Female-biased incidence of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis reflects sexually dimorphic expression of surface CTLA-4 (CD152) on T lymphocytes

Abstract

Background: Autoimmune reactions occur naturally and in most cases are controlled by regulatory mechanisms. However, unwanted autoimmune responses still appear in 5% to 7% of the population, in strikingly greater frequencies in women compared with men. The chronic inflammation characteristic of autoimmune diseases is mainly initiated and maintained by autoreactive CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Costimu-lation is required for an optimal response of T lymphocytes: CD28 is a T-cell activator, whereas CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4, also known as CD152) downregulates T-cell activity. Together these costimulatory molecules provide a balance in T-cell immune response.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of the inhibitory receptor CTLA-4 in the quality of sex-specific immune responses.

Methods: At the German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany, between 2006 and 2010, we tested mouse strains commonly used for the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The SJL mouse strain not only mimics MS pathogenesis, but also exhibits the female predominance that occurs in patients with MS.

Results: Cells derived from SJL females revealed increased proliferation and a doubled frequency of T-helper (Th)1- and Th2-like cytokines, compared with their male counterparts. Moreover, activated Th cells from male mice express significantly higher frequencies (61%) of CTLA-4 expressed at the cell surface in comparison with those of females (46%). Accordingly, close to 50% reduction of CTLA-4 expression occurred in cells of both sexes after the addition of estrogen. We observed that interferon (IFN)-γ(high) production in females occurred in a higher frequency in CD4(+) T cells cultured under neutral conditions (24.6% in females, 15.9% in males). Moreover, we observed that the IFN-yhigh producers were mainly present in females (4.5% vs 0.4% in males).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that induction of CTLA-4 expression could serve as a target for an immunomodulatory strategy to downregulate immune responses in sexually dimorphic autoimmune diseases.