Murine Sclerodermatous Graft-Versus-Host Disease, a Model for Human Scleroderma: Cutaneous Cytokines, Chemokines, and Immune Cell Activation

Abstract

Murine sclerodermatous graft-vs-host disease (Scl GVHD) models human scleroderma, with prominent skin thickening, lung fibrosis, and up-regulation of cutaneous collagen mRNA. Fibrosis in Scl GVHD may be driven by infiltrating TGF-β1-producing mononuclear cells. Here we characterize the origin and types of those cutaneous effector cells, the cytokine and chemokine environments, and the effects of anti-TGF-β Ab on skin fibrosis, immune cell activation markers, and collagen and cytokine synthesis. Donor cells infiltrating skin in Scl GVHD increase significantly at early time points post-transplantation and are detectable by PCR analysis of Y-chromosome sequences when female mice are transplanted with male cells. Cutaneous monocyte/macrophages and T cells are the most numerous cells in Scl GVHD compared with syngeneic controls. These immune cells up-regulate activation markers (MHC class II I-Ad molecules and class A scavenger receptors), suggesting Ag presentation by cutaneous macrophages in early fibrosing disease. Early elevated cutaneous mRNA expression of TGF-β1, but not TGF-β2 or TGF-β3, and elevated C-C chemokines macrophage chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, and RANTES precede subsequent skin and lung fibrosis. Therefore, TGF-β1-producing donor mononuclear cells may be critical effector cells, and C-C chemokines may play important roles in the initiation of Scl GVHD. Abs to TGF-β prevent Scl GVHD by effectively blocking the influx of monocyte/macrophages and T cells into skin and by abrogating up-regulation of TGF-β1, thereby preventing new collagen synthesis. The Scl GVHD model is valuable for testing new interventions in early fibrosing diseases, and chemokines may be new potential targets in scleroderma.