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Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory degenerative disease, caused by activated immune cells infiltrating the CNS. The disease etiology involves both genetic and environmental factors. The mouse genetic locus, Eae27, linked to disease development in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model for multiple sclerosis, was studied in order to identify contributing disease susceptibility factors and potential drug targets for multiple sclerosis. Studies of an Eae27 congenic mouse strain, revealed that genetic variation within Eae27 influences EAE development. The Abl2 gene, encoding the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Arg, is located in the 4,1 megabase pair long Eae27 region. The Arg protein plays an important role in cellular regulation and is, in addition, involved in signaling through the B- and T-cell receptors, important for the autoimmune response. The presence of a single nucleotide polymorphism causing an amino acid change in a near actin-interacting domain of Arg, in addition to altered lymphocyte activation in the congenic mice upon immunization with myelin antigen, makes Abl2/Arg a candidate gene for EAE. Here we demonstrate that the non-synonymous SNP does not change Arg’s binding affinity for F-actin but suggest a role for Abl kinases in CNS inflammation pathogenesis by showing that pharmacological inhibition of Abl kinases ameliorates EAE, but not experimental arthritis. © 2018 The Author(s), Funding: Novo Nordisk, Denmark; SHARE (Synergy in human and animal research) University of Copenhagen; The Warwara Larsen Foundation, The Carlsberg Foundation; The Karen A. Tolstrup Foundation; The A.P. Møller Foundation.

BACKGROUND: T1D and AITD are autoimmune disorders commonly occurring in the same family and even in the same individual. The genetic contribution to these disorders is complex making uncovering of susceptibility genes very challenging. The general aim of this study was to identify loci and genes contributing to T1D/AITD susceptibility. Our strategy was to perform linkage and association studies in the relatively genetically homogenous population of northern Sweden. We performed a GWLS to find genomic regions linked to T1D/AITD in families from northern Sweden and we performed an association study in the families to test for association between T1D/AITD and variants in previously published candidate genes as well as a novel candidate gene, CD247. METHODS: DNA prepared from 459 individuals was used to perform a linkage and an association study. The ABI PRISM Linkage Mapping Set v2.5MD10 was employed for an initial 10-cM GWLS, and additional markers were added for fine mapping. Merlin was used for linkage calculations. For the association analysis, a GoldenGate Custom Panel from Illumina containing 79 SNPs of interest was used and FBAT was used for association calculations. RESULTS: Our study revealed linkage to two previously identified chromosomal regions, 4q25 and 6p22, as well as to a novel chromosomal region, 1q23. The association study replicated association to PTPN22, HLA-DRB1, INS, IFIH1, CTLA4 and C12orf30. Evidence in favor of association was also found for SNPs in the novel susceptibility gene CD247. CONCLUSIONS: Several risk loci for T1D/AITD identified in published association studies were replicated in a family material, of modest size, from northern Sweden. This provides evidence that these loci confer disease susceptibility in this population and emphasizes that small to intermediate sized family studies in this population can be used in a cost-effective manner for the search of genes involved in complex diseases. The linkage study revealed a chromosoma

Here we characterize a new animal model that spontaneously develops chronic inflammation and fibrosis in multiple organs, the non-obese diabetic inflammation and fibrosis (N-IF) mouse. In the liver, the N-IF mouse displays inflammation and fibrosis particularly evident around portal tracts and central veins and accompanied with evidence of abnormal intrahepatic bile ducts. The extensive cellular infiltration consists mainly of macrophages, granulocytes, particularly eosinophils, and mast cells. This inflammatory syndrome is mediated by a transgenic population of natural killer T cells (NKT) induced in an immunodeficient NOD genetic background. The disease is transferrable to immunodeficient recipients, while polyclonal T cells from unaffected syngeneic donors can inhibit the disease phenotype. Because of the fibrotic component, early on-set, spontaneous nature and reproducibility, this novel mouse model provides a unique tool to gain further insight into the underlying mechanisms mediating transformation of chronic inflammation into fibrosis and to evaluate intervention protocols for treating conditions of fibrotic disorders.

