Nonlymphocyte-derived tumor necrosis factor is required for induction of colitis in recombination activating gene (RAG)2(-/-) mice upon transfer of CD4(+)CD45RB(hi) T cells

J Exp Med. 1999 Nov 15;190(10):1479-92. doi: 10.1084/jem.190.10.1479.

Abstract

In this study, we addressed the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and lymphotoxin (LT)-alpha in the development of colitis and defined the cellular sources (T cells versus non-T cells) of TNF (TNF-alpha and LT-alpha) relevant to disease development. After adoptive transfer of TNF(+/+) CD4(+)CD45RB(hi) splenocytes into TNF(+/+) recombination activating gene (RAG)2(-/-) mice, the recipients develop massive inflammation of the large intestinal mucosa concurrent with massive weight loss. In contrast, clinical signs of disease are completely absent in TNF(-/-)RAG2(-/-) recipients of TNF(-/-) CD4(+)CD45RB(hi) T cells, although elevated numbers of interferon-gamma-producing cells are present in the colonic mucosa. Surprisingly, upon transfer of TNF(-/-)CD4(+)CD45RB(hi) T cells into TNF(+/+)RAG2(-/-) recipients, colitis develops with kinetics similar to those upon transfer of TNF(+/+)CD4(+)CD45RB(hi) donor cells. In contrast, no clinical signs of colitis are observed in TNF(-/-)RAG2(-/-) recipients of TNF(+/+)CD4(+)CD45RB(hi) T cells. This protection from colitis is not a consequence of the absence of LT-alpha, as TNF-alpha(-/-)RAG2(-/-) recipients of TNF-alpha(-/-) CD4(+)CD45RB(hi) T cells are also protected from colitis induction. These results demonstrate the importance of TNF production by non-T cells of the colonic mucosa in the pathogenesis of colitis and provide direct evidence for a nonredundant role of TNF-alpha in this mouse model of colitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer*
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / etiology*
  • Interferon-gamma / physiology
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rag2 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • V(D)J recombination activating protein 2
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens