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Differential regulation of expression of the MHC class II molecules RT1.B and RT1.D on rat B lymphocytes: effects of interleukin‐4, interleukin‐13 and interferon‐γ
Author(s) -
Anja Roos,
Esther J.M. Schilder-Tol,
M.A. Chand,
Nike Claessen,
Fadi G. Lakkis,
David W. Pascual,
Jan J. Weening,
Jan Aten
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1998.00389.x
Subject(s) - mhc class ii , major histocompatibility complex , microbiology and biotechnology , b cell , interleukin 4 , biology , chemistry , immune system , immunology , antibody
Susceptibility to induction of both T helper 1‐ (Th1) and Th2‐mediated autoimmunity is multifactorial and involves genetic linkage to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II haplotype. Brown Norway (BN) rats exposed to mercuric chloride develop a Th2‐dependent systemic autoimmunity, whereas Lewis rats, which are highly susceptible to Th1‐mediated autoimmunity, develop immune suppression after mercuric chloride exposure. Exposure to mercuric chloride is known to enhance B‐lymphocyte expression of the MHC class II molecule RT1.B, predominantly in BN rats. We demonstrate that, in contrast, expression of RT1.D was unmodified on these B cells, whereas both RT1.B and RT1.D were up‐regulated on epithelial cells. Regulation of B‐cell MHC class II isotype expression was further studied in vitro , using BN rat lymph node (LN) cells. Interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) strongly enhanced B‐cell expression of RT1.B (2·8‐fold), whereas RT1.D expression was only slightly, although significantly, modified (1·2‐fold). B cells from Lewis rats showed a similar IL‐4‐induced enhancement of RT1.B expression (2·5‐fold), whereas, in contrast, RT1.D expression was unmodified. Exposure of LN cells from BN rats to interferon‐γ induced a moderate increase of B‐cell MHC class II expression, predominantly of RT1.B. Strong and rapid enhancement of B‐cell RT1.D expression was observed after stimulation by phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate and ionomycin. Rat IL‐13 did not modify B‐cell MHC class II expression; however, it induced typical morphological changes in peritoneal macrophages. These experiments demonstrate isotype‐specific and strain‐dependent regulation of MHC class II expression on rat B lymphocytes, which may be of pathophysiological relevance for the strain‐dependent susceptibility for Th1‐ or Th2‐mediated autoimmunity.