B10.S(7R), B10.S(8R), B10.S(9R), and B10.HTT, survived the infection, indicating that at least two or more regions of the H-2 locus must be H-2S to ensure survival. Strains A.SWSn/J and SJL/J with the H-2S haplotype did not survive, indicating that the genetic background outside the H-2 complex also influences survival. The congenic F1 hybrid (C57BL/10 X B10.S) F1 exhibited intermediate survival levels when compared with the parental strains, indicating that H-2S survival is affected by gene dosage. The F1 hybrid strain [B10.S(7R) X B10.S(8R)]F1, which possesses the complete H-2S haplotype in the trans configuration, did not survive T. cruzi infection, suggesting that H-2S-mediated survival does not operate by trans complementation.

Genetic control of responses to Trypanosoma cruzi in mice: multiple genes influencing parasitemia and survival

Inbred strains of mice can be divided into two groups based on the level of parasitemia which develops after injection with 10(3) trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi (Peru). Strains which developed parasitemias of greater than 10(7) trypomastigotes per ml by day 17, including C3H/HeJ, BALB/c, and CBA/N mice, were termed high parasitemia strains. Low parasitemia strains, including C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice, developed parasitemias of less than 5 x 10(6) trypomastigotes per ml by day 17 of infection. Congenic mice from C57BL/10J, C57BL/6J, and BALB/c backgrounds which differed at the H-2 region were injected with 10(3) trypomastigotes to determine the effect of the H-2 locus on response to infection. The H-2 locus had no effect on the level of parasitemia attained during infection. However, one strain, B10.S (H-2s), was unusual in that most of the mice survived infection. The results of infection of F1 hybrid progeny with T. cruzi (Peru) suggest that the low parasitemia response in inherited in a dominant manner and that survival may be influenced by several other genes. The response to T. cruzi infection in inbred mice, as measured by parasitemia and survival time, was influenced by several genes. One or more genes, located outside the H-2 region, were involved in regulating the level of parasitemia reached during infection. Another H-2-linked gene(s) was involved in survival of the infection and appeared to be unique to the H-2s haplotype.

Immunogenetic control of experimental collagen-induced arthritis in rats. II. ECIA susceptibility and immune response to type II collagen (CALF) are linked to RT1

The segregation of genes controlling ECIA susceptibility and the level of immune response to native calf type II collagen were determined in the F2 progeny of matings between WF (RT1u/u; ECIA-susceptible; high responders) and LEW.B3 (RT1n/n; ECIA-resistant; low to intermediate responders). RT1n/n F2 progeny showed resistance to ECIA, low skin test reactivity to type II collagen and intermediate levels of IgG anti-collagen antibodies (-log2 of 6.2 +/- 2.6; mean +/- SD, n = 10). RT1u/u and RT1u/n F2 progeny were susceptible to ECIA and were high responders to type II collagen by skin testing and IgG antibody titres (-log2 of 12.1 +/- 1.3, mean +/- SD, n = 26). Although all rats that developed arthritis were also high responders to type II collagen one group of immature F2 progeny, RT1u/u and RT1u/n, showed high anti-collagen immune responses in the absence of detectable arthritis. The data indicate that genes linked to RT1.A control susceptibility to ECIA and at least part of the immune response to native calf type II collagen in WF and LEW.B3 rats.

Type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice. I. Major histocompatibility complex (I region) linkage and antibody correlates

A model of arthritis was established by the injection of type II collagen into mice. Only mice bearing the H-2q haplotype were susceptible to the disease. Susceptibility was further mapped by the use of recombinant strains on the Iq locus. Type II collagen arthritis was observed in the (resistant X susceptible) F1 cross. Mice strains were designated high, intermediate, or low responders with respect to the anti-type II antibody levels measured by radioimmunoassay. Arthritis-susceptible strains were all classified as high antibody responders. The clinical and histological appearance of type II collagen arthritis in the mouse indicates that it may be a good animal model for the investigation of various immunogenetic traits in rheumatoid arthritis.