OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of transgenic rice seeds expressing the altered peptide ligand (APL) of human glucose-6-phosphate-isomerase (hGPI325-339) in mice model of GPI-induced arthritis (GIA). METHODS: We generated transgenic rice expressing T-cell epitope of hGPI325-339 and APL12 contained in the seed endosperm. The transgenic rice seeds were orally administered prophylactically before the induction of GIA. The severity of arthritis and titers of serum anti-GPI antibodies were evaluated. We examined for IL-17 production in splenocytes and inguinal lymph node (iLN) cells, and analyzed the expression levels of functional molecules in splenocytes. RESULTS: Prophylactic treatment of GIA mice with APL12 transgenic (APL12-TG) rice seeds significantly reduced the severity of arthritis and titers of serum anti-GPI antibodies compared with non-transgenic (Non-TG) rice-treated mice. APL12-TG and hGPI325-339 transgenic (hGPI325-339-TG) rice seeds improved the histopathological arthritis scores and decreased IL-17 production compared with non-TG rice-treated mice. APL12-TG rice-treated GIA mice showed upregulation of Foxp3 and GITR protein in CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ cells in the spleen compared with non-TG rice- and hGPI325-339-TG rice-treated mice. CONCLUSION: APL12-TG rice seeds improved the severity of GIA through a decrease in production of IL-17 and anti-GPI antibodies via upregulation of Foxp3 and GITR expression on Treg cells in spleen.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of transgenic rice seeds expressing the altered peptide ligand (APL) of humanglucose-6-phosphate-isomerase (hGPI325-339) in mice model of GPI-induced arthritis (GIA). METHODS: We generated transgenic rice expressing T-cell epitope of hGPI325-339 and APL12 contained in the seed endosperm. The transgenic rice seeds were orally administered prophylactically before the induction of GIA. The severity of arthritis and titers of serum anti-GPI antibodies were evaluated. We examined for IL-17 production in splenocytes and inguinal lymph node (iLN) cells, and analyzed the expression levels of functional molecules in splenocytes. RESULTS: Prophylactic treatment of GIA mice with APL12 transgenic (APL12-TG) rice seeds significantly reduced the severity of arthritis and titers of serum anti-GPI antibodies compared with non-transgenic (Non-TG) rice-treated mice. APL12-TG and hGPI325-339 transgenic (hGPI325-339-TG) rice seeds improved the histopathological arthritis scores and decreased IL-17 production compared with non-TG rice-treated mice. APL12-TG rice-treated GIA mice showed upregulation of Foxp3 and GITR protein in CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ cells in the spleen compared with non-TG rice- and hGPI325-339-TG rice-treated mice. CONCLUSION: APL12-TG rice seeds improved the severity of GIA through a decrease in production of IL-17 and anti-GPI antibodies via upregulation of Foxp3 and GITR expression on Treg cells in spleen.