Local expression of transgene encoded TNF alpha in islets prevents autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice by preventing the development of auto-reactive islet-specific T cells.

Lately, TNF alpha has been the focus of studies of autoimmunity; its role in the progression of autoimmune diabetes is, however, still unclear. To analyze the effects of TNF alpha in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), we have generated nonobese diabetic (NOD) transgenic mice expressing TNF alpha under the control of the rat insulin II promoter (RIP). In transgenic mice, TNF alpha expression on the islets resulted in massive insulitis, composed of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells. Despite infiltration of considerable number of lymphoid cells in islets, expression of TNF alpha protected NOD mice from IDDM. To determine the mechanism of TNF alpha action, splenic cells from control NOD and RIP-TNF alpha mice were adoptively transferred to NOD-SCID recipients. In contrast to the induction of diabetes by splenic cells from control NOD mice, splenic cells from RIP-TNF alpha transgenic mice did not induce diabetes in NOD-SCID recipients. Diabetes was induced however, in the RIP-TNF alpha transgenic mice when CD8+ diabetogenic cloned T cells or splenic cells from diabetic NOD mice were adoptively transferred to these mice. Furthermore, expression of TNF alpha in islets also downregulated splenic cell responses to autoantigens. These data establish a mechanism of TNF alpha action and provide evidence that local expression of TNF alpha protects NOD mice from autoimmune diabetes by preventing the development of autoreactive islet-specific T cells.

Phenotypic and physiologic characterization of transgenic mice expressing interleukin 4 in the lung: lymphocytic and eosinophilic inflammation without airway hyperreactivity.

To investigate the contribution of interleukin-4 (IL-4) to airway inflammation in vivo and to explore directly its relationship to airway reactivity, we created transgenic mice in which the murine cDNA for IL-4 was regulated by the rat Clara cell 10 protein promoter. Expression was detected only in the lung and not in thymus, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, or uterus. The expression of IL-4 elicited hypertrophy of epithelial cells of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. Hypertrophy is due, at least in part, to the accumulation of mucus glycoprotein. Histologic examination of parenchyma revealed multinucleated macrophages and occasional islands of cells consisting largely of eosinophils or lymphocytes. Analysis of lung lavage fluid revealed the presence of a leukocytic infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils. Mice expressing IL-4 had greater baseline airway resistance but did not demonstrate hyperreactivity to methacholine. Thus, the expression of IL-4 selectively within the lung elicits an inflammatory response characterized by epithelial cell hypertrophy, and the accumulation of macrophages, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and neutrophils without resulting in an alteration in airway reactivity to inhaled methacholine.

Costimulator B7-1 confers antigen-presenting-cell function to parenchymal tissue and in conjunction with tumor necrosis factor alpha leads to autoimmunity in transgenic mice.

Tolerance to peripheral antigens is thought to result from the inability of parenchymal tissue to stimulate T cells--an inability that is believed to relate to the lack of expression of the costimulatory signal(s) required for T-cell activation. To test this model, we generated transgenic mice expressing costimulatory molecule B7-1 on the B cells of the pancreas. We find that islets from these transgenic mice are immunogenic for naive T cells in vitro and in vivo. Nonetheless, mice expressing the costimulator B7-1 specifically on beta cells do not develop diabetes, suggesting that expression of the B7-1 costimulator is not sufficient to abrogate the tolerance to peripheral antigens. We have reported that tumor necrosis factor alpha subunit (TNF-alpha) expressed by beta cells leads to a local inflammation but no islet destruction. Strikingly, however, the combination of a local inflammation due to the expression of the cytokine TNF-alpha and the expression of B7-1 results in tissue destruction and diabetes.

Transgenic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production in pancreatic islets leads to insulitis, not diabetes. Distinct patterns of inflammation in TNF-alpha and TNF-beta transgenic mice.

To understand the role of TNF in the regulation of inflammation and the development of autoimmune diseases such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, we produced transgenic mice in which the synthesis of murine TNF-alpha was directed by the rat insulin II promoter. The expression of the TNF-alpha transgene was restricted to the pancreas, in contrast to TNF-beta expression from the same promoter, in which the transgene was expressed in the pancreas, kidney, and skin. The expression of TNF-alpha in the pancreas of transgenic mice resulted in an overwhelming insulitis, composed of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and B220+ B cells, considerably greater than that of TNF-beta transgenics. Moreover, in contrast to the predominant peri-insulitis observed in TNF-beta transgenic mice, the majority of the infiltrate in the TNF-alpha transgenic mice was within the islet itself. These unique patterns of infiltration were observed in the F1 progeny of crosses with C57BL/6 as well as NOD. Both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta transgenic mice show elevated expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in islet endothelia and increased expression of MHC class I on islet cells. This inflammation did not result in reduced insulin content of the islets, nor did it lead to diabetes. These data suggest that additional stimuli are necessary to initiate the process of islet destruction.

Insulitis in transgenic mice expressing tumor necrosis factor beta (lymphotoxin) in the pancreas.

Tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-beta) (lymphotoxin) may play an important role in the immune response and pathologic inflammatory diseases. Insulitis is an important early step in the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. To understand better the role of TNF-beta in the regulation of inflammation and type 1 diabetes, we produced transgenic mice in which the murine TNF-beta gene was regulated by the rat insulin II promoter. The transgene was expressed in the pancreas, kidney, and skin of transgenic mice. The expression of TNF-beta in the pancreas of transgenic mice resulted in a leukocytic inflammatory infiltrate consisting primarily of B220+ IgM+ B cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The insulitis is reminiscent of the early stages of diabetes, though the mice did not progress to diabetes.