Induction of regulatory T cells by high-dose gp96 suppresses murine liver immune hyperactivation

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 18;8(7):e68997. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068997. Print 2013.

Abstract

Immunization with high-dose heat shock protein gp96, an endoplasmic reticulum counterpart of the Hsp90 family, significantly enhances regulatory T cell (Treg) frequency and suppressive function. Here, we examined the potential role and mechanism of gp96 in regulating immune-mediated hepatic injury in mice. High-dose gp96 immunization elicited rapid and long-lasting protection of mice against concanavalin A (Con A)-and anti-CD137-induced liver injury, as evidenced by decreased alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels, hepatic necrosis, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6), and number of IFN-γ (+) CD4(+) and IFN-γ (+) CD8(+) T cells in the spleen and liver. In contrast, CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg frequency and suppressive function were both increased, and the protective effect of gp96 could be generated by adoptive transfer of Treg cells from gp96-immunized mice. In vitro co-culture experiments demonstrated that gp96 stimulation enhanced Treg proliferation and suppressive function, and up-regulation of Foxp3, IL-10, and TGF-β1 induced by gp96 was dependent on TLR2- and TLR4-mediated NF-κB activation. Our work shows that activation of Tregs by high-dose gp96 immunization protects against Con A- and anti-CD137-induced T cell-hepatitis and provides therapeutic potential for the development of a gp96-based anti-immune hyperactivation vaccine against immune-mediated liver destruction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / immunology*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • Concanavalin A / toxicity
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Immunization / methods
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Spleen / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • endoplasmin
  • Concanavalin A
  • Alanine Transaminase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31230026, 91029724, 30970146, 81021003, and 81102018), and a grant from Key Projects in the National Science & Technology Program (2013ZX10002001-003-003). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.