[Webinar] How to better optimize an oncology drug discovery program
Register for this webinar discussing how conventional and innovative integrated technological skills should be incorporated into an oncology program.
Read more Authors:
Deborah L Hodge, Cyril Berthet, Vincenzo Coppola, Wolfgang Kastenmüller, Matthew D Buschman, Paul M Schaughency, Hidekazu Shirota, Anthony J Scarzello, Jeff J Subleski, Miriam R Anver, John R Ortaldo, Fanching Lin, Della A Reynolds, Michael E Sanford, Philipp Kaldis, Lino Tessarollo, Dennis M Klinman, Howard A Young
Abstract:
We generated a mouse model with a 162 nt AU-rich element (ARE) region deletion in the 3′ untranslated region (3’UTR) of the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) gene that results in chronic circulating serum IFN-γ levels. Mice homozygous for the ARE deletion (ARE-Del) (-/-) present both serologic and cellular abnormalities typical of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ARE-Del(-/-) mice display increased numbers of pDCs in bone marrow and spleen. Addition of IFN-γ to Flt3-ligand (Flt3L) treated in vitro bone marrow cultures results in a 2-fold increase in pDCs with concurrent increases in IRF8 expression. Marginal zone B (MZB) cells and marginal zone macrophages (MZMs) are absent in ARE-Del(-/-) mice. ARE-Del(+/-) mice retain both MZB cells and MZMs and develop no or mild autoimmunity. However, low dose clodronate treatment in ARE-Del(+/-) mice specifically eliminates MZMs and promotes anti-DNA antibody development and glomerulonephritis. Our findings demonstrate the consequences of a chronic IFN-γ milieu on B220(+) cell types and in particular the impact of MZB cell loss on MZM function in autoimmunity. Furthermore, similarities between disease states in ARE-Del(-/-) mice and SLE patients suggest that IFN-γ may not only be a product of SLE but may be critical for disease onset and progression.
Ref: J Autoimmun. 2014 Sep;53:33-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2014.02.003. Epub 2014 Feb 28.