OGR1/GPR68 Modulates the Severity of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Regulates Nitric Oxide Production by Macrophages

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 1;11(2):e0148439. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148439. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1) is a proton-sensing molecule that can detect decreases in extracellular pH that occur during inflammation. Although OGR1 has been shown to have pro-inflammatory functions in various diseases, its role in autoimmunity has not been examined. We therefore sought to determine whether OGR1 has a role in the development of T cell autoimmunity by contrasting the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis between wild type and OGR1-knockout mice. OGR1-knockout mice showed a drastically attenuated clinical course of disease that was associated with a profound reduction in the expansion of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55-reactive T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells in the periphery and a reduced accumulation of Th1 and Th17 effectors in the central nervous system. We determined that these impaired T cell responses in OGR1-knockout mice associated with a reduced frequency and number of dendritic cells in draining lymph nodes during EAE and a higher production of nitric oxide by macrophages. Our studies suggest that OGR1 plays a key role in regulating T cell responses during autoimmunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / pathology*
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / deficiency
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Cytokines
  • Epitopes
  • GPR68 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Nitric Oxide