This thesis investigated the possibilities to resume cultivation of an old manor house built of timber and what this would mean from an energy and moisture perspective. The building in this case study is named Sofiedals mansion and was built in 1858 in Valbo 11 kilometers west of Gävle. The structure of the house was documented and used as a starting-point for carrying out calculations focused on energy and moisture aspects. With the help of a number of computer programs and a conducted air tightness test, the buildings energy consumption were calculated and compared with the current building regulations. In addition, the building was analyzed considering energy retrofitting and what it meant for moisture problems. The energy retrofitting consisted of additional insulation, decreasing the buildings permeability through air sealing; window and door replacements. When a building is equipped with natural ventilation it is difficult to know its precise performance and how an energy retrofitting affects it. Therefore a sensitivity-analysis was performed on four different types of ventilation performance and how they affected the buildings energy as well as its building components moisture performance. The proposed suggestion for an energy retrofitting was made with a potential buyer in mind. Therefore general problems have been documented to demonstrate other measures to be taken into consideration when cultivating the building. The investigation showed that the buildings energy consumption needs to be reduced by approximately 45% to achieve the goal of Swedens current building regulations. Depending on the presumed ventilation performance, the energy consumption and moisture content in the building components varied. The conducted sensitivity analysis showed that a vapour barrier is required to make the building safe from moisture problems. In order to achieve the building regulations energy demands a specific energy consumption of 110kWh/m 2 each year was required. Cur, Detta examensarbete undersökte möjligheterna kring att återuppta brukandet av en äldre herrgårdsbyggnad uppbyggd av timmer och vad detta skulle innebära ur ett energi- samt fuktperspektiv. Byggnaden som undersöktes heter Sofiedals herrgård och är uppförd år 1858 i Valbo 11 kilometer väst om Gävle. Husets uppbyggnad dokumenterades och användes som utgångspunkt för att kunna genomföra beräkningar inriktade på energi och fuktaspekter. Med hjälp av ett antal datorprogram och en tillhörande lufttäthetsprovning kunde husets nuvarande energianvändning beräknas och jämföras med dagens gällande byggregler. Därutöver undersöktes hur byggnaden påverkades ur energi- och fuktsynpunkt genom en energieffektivisering i form av tilläggsisolering, lufttätning, fönster- och dörrbyten. Eftersom det är svårt att kontrollera självdragsventilationens exakta prestanda har en luftflödesanalys gjorts beträffande fyra olika luftomsättningars påverkan av fukt och energiförhållanden för byggnaden. Åtgärdsförslag gällande en energieffektivisering projekterades med en potentiell köpare som bakgrund. Därför har även allmänna problem dokumenterats för att påvisa andra åtgärder som behöver vidtas. Undersökningen visade att byggnadens energianvändning behövde sänkas med ungefär 45 % för att uppnå Boverkets krav. Beroende på vilken ventilationsomsättning som antogs varierade både energianvändningen samt den relativa ånghalten i konstruktionen. En utförd luftflödesanalys visade att vid monterad ångspärr kommer konstruktionen vara fuktsäker. För att uppnå Boverkets energikrav krävs en specifik energianvändning på 110kWh/m 2·år. I dagsläget uppnår byggnaden inte kraven. Eftersom byggnaden beräknades till nästan 200 kWh/ m2∙år måste den genomgå omfattande renoveringsåtgärder.

The Cd247 gene encodes for a transmembrane protein important for the expression and assembly of TCR/CD3 complex on the surface of T lymphocytes. Down-regulation of CD247 has functional consequences in systemic autoimmunity and has been shown to be associated with Type 1 Diabetes in NOD mouse. In this study, we have utilized the wealth of high-throughput sequencing data produced during the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project to identify spatially conserved regulatory elements within the Cd247 gene from human and mouse. We show the presence of two transcription factor binding sites, supported by histone marks and ChIP-seq data, that specifically have features of an enhancer and a promoter, respectively. We also identified a putative long non-coding RNA from the characteristically long first intron of the Cd247 gene. The long non-coding RNA annotation is supported by manual annotations from the GENCODE project in human and our expression quantification analysis performed in NOD and B6 mice using qRT-PCR. Furthermore, 17 of the 23 SNPs already known to be implicated with T1D were observed within the long non-coding RNA region in mouse. The spatially conserved regulatory elements identified in this study have the potential to enrich our understanding of the role of Cd247 gene in autoimmune diabetes.

Long-term insulin independence after islets of Langerhans transplantation is rarely achieved. The aims of this study were to identify the histological and immunological features of islets transplanted in a type 1 diabetic patient who died of a cerebral hemorrhage after >13 years insulin independence. Islets were pooled from two donors with respectively one and five HLA mismatches. Insulin-positive islets were found throughout the right and left liver, and absent in the pancreas. Two- and three-dimensional analysis showed that islets lost their initial rounded and compact morphology, had a mean diameter of 136 μm and were constituted of an unfolded epithelial band of 39.1 μm. Leukocyte phenotyping showed no evidence of a tolerogenic environment in the islet-containing portal spaces. Finally, HLA typing of microdissected islets showed HLA from the best matched donor in all 23 microdissection samples, compared to 1/23 for the least matched donor. This case report demonstrates that allogeneic islets can survive over 13 years while maintaining insulin independence. Allogeneic islets had unique morphologic features and implanted in the liver regardless of their size. Finally, our results suggest that, in this case, rejection had been prevalent over autoimmunity, although this hypothesis warrants further investigation.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive autoimmune inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). T cells play a key role in the progression of neuroinflammation in MS and also in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal models for the disease. A technology for quantitative and 3 dimensional (3D) spatial assessment of inflammation in this and other CNS inflammatory conditions is much needed. Here we present a procedure for 3D spatial assessment and global quantification of the development of neuroinflammation based on Optical Projection Tomography (OPT). Applying this approach to the analysis of rodent models of MS, we provide global quantitative data of the major inflammatory component as a function of the clinical course. Our data demonstrates a strong correlation between the development and progression of neuroinflammation and clinical disease in several mouse and a rat model of MS refining the information regarding the spatial dynamics of the inflammatory component in EAE. This method provides a powerful tool to investigate the effect of environmental and genetic forces and for assessing the therapeutic effects of drug therapy in animal models of MS and other neuroinflammatory/neurodegenerative disorders.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease that results from T cell-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells. CD1d-restricted NKT lymphocytes have the ability to regulate immunity, including autoimmunity. We previously demonstrated that CD1d-restricted type II NKT cells, which carry diverse TCRs, prevented T1D in the NOD mouse model for the human disease. In this study, we show that CD4(+) 24αβ type II NKT cells, but not CD4/CD8 double-negative NKT cells, were sufficient to downregulate diabetogenic CD4(+) BDC2.5 NOD T cells in adoptive transfer experiments. CD4(+) 24αβ NKT cells exhibited a memory phenotype including high ICOS expression, increased cytokine production, and limited display of NK cell markers, compared with double-negative 24αβ NKT cells. Blocking of ICOS or the programmed death-1/programmed death ligand 1 pathway was shown to abolish the regulation that occurred in the pancreas draining lymph nodes. To our knowledge, these results provide for the first time cellular and molecular information on how type II CD1d-restricted NKT cells regulate T1D.

Introduction Flight baggage handlers are mainly engaged in sorting luggage or cargo, loading and unloading it to and from the airplanes. The Vocational Training and Working Environment Council, TYA - formed by employer’s and employee’s organizations in the transportation sector - initiated a scientific study in 2009 to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and their suspected determinants in six Swedish airports involving a total of about 1000 handlers in 14 cargo- and handling companies. Encouraged by an initial literature review, the present field study was designed to contain qualitative, questionnaire-based, and observational surveys of working conditions, as well as extensive direct measurements of postures using full-shift inclinometry. This paper reports the design and results of the questionnaire part of the study. Method All baggage handlers working at least half-time (n=1044) were encouraged to fill in an extensive questionnaire handed out at the workplace by a research team member. In general the researcher collected the questionnaires at the same occasion. The questionnaire addressed general health, work capacity and physical exposures in relevant handling tasks. It also included a modified version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ), the Nordic Council of Minister’s Questionnaire (NMQ) on disorders, and the SOFI-questionnaire measuring perceived fatigue. Results The response rate was 73%. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the back, shoulders and wrists during the last 12 months was 70%, 60% and 45%. Positive effects of devices used for reducing perceived physical load were confirmed. The handlers expressed a low confidence in the leadership, and insufficient feedback, information and influence at work. Fatigue particularly occurred in the dimensions lack of energy and physical discomfort. Discussion The observed prevalence of low back pain (70%) is high, and in parity with results among nurses in Sweden (

Mature microRNAs (miRNAs), derived through cleavage of pre-miRNAs by the Dicer1 enzyme, regulate protein expression in many cell-types including cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. To investigate the importance of miRNAs in mouse insulin secreting beta-cells, we have generated mice with a beta-cells specific disruption of the Dicer1 gene using the Cre-lox system controlled by the rat insulin promoter (RIP). In contrast to their normoglycaemic control littermates (RIP-Cre(+/-) Dicer1(Delta/wt)), RIP-Cre(+/-) Dicer1(flox/flox) mice (RIP-Cre Dicer1(Delta/Delta)) developed progressive hyperglycaemia and full-blown diabetes mellitus in adulthood that recapitulated the natural history of the spontaneous disease in mice. Reduced insulin gene expression and concomitant reduced insulin secretion preceded the hyperglycaemic state and diabetes development. Immunohistochemical, flow cytometric and ultrastructural analyses revealed altered islet morphology, marked decreased beta-cell mass, reduced numbers of granules within the beta-cells and reduced granule docking in adult RIP-Cre Dicer1(Delta/Delta) mice. beta-cell specific Dicer1 deletion did not appear to disrupt fetal and neonatal beta-cell development as 2-week old RIP-Cre Dicer1(Delta/Delta) mice showed ultrastructurally normal beta-cells and intact insulin secretion. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that a beta-cell specific disruption of the miRNAs network, although allowing for apparently normal beta-cell development, leads to progressive impairment of insulin secretion, glucose homeostasis and diabetes development.

Moderne eksperimentelle vacciner inkluderer de såkaldte subunit vacciner, som generelt er sikre, men som ikke i sig selv inducerer et tilstrækkeligt immunrespons. Dette kan lø- ses ved at tilsætte et adjuvans, som er et hjælpestof, der givet sammen med et antigen, kan inducerer et specifikt immunrespons rettet mod antigenet. CAF01 (cationic adjuvant for- mulation 1) er et adjuvans udviklet på afdelingen for Infektionsimmunologi på Statens Serum Institut (SSI), som har vist lovende resultater. Det består af kationiske liposomer baseret på dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDA) og immunostimulatoren trehalose 6,6 ́- dibehenate (TDB). Udover at danne et antigendepot ved injektionsstedet, menes CAF01 at fremme antigen optaget og præsentationen af antigen hos antigen-præsenterende celler (APCer), og ligeledes at aktivere disse celler. DDA kan ikke inducerer opregulering af ak- tiveringsmarkører på dendrit celler, som ellers menes at være den vigtigste type APC i vaccinationssammenhæng. Dette er derimod observeret på B celler. Formålet med dette projekt var at undersøge effekten af DDA på B celler og deres evne til at fungerer som APCer. Ved hjælp af in vitro stimulering af B celler, blev effekten af DDA sammenlignet med andre liposome-dannende lipider med andre fysisk/kemiske egenskaber end DDA. Resultatet viste at DDA inducerer opregulering af aktiveringsmarkører hos B celler i modsætning til de andre lipider, samt at DDA øger antigenoptaget i B celler. Derudover viste et adoptivt celleoverførselsforsøg at DDA-aktiverede, antigen-loadede B celler kun- ne inducerer CD4+ T-celle proliferation in vivo. De opnåede resultater i dette projekt antyder, at B celler godt kan spille en rolle som APC udover dendrit cellerne i forbindelse med DDA adjuverede vacciner. I hvilken udstræk- ning B cellerne spiller en rolle i forhold til de andre APCer er dog spekulativt, og baseret på dette projekt kan de, Modern experimental vaccines include subunit vaccines which are safe but do not induce a sufficient immunological response. This problem is solved by the addition of adjuvants which are substances that, when administered together with antigens, are able to induce an immune response resulting in immunological memory toward the antigen. CAF01 (cationic adjuvant formulation 1) is an adjuvant developed at the department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut (SSI) that has shown promising results. It consists of cationic liposomes based on dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDA) and the immunostimulator trehalose 6,6 ́-dibehenate (TDB). Apart from making a depot effect at the injection site, CAF01 is believed to promote the uptake and presentation of the anti- gen by antigen presenting cells (APCs) as well as the activation of these cells. DDA alone fail to induce upregulation of activation markers on the main antigen presenting cells in vaccination settings - dendritic cells (DCs), whereas the opposite is the case for B cells. In the present project the effect of DDA on B cells and their ability to function as APCs was investigated. This was carried out by in vitro stimulation of B cells comparing the effect of DDA with other liposome-forming lipids having different physical/chemical properties than DDA. The results showed that DDA induces upregulation of activation markers on B cells as opposed to the other lipids, and increases the antigen uptake by B cells as well. Furthermore an adoptive transfer experiment showed that DDA-activated, antigen-loaded B cells were able to induce CD4+ T-cell proliferation in vivo. The results obtained in the present study suggest that B cells might function as APCs in addition to DCs and macrophages when DDA-adjuvated vaccines are used. To what ex- tend B cells play a role compared to the other APCs are speculative though, and based on t

The objective was to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory effects, on time to lymphoma progression and survival in the TLL mouse, a strain genetically prone to developing aggressive T-cell lymphoma. Compared to mice fed a standard diet, TLL mice fed omega-3 (menhaden fish oil) experienced a significant delay in disease progression and were more likely to remain alive and symptom free during the first 8 months of the study. In contrast, omega-6 supplementation (corn oil) did not significantly affect lymphoma progression. Irrespective of diet, all mice eventually progressed, and 1-year survival was not different between the groups. Immunological analysis demonstrated a significantly altered B-cell compartment and fewer NK cells in healthy C57Black6 mice fed omega-3, compared to controls. In conclusion, a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids delays lymphoma development in the TLL mouse possibly by mechanisms that include complex effects on immune function.

Objective: The aim of this study was to refine the information regarding the quantitative and spatial dynamics of infiltrating lymphocytes and remaining beta-cell volume during the progression of type 1 diabetes in the NOD mouse model of the disease. Research design and methods: Using an ex vivo technique, optical projection tomography (OPT), we quantified and assessed the 3D spatial development and progression of insulitis and beta-cell destruction in pancreas from diabetes prone NOD and non-diabetes prone congenic NOD.H-2b mice between 3 and 16 weeks of age. Results: Together with results showing the spatial dynamics of the insulitis process we provide data of beta-cell volume distributions down to the level of the individual islets and throughout the pancreas during the development and progression of type 1 diabetes. Our data provide evidence for a compensatory growth potential of the larger insulin(+) islets during the later stages of the disease around the time point for development of clinical diabetes. This is in contrast to smaller islets, which appear less resistant to the autoimmune attack. We also provide new information on the spatial dynamics of the insulitis process itself, including its apparently random distribution at onset, the local variations during its further development, and the formation of structures resembling tertiary lymphoid organs at later phases of insulitis progression. Conclusions: Our data provides a powerful tool for phenotypic analysis of genetic and environmental effects on type 1 diabetes etiology as well as for evaluating the potential effect of therapeutic regimes.

Tuning of TCR-mediated activation was demonstrated to be critical for lineage fate in T cell development, as well as in the control of autoimmunity. In this study, we identify a novel diabetes susceptibility gene, Idd28, in the NOD mouse and provide evidence that Cd3zeta (Cd247) constitutes a prime candidate gene for this locus. Moreover, we show that the allele of the Cd3zeta gene expressed in NOD and DBA/2 mouse strains confers lower levels of T cell activation compared with the allele expressed by C57BL/6 (B6), BALB/c, and C3H/HeJ mice. These results support a model in which the development of autoimmune diabetes is dependent on a TCR signal mediated by a less-efficient NOD allele of the Cd3zeta gene.

Little is known about target organ-infiltrating NK cells in type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. In this study, we identified NK cells with a unique phenotype in the pancreas of NOD mice. Pancreatic NK cells, localized to the endocrine and exocrine parts, were present before T cells during disease development and did not require T cells for their infiltration. Furthermore, NK cells, or NK cell precursors, from the spleen could traffic to the pancreas, where they displayed the pancreatic phenotype. Pancreatic NK cells from other mouse strains shared phenotypic characteristics with pancreatic NK cells from NOD mice, but displayed less surface killer cell lectin-like receptor G1, a marker for mature NK cells that have undergone proliferation, and also did not proliferate to the same extent. A subset of NOD mouse pancreatic NK cells produced IFN-gamma spontaneously, suggesting ongoing effector responses. However, most NOD mouse pancreatic NK cells were hyporesponsive compared with spleen NK cells, as reflected by diminished cytokine secretion and a lower capacity to degranulate. Interestingly, such hyporesponsiveness was not seen in pancreatic NK cells from the nonautoimmune strain C57BL/6, suggesting that this feature is not a general property of pancreatic NK cells. Based on our data, we propose that NK cells are sentinel cells in a normal pancreas. We further speculate that during inflammation, pancreatic NK cells initially mediate proinflammatory effector functions, potentially contributing to organ-specific autoimmunity, but later become hyporesponsive because of exhaustion or regulation.

Celecoxib, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, is a promising novel antitumor agent with pleitropic mechanisms of action. Whereas this drug induces growth arrest and apoptosis of B-lymphoma cells, its effect against aggressive T-cell neoplasms remains to be studied. We therefore evaluated Celecoxib therapy of immunocompetent mice transplanted with lymphoblastic T-cell lymphomas. Oral Celecoxib in clinically relevant and non-toxic doses did not affect the degree of hypersplenism or the number of viable lymphoma cells. The clinical deterioration of Celecoxib-treated mice was not different from untreated controls. The impact of adding Celecoxib (60 mg/kg) to cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg x 1, i.p.) was assessed but showed no benefit compared to cyclophosphamide alone. Thus, Celecoxib lacks effect against lymphoblastic T-cell lymphoma in mice.

OBJECTIVES: The population of northern Sweden is characterized by reduced genetic diversity and a high incidence of stroke. We sought to reduce genetic variation further, using genealogic analysis in a set of nuclear families affected by stroke, and we subsequently performed a genome-wide scan to identify novel stroke susceptibility loci. METHODS: Through genealogy, 7 nuclear families with a common ancestor, connected over 8 generations, were identified. A genome-wide scan using 449 microsatellite markers was performed with subsequent haplotype analyses. RESULTS: A maximum allele-sharing lod score of 4.81 on chromosome 9q31-q33 was detected. Haplotype analysis identified a common 2.2-megabase interval in the chromosomal region in 4 of the nuclear families, where an overrepresentation of intracerebral hemorrhage was observed. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a novel susceptibility locus for stroke. Haplotype analysis suggests that a shared genetic factor is of particular importance for intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: The population of northern Sweden is characterized by reduced genetic diversity and a high incidence of stroke. We sought to reduce genetic variation further, using genealogic analysis in a set of nuclear families affected by stroke, and we subsequently performed a genome-wide scan to identify novel stroke susceptibility loci. METHODS: Through genealogy, 7 nuclear families with a common ancestor, connected over 8 generations, were identified. A genome-wide scan using 449 microsatellite markers was performed with subsequent haplotype analyses. RESULTS: A maximum allele-sharing lod score of 4.81 on chromosome 9q31-q33 was detected. Haplotype analysis identified a common 2.2-megabase interval in the chromosomal region in 4 of the nuclear families, where an overrepresentation of intracerebral hemorrhage was observed. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a novel susceptibility locus for stroke. Haplotype analysis suggests that a shared genetic factor is of particular importance for intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in and around the CTLA-4 gene have previously been associated to T1D and AITD in several populations. One such single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), CT60, has been reported to affect the expression level ratio of the soluble (sCTLA-4) to full length CTLA-4 (flCTLA-4) isoforms. The aims of our study were to replicate the association previously published by Ueda et al. of polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 region to T1D and AITD and to determine whether the CT60 polymorphism affects the expression level ratio of sCTLA-4/flCTLA-4 in our population. METHODS: Three SNPs were genotyped in 253 cases (104 AITD cases and 149 T1D cases) and 865 ethnically matched controls. Blood from 23 healthy individuals was used to quantify mRNA expression of CTLA-4 isoforms in CD4+ cells using real-time PCR. Serum from 102 cases and 59 healthy individuals was used to determine the level of sCTLA-4 protein. RESULTS: Here we show association of the MH30, CT60 and JO31 polymorphisms to T1D and AITD in northern Sweden. We also observed a higher frequency of the CT60 disease susceptible allele in our controls compared to the British, Italian and Dutch populations, which might contribute to the high frequency of T1D in Sweden. In contrast to previously published findings, however, we were unable to find differences in the sCTLA-4/flCTLA-4 expression ratio based on the CT60 genotype in 23 healthy volunteers, also from northern Sweden. Analysis of sCTLA-4 protein levels in serum showed no correlation between sCTLA-4 protein levels and disease status or CT60 genotype. CONCLUSION: Association was found between T1D/AITD and all three polymorphisms investigated. However, in contrast to previous investigations, sCTLA-4 RNA and protein expression levels did not differ based on CT60 genotype. Our results do not rule out the CT60 SNP as an important polymorphism in the development of T1D or AITD, but suggest that further investigations are necessary to elucidate the effect of the CTLA

