Aberrant T-cell ontogeny and defective thymocyte and colonic T-cell chemotactic migration in colitis-prone Galphai2-deficient mice.

Galphai2-deficient mice, which spontaneously develop colitis, have previously been reported to have an increased frequency of mature, single positive thymocytes compared to wild-type mice. In this study we further characterized the intrathymic changes in these mice before and during overt colitis. Even before the onset of colitis, Galphai2(-/-) thymi weighed less and contained fewer thymocytes, and this was exacerbated with colitis development. Whereas precolitic Galphai2(-/-) mice had unchanged thymocyte density compared to Galphai2(+/-) mice of the same age, this was significantly decreased in mice with colitis. Thymic atrophy in Galphai2(-/-) mice involved mainly the cortex. Using a five-stage phenotypic characterization of thymocyte maturation based on expression of CD4, CD8, TCRalphabeta, CD69 and CD62L, we found that both precolitic and colitic Galphai2(-/-) mice had significantly increased frequencies of mature single-positive CD4(+) and CD8(+) medullary thymocytes, and significantly reduced frequencies and total numbers of immature CD4(+) CD8(+) double-positive thymocytes compared to Galphai2(+/-) mice. Furthermore, cortical and transitional precolitic Galphai2(-/-) thymocytes showed significantly reduced chemotactic migration towards CXCL12, and a trend towards reduced migration to CCL25, compared to wild-type thymocytes, a feature even more pronounced in colitic mice. This impaired chemotactic migration of Galphai2(-/-) thymocytes could not be reversed by increased chemokine concentrations. Galphai2(-/-) thymocytes also showed reduced expression of the CCL25 receptor CCR9, but not CXCR4, the receptor, for CXCL12. Finally, wild-type colonic lamina propria lymphocytes migrated in response to CXCL12, but not CCL25 and, as with thymocytes, the chemokine responsiveness was significantly reduced in Galphai2(-/-) mucosal lymphocytes.

Transfer of colitis by Galphai2-deficient T lymphocytes: impact of subpopulations and tissue origin.

To elucidate the potential cell population(s) involved in the induction of colitis in inhibitory G protein Galphai2(-/-) mice, Galphai2-deficient or competent bone marrow or splenic and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) T cells were transferred into immunodeficient mice. The mice were followed up to 23 weeks after transfer, recording changes in body weight. Colitis was graded on hematoxylin and eosin-stained colonic tissue, and production of serum interleukin-18 and colon-derived interferon-gamma was measured using ELISA. After adoptive transfer of Galphai2(-/-) bone marrow, severe colitis developed in irradiated wild type recipients, whereas irradiated Galphai2(-/-) mice increased their life span more than 3 times after transfer of wild type bone marrow, accompanied by significant amelioration of colitis. Neither purified Galphai2(-/-) CD4(+), nor CD8(+) splenic or MLN-derived T cells could induce colitis in recombination-activating gene V(RAG) 2(-/-) recipient mice, whereas transfer of splenic Galphai2(-/-) CD3(+) T cells induced severe colitis. In contrast, transfer of Galphai2(-/-) CD3(+) T cells from the MLN caused only minor histopathological changes in the intestinal mucosa. Finally, serum levels of interleukin-18 and interferon-gamma production from colonic tissue cultures correlated well with disease severity. Our results show that bone marrow transplantation can prolong the life of Galphai2(-/-) mice and ameliorate intestinal inflammation. Splenic CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells on their own were poor inducers of colitis, whereas the combination of both was highly involved in the induction of intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, we show that the tissue origin of CD3(+) T cells is critical for their potency to induce colitis.

Long-term treatment with anti-alpha 4 integrin antibodies aggravates colitis in G alpha i2-deficient mice.

Targeted deletion of the heterotrimeric G protein, Galphai2, in mice induces lethal colitis closely resembling ulcerative colitis. In chronic colitis, migration of circulating leukocytes into the intestinal mucosa is partially dependent on alpha4 integrins. In previous studies, short-term administration of anti-alpha4 integrin antibodies has been shown to attenuate intestinal inflammation, and here we elucidate the effect of long-term administration of anti-alpha4 integrin antibodies on colitis in Galphai2(-/- )mice. Long-term blockade of alpha4 integrin significantly increased the severity of colitis in Galphai2(-/-) mice. The inflammation was confined to the colon, associated with increased cancer in situ, destruction of crypt architecture, and increased production of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Blockade of alpha4 integrin reduced the recruitment of activated T cells to the small intestine. In strong contrast, there were significantly higher numbers of activated T cells in the colonic lamina propria and epithelium, most probably due to in situ proliferation. Furthermore, treatment with alpha4 integrin antibodies induced decreased levels of total IgA and IgG in sera, whereas total IgM levels were unchanged. These new findings may have implications in the understanding of the progression of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in Galphai2-deficient mice on colitis prone and colitis resistant 129Sv genetic backgrounds.

Mice deficient in G-protein subunit alphai2 develop colitis closely resembling human ulcerative colitis when raised on 129SvEv background. When backcrossing the Galphai2-deficiency into a 129SvJBom genetic background, surprisingly, mice did not develop colitis. In vitro stimulation of splenocytes with formalin-killed Staphylococcus aureus resulted in significantly increased production of interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-12p40 in Galphai2(-/-) as compared to control mice. The enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was seen in colitis prone as well as in colitis resistant genetic background. A similar outcome was seen upon stimulation with toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, a T cell superantigen, except that Galphai2(-/-) colitis resistant 129SvJBom splenocytes did not show increased production of IL-12p40 as compared to their controls.