Epicutaneous Immunization with Collagen Induces TCRαβ Suppressor T Cells That Inhibit Collagen-Induced Arthritis

We have shown previously, in an animal model of multiple sclerosis and in TNBS-induced colitis, that epicutaneous (EC) immunization with protein antigen induces T suppressor cells that strongly inhibit the inflammatory response in contact hypersensitivity reactions.

EC immunization was performed by applying to the shaved skin of the mouse dorsum a gauze patch soaked with a solution containing various amounts of type II collagen (COLL II) in a volume of 100 µl of PBS on days 0 and 4. On day 7 the patches were removed and mice were intradermally (i.d.) immunized with COLL II to induce collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Our study shows that EC immunization with 100 or 30 μg of COLL II reduces disease severity, whereas lower doses (10 or 3 μg) do not affect CIA. Decreased disease severity observed after EC immunization with COLL II correlates with reduced myeloperoxidase activity in joint tissue and with reduced production of anti-citrullinated protein and anti-COLL II IgG2a antibodies. Transfer experiments show that EC immunization with COLL II induces suppressor cells that belong to the population of TCRαβ lymphocytes and that EC-induced suppression declines with time. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments show that IL-17A plays an important role in EC-induced suppression of CIA. EC application of COLL II at the first signs of CIA also results in disease suppression.

The suppression of inflammatory responses by T suppressor cells induced through EC immunization of a protein antigen may become an attractive noninvasive therapeutic method for a variety of clinical situations.