Recent data have suggested that non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice display a defect in negative thymic selection. Using mixed bone marrow chimeras, we demonstrate that the NOD allele of the diabetes susceptibility region 5 (Idd5) locus on chromosome 1, confers defective negative selection in response to endogenous superantigens (SAg) Mtv8 and Mtv9. We generated mixed bone marrow (BM) chimeras in which the donor cells of NOD and C3H or NOD.Idd5(b10) and C3H coexist and are similarly exposed to the Mtv8 and Mtv9 SAg. Under these conditions, SAg-mediated deletion of Vbeta11+ T cells is less efficient in chimeric mice reconstituted with NOD+C3H BM, compared with chimeras reconstituted with NOD.Idd5(b10)+C3H BM. Interestingly, the observed discrepancy was not T cell autonomous but was found to be mediated by a BM derived cellular subset, and under control of a gene(s) in the Idd5 region.

The northern Swedish population has a history of admixture of three ethnic groups and a dramatic population growth from a relatively small founder population. This has resulted in founder effects that together with unique resources for genealogical analyses provide excellent conditions for genetic mapping of monogenic diseases. Several recent examples of successful mapping of genetic factors underlying susceptibility to complex diseases have suggested that the population of northern Sweden may also be an important tool for efficient mapping of more complex phenotypes. A potential factor contributing to these effects may be population sub-isolates within the large river valleys, constituting a central geographic characteristic of this region. We here provide evidence that marriage patterns as well as the distribution of gene frequencies in a set of marker loci are compatible with this notion. The possible implications of this population structure on linkage- and association based strategies for identifying genes contributing risk to complex diseases are discussed.

A recent study found association of one microsatellite and five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 3 of the TCF7L2 gene with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Icelandic, Danish and American populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate if those SNPs were associated to T2D in two (family- and population-based) cohorts from northern Sweden. We genotyped four of the associated SNPs in a case-control cohort consisting of 872 T2D cases and 857 controls matched with respect to age, sex and geographical origin and in a sample of 59 extended families (148 affected and 83 unaffected individuals). Here, we report replication of association between T2D and three SNPs in the case-control (rs7901695, P=0.003; rs7901346, P=0.00002; and rs12255372, P=0.000004) and two SNPs in the family-based (rs7901695, P=0.01 and rs7901346, P=0.04) samples from northern Sweden. This replication strengthens the evidence for involvement of TCF7L2 in T2D.

To survey the quality of SNP genotyping, a joint Nordic quality assessment (QA) round was organized between 11 laboratories in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The QA round involved blinded genotyping of 47 DNA samples for 18 or six randomly selected SNPs. The methods used by the participating laboratories included all major platforms for small- to medium-size SNP genotyping. The laboratories used their standard procedures for SNP assay design, genotyping, and quality control. Based on the joint results from all laboratories, a consensus genotype for each DNA sample and SNP was determined by the coordinator of the survey, and the results from each laboratory were compared to this genotype. The overall genotyping accuracy achieved in the survey was excellent. Six laboratories delivered genotype data that were in full agreement with the consensus genotype. The average accuracy per SNP varied from 99.1 to 100% between the laboratories, and it was frequently 100% for the majority of the assays for which SNP genotypes were reported. Lessons from the survey are that special attention should be given to the quality of the DNA samples prior to genotyping, and that a conservative approach for calling the genotypes should be used to achieve a high accuracy.

Background: Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MLV) has proven valuable for studies of the pathogenesis of malignant lymphoma. Inoculation of newborn mice induces T cell lymphoma with 100% incidence. The TLL (T cell lymphoma/leukemia)-strain was previously established and was shown to spontaneously develop T cell lymphoma at high frequency. Materials and Methods: Differential screening of cDNA libraries was performed to discover an involvement of Mo-MLV and genomic sequencing was used to identify the chromosomal position of Mo-MLV proviral integration sites. Immunophenotypes of the tumors were established by flow cytometry. Disease frequency curves were created according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Two independent Mo-MLV germ line integrations were characterized on chromosomes 2 and 14, giving rise to two substrains of mice denoted TLL-2 and TLL-14. The chromosomal position of the integrated provirus affected the frequency of disease, as well as the immunophenotype of the tumors. Conclusion: The data suggest that factors influencing the transcriptional activity of the chromