scholarly journals Animal models of Graves' disease

2000 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ludgate

Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune condition in which goitre and hyperthyroidism are induced by thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAB) which mimic the action of thyrotrophin (TSH). The target of the autoimmune response is the thyrotrophin receptor (TSHR) and, since its cloning, a number of differing approaches have been adopted in an attempt to develop an animal model of GD. Methods in which synthetic peptides or fragments of the receptor produced in bacteria or insect cells have been injected into animals together with immunological adjuvants have had only limited success in inducing some of the signs and symptoms of GD. Genetic immunisation resulted in thyroiditis in the majority, but TSAB formation in only a minority, of treated inbred mice. Transfer of receptor in vitro primed T cells to syngeneic naive recipients, with priming either using a bacterial fusion protein or genetic immunisation, induced destructive thyroiditis in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice but lymphocytic thyroiditis in BALBc mice. Furthermore, the orbits of 17/22 of the BALBc animals, but not the NOD animals, with thyroiditis had orbital changes similar to those seen in thyroid eye disease. TSAB and elevated thyroxine levels were induced in AKR/N mice injected with fibroblasts expressing the full length human TSHR and murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II homologous to the recipient mice. No thyroiditis was induced but preliminary results from a different group using the same protocol suggest that receptor autoantibodies and thyroid dysfunction could be transferred using T cells primed in vitro with the receptor and MHC-II expressing cells. The majority of the studies described above have studied inbred mouse strains. In a novel departure, the NMR outbred strain has been treated by genetic immunisation with very promising results, including the induction of increased thyroxine levels in 4/30 female mice, accompanied by TSAB in addition to thyroiditis, and with signs of hyperactivity and orbital pathology. This review discusses the various protocols together with the information regarding the pathogenesis of GD which each has contributed, and concludes with an evaluation of how close we are to mimicking this polygenic, multifactorial disease.

1977 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Theze ◽  
C Waltenbaugh ◽  
ME Dorf ◽  
B Benacerraf

The responses to the synthetic antigens, L-glutamic acid(60)-L- alanine(30)-L-tyrosine(10) (GAT) and L-glutamic acid(50)-L-tyrosine(50) (GT) are controlled by genes in the I region of the mouse H-2 complex (1-3). Preimmunization of the mice bearing the H-2(p,q,s) nonresponder haplotypes with GAT stimulates the development of suppressor T cells that inhibit in vivo or in vitro antibody responses to GAT complexed to the immunogenic carrier, methylated bovine serum albumin (GAT-MBSA) (4). The copolymer GT is not immunogenic in any inbred mouse strain tested, and has a suppressive effect on the antibody responses to GT-MBSA in mouse strains bearing the H-2(d,f,k,s) haplotypes; suppressor T cells have been demonstrated to be responsible for specific GT suppression (3). We have obtained specific suppressive extracts from thymus and spleen cells of GAT-or GT-primed suppressor strains (5,6). The specific suppressive T-cell factors in the active extracts have been characterized (6,7) and appear similar to the carrier-specific suppressor factor described by Tada and Taniguchi (8). These products belong to a family of newly identified molecules coded for by the I region of the H-2 complex with affinity for antigen and helper (9,10) or suppressive (5-8) regulatory activity on the immune response. Recently, Tada et al. have reported that the keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-specific suppressor factor is coded for by the I-J subregion of the H-2 complex (11). We now demonstrate also that a GT-specific suppressor factor extracted from the spleens and thymuses of B10.BR (H-2(k)) mice bears determinants controlled by the I-J subregion of the H-2 complex.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (9) ◽  
pp. 3061-3067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi L. Lemmerhirt ◽  
Jordan A. Shavit ◽  
Gallia G. Levy ◽  
Suzanne M. Cole ◽  
Jeffrey C. Long ◽  
...  

