Tumor necrosis factor sustains the generalized lymphoproliferative disorder (gld) phenotype

Körner, Heinrich, Cretney, Erika, Wilhelm, Patricia, Kelly, Janice M., Röllinghoff, Martin, Sedgwick, Jonathon D., and Smyth, Mark J. (2000) Tumor necrosis factor sustains the generalized lymphoproliferative disorder (gld) phenotype. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 191 (1). pp. 89-96.

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Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Fas ligand (FasL) play major roles in the homeostasis of the peripheral immune system. This becomes dramatically obvious in the absence of a functional FasL. Mice with such a deficiency develop a profound lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinemia, and strain-dependent systemic autoimmune disease, and succumb to premature death. It is consequently termed generalized lymphoproliferative disorder (gld). By contrast, TNF deficiency alone does not result in a striking phenotype. Thus, we sought to determine what role TNF might play in contributing to the gld phenotype by creating C57BL/6.gld.TNF−/− mice. Contrary to the expected outcome, mice deficient for both FasL and TNF had a substantially milder gld phenotype with regard to mortality, lymphoaccumulation, germinal center formation, and hypergammaglobulinemia. To confirm these data in a strain highly permissive for the phenotype, C3H/HeJ.gld and C3H.HeJ.lpr mice were treated with a TNF-specific monoclonal antibody. This transient neutralization of TNF also resulted in a significantly attenuated lymphoproliferative phenotype. We conclude that TNF is necessary for the full manifestation of the lymphoproliferative disorder, in particular playing a critical role in lymphoaccumulation. Most importantly, absence of TNF protects gld mice against premature death.

Item ID: 14897
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1540-9538
Date Deposited: 07 Nov 2010 23:16
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1107 Immunology > 110709 Tumour Immunology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970111 Expanding Knowledge in the Medical and Health Sciences @ 100%
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