Association of CD4⁺CD25⁺T Cells with Prevention of Severe Destructive Arthritis in<i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i>-Vaccinated and Challenged Gamma Interferon-Deficient Mice Treated with Anti-Interleukin-17 Antibody

Abstract

ABSTRACT CD4 + CD25 + T cells are a population of regulatory T cells responsible for active suppression of autoimmunity. Specifically, CD4 + CD25 + T cells have been shown to prevent insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreatitis. Here, we present evidence that CD4 + CD25 + T cells also play a major role in controlling the severity of arthritis detected in Borrelia burgdorferi -vaccinated gamma interferon-deficient (IFN-γ°) C57BL/6 mice challenged with the Lyme spirochete. When B. burgdorferi -vaccinated and challenged IFN-γ° mice were treated with anti-interleukin-17 (IL-17) antibody, the number of CD4 + CD25 + T cells increased in the local lymph nodes. Furthermore, histopathologic examination showed the mice to be free of destructive arthritis. When these anti-IL-17-treated B. burgdorferi -vaccinated and challenged mice were also administered anti-CD25 antibody, the number of CD4 + CD25 + T cells in the local lymph nodes decreased. More importantly, severe destructive arthropathy was induced. In addition, delayed administration of anti-CD25 antibody decreased the severity of the arthritis. These results suggest that CD4 + CD25 + T cells are involved in regulation of a severe destructive arthritis induced with an experimental model of vaccination and challenge with B. burgdorferi .

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• University of Wisconsin–Madison US
• Meriter Hospital US
• Gundersen Lutheran Hospital US
• Bipar FR

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