Abstract Both genetic and environmental influences contribute to the wide variation in plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels observed in humans. Inbred mouse strains also have highly variable plasma VWF levels, providing a convenient model in which to study genetic modifiers of VWF. Previously, we identified a major modifier of VWF levels in the mouse (Mvwf1) as a regulatory mutation in murine Galgt2. We now report the identification of an additional murine VWF modifier (Mvwf2). Mvwf2 accounts for approximately 16% of the 8-fold plasma VWF variation (or ∼ 25% of the genetic variation) observed between the A/J and CASA/RkJ strains and maps to the murine Vwf gene itself. Twenty SNPs were identified within the coding regions of the A/J and CASA/RkJ Vwf alleles, and in vitro analysis of recombinant VWF demonstrated that a single SNP (+7970G>A) and the associated nonsynonymous amino acid change (R2657Q) confers a significant increase in VWF biosynthesis from the CASA/RkJ Vwf allele. This change appears to represent a unique gain of function that likely explains the mechanism of Mvwf2 in vivo. The identification of a natural Vwf gene variant among inbred mice affecting biosynthesis suggests that similar genetic variation may contribute to the wide range of VWF levels observed in humans.


2000 ◽  
Vol 81 (11) ◽  
pp. 2707-2713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Weidinger ◽  
Stefanie Czub ◽  
Claudia Neumeister ◽  
Pat Harriott ◽  
Volker ter Meulen ◽  
...  

Depending on their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype, inbred mouse strains are either resistant (H2-d, BALB/c), susceptible (H2-k, C3H) or partially resistant (H2-d×k, BaCF1) to intracerebral infection with the neurotropic rodent-adapted measles virus (MV) strain CAM/RBH. Here, mortality is demonstrated to be correlated directly with virus spread and virus replication in the CNS and to be inversely correlated with the activation of MV-specific T cells. Previously, it has been shown that primary CD4+ T cells alone are protective in the resistant background. In the susceptible background, CD4+ T cells acquire protective capacity after immunization with a newly defined CD4+ T cell epitope peptide. In the partially resistant mice, CD4+ T cells provide help for CD8+ T cells and protect in cooperation with them. It seems that the lytic capacity of CD8+ T cells is crucial in providing protection, as MV-specific Ld-restricted CD8+ T cells, which are highly lytic in vitro after transfer, protect naive animals against MV-induced encephalitis (MVE). In contrast, Kk-restricted CD8+ T cells with low lytic capacity do not protect. In the MVE model, CD4+ T cells are able to protect either alone (resistant mice), through cooperation with CD8+ T cells (intermediate susceptible) or after immunization as secondary T cells (susceptible mice). CD8+ T cells are able to protect alone after immunization if they are cytolytic. Thus, susceptibility and resistance depend upon the functional composition of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells governed by the MHC haplotype.


2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 1266-1272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehoshua Gozes ◽  
Mahtab Moayeri ◽  
Jason F. Wiggins ◽  
Stephen H. Leppla

ABSTRACT Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LT) is a bipartite toxin composed of protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF). Injection of LT produces clinical signs characteristic of anthrax infection, including pleural edema and vascular collapse in various animal models. We utilized the classic Miles leakage assay to quantify vascular leakage in mice. LT injected intradermally induced leakage as early as 15 to 25 min in some inbred mouse strains, but not in others, whereas PA or LF individually did not induce leakage. A third component of anthrax toxin, edema factor, did not induce leakage alone or with PA. Leakage was quantified in eight mouse strains, and no correlation was found between sensitivity to intradermal leakage and sensitivity to the lethality of systemically administered LT. The leakage could be inhibited by ketotifen, an inhibitor of mast cell degranulation, but not by azelastine, a histamine receptor 1 antagonist, or by ketanserin, a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist. LT was cytotoxic to MC/9 mast cells (in vitro) by 7 h after toxin treatment but did not induce histamine release from these cells. Mast cell-deficient mice exhibited the leakage event and had no increased resistance to systemic LT. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were resistant to LT over 12 h, with only 20% of cells succumbing by 24 h, suggesting that endothelial cell killing is not the cause of the rapid LT-mediated leakage event. We describe here a ketotifen-sensitive vascular leakage event induced by LT which is the most rapid in vivo or in vitro LT-mediated effect reported to date.


