TNF enhances CD4+ T cell alloproliferation, IFN-gamma responses, and intestinal graft-versus-host disease by IL-12-independent mechanisms

J Immunol. 2003 May 15;170(10):5082-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.170.10.5082.

Abstract

Inhibition of TNF/TNFR2 interactions ameliorates intestinal graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) and Th1 cytokine responses induced by transfer of B6 CD4(+) spleen cells into irradiated MHC class II disparate B6.C-H-2(bm12) (bm12) x B6 F(1) recipients. The present studies examined whether these effects of TNF are IL-12 dependent. T cell proliferative responses of B6.129S1-IL-12rb2(tm1Jm) (B6.IL-12R(-/-)) responder spleen cells were found to be comparable to those of control B6 spleen cells. TNF inhibition reduced T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production in supernatants of MLC using either B6.IL-12R(-/-) or control B6 responder cells. GVHD induced wasting disease in recipients of B6.IL-12R(-/-) CD4(+) spleen cells that received a TNF inhibitor-encoding adenovirus (5.4 +/- 6.5% weight loss (n = 7)) was significantly reduced compared with levels of weight loss observed in recipients that had received a control adenovirus (25.7 +/- 12.2% weight loss (n = 11), p = 0.001). Furthermore, TNF inhibition was associated with a reduction in colonic GVHD scores (p = 0.039) and in the percentage of the splenic CD4(+) T cells that expressed IFN-gamma (16 vs 6%). These findings indicate that TNF promotes CD4(+) T cell alloproliferation, IFN-gamma responses, and intestinal GVHD by IL-12-independent mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / pathology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / transplantation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colonic Diseases / genetics
  • Colonic Diseases / immunology*
  • Colonic Diseases / pathology
  • Colonic Diseases / prevention & control
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / immunology
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / genetics
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / pharmacology
  • Interferon-gamma / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-12 / physiology*
  • Interleukin-18 / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed / methods
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Receptors, Interleukin / deficiency
  • Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin / physiology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-12
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / genetics
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / physiology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology*

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Interleukin-18
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Receptors, Interleukin-12
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma