Pristane-induced arthritis loci interact with the Slc11a1 gene to determine susceptibility in mice selected for high inflammation.

AIRmax (maximal inflammation) and AIRmin (minimal inflammation) mice show distinct susceptibilities to pristane-induced arthritis (PIA). The Slc11a1 gene, which regulates macrophage and neutrophil activity, is involved in this infirmity. AIRmax (SS) mice homozygous for the non-functional Slc11a1 S (gly169asp) allele obtained by genotype-assisted crosses from AIRmax and AIRmin mice are more susceptible than mice homozygous for the Slc11a1 resistant (R) allele. The present work sought to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTL) regulating PIA and to examine the interactions of these QTL with Slc11a1 alleles in modulating PIA. Mice were given two ip injections of 0.5 mL pristane at 60 day intervals, and the incidence and severity of PIA was scored up to 160 days. Genome-wide linkage studies were performed to search for arthritis QTL in an F2 (AIRmax × AIRmin, n = 290) population. Significant arthritis QTL (LODscore>4) were detected on chromosomes 5 and 8, and suggestive QTL on chromosomes 7, 17 and 19. Global gene expression analyses performed on Affymetrix mouse 1.0 ST bioarrays (27k genes) using RNA from arthritic or control mice paws showed 419 differentially expressed genes between AIRmax and AIRmin mice and demonstrated significantly (P<0.001) over-represented genes related to inflammatory responses and chemotaxis. Up-regulation of the chemokine genes Cxcl1, Cxcl9, Cxcl5, Cxcl13 on chromosome 5 was higher in AIRmax(SS) than in the other lines. Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 and hemeoxigenase (decycling) 1 genes on chromosome 8 were also expressed at higher levels in AIRmax(SS) mice. Our results show that the gene expression profiles of the two arthritis QTL (on chromosomes 5 and 8) correlate with Slc11a1 alleles, resulting in enhanced AIRmax(SS) mice susceptibility to PIA.

Distinct early inflammatory events during ear tissue regeneration in mice selected for high inflammation bearing Slc11a1 R and S alleles

High inflammatory AIRmax mice homozygous for Slc11a1 R and S alleles were produced. AIRmaxSS mice showed faster ear tissue regeneration than AIRmaxRR mice, suggesting that the Sallele favored tissue restoration. Here, we investigated the gene expression profiles and the inflammatory reactions of AIRmaxRR and AIRmaxSS mice during the initial phase of ear tissue regeneration. We observed superior levels of analysis of wound myeloperoxidase and edema inAIRmaxSS mice, although similar cell influx was verified in both lines. Of the genes, 794 were up- and 674 down-regulated in AIRmaxRR, while 735 genes were found to be up- and 1616 down-regulated in AIRmaxSS mice 48 h after punch. Both mouse lines showed significant over-represented genes related to cell proliferation; however AIRmaxSS displayed up-regulation of inflammatory response genes. Quantitative PCR experiments showed higher expressions of Tgfb1, Dap12 and Trem1 genes in AIRmaxSS mice. These results indicate that Slc11a1 gene modulated the early inflammatory events of ear tissue regeneration.

Distinct early inflammatory events during ear tissue regeneration in mice selected for high inflammation bearing Slc11a1 R and S alleles.

High inflammatory AIRmax mice homozygous for Slc11a1 R and S alleles were produced. AIRmax(SS) mice showed faster ear tissue regeneration than AIRmax(RR) mice, suggesting that the S allele favored tissue restoration. Here, we investigated the gene expression profiles and the inflammatory reactions of AIRmax(RR) and AIRmax(SS) mice during the initial phase of ear tissue regeneration. We observed superior levels of analysis of wound myeloperoxidase and edema in AIRmax(SS) mice, although similar cell influx was verified in both lines. Of the genes, 794 were up- and 674 down-regulated in AIRmax(RR), while 735 genes were found to be up- and 1616 down-regulated in AIRmax(SS) mice 48 h after punch. Both mouse lines showed significant over-represented genes related to cell proliferation; however AIRmax(SS) displayed up-regulation of inflammatory response genes. Quantitative PCR experiments showed higher expressions of Tgfb1, Dap12 and Trem1 genes in AIRmax(SS) mice. These results indicate that Slc11a1 gene modulated the early inflammatory events of ear tissue regeneration.

Gene expression profiles of bone marrow cells from mice phenotype-selected for maximal or minimal acute inflammations: searching for genes in acute inflammation modifier loci.

Two mouse lines were phenotype-selected for maximum (AIRmax) or minimum (AIRmin) acute inflammation responses to polyacrylamide bead (Biogel) injection. These lines differ in terms of bone marrow granulopoiesis, neutrophil resistance to apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokine production during acute inflammation responses. We compared gene expression profiles in bone marrow cells (BMC) of AIRmax and AIRmin mice during acute inflammatory reactions. The BMC from femurs were recovered 24 hr after subcutaneous injections of Biogel. Global gene expression analysis was performed on CodeLink Bioarrays (36K genes) using RNA pools of BMC from both control and treated AIRmax and AIRmin mice. Differentially expressed genes were statistically established and the over-represented gene ontology biological process categories were identified. Upregulations of about 136 and 198 genes were observed in the BMC of Biogel-treated AIRmax and AIRmin mice, respectively, but 740 genes were found to be downregulated in AIRmin mice compared with 94 genes in AIRmax mice. The over-represented biological themes of the differently expressed genes among AIRmax and AIRmin mice represent inflammatory response, signal transduction, cell proliferation and immune cell chemotaxis. We were able to demonstrate a broad downmodulation of gene transcripts in BMC from AIRmin mice during acute inflammation, and significant differentially expressed genes colocalized with previously mapped regions for inflammation-related phenotypes in chromosomes 1, 3, 6 and 11.