Formation of Autoimmune Lesions Is Independent of Antibiotic Treatment in NOD Mice

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 6; p. 3239
• Main Authors: Sato, Mami, Arakaki, Rieko, Tawara, Hiroaki, Tsunematsu, Takaaki, Ishimaru, Naozumi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 22.03.2021; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibiotic treatment; Autoimmune Diseases - drug therapy; Autoimmune Diseases - etiology; autoimmune lesion; Autoimmunity - drug effects; Cytokines - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Susceptibility; Immune System - drug effects; Immune System - immunology; Immune System - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred NOD; NOD mice; Sialadenitis - etiology; Sialadenitis - metabolism; Sialadenitis - pathology; Sjögren’s syndrome; type 1 diabetes; Sjögren’s syndrome; type 1 diabetes; autoimmune lesion; antibiotic treatment; NOD mice
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063239

The relationship between autoimmunity and changes in intestinal microbiota is not yet fully understood. In this study, the role of intestinal microbiota in the onset and progression of autoimmune lesions in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice was evaluated by administering antibiotics to alter their intestinal microenvironment. Flow cytometric analysis of spleen cells showed that antibiotic administration did not change the proportion or number of T and B cells in NOD mice, and pathological analysis demonstrated that autoimmune lesions in the salivary glands and in the pancreas were also not affected by antibiotic administration. These results suggest that the onset and progression of autoimmunity may be independent of enteral microbiota changes. Our findings may be useful for determining the appropriate use of antibiotics in patients with autoimmune diseases who are prescribed drugs to maintain systemic immune function.