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International Immunology Advance Access originally published online on May 17, 2004
International Immunology 2004 16(7):937-946; doi:10.1093/intimm/dxh095
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International Immunology, Vol. 16, No. 7, pp. 937-946, July 2004
© 2004 Japanese Society for Immunology

Toxoplasma gondii infection inhibits the development of lupus-like syndrome in autoimmune (New Zealand Black x New Zealand White) F1 mice

Mei Chen, Fumie Aosai, Kazumi Norose, Hye-Seong Mun, Hiroshi Ishikura1, Sachiko Hirose2, Lian-Xun Piao, Hao Fang and Akihiko Yano

Departments of Infection and Host Defense and 1 Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, and 2 Second Department of Pathology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan

Correspondence to: A. Yano; E-mail: yano{at}faculty.chiba-u.jp
Transmitting editor: H. Karasuyama

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies and lupus nephritis. In the present study using New Zealand Black (NZB) x New Zealand White (NZW) F1 (NZBW F1) mice, we planned to investigate the effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection on the progress of lupus nephritis. Female NZBW F1 mice at the age of 2 months were perorally infected with T. gondii. The T. gondii infection reduced the number of mice developing proteinuria and immune complex deposits in their kidneys and prolonged their life span. A marked decrease in the levels of IgM and IgG anti-DNA antibodies, especially IgG2a and IgG3 subclasses, was observed in T. gondii-infected NZBW F1 mice at 9 months of age. The level of anti-HSP70 IgG autoantibody in the sera of NZBW F1 mice was significantly higher than that in control mice at 9 weeks after T. gondii infection. Moreover, NZBW F1 mice treated with anti-self heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) monoclonal antibody were substantially protected against the onset of glomerulonephritis. Further, down-regulation of intracellular expression of IFN-{gamma} and IL-10 was shown in spleen cells of T. gondii-infected NZBW F1 mice. This was consistent with the previous data indicating the involvement of Th1-type and Th2-type cytokines in the development of lupus-like nephritis. These results suggest that T. gondii infection is capable of preventing the development of autoimmune renal disorder in NZBW F1 mice.

Keywords: autoimmunity, lupus, parasitic protozoan


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