Peptidyl arginine deiminase inhibition suppresses arthritis via decreased protein citrullination in joints and serum with the downregulation of interleukin-6.

Objective: To explore the relevance of citrullinated proteins and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) via protein arginine deiminase (PAD) inhibition in peptide glucose-6-phosphate isomerase-induced arthritis (pGIA).Methods: Cl-amidine, a PAD inhibitor, was injected into pGIA. Clinical scores and histopathological findings of ankle joints were assessed. Serum ACPA titers were analyzed using ELISA. Citrullinated protein expression in joints and sera were examined with immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, respectively. Serum levels of IL-6, TNFα, and IL-1ß were measured with cytometric bead array (CBA). Gene expression levels of IL-6 and TNFα in joints, lymph nodes, and spleens were analyzed with quantitative PCR. GPI-specific productions of IFNγ and IL-17 from T cells in lymph nodes were evaluated.Results: Cl-amidine treatment significantly reduced arthritis severity while ACPA titers tended to be lower, but not significantly different compared to the control. Citrullinated proteins in joints and sera from treated mice were clearly decreased. With Cl-amidine treatment, serum IL-6 levels were significantly decreased, and IL-6 and TNFα gene expression were significantly reduced in joints. IL-17 production from GPI-specific T cells tended to be lower in Cl-amidine-treated mice, but not significantly different.Conclusion: Our results suggested that PAD-mediated citrullinated protein was involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis via IL-6.

Suppression of GPI-induced arthritis by oral administration of transgenic rice seeds expressing altered peptide ligands.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of transgenic rice seeds expressing the altered peptide ligand (APL) of human glucose-6-phosphate-isomerase (hGPI325-339) in mice model of GPI induced arthritis (GIA). METHODS: We generated transgenic rice expressing APL12 which was analog peptide of hGPI325-339. The transgenic rice seeds were orally administered prophylactically before the induction of GIA. The severity of arthritis and titers of serum anti-GPI antibodies were evaluated. We examined IL-17 production from splenocytes and inguinal lymph node (iLN) and mesenteric lymph nodes (mLN) cells and analyzed the expression levels of functional molecules from splenocytes and iLN cells. RESULTS: Prophylactic treatment of GIA mice with APL12 transgenic rice seeds (APL12-TG) significantly improved the severity of arthritis, histopathological arthritis scores, and decreased titers of serum anti-GPI antibodies, BAFF mRNA in iLN cells, IL-17 production in splenocytes and iLN cells compared with non-transgenic rice-treated mice. APL12-TG-treated GIA mice showed upregulation of Foxp3 and GITR protein in CD4+CD25+ cells in the spleen. CONCLUSION: APL12-TG improved the severity of GIA through a decrease in production of IL-17 and anti-GPI antibodies via upregulation of Foxp3 and GITR expression on regulatory T cells in spleen.

Involvement of RORγt-overexpressing T cells in the development of autoimmune arthritis in mice.

INTRODUCTION: Differentiation of T helper 17 cells is dependent on the expression of transcription retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). The purpose of our study is to determine the role of RORγt expression in T cells on the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: CIA was induced in C57BL/6 and T cell-specific RORγt transgenic (RORγt Tg) mice. At day 10 post-1st-immunization, lymph node (LN) cells were cultured with type II collagen (CII), and the expression levels of various cytokines and transcription factors on CD4+ T cells were measured. Total cells or CD4+ cells of draining LN were harvested from each mouse group after CII-immunization and transferred into C57BL/6 mice, and then CIA was induced in recipient mice. The expression levels of RORγt and other surface antigens, and the production of cytokines were analyzed in forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. Foxp3+ Treg cells were analyzed for suppressive activity against proliferation of effector CD4+ T cells. Interlukin (IL)-10 neutralizing antibody was administrated in the course of CIA. RESULTS: CIA was significantly suppressed in RORγt Tg mice compared with C57BL/6 mice. RORγt expression and IL-17 production were significantly higher in CII-reactive CD4+ T cells from RORγt Tg mice. Arthritis was significantly attenuated in C57BL/6 mice recipient of cells from RORγt Tg mice. Most of Foxp3+ Treg cells expressed RORγt, produced IL-10 but not IL-17, and overexpressed CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and surface antigens related to the suppressive activity of Foxp3+ Treg cells in RORγt Tg mice. In vitro suppression assay demonstrated significant augmentation of the suppressive capacity of Foxp3+ Treg cells in RORγt Tg mice. CIA was exacerbated in both C57BL/6 mice and RORγt Tg mice by the treatment of anti-IL-10 antibody. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that RORγt overexpression in T cells protected against the development of CIA. The protective effects were mediated, at least in part, through the anti-inflammatory effects including high production of IL-10 of RORγt+Foxp3+ Treg cells.

Overexpression of T-bet gene regulates murine autoimmune arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of T-bet in the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: T-bet-transgenic (Tg) mice under the control of the CD2 promoter were generated. CIA was induced in T-bet-Tg mice and wild-type C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Levels of type II collagen (CII)-reactive T-bet and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt) messenger RNA expression were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Criss-cross experiments using CD4+ T cells from B6 and T-bet-Tg mice, as well as CD11c+ splenic dendritic cells (DCs) from B6 and T-bet-Tg mice with CII were performed, and interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interferon-γ (IFNγ) in the supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CD4+ T cells from B6, T-bet-Tg, or T-bet-Tg/IFNγ-/- mice were cultured for Th17 cell differentiation, then the proportions of cells producing IFNγ and IL-17 were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. RESULTS: Unlike the B6 mice, the T-bet-Tg mice did not develop CIA. T-bet-Tg mice showed overexpression of Tbx21 and down-regulation of Rorc in CII-reactive T cells. Criss-cross experiments with CD4+ T cells and splenic DCs showed a significant reduction in IL-17 production by CII-reactive CD4+ T cells in T-bet-Tg mice, even upon coculture with DCs from B6 mice, indicating dysfunction of IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells. Inhibition of Th17 cell differentiation under an in vitro condition favoring Th17 cell differentiation was observed in both T-bet-Tg mice and T-bet-Tg/IFNγ-/- mice. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of T-bet in T cells suppressed the development of autoimmune arthritis. The regulatory mechanism of arthritis might involve dysfunction of CII-reactive Th17 cell differentiation by overexpression of T-bet via IFNγ-independent pathways.