1987 ◽  
Vol 246 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
A G Smith ◽  
J E Francis

An inhibitor of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.37) was demonstrated in heat-treated extracts of livers from C57BL/10ScSn mice with iron overload after a single dose (100 mg/kg; 350 mumol/kg) of hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Inhibition was not due to accumulated uroporphyrin since this could be removed by a SEP-PAK C18 cartridge without affecting inhibitor activity. The presence of the inhibitor could be first demonstrated 2 weeks after mice received HCB and before major elevation of hepatic porphyrin levels. Maximum inhibitory potential was reached at about 8 weeks and was still detected 25 weeks after the chemical, thus paralleling the depression of enzyme activity reported previously [Smith, Francis, Kay, Greig & Stewart (1986) Biochem. J. 238, 871-878]. The inhibitor was not detected following treatment of mice with either iron or HCB alone or after the decarboxylase activity was destroyed in vitro by the combination of uroporphyrin and light. The formation of the inhibitor by inbred mouse strains nominally Ah-responsive (C57BL/6J, C57BL/10ScSn, BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, CBA/J and A/J) and Ah-nonresponsive (SWR, AKR, 129, SJL, LP and DBA/2) did not correlate fully with their reported Ah-phenotype. There was a correlation amongst the Ah-responsive strains only, with hepatic ethoxyphenoxazone de-ethylase activity induced in parallel experiments by treatment with beta-naphthoflavone. De-ethylase activity induced by HCB, however, was considerably less than that with beta-naphthoflavone, which has not been reported as porphyrogenic. Other polyhalogenated chemicals, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,4,2′,3′,4′-hexachlorobiphenyl and hexabromobenzene, also caused the formation of the inhibitor of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase.


2020 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nivedita Banerjee ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Gangduo Wang ◽  
M Firoze Khan

Abstract Trichloroethene (trichloroethylene, TCE) and one of its reactive metabolites dichloroacetyl chloride (DCAC) are associated with the induction of autoimmunity in MRL+/+ mice. Although oxidative stress plays a major role in TCE-/DCAC-mediated autoimmunity, the underlying molecular mechanisms still need to be delineated. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like2 (Nrf2) is an oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor that binds to antioxidant responsive element (ARE) and provides protection by regulating cytoprotective and antioxidant gene expression. However, the potential of Nrf2 in the regulation of TCE-/DCAC-mediated autoimmunity is not known. This study thus focused on establishing the role of Nrf2 and consequent inflammatory responses in TCE-/DCAC-mediated autoimmunity. To achieve this, we pretreated Kupffer cells (KCs) or T cells with/without tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) followed by treatment with DCAC. In both KCs and T cells, DCAC treatment significantly downregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression along with induction of Keap-1 and caspase-3, NF-κB (p65), TNF-α, and iNOS, whereas pretreatment of these cells with tBHQ attenuated these responses. The in vitro findings were further verified in vivo by treating female MRL+/+ mice with TCE along with/without sulforaphane. TCE exposure in mice also led to reduction in Nrf2 and HO-1 but increased phospho-NF-κB (p-p65) and iNOS along with increased anti-dsDNA antibodies. Interestingly, sulforaphane treatment led to amelioration of TCE-mediated effects, resulting in Nrf2 activation and reduction in inflammatory and autoimmune responses. Our results show that TCE/DCAC mediates an impairment in Nrf2 regulation. Attenuation of TCE-mediated autoimmunity via activation of Nrf2 supports that antioxidants sulforaphane/tBHQ could be potential therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1408
Author(s):  
Qiao Li ◽  
Zhihua Liu ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Chen Liang ◽  
Jiayi Shu ◽  
...  

TFPR1 is a novel adjuvant for protein and peptide antigens, which has been demonstrated in BALB/c mice in our previous studies; however, its adjuvanticity in mice with different genetic backgrounds remains unknown, and its adjuvanticity needs to be improved to fit the requirements for various vaccines. In this study, we first compared the adjuvanticity of TFPR1 in two commonly used inbred mouse strains, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, in vitro and in vivo, and demonstrated that TFPR1 activated TLR2 to exert its immune activity in vivo. Next, to prove the feasibility of TFPR1 acting as a major component of combined adjuvants, we prepared a combined adjuvant, TF–Al, by formulating TFPR1 and alum at a certain ratio and compared its adjuvanticity with that of TFPR1 and alum alone using OVA and recombinant HBsAg as model antigens in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Results showed that TFPR1 acts as an effective vaccine adjuvant in both BALB/c mice and C57BL/6 mice, and further demonstrated the role of TLR2 in the adjuvanticity of TFPR1 in vivo. In addition, we obtained a novel combined adjuvant, TF–Al, based on TFPR1, which can augment antibody and cellular immune responses in mice with different genetic backgrounds, suggesting its promise for vaccine development in the future.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2623
Author(s):  
Dana Zeid ◽  
Sean Mooney-Leber ◽  
Laurel R. Seemiller ◽  
Lisa R. Goldberg ◽  
Thomas J. Gould

Variants in a gene cluster upstream-adjacent to TERC on human chromosome 3, which includes genes APRM, LRRC31, LRRC34 and MYNN, have been associated with telomere length in several human populations. Currently, the mechanism by which variants in the TERC gene cluster influence telomere length in humans is unknown. Given the proximity between the TERC gene cluster and TERC (~0.05 Mb) in humans, it is speculated that cluster variants are in linkage disequilibrium with a TERC causal variant. In mice, the Terc gene/Terc gene cluster are also located on chromosome 3; however, the Terc gene cluster is located distantly downstream of Terc (~60 Mb). Here, we initially aim to investigate the interactions between genotype and nicotine exposure on absolute liver telomere length (aTL) in a panel of eight inbred mouse strains. Although we found no significant impact of nicotine on liver aTL, this first experiment identified candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the murine Terc gene cluster (within genes Lrrc31, Lrriq4 and Mynn) co-varying with aTL in our panel. In a second experiment, we tested the association of these Terc gene cluster variants with liver aTL in an independent panel of eight inbred mice selected based on candidate SNP genotype. This supported our initial finding that Terc gene cluster polymorphisms impact aTL in mice, consistent with data in human populations. This provides support for mice as a model for telomere dynamics, especially for studying mechanisms underlying the association between Terc cluster variants and telomere length. Finally, these data suggest that mechanisms independent of linkage disequilibrium between the Terc/TERC gene cluster and the Terc/TERC gene mediate the cluster’s regulation of telomere length.


Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Brown ◽  
D.G. Whittingham

Embryos of certain inbred mouse strains, and their F1 hybrids, are able to develop from the 1-cell to blastocyst stage in simple chemically defined media containing lactate (L), pyruvate (P) and glucose (G). The individual roles of these substrates in supporting complete preimplantation development in vitro was examined with 1-cell F2 embryos from B6CBF1 hybrid mice. Embryos collected between 26 and 27 h post hCG were cultured in medium containing L, P, LP or LPG. After 50 h in culture, the proportions developing to the morula stage were 1%, 83%, 94% and 100%, respectively. In combination, lactate and pyruvate appeared to act synergistically and both the rate and level of development to the morula stage were unaffected by the absence of glucose. After a further 46 h in culture, only the embryos grown in the presence of glucose developed into blastocysts. In LP medium, embryos arrested at the compacted morula stage late on day 3 of development. As culture continued in the absence of glucose, embryos decompacted (approximately 82 h post hCG) and subsequently degenerated. Exposure to medium containing glucose for the first, second or third 24 h period in culture was sufficient to support the morula-to-blastocyst transition. Glucose still supported this transition when embryos were transferred to LPG medium 3 h after the completion of compaction (76 h post hCG), but was ineffective 6 h later (82 h post hCG) once decompaction had commenced. We conclude that lactate and pyruvate together are able to support normal development of 1-cell F2 embryos to the morula stage in vitro, but that glucose is an essential component of the culture medium for development to the blastocyst stage.


2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 426-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neill A. Gingles ◽  
Janet E. Alexander ◽  
Aras Kadioglu ◽  
Peter W. Andrew ◽  
Alison Kerr ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT From a panel of nine inbred mice strains intranasally infected withStreptococcus pneumoniae type 2 strain, BALB/c mice were resistant and CBA/Ca and SJL mice were susceptible to infection. Further investigation revealed that BALB/c mice were able to prevent proliferation of pneumococci in the lungs and blood, whereas CBA/Ca mice showed no bacterial clearance. Rapidly increasing numbers of bacteria in the blood was a feature of CBA/Ca but not BALB/c mice. In the lungs, BALB/c mice recruited significantly more neutrophils than CBA/Ca mice at 12 and 24 h postinfection. Inflammatory lesions in BALB/c mice were visible much earlier than in CBA/Ca mice, and there was a greater cellular infiltration into the lung tissue of BALB/c mice at the earlier time points. Our data suggest that resistance or susceptibility to intranasal pneumococci may have an association with recruitment and/or function of neutrophils.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document