Immunity and autoantibodies of a mouse strain with autistic-like behavior

• Published in: Brain, behavior, & immunity. Health Vol. 4; p. 100069
• Main Authors: Uddin, Mohammad Nizam, Yao, Yunyi, Mondal, Tapan, Matala, Rosemary, Manley, Kevin, Lin, Qishan, Lawrence, David A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.04.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alpha-enolase; Autism; Autoantibody; BTBR; Dnmt1; Full Length; IL-21r; Kdm6b; Pax5; Plasma cell; T follicular helper cell; Ab; Ag; Plasma cell; Autoantibody; Alpha-enolase; Dlst; Eno1; Pax5; BM; T follicular helper cell; Kdm6b; Autism; Dnmt1; ASD; Tfh; IL21R; IL-21r; BTBR
• ISSN: 2666-3546; 2666-3546
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100069

Female and male mice of the BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) strain have behaviors that resemble autism spectrum disorder. In comparison to C57BL/6 (B6) mice, BTBR mice have elevated humoral immunity, in that they have naturally high serum IgG levels and generate high levels of IgG antibodies, including autoantibodies to brain antigens. This study focused on the specificities of autoantibodies and the immune cells and their transcription factors that might be responsible for the autoantibodies. BTBR IgG autoantibodies bind to neurons better than microglia and with highest titer to nuclear antigens. Two of the antigens identified were alpha-enolase (ENO1) and dihydrolipoyllysine-residue succinyltransferase component of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, mitochondrial (DLST). Surprisingly based on IgG levels, the blood and spleens of BTBR mice have more CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but fewer B cells than B6 mice. The high levels of autoantibodies in BTBR relates to their splenic T follicular helper (Tfh) cell levels, which likely are responsible for the higher number of plasma cells in BTBR mice than B6 mice. BTBR mice have increased gene expression of interleukin-21 receptor (Il-21r) and Paired Box 5 (Pax5), which are known to aid B cell differentiation to plasma cells, and an increased Lysine Demethylase 6B (Kdm6b)/DNA Methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) ratio, which increases gene expression. Identification of gene expression and immune activities of BTBR mice may aid understanding of mechanisms associated with autism since neuroimmune network interactions have been posited and induction of autoantibodies may drive the neuroinflammation associated with autism. •BTBR mice have more autoantibodies, e.g., anti-α-enolase and anti-DLST than B6 mice.•T follicular helper cells are increased in BTBR mice compared to B6 mice.•BTBR mice have more plasma cells with ​Pax5 ​and ​IL-21r ​than B6 mice.•A high ​Kdm6b ​to ​Dmnt1 ​ratio influences the BTBR’s increase in plasma cells.