Enforced expression of roquin protein in T cells exacerbates the incidence and severity of experimental arthritis

J Biol Chem. 2012 Dec 7;287(50):42269-77. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.374835. Epub 2012 Oct 12.

Abstract

To investigate the role of Roquin, a RING-type ubiquitin ligase family member, we used transgenic mice with enforced Roquin expression in T cells, with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Wild-type (WT) and Roquin transgenic (Tg) mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII). Arthritis severity was evaluated by clinical score; histopathologic CIA severity; proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels; anti-CII antibody levels; and populations of Th1, Th2, germinal center B cells, and follicular helper T cells in CIA. T cell proliferation in vitro and cytokine levels were determined to assess the response to CII. Roquin Tg mice developed more severe CIA and joint destruction compared with WT mice. Production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, and pathogenic anti-collagen CII-specific IgG and IgG2a antibodies was increased in Roquin Tg mice. In addition, in vitro T cell assays showed increased proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine production in response to CII as a result of enforced Roquin expression in T cells. Furthermore, the Th1/Th2 balance was altered by an increased Th1 and decreased Th2 population. These findings suggest that overexpression of Roquin exacerbates the development of CIA and that enforced expression of Roquin in T cells may promote autoimmune diseases such as CIA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental / genetics
  • Arthritis, Experimental / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Experimental / pathology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cattle
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
  • Germinal Center / immunology
  • Germinal Center / metabolism
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / pathology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / pathology
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / biosynthesis
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Rc3h1 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases