Lupus-like oral mucosal lesions in mercury-induced autoimmune response in Brown Norway rats
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Administration of mercury at nontoxic doses induces systemic autoimmune disease in Brown Norway (BN) rats. The pathogenesis of lupus-like oral mucosal lesion by mercury-induced autoimmunity is still unclear, even though the oral mucosa is observed to be commonly affected in mercury-treated BN rats. In this study, we investigated the immunopathology of lupus-like oral mucosal lesions in a model of mercury-induced systemic autoimmunity. METHODS: Brown Norway male rats were injected subcutaneously with either phosphate-buffered saline (control) or mercury at a dose of 1.0 mg per kilogram of body weight on days 0, 3, 5, and 7. Blood, kidney, and tongue samples were taken at various timepoints for evaluation by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and lupus band test (LBT). RESULTS: Oral mucosal lesions were classified according to three consecutive temporal phases on the basis of infiltration of immunocompetent cells as follows: (phase I) infiltration of MHC class II+ dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages; (phase II) addition of ED1+ macrophage infiltrates; and (phase III) focal infiltration of pan T cells following increased infiltration of DC and macrophages. Dense infiltration of DC and macrophages was observed in the basement membrane (BM) zone of the oral epithelium. Tissue expression of IL-4 mRNA was detected in early lesions (phase I), suggesting that locally produced IL-4 may be responsible for Th2-mediated immune response. A linear and continuous smooth pattern of fluorescence was observed in the oral epithelial BM in addition to renal glomeruli, indicating immune complex deposits. CONCLUSIONS: Local autoimmune responses are involved in the pathogenesis of mercury-induced lupus-like lesions of the oral mucosa.
Source: BMC Immunology
Authors: Kei Seno, Jun Ohno, Nobutaka Ota, Takao Hirofuji, Kunihisa Taniguchi
Institution: Fukuoka Dental College
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
Awards: Autophagy-mediated cell death in cancer initiating cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma, Effect of Lactobacillus species on the general health and periodontal disease of the elderly requiring care, Pathogenesis of T cell-mediated immune disorders in oral mucosa, 口腔癌リンパ節転移での腫瘍細胞・リンパ管の相互作用機序とその抑制へのアプローチ
OpenAlex ID: W1964458683