Expression of lymphokine genes in splenic lymphocytes of autoimmune mice

Lymphocytes of autoimmune mice have been reported to have defective IL-2 production and proliferation in response to the mitogen concanavalin A. We have examined transcription of lymphokine genes in Con A stimulated spleen cells from both autoimmune and normal mice and found that IL-2, IL-4 and gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) were induced in all mice tested. Spleen cells were taken from young (pre-disease) or old (clinically active) MRL/lpr (lpr) and male BXSB autoimmune mice and from their normal counterparts (MRL/n, BXSB females, BALB/c and DBA/2) and stimulated with Con A. Con A induced production of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN gamma message and protein, and kinetics of induction did not vary significantly among the strains. However, in old lpr mice, levels of IL-2 protein and mRNA were about 10-fold lower than in other strains; IL-4 protein and mRNA were decreased approximately three-fold; and IFN gamma mRNA was readily detected in unstimulated cells and low but detectable levels of protein were produced constitutively. In contrast, little or no defect in IL-2 or IL-4 transcription or secretion were seen in male BXSB mice and no constitutive IFN gamma transcription was seen in this strain. These data indicate that all three lymphokine genes are activated by Con A in autoimmune mice, even though Con A-induced proliferation is defective in these mice. Furthermore, autoimmune mouse strains vary in terms of lymphokine expression: male BXSB mice display a normal lymphokine profile, whereas lpr mice show a marked imbalance of lymphokines compared to normal controls.