1. |
- Ahlgren, Kerstin M., et al.
(författare)
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Increased IL-17A secretion in response to Candida albicans in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 and its animal model
- 2011
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Ingår i: European Journal of Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0014-2980 .- 1521-4141. ; 41:1, s. 235-245
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is a multiorgan autoimmune disease caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism and adrenal failure are hallmarks of the disease. The critical mechanisms causing chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in APS-1 patients have not been identified although autoantibodies to cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis. To investigate whether the Th reactivity to Candida albicans (C. albicans) and other stimuli was altered, we isolated PBMC from APS-1 patients and matched healthy controls. The Th17 pathway was upregulated in response to C. albicans in APS-1 patients, whereas the IL-22 secretion was reduced. Autoantibodies against IL-22, IL-17A and IL-17F were detected in sera from APS-1 patients by immunoprecipitation. In addition, Aire-deficient (Aire(0/0) ) mice were much more susceptible than Aire(+/+) mice to mucosal candidiasis and C. albicans-induced Th17- and Th1-cell responses were increased in Aire(0/0) mice. Thus an excessive IL-17A reactivity towards C. albicans was observed in APS-1 patients and Aire(0/0) mice.
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2. |
- Andersson, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Impaired autoimmune T helper 17 cell responses following DNA vaccination against rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- 2008
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : PLoS. - 1932-6203. ; 3:11, s. e3682-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that vaccination with DNA encoding the encephalitogenic peptide myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)(91-108) (pMOG) suppresses MOG(91-108)-induced rat Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for human Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The suppressive effect of pMOG is dependent on inclusion of CpG DNA in the plasmid backbone and is associated with early induction of Interferon (IFN)-beta. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study we examined the mechanisms underlying pMOG-induced protection. We found that in the DNA vaccinated cohort proinflammatory Interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-21 responses were dramatically reduced compared to in the control group, but that the expression of Foxp3 and Tumor Growth Factor (TGF)-beta1, which are associated with regulatory T cells, was not enhanced. Moreover, genes associated with Type I IFNs were upregulated. To delineate the role of IFN-beta in the protective mechanism we employed short interfering RNA (siRNA) to IFN-beta in the DNA vaccine. SiRNA to IFN-beta completely abrogated the protective effects of the vaccine, demonstrating that a local early elaboration of IFN-beta is important for EAE protection. IL-17 responses comparable to those in control rats developed in rats injected with the IFN-beta-silencing DNA vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: We herein demonstrate that DNA vaccination protects from proinflammatory Th17 cell responses during induction of EAE. The mechanism involves IFN-beta as IL-17 responses are rescued by silencing of IFN-beta during DNA vaccination.
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3. |
- Eriksson, D, et al.
(författare)
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Extended exome sequencing identifies BACH2 as a novel major risk locus for Addison's disease
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 286:6, s. 595-608
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Autoimmune disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Addison's disease, the adrenal glands are targeted by destructive autoimmunity. Despite being the most common cause of primary adrenal failure, little is known about its aetiology.METHODS: To understand the genetic background of Addison's disease, we utilized the extensively characterized patients of the Swedish Addison Registry. We developed an extended exome capture array comprising a selected set of 1853 genes and their potential regulatory elements, for the purpose of sequencing 479 patients with Addison's disease and 1394 controls.RESULTS: We identified BACH2 (rs62408233-A, OR = 2.01 (1.71-2.37), P = 1.66 × 10(-15) , MAF 0.46/0.29 in cases/controls) as a novel gene associated with Addison's disease development. We also confirmed the previously known associations with the HLA complex.CONCLUSION: Whilst BACH2 has been previously reported to associate with organ-specific autoimmune diseases co-inherited with Addison's disease, we have identified BACH2 as a major risk locus in Addison's disease, independent of concomitant autoimmune diseases. Our results may enable future research towards preventive disease treatment.
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4. |
- Lobell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Association of Autoimmune Addison's Disease with Alleles of STAT4 and GATA3 in European Cohorts
- 2014
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Ingår i: Plos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Gene variants known to contribute to Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) susceptibility include those at the MHC, MICA, CIITA, CTLA4, PTPN22, CYP27B1, NLRP-1 and CD274 loci. The majority of the genetic component to disease susceptibility has yet to be accounted for. Aim: To investigate the role of 19 candidate genes in AAD susceptibility in six European case-control cohorts. Methods: A sequential association study design was employed with genotyping using Sequenom iPlex technology. In phase one, 85 SNPs in 19 genes were genotyped in UK and Norwegian AAD cohorts (691 AAD, 715 controls). In phase two, 21 SNPs in 11 genes were genotyped in German, Swedish, Italian and Polish cohorts (1264 AAD, 1221 controls). In phase three, to explore association of GATA3 polymorphisms with AAD and to determine if this association extended to other autoimmune conditions, 15 SNPs in GATA3 were studied in UK and Norwegian AAD cohorts, 1195 type 1 diabetes patients from Norway, 650 rheumatoid arthritis patients from New Zealand and in 283 UK Graves' disease patients. Meta-analysis was used to compare genotype frequencies between the participating centres, allowing for heterogeneity. Results: We report significant association with alleles of two STAT4 markers in AAD cohorts (rs4274624: P = 0.00016; rs10931481: P = 0.0007). In addition, nominal association of AAD with alleles at GATA3 was found in 3 patient cohorts and supported by meta-analysis. Association of AAD with CYP27B1 alleles was also confirmed, which replicates previous published data. Finally, nominal association was found at SNPs in both the NF-kappa B1 and IL23A genes in the UK and Italian cohorts respectively. Conclusions: Variants in the STAT4 gene, previously associated with other autoimmune conditions, confer susceptibility to AAD. Additionally, we report association of GATA3 variants with AAD: this adds to the recent report of association of GATA3 variants with rheumatoid arthritis.
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5. |
- Ahlgren, Kerstin. M, et al.
(författare)
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Diabetes mellitus in dog - : No evidence for a type-1-like phenotype
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aims/hypothesis Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in dogs, and is commonly proposed to be of autoimmune origin. Although the clinical symptoms of human type 1 diabetes (T1D) and canine DM are similar, the aetiologies may differ. The aim of this study was to investigate if autoimmune aetiology resembling human T1D is as prevalent in dogs as previously reported. Methods Sera from 121 diabetic dogs representing 38 different breeds were tested for islet cell antibodies (ICA) and GAD65 autoantibodies (GADA) and compared with sera from 133 healthy dogs from 40 breeds. ICA was detected by indirect immunofluorescence using both canine and human frozen sections. GADA was detected by in vitro transcription and translation (ITT) of human and canine GAD65, followed by immunoprecipitation. Results None of the canine sera analyzed tested positive for ICA on sections of frozen canine or human ICA pancreas. However, serum from one diabetic dog was weakly positive in the canine GADA assay and serum from one healthy dog was weakly positive in the human GADA assay. Conclusions/interpretations Based on sera from 121 diabetic dogs from 38 different breeds were tested for humoral autoreactivity using four different assays, contrary to previous observations, we find no support for an autoimmune aetiology in canine diabetes.
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6. |
- Ahlgren, Kerstin M.
(författare)
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Immunological Studies using Human and Canine Model Disorders
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The studies presented in this thesis focus on human and canine models for autoimmune disease, with the main aim to gain new knowledge about disease mechanisms and to further evaluate the dog as a model for autoimmune disease. Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is a hereditary human multiorgan disease caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. Hallmarks of APS-1 are chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis caused by Candida albicans, together with the autoimmune endocrine disorders hypoparathyroidism and adrenocortical failure. Many human diseases have an equivalent disease in dogs. Because humans share environment, and in part life style with the dogs they provide an interesting model for further genetic studies. Immune responses to Candida albicans in APS-1 patients displayed an increased secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17A and similar results were also found in AIRE deficient mice. Anticytokine autoantibodies to IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 were detected in APS-1 patients, and a radioligand binding assay for measuring these autoantibodies was developed and evaluated. In the canine studies we investigated whether canine diabetes mellitus could serve as a model for human autoimmune diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, we investigated type I IFN responses in Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever dogs with a systemic autoimmune disease resembling human SLE. Four assays were used in search for signs of humoral autoimmunity in diabetic dogs. However, no evidence for a type 1 diabetes-like phenotype in dogs was found. Sera from Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers suffering from steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis elicited an increased expression of IFN-inducible genes in the canine MDCK cell line. This suggests that these dogs have an IFN signature, as seen in human SLE.
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7. |
- Ahlgren, Kerstin M, et al.
(författare)
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Lack of evidence for a role of islet autoimmunity in the aetiology of canine diabetes mellitus
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:8, s. e105473-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS/HYPOTHESIS:Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders in dogs and is commonly proposed to be of autoimmune origin. Although the clinical presentation of human type 1 diabetes (T1D) and canine diabetes are similar, the aetiologies may differ. The aim of this study was to investigate if autoimmune aetiology resembling human T1D is as prevalent in dogs as previously reported.METHODS:Sera from 121 diabetic dogs representing 40 different breeds were tested for islet cell antibodies (ICA) and GAD65 autoantibodies (GADA) and compared with sera from 133 healthy dogs. ICA was detected by indirect immunofluorescence using both canine and human frozen sections. GADA was detected by in vitro transcription and translation (ITT) of human and canine GAD65, followed by immune precipitation. Sections of pancreata from five diabetic dogs and two control dogs were examined histopathologically including immunostaining for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreas polypeptide.RESULTS:None of the canine sera analysed tested positive for ICA on sections of frozen canine or human ICA pancreas. However, serum from one diabetic dog was weakly positive in the canine GADA assay and serum from one healthy dog was weakly positive in the human GADA assay. Histopathology showed marked degenerative changes in endocrine islets, including vacuolisation and variable loss of immune-staining for insulin. No sign of inflammation was noted.CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATIONS:Contrary to previous observations, based on results from tests for humoral autoreactivity towards islet proteins using four different assays, and histopathological examinations, we do not find any support for an islet autoimmune aetiology in canine diabetes mellitus.
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8. |
- Ahlgren, Kerstin, M., et al.
(författare)
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Type I Interferon signature in Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever dogs with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective: Dogs of the breed Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever (NSDTR) are prone to develop a disease complex in some aspects resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human SLE patients have an increased mRNA expression type I interferon (IFN) regulated genes. However, it is unknown whether diseased dogs also display the typical type I IFN signature. Methods: To test canine sera for their capacity to induce type I IFN response Mardin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were cultured with sera from healthy dogs (n=25), immune-mediated rheumatic disease (IMRD) dogs with anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA+) (n=30) or dogs with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) (n=25). mRNA expression of the genes MX1, IFIT1 and CXCL10 was measured by quantitative Real Time PCR. Results: A highly significant (p=0.0009) increase in mRNA expression of the type I IFN responsive gene MX1 was detected in cells stimulated by sera from dogs with SRMA, but not from IMRD ANA+ dogs. Expression of IFIT1 was twice as high in cells stimulated by sera from dogs with SRMA compared to both healthy dogs and ANA+ dogs. The mean expression of CXCL10 was nearly ten times higher in cells stimulated by sera from SRMA dogs than by ANA+ dogs and four times higher compared to cells stimulated by control dogs. Conclusion: Presence of type I IFN in sera from diseased NSDTR dogs was found in this study. This implies that this canine model can be used for identification of pathways of importance for autoimmune disorders in humans and for testing of novel therapeutic approaches. Our results can also be a step on the way towards personalized drugs in these dogs.
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9. |
- Alimohammadi, Mohammad, 1978-
(författare)
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Molecular Targets in Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type1 and Their Clinical Implications
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. Autoimmunity is known to cause a wide range of disorders, and is suspected to be responsible for many more. Most autoimmune disorders are chronic and cause severe morbidity for the patients, and are also costly for society. A majority of these disorders are today considered as complex diseases with incompletely known etiology. Hence, model systems for studying the pathogenesis of autoimmunity are important to unravel its causes. Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type 1 (APS-1), (OMIM 240300), is a rare autoimmune disorder. Patients with APS-1 progressively develop multiple organ-specific autoimmune lesions involving both endocrine and non endocrine tissues. Typical autoimmune disease components in APS-1 are hypoparathyroidism, Addison’s disease, vitiligo, alopecia and type 1 diabetes. The gene preventing APS-1 has been identified and designated Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE). It has been shown that mutations of AIRE cause loss of tolerance to self-structures, resulting in organ-specific autoimmunity. Although APS-1 is a rare syndrome occurring mainly in genetically isolated populations, the disease components of APS-1 are, in isolated forms, not unusual in the general population and affect many patients. Hence, APS-1 is an attractive model disease for studies of molecular mechanisms underlying organ-specific autoimmunity. This thesis concerns investigations in which two novel autoantigens are identified in APS-1 and used in serological diagnosis of the disease. NALP5, is identified as a parathyroid autoantigen - an important finding since autoimmune hypoparathyroidism is one of the cardinal symptoms of APS-1. Additionally, KCNRG is identified as a bronchial autoantigen in APS-1 patients with respiratory symptoms. Finally, studies that compare the immune response in APS-1 patients and the mouse model for APS-1 are presented.
