Original Paper

Modulation of T Cell Function by Alpha-Fetoprotein: An in vivo Study on Porcine Thyroid Peroxidase-Induced Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Transgenic Mice Producing Human Alpha-Fetoprotein
E. Matsuura^c, Y. Kang^a, H. Kitakawa^a, A. Ogata^a, T. Kotani^b, S. Ohtaki^b, S. Nishi<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, and
^bDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Miyazaki Medical College, Miyazaki, and
^cDepartment of Cell Chemistry, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Tumor Biol 1999;20:162-171 (DOI: 10.1159/000030059)

  Key Words

• -Fetoprotein
• Autoimmune thyroiditis
• Thyroid peroxidase
• Transgenic mouse
• Immunoregulation

  Abstract

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis was induced in transgenic mice (TG-3) producing human -fetoprotein (AFP) and in control mice by immunization of porcine thyroid peroxidase (TPO). Development of thyroiditis accompanied with mononuclear cell infiltration was observed in 6 out of 8 treated control mice. In contrast, the development was significantly suppressed in TG-3 mice and mild histologic change was observed in only 1 out of 8 TG-3 mice (p < 0.05). Serum anti-TPO antibody titers gradually increased in TG-3 mice as well as in control mice and there were no significant differences. In vitro phytohemagglutinin response of splenocytes from TG-3 mice was lower than that from control mice. Significantly reduced numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ splenocytes, total thymocytes, and CD4+ thymocytes were found in the nontreated TG-3 mice as compared with those in control mice. These results suggest that ubiquitously produced AFP modulates in vivo T cell development and/or T cell-dependent immune responses.

  Author Contacts

Dr. Shinzo Nishi
Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine
N-15, W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638 (Japan)
Tel. +81 11 706 5042, Fax +81 11 706 7865
E-Mail s_nishi@med.hokudai.ac.jp

  Article Information

Received: Received: August 24, 1998
Accepted: September 21, 1998
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 25