Smad7 in intestinal CD4⁺ T cells determines autoimmunity in a spontaneous model of multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT: Environmental triggers acting at the intestinal barrier are thought to contribute to the initiation of autoimmune disorders. The transforming growth factor beta inhibitor Smad7 determines the phenotype of CD4⁺ T cells. We hypothesized that Smad7 in intestinal CD4⁺ T cells controls initiation of opticospinal encephalomyelitis (OSE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS), depending on the presence of gut microbiota. Smad7 was overexpressed or deleted in OSE CD4⁺ T cells to determine the effect on clinical progression, T cell differentiation, and T cell migration from the intestine to the central nervous system (CNS). Smad7 overexpression worsened the clinical course of OSE and increased CNS inflammation and demyelination. It favored expansion of intestina

SUBMITTER: Haupeltshofer S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6926056 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature