1. |
- Alarcon-Riquelme, Marta E., et al.
(author)
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Finding genes for SLE : complex interactions and complex populations
- 2003
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 21:2, s. 117-120
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Many years of work, multiplex family collection and endless genotyping finally give fruit. The original aim cannot be lost. The aim is not only to identify mutations involved in susceptibility for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but to elucidate the disease pathogenesis as well. After genetics comes the biology. We review our recent findings on the genetics of lupus, provide possible mechanisms for disease susceptibility and present some facts on the problematic of identifying susceptibility mutations for complex diseases in complex human populations.
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2. |
- Schloot, N, et al.
(author)
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Comparison of cytokine ELISpot assay formats for the detection of islet antigen autoreactive T cells : Report of the third immunology of diabetes society T-cell workshop
- 2003
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 21:4, s. 365-376
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The identification of sensitive assay formats capable of distinguishing islet autoreactive T cells directly ex vivo in blood is a major goal in type 1 diabetes research. Recently, much interest has been shown in the cytokine enzyme linked immunospot assay (CK ELISpot), an assay potentially capable of fulfilling these difficult criteria. To address the utility of this assay in detecting autoreactive T cells, a 'wet' workshop was organized using the same fresh blood sample and coded antigens. Five different laboratories participated, using three distinct CK ELISpot assay formats. Samples from two subjects were pre-tested for responses to sub-optimal concentrations of tetanus toxoid, representing a low frequency recall response, and peptides from diabetes associated autoantigens GAD65, IA-2 and HSP60. All participants measured interferon-? production and combinations of interleukins-4, -5, -10 and -13. In the workshop 4 of 5 laboratories detected low frequency recall responses in both subjects and 3 of 5 detected at least one of the autoreactive peptide responses concordant with pre-testing. Significant assay format related differences in sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio were observed. The results demonstrate the potential for detection of low-level autoreactive T cell responses and identify assay characteristics that will be useful for studies in type 1 diabetes. ⌐ 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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3. |
- Bergman, Marie-Louise, et al.
(author)
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CTLA-4-/- mice display T cell-apoptosis resistance resembling that ascribed to autoimmune-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice
- 2001
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 16:2, s. 105-113
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The genes conferring susceptibility to autoimmune (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are, in most cases, not defined. Among the loci so far identified as associated with murine IDDM (Idd1-19), only the nature of Idd1 has been assessed. Here we show that thymocytes and peripheral lymphocytes of the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse are relatively resistant to apoptosis induced by gamma-irradiation. By linkage analysis of F2 progeny mice, we map this trait to a locus on chromosome 1 containing the Idd5 diabetes susceptibility region. By the use of congenic mice, we confirm the linkage data and map this locus to a 6 cM region on proximal chromosome 1. Ctla4, being localized in this chromosomal region and mediating crucial functions in T cell biology, is a logical candidate gene in the Idd5 susceptibility region. In line with this, we demonstrate that T cells from Ctla4(-/-)deficient mice show a similar resistance to gamma-irradiation-induced apoptosis as observed in the NOD mice. This reinforces the notion that CTLA-4 contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes.
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4. |
- Corthay, Alexandre, et al.
(author)
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Evaluation of the percentage of peripheral T cells with two different T cell receptor alpha-chains and of their potential role in autoimmunity
- 2001
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - Rockville, MD : American Association of Immunologists. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 16:4, s. 423-429
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Approximately 25% of mature T cells possess two distinct cytoplasmic T cell receptor (TCR) alpha-chains, due to productive gene rearrangements of both alleles. Expression of two different alpha-chains at the cell surface is a potential risk factor for development of autoimmunity. However, it has been difficult to determine the frequency of peripheral T cells with two different alpha-chains at the surface. Our new approach is based on comparing by flow cytometry the percentage of cells that express a given Valpha-chain between wild-type mice and mice that are hemizygous for a disrupted Tcra locus (Tcra+/-) and consequently unable to express two rearranged Tcra genes. We consistently found that approximately 8% of total peripheral T cells express two surface alpha-chains. The importance of dual alpha-T cells in autoimmunity was examined in a mouse model for rheumatoid arthritis, namely collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). No significant difference was observed between Tcra+/- mice and wild-type littermates, considering arthritis incidence, day of disease onset, and maximum arthritic score. We therefore conclude that there is incomplete phenotypic allelic exclusion in TCRalpha, and that the presence of a significant number of potentially multireactive T cells does not increase the susceptibility to develop autoimmune arthritis. © 2001 Academic Press.
