5 research outputs found
Irradiation of NZBWF1 mice is an effective therapy for SLE-like morbidity.
CD180 molecule expressed on mature B cells is a key regulator of cell proliferation and death, showing a protective effect against radiation-induced apoptosis in vitro. In SLE patients, the number of CD180-negative cells increased in peripheral blood, and appeared to be associated with the activity of SLE. Furthermore, production of autoantibodies was found by CD180-negative cells from SLE patients. We previously showed that CD180-negative cells were more radiosensitive than CD180-positive cells in vivo. In SLE-model NZBWF1 mouse, we also reported the increase in number of CD180-negative B cells in parallel with development of SLE morbidity, the production of autoantibodies by CD180-negative cells, and pathogenesis of lupus-like nephritis caused by CD180-negative cells. In the present study, we attempted to examine the effects of irradiation on CD180-negative cells in NZBWF1 mice. After the onset of symptoms, mice were paired according to their conditions. In each pair, one was irradiated with 4 Gy, and the other was sham-irradiated. Compared to the sham-irradiated mice, the mean number of CD180-negative cells was significantly decreased, the mean life span was markedly extended, and the nephritis was suppressed in irradiated mice. The results suggest that radiation could effectively eliminate CD180-negative cells, leading to reduction of autoantibody production, and consequently relieve the SLE symptoms in the mouse. These findings suggest that the radiotherapy of autoimmune diseases associated with the expression of CD180-negative cells is a novel candidate for practical application.国際免疫学会2016 (16th international Congress of Immunology
Characterization of Osteoarthritis in a Medial Meniscectomy-Induced Animal Model Using Contrast-Enhanced X-ray Microtomography
The aim of this study was to clarify degradation characteristics in each tissue of the knee complex of a medial meniscectomy (MMx)-induced knee osteoarthritis (KOA) animal model using classical methods and an alternative comprehensive evaluation method called contrast-enhanced X-ray micro-computed tomography (CEX-μCT), which was developed in the study. Surgical MMx was performed in the right knee joints of five male Wistar rats to induce KOA. At four weeks post-surgery, the synovitis was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Degradations of the articular cartilage of the tibial plateau were evaluated using classical methods and CEX-μCT. Evaluation of the synovitis demonstrated significantly increased expression levels of inflammation-associated marker genes in MMx-treated knees compared with those in sham-treated knees. Evaluation of the articular cartilage using classical methods showed that MMx fully induced degradation of the cartilage. Evaluation using CEX-μCT showed that local areas of the medial cartilage of the tibial plateau were significantly reduced in MMx-treated knees compared with those in sham-treated knees. On the other hand, total cartilage volumes were significantly increased in MMx-treated knees. On the basis of the findings of this study, the method could be relevant to study new treatments in KOA research