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10. |
- Andersson, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Pivotal Advance : HMGB1 expression in active lesions of human and experimental multiple sclerosis
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Leukocyte Biology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0741-5400 .- 1938-3673. ; 84:5, s. 1248-1255
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the CNS, most frequently starting with a series of bouts, each followed by complete remission and then a secondary, progressive phase during which the neurological deficit increases steadily. The underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for disease progression are still unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1), a DNA-binding protein with proinflammatory properties, is evident in active lesions of MS and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and that HMGB1 levels correlate with active inflammation. Furthermore, the expression of the innate HMGB1 receptors--receptor for advanced glycation end products, TLR2, and TLR4--was also highly increased in MS and rodent EAE. Additionally, in vitro activation of rodent CNS-derived microglia and bone marrow-derived macrophages demonstrated that microglia were equally as capable as macrophages of translocating HMGB1 following LPS/IFN-gamma stimulation. Significant expression of HMGB1 and its receptors on accumulating activated macrophages and resident microglia may thus provide a positive feedback loop that amplifies the inflammatory response during MS and EAE pathogenesis.
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11. |
- Covacu, Ruxandra, et al.
(författare)
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Nitric oxide exposure diverts neural stem cell fate from neurogenesis towards astrogliogenesis
- 2006
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Ingår i: Stem Cells. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1066-5099 .- 1549-4918. ; 178, s. 268-268
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Regeneration of cells in the central nervous system is a process that might be affected during neurological disease and trauma. Because nitric oxide (NO) and its derivatives are powerful mediators in the inflammatory cascade, we have investigated the effects of pathophysiological concentrations of NO on neurogenesis, gliogenesis, and the expression of proneural genes in primary adult neural stem cell cultures. After exposure to NO, neurogenesis was downregulated, and this corresponded to decreased expression of the proneural gene neurogenin-2 and beta-III-tubulin. The decreased ability to generate neurons was also found to be transmitted to the progeny of the cells. NO exposure was instead beneficial for astroglial differentiation, which was confirmed by increased activation of the Janus tyrosine kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription transduction pathway. Our findings reveal a new role for NO during neuroinflammatory conditions, whereby its proastroglial fate-determining effect on neural stem cells might directly influence the neuroregenerative process.
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12. |
- Gielen, Alexander W., et al.
(författare)
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Expression of T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecules-1 and -3 (TIM-1 and -3) in the rat nervous and immune systems
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroimmunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-5728 .- 1872-8421. ; 164:1, s. 93-104
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Expression of T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecules (TIMs) can be used as T helper (Th) differentiation markers in the human and mouse. We examined the expression of TIM-1 and -3 mRNAs in rat MBP(63-88)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). TIM-3 expression was upregulated in the spinal cord during EAE and following antigen restimulation of the encephalitogenic TCRBV8S2+ population. Interestingly, TIM-3 expression was also detected by in situ hybridization in resident cells of the nervous system. TIM-1 was expressed in B cells but not in resident CNS cells and TIM-1 mRNA levels in spinal cord were unchanged throughout the course of EAE. These results support the notion that TIM-3 can also be used as a Th1 differentiation marker in the rat. However, expression of TIM-1 and -3 is not restricted solely to T cells and the presence of TIM-3 in resident CNS cells may indicate a role for this molecule in the interaction between the nervous and immune systems.
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13. |
- Harnesk, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Vra4 Congenic Rats with Allelic Differences in the Class II Transactivator Gene Display Altered Susceptibility to Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Immunology. - : The American Association of Immunologists. - 0022-1767 .- 1550-6606. ; 180:5, s. 3289-96
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Presentation of Ag bound to MHC class II (MHC II) molecules to CD4+ T cells is a key event in adaptive immune responses. Genetic differences in MHC II expression in the rat CNS were recently positioned to allelic variability in the CIITA gene (Mhc2ta), located within the Vra4 locus on rat chromosome 10. In this study, we have examined reciprocal Vra4-congenic strains on the DA and PVGav1 backgrounds, respectively. After experimental nerve injury the strain-specific MHC II expression on microglia was reversed in the congenic strains. Similar findings were obtained after intraparenchymal injection of IFN-gamma in the brain. Expression of MHC class II was also lower on B cells and dendritic cells from the DA.PVGav1-Vra4- congenic strain compared with DA rats after in vitro stimulation with IFN-gamma. We next explored whether Vra4 may affect the outcome of experimental autoimmune disease. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, DA.PVGav1-Vra4 rats displayed a lower disease incidence and milder disease course compared with DA, whereas both PVGav1 and PVGav1.DA-Vra4 rats were completely protected. These results demonstrate that naturally occurring allelic differences in Mhc2ta have profound effects on the quantity of MHC II expression in the CNS and on immune cells and that this genetic variability also modulates susceptibility to autoimmune neuroinflammation.
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14. |
- Isaksson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Conditional DC depletion does not affect priming of encephalitogenic Th cells in EAE
- 2012
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Ingår i: European Journal of Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0014-2980 .- 1521-4141. ; 42:10, s. 2555-2563
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- EAE, an animal model for multiple sclerosis, is a Th17- and Th1-cell-mediated auto-immune disease, but the mechanisms leading to priming of encephalitogenicTcells in autoimmune neuroinflammation are poorly understood. To investigate the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the initiation of autoimmuneTh17- andTh1-cell responses andEAE, we used mice transgenic for a simian diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) expressed under the control of the murineCD11c promoter (CD11c-DTRmice onC57BL/6 background).EAEwas induced by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) protein in CFA. DCs were depleted on the day before and 8 days afterMOG immunization. The mean clinicalEAEscore was only mildly reduced inDC-depleted mice when DCs were ablated beforeEAEinduction. The frequency of activatedTh cells was not altered, andMOG-inducedTh17 orTh1-cell responses were not altered, in the spleens ofDC-depleted mice. Similar results were obtained ifDCswere ablated the first 10 days afterMOGimmunization with repeatedDCdepletions. Unexpectedly, transient depletion of DCs did not affect priming or differentiation of MOG-inducedTh17 andTh1-cell responses or the incidence ofEAE. Thus, the mechansim of priming ofTh cells inEAEremains to be elucidated.
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15. |
- Isaksson, Magnus, 1975-
(författare)
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Initiation of Autoimmunity in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The events that trigger an autoimmune disease remain largely unknown. To study these events animal models are necessary because symptoms of autoimmune diseases are preceded by a long asymptomatic period in humans.Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the best characterized model for cell mediated autoimmunity and an animal model for the human disease multiple sclerosis. EAE is induced in rodents by immunization with myelin antigens (Ags) together with adjuvants. After immunization, T cells are primed in the periphery by Ag presenting cells and subsequently invade the central nervous system where they mediate parenchymal inflammation, resulting in demyelination and clinical symptoms of an ascending paralysis. It is now generally recognised that the main cell type mediating EAE is the T helper type 17 (Th17) cell.Tolerance to EAE can be attained by DNA vaccination, but how the immune response against the myelin Ags is abrogated after DNA vaccination is not known. By employing short interfering RNA technology, induction of the innate immune signalling molecule interferon (IFN) -β was found to be necessary for the protective effect of DNA vaccination in EAE. In addition, DNA vaccination inhibited subsequent autoimmune Th17 cell responses.The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of the innate immune system have evolved to recognise conserved molecular structures on microbes and signalling through them almost exclusively converge on the molecule MyD88. Signalling via MyD88 was found to be required for induction of EAE since mice deficient in this molecule did not develop disease. Upstream signalling via TLR4 and TLR9 had tolerogenic properties.In studies of Ag presentation in EAE, two major subtypes of dendritic cells (DCs) were examined. Plasmacytoid DCs were found to have a promoting role in the induction of EAE, partly via type 1 IFNs. Myeloid DCs had a redundant role in the induction phase of EAE, neither disease severity nor encephalitogenic Th17 responses were affected by their absence during priming.These studies further demonstrate that the cells and molecules of the innate immune system exhibit a crucial role in controlling the adaptive immune system which mediates tissue damage in autoimmune diseases.
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16. |
- Isaksson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Plasmacytoid DC promote priming of autoimmune Th17 cells and EAE
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Journal of Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0014-2980 .- 1521-4141. ; 39:10, s. 2925-2935
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- EAE, an animal model for MS, is a Th17 and Th1-cell-mediated autoimmune disease, but the mechanisms leading to priming of encephalitogenic T cells in autoimmune neuroinflammation are poorly understood. To investigate the role of plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in the initiation of autoimmune Th17- and Th1-cell responses and EAE, we depleted pDC with anti-pDC Ag-1 (anti-PDCA1) mAb prior to immunization of C57BL/6 mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). pDC-depleted mice developed less severe clinical and histopathological signs of EAE than control mice, which demonstrates a promoting role for pDC in the initiation of EAE. The levels of type I IFN were much lower in the sera from anti-PDCA1-treated mice. However, neutralization of type I IFN ameliorated the early phase of EAE but did not alter the severity of disease. Thus, only a minor part of the EAE-promoting effect of pDC appears to be mediated by IFN-alpha/beta secretion. The numbers of MOG-specific Th17 cells, but not Th1 cells, were lower in spleen from anti-PDCA1-treated mice compared with controls. In contrast, pDC depletion a week after MOG immunization resulted in more severe clinical signs of EAE. In conclusion, we demonstrate that pDC promote initiation of MOG-induced Th17-cell responses and EAE.
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17. |
- Israelsson, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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Appearance of Cxcl10-expressing cell clusters is common for traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders
- 2010
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Ingår i: European Journal of Neuroscience. - : Wiley. - 0953-816X .- 1460-9568. ; 31:5, s. 852-863
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the mouse results in the rapid appearance of scattered clusters of cells expressing the chemokine Cxcl10 in cortical and subcortical areas. To extend the observation of this unique pattern, we used neuropathological mouse models using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, gene array analysis, in-situ hybridization and flow cytometry. As for TBI, cell clusters of 150–200 μm expressing Cxcl10 characterize the cerebral cortex of mice carrying a transgene encoding the Swedish mutation of amyloid precursor protein, a model of amyloid Alzheimer pathology. The same pattern was found in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice modelling multiple sclerosis. In contrast, mice carrying a SOD1G93A mutant mimicking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology lacked such cell clusters in the cerebral cortex, whereas clusters appeared in the brainstem and spinal cord. Mice homozygous for a null mutation of the Cxcl10 gene did not show detectable levels of Cxcl10 transcript after TBI, confirming the quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and in-situ hybridization signals. Moreover, unbiased microarray expression analysis showed that Cxcl10 was among 112 transcripts in the neocortex upregulated at least threefold in both TBI and ageing TgSwe mice, many of them involved in inflammation. The identity of the Cxcl10+ cells remains unclear but flow cytometry showed increased numbers of activated microglia/macrophages as well as myeloid dendritic cells in the TBI and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis models. It is concluded that the Cxcl10+ cells appear in the inflamed central nervous system and may represent a novel population of cells that it may be possible to target pharmacologically in a broad range of neurodegenerative conditions.
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18. |
- Kisand, Kai, et al.
(författare)
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Interferon autoantibodies associated with AIRE-deficiency decrease the expression of IFN-stimulated genes
- 2008
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Ingår i: Blood. - : American Society of Hematology. - 0006-4971 .- 1528-0020. ; 112:7, s. 2657-2666
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neutralizing autoantibodies to type I, but not type II, interferons (IFNs) are found at high titers in almost every patient with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), a disease caused by AIRE gene mutations that lead to defects in thymic T-cell selection. Combining genome-wide expression array with real time RT-PCR assays, we here demonstrate that antibodies against IFN-alpha cause highly significant down-regulation of interferon-stimulated gene expression in cells from APECED patients' blood by blocking their highly dilute endogenous IFNs. This down-regulation was lost progressively as these APECED cells matured in cultures without neutralizing autoantibodies. Most interestingly, a rare APECED patient with autoantibodies to IFN-omega but not IFN-alpha showed a marked increase in expression of the same interferon-stimulated genes. We also report unexpected increases in serum CXCL10 levels in APECED. Our results argue that the breakdown of tolerance to IFNs in AIRE deficiency is associated with impaired responses to them in thymus, and highlight APECED as another autoimmune disease with associated dysregulation of IFN activity.
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19. |
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20. |
- Lobell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Presence of CpG DNA and the local cytokine milieu determine the efficacy of suppressive DNA vaccination in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- 1999
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Ingår i: Journal of Immunology. - 0022-1767 .- 1550-6606. ; 163:9, s. 4754-4762
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We here study the adjuvant properties of immunostimulatory DNA sequences (ISS) and coinjected cytokine-coding cDNA in suppressive vaccination with DNA encoding an autoantigenic peptide, myelin basic protein peptide 68-85, against Lewis rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). EAE is an autoaggressive, T1-mediated disease of the CNS. ISS are unmethylated CpG motifs found in bacterial DNA, which can induce production of type 1 cytokines in vertebrates through the innate immune system. Because ISS in the plasmid backbone are necessary for efficient DNA vaccination, we studied the effect of one such ISS, the 5'-AACGTT-3' motif, in our system. Treatment with a DNA vaccine encoding myelin basic protein peptide 68-85 and containing three ISS of 5'-AACGTT-3' sequence suppressed clinical signs of EAE, while a corresponding DNA vaccine without such ISS had no effect. We further observed reduced proliferative T cell responses in rats treated with the ISS-containing DNA vaccine, compared with controls. We also studied the possible impact of coinjection of plasmid DNA encoding rat cytokines IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF, and TNF-alpha with the ISS-containing DNA vaccine. Coinjection of IL-4-, IL-10-, or TNF-alpha-coding cDNA inhibited the suppressive effect of the DNA vaccine on EAE, whereas GM-CSF-coding cDNA had no effect. Coinjection of cytokine-coding cDNA with the ISS-deficient DNA vaccine failed to alter clinical signs of EAE. We conclude that the presence of ISS and induction of a local T1 cytokine milieu is decisive for specific protective DNA vaccination in EAE.
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21. |
- Lobell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Protective DNA vaccination against organ-specific autoimmunity is highly specific and discriminates between single amino acid substitutions in the peptide autoantigen
- 2000
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 97:4, s. 1689-1694
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- DNA vaccines that encode encephalitogenic sequences in tandem can protect from subsequent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced with the corresponding peptide. The mechanism for this protection and, in particular, if it is specific for the amino acid sequence encoding the vaccine are not known. We show here that a single amino acid exchange in position 79 from serine (nonself) to threonine (self) in myelin basic protein peptide MBP68-85, which is a major encephalitogenic determinant for Lewis rats, dramatically alters the protection. Moreover, vaccines encoding the encephalitogenic sequence MBP68-85 do not protect against the second encephalitogenic sequence MBP89-101 in Lewis rats and vice versa. Thus, protective immunity conferred by DNA vaccination exquisitely discriminates between peptide target autoantigens. No bystander suppression was observed. The exact underlying mechanisms remain elusive because no simple correlation between impact on ex vivo responses and protection against disease were noted.
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22. |
- Lobell, Anna
(författare)
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Suppressive DNA vaccination in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- 1999
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis describes the development of a novel method to suppress an organ-specific autoimmune disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), by vaccination with DNA encoding autoantigenic peptides. DNA vaccination can produce long-term immunity and generate antigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. EAE is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), and an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). We used myelin basic protein (MBP)-EAE, in which Lewis (LEW) rats are immunized with MBP or encephalitogenic MBP-peptides. The disease is considered to be T1-mediated. We vaccinated LEW rats with DNA encoding the irnmunodominant T cell epitope MBP-peptide 68-85 (MBP68-85) targeted to IgG, before challenge with MBP68-85. The clinical and histopathological signs of EAE were reduced in the DNA vaccinated group, compared to controls. We observed a reduced production of IFN-[gamma] in the vaccinated group, compared to controls, but we measured no induction of type 2 immunity. DNA sequences in DNA vaccine constructs may function as immunomodulators, such as immunostimulatory DNA sequences (ISS). ISS are non-coding, unmethylated CpG motifs of bacterial or viral origin that promote type 1 immunity. Treatment with a DNA vaccine encoding MBP68-85 and containing three ISS suppressed clinical signs of EAE, while a corresponding DNA vaccine without such ISS had no effect. Furthermore, coinjection of IL-4 or IL-10-coding cDNA with the ISS-positive DNA vaccine, inhibited the suppressive effect of the vaccine. We studied the requirements for dominant expression of TCRBV8S2 in LEW rats, after immunization with MBP63-88. The preferential recruitment of TCRBV8S2+ T cells was strictly dependent on MHC haplotype and heterologous MBP-peptide. Then, we demonstrated that a single aminoacid exchange in position 79 from serine (non-self) to threonine (self) in MBP68-85 dramatically altered the protective effect of DNA vaccine encoding MBP68-85. Furthermore, the DNA vaccine encoding MBP68-85 did not protect against MBP89-101-induced EAE and vise versa. Thus, the protective effect was highly specific. To study if DNA vaccination also is feasible with other important encephalitogenic peptide autoantigens, we used myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-EAE. Vaccination with DNA encoding MOG91-108 suppressed clinical signs of EAE, after MOG91-108-challenge. In conclusion, vaccination with DNA encoding autoantigenic peptides suppresses EAE. Presence of ISS and a local type 1 cytokine milieu is decisive for specific, protective DNA vaccination in EAE, and the effect is highly specific.
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23. |
- Lobell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Suppressive DNA vaccination in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis involves a T1-biased immune response
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Immunology. - : The American Association of Immunologists. - 0022-1767 .- 1550-6606. ; 170:4, s. 1806-1813
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Vaccination with DNA encoding a myelin basic protein peptide suppresses Lewis rat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced with the same peptide. Additional myelin proteins, such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), may be important in multiple sclerosis. Here we demonstrate that DNA vaccination also suppresses MOG peptide-induced EAE. MOG(91-108) is encephalitogenic in DA rats and MHC-congenic LEW.1AV1 (RT1(av1)) and LEW.1N (RT1(n)) rats. We examined the effects of DNA vaccines encoding MOG(91-108) in tandem, with or without targeting of the hybrid gene product to IgG. In all investigated rat strains DNA vaccination suppressed clinical signs of EAE. There was no requirement for targeting the gene product to IgG, but T1-promoting CpG DNA motifs in the plasmid backbone of the construct were necessary for efficient DNA vaccination, similar to the case in DNA vaccination in myelin basic protein-induced EAE. We failed to detect any effects on ex vivo MOG-peptide-induced IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, and brain-derived neurotropic factor expression in splenocytes or CNS-derived lymphocytes. In CNS-derived lymphocytes, Fas ligand expression was down-regulated in DNA-vaccinated rats compared with controls. However, MOG-specific IgG2b responses were enhanced after DNA vaccination. The enhanced IgG2b responses together with the requirement for CpG DNA motifs in the vaccine suggest a protective mechanism involving induction of a T1-biased immune response.
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24. |
- Lobell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Vaccination with DNA encoding an immunodominant myelin basic protein peptide targeted to Fc of immunoglobulin G suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- 1998
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Ingår i: Journal of Experimental Medicine. - : Rockefeller University Press. - 0022-1007 .- 1540-9538. ; 187:9, s. 1543-1548
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We explore here if vaccination with DNA encoding an autoantigenic peptide can suppress autoimmune disease. For this purpose we used experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is an autoaggressive disease in the central nervous system and an animal model for multiple sclerosis. Lewis rats were vaccinated with DNA encoding an encephalitogenic T cell epitope, guinea pig myelin basic protein peptide 68-85 (MBP68-85), before induction of EAE with MBP68-85 in complete Freund's adjuvant. Compared to vaccination with a control DNA construct, the vaccination suppressed clinical and histopathological signs of EAE, and reduced the interferon gamma production after challenge with MBP68-85. Targeting of the gene product to Fc of IgG was essential for this effect. There were no signs of a Th2 cytokine bias. Our data suggest that DNA vaccines encoding autoantigenic peptides may be useful tools in controlling autoimmune disease.
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25. |
- Marta, Monica, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of autoimmune encephalomyelitis by toll-like receptors
- 2009
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Ingår i: Autoimmunity Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 1568-9972 .- 1873-0183. ; 8:6, s. 506-509
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a Th17-mediated autoimmune disease and an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) contains pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that bind toll-like receptors (TLRs), and is necessary to induce EAE. Upstream TLR signals modify innate and adaptive immune responses in EAE. In detail, the common TLR adaptor molecule MyD88 is necessary for induction of EAE, and mediates activation of peripheral myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and differentiation of autoimmune Th17 cells. The stimulatory TLRs have not yet been identified for Th17 cells. TLR4 down regulates disease severity in EAE and Th17 cell responses, but promotes Th1 cell responses, which may inhibit the differentiation of Th17 cells. Moreover, treatment with a TLR4 ligand tolerizes mice and prevents EAE. TLR9 down regulates disease severity in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced EAE, whereas it promotes disease in MOG(35-55)-induced EAE. Thus MyD88, TLR4 and TLR9 modify the disease process in EAE. Both endogenous and CFA-derived TLR ligands are implicated to modulate the disease process.
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