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5. |
- Dahle, Charlotte, 1956-, et al.
(author)
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Methods of choice for diagnostic antinuclear antibody (ANA) screening : Benefit of adding antigen-specific assays to immunofluorescence microscopy
- 2004
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier BV. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 22:3, s. 241-248
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives. To evaluate and compare the performances of three enzyme-immunoassays (EIAs) and a double radial immunodiffusion (DRID) test in addition to immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy for routine laboratory screening of patient sera sent for antinuclear antibody (ANA) analysis. Methods. 3079 consecutive patient sera sent for routine testing of ANA were analysed by IF microscopy on HEp-2 cells (IF-ANA), three different ANA-EIAs, and a DRID test for antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens. The IF-ANA and DRID tests were regarded as reference methods. Results. By IF-ANA and/or DRID, 375 sera (12%) turned out ANA-positive. A further 171 sera (6%) were positive by EIA, but could not be confirmed either by IF microscopy or DRID. 32 of the 375 ANA-positive (9%) sera were negative by IF microscopy, but had precipitating antibodies against Ro/SS-A (52 and/or 60 kD). Conclusions. Different assays for ANA analysis give overlapping results to a certain extent, but are by no means interchangeable. Thus, different ANA tests reflect different aspects of these autoantibodies. The diagnostic utility of ANA testing still mainly refers to IF-microscopy and precipitin tests. IF-ANA should not be abandoned as the golden standard in clinical routine, until diagnostic and classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus and other systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases have been revised. However, in addition we strongly advocate that a specific test for anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies is always included.
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6. |
- Fossati-Jimack, Liliane, et al.
(author)
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Selective increase of autoimmune epitope expression on aged erythrocytes in mice : implications in anti-erythrocyte autoimmune responses
- 2002
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Academic Press. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 18:1, s. 17-25
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigated the impact of changes occurring during red blood cell (RBC) ageing on the RBC-binding activity of pathogenic anti-erythrocyte monoclonal antibodies derived from autoimmune-prone New Zealand black (NZB) mice. As assessed by flow cytometric analysis on in vivo biotinylated RBCs, all five NZB-derived anti-RBC mAb exhibited more efficient binding to aged RBCs than to young RBCs, and resulted in a selective elimination of more aged RBCs from the circulating blood. In addition, treatment of RBCs with proteases markedly enhanced the binding of all five anti-RBC mAb, raising the possibility that increased exposure of autoimmune epitopes on aged RBCs may be in part, a result of contacts with proteolytic enzymes during the lifetime of circulating RBCs. In marked contrast, the binding activity of mAb raised in non-autoimmune animals against antigens expressed on RBCs, such as CD44, CD47, CD147 and TER-119, was either decreased or unchanged with RBC ageing, and these epitopes, except for that recognized by anti-CD47 mAb, were highly sensitive to mild treatment with proteases. Our data unravel the unique molecular feature of RBC epitopes involved in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, suggesting that membrane alterations in aged RBCs might play a significant role in the development of the autoantibody response to RBCs.
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7. |
- Hultman, Per, 1957-, et al.
(author)
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The effect of dose, gender, and non-H-2 genes in murine mercury-induced autoimmunity
- 2001
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier BV. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 17:1, s. 27-37
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have studied the effect of dose, treatment time, gender and non-H-2 genes on immune parameters and toxicokinetics in murine mercury-induced autoimmunity (HgAI). The partly-proven mechanism for HgAI is the modification of the autoantigen fibrillarin by mercury, followed by a T cell-dependent immune response driven by the modified fibrillarin. In the H-2 congenic (H-2S) mouse strains A.SW and B10.S given 203HgCl2 in a dose of 0.25-8 mg Hg/l drinking water for up to 10 weeks, the internal dose measured as the whole-body retention of mercury reached steady state within 5 weeks. Fifty percent of the steady state level was reached already after 2 days. Conditions therefore exist for a rapid modification of fibrillarin, followed by a T cell-dependent immune response, which is consistent with the presence of anti-fibrillarin antibodies (AFA) in serum after 2 weeks. AFA developed in a dose-dependent pattern. Serum IgE showed a dose-dependent increase with a maximum after 1-2.5 weeks followed by a distinct decline towards the baseline level. Substantial polyclonal B-cell activation (PBA) developed in the highest dose groups only. Since AFA developed using lower doses too, PBA can be excluded as a general mechanism for induction of AFA. Tissue immune-complex (IC) deposits were present in the highest dose groups only, indicating a possible causality between PBA and IC deposits. The substantially lower whole body and organ mercury level needed to induce AFA in the A.SW strain as compared with the H-2 congenic B10.S strain, demonstrates that genetic factors outside the H-2 region, and not related to toxicokinetics, modifies the autoimmune response. In contrast, the difference in mercury thresholds for induction of IgE was only slight between A.SW and B10.S mice, indicating basically different mechanisms for induction of AFA and serum IgE.
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8. |
- Lundberg, K., et al.
(author)
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A pH-induced modification of CII increases its arthritogenic properties
- 2004
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier BV. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 23:2, s. 95-102
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Immunoreactivity to collagen type II (CII) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients have been described to have an acidic pH in their inflamed synovial tissue. It is known that protein structures are modified by environmental pH, thus it is plausible that changes in synovial pH could affect the conformation of proteins like CII. Posttranslational modifications could alter the biophysical properties of cartilage proteins leading to autoimmunity. In this study we investigated if arthritogenicity of CII was affected by changes in pH, and if so, this could be correlated to altered protein conformation. Immunisation with CII at neutral pH induced a milder disease than did CII at acidic pH. All animals elicited a humoral response to CII, although with a significantly higher IgG1/IgG2b-ratio in the pH 7.4 group. Analysis by circular dichroism and electron microscopy indicated less fibrillation of CII at low pH as compared to neutral pH. Our results suggest that CII is more immunogenic and arthritogenic in an acidic environment than in a neutral environment. We can correlate these findings to pH-induced conformational changes of CII. Hence, self-tolerance to CII might be affected by changes in pH leading to altered and increased arthritogenicity. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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9. |
- Rolandsson, Olov, et al.
(author)
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Accumulation of(125)iodine labeled interleukin-2 in the pancreas of NOD mice.
- 2001
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - : Elsevier BV. - 0896-8411 .- 1095-9157. ; 17:4, s. 281-287
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an important cytokine in the autoimmune process proceeding Type 1 diabetes. Our aim was to investigate, in two previously used animal models, the NOD mouse and the BB/W rat, the in vivo tissue distribution of radio-labeled IL-2. If the radio-labeled IL-2 accumulated significantly in the pancreas compared to surrounding organs it could allow imaging of lymphocyte infiltration of the islets of Langerhans by scintigraphic methods. IL-2 was labeled enzymatically with(125)Iodine. Radio-labeled IL-2 was injected iv in prediabetic NOD mice, diabetic NOD mice and Balb/c mice in the first animal model and in BB rats in the second model. Animals were sacrificed at different time points and the activity in different organs was measured. It was found that the mean activity in the pancreas in both diabetic and prediabetic NOD mice was significantly higher compared to pancreas from Balb/c mice (P< 0.001 and P=0.005, respectively). However, the mean activity in the pancreas was at the lower range of the surrounding organs in both animal models, thereby excluding the possibility of imaging the autoimmune process by scintigraphic methods. It is concluded that radio-labeled IL-2 did accumulate significantly in the pancreas of NOD mice compared to control mice but there is a need to develop new techniques in order to visualize the localized activity.
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10. |
- Holmdahl, Rikard
(author)
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Dissection of the genetic complexity of arthritis using animal models.
- 2003
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In: Journal of Autoimmunity. - 0896-8411. ; 21:2, s. 99-103
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The exploding progress in genomic technology and knowledge now opens the possibility to actually identify the molecular mechanisms in disease. However, inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS), are complex and polygenic and remain a challenge. One possible shortcut could be the use of inbred animals as models for RA and MS for the genetic analysis. These models have been extensively characterized and show a similar degree of complexity as the corresponding human diseases. Using these models linkage analysis followed by isolation of the loci in congenic strains have been shown to be highly efficient and have provided fundamental new knowledge on the genetic control of these diseases. The genetically controlled congenic strains are also useful as scientific tools. They can be used for the identification of the disease-associated genes and, thereby, the essential disease pathways that have been selected by nature. We know that this is possible since we have succeeded in identifying the genes within two of the congenic regions; the MHC class II gene Aq controlling immune response and the Ncf1 gene controlling oxidative burst. Both of these genes are associated with T cell activation and arthritis severity.
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