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MHC II-EGFP knock-in mouse model as a suitable tool for quantitative gut immunology under conventional and germ-free conditions
Tušková, Liliana ; Černý, Jan (advisor) ; Filipp, Dominik (referee)
Germ-free animals have been used to study the effects of microbiota for several decades. In that time, numbers of differences from specific-pathogen-free (SPF) animals have been reported, including differences in absolute numbers or percentages of various immune populations, enormously enlarged coecum and lack of germinal centers. However, many of the crucial information about structural and functional differences in their secondary lymphoid organs still remains uncovered. With novel microscopical approaches, such as light sheet fluorescent microscopy, enabling 3D visualization of whole samples without processing them to a series of slides, and multicolor cytometry, allowing the characterization of numbers of cellular populations within a matter of seconds and in a highly quantitative manner, the uncovering of fundamental differences finally seems to be within reach. MHC II-EGFP knock-in mouse model brings the advantages of a fluorescent protein expressed in physiological histological contexts into both fields. Lymphoid and other tissues can be visualized microscopically without the need of staining (even in vivo). Information about the expression of both plasma membrane-localized and intracellular MHC II in various tissues could be acquired directly. Combining MHC II-EGFP knock-in mouse model with...
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Non-classical MHC class II positive cell types, function and immunological context
Tušková, Liliana ; Černý, Jan (advisor) ; Brdička, Tomáš (referee)
Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) is a group of glycoproteins responsible for the presentation of exogenous antigens to T-lymphocytes. Besides the "classical" antigen presenting cells (APCs), numerous cell types were proven to be able to express MHC-II molecules either constitutively or under specific conditions. Often, the stimulus for MHC-II expression is interferon g, a pro- inflammatory cytokine typically activating promoter IV of the Class II Transactivator. Many of the non- classical MHC-II-expressing cells can serve as APCs, activating or attenuating T-cell proliferation depending on the expression of costimulatory molecules. Additional research identified some unusual functions of MHC-II molecules on non-classical cell types, including a role in prenatal development or mating. Modulation of the MHC-II expression could potentially serve many promising therapeutic purposes and new research can lead to deeper understanding of the topic. Keywords: MHC-II, ILC, basophils, TEC, antigen presentation, CIITA, IFN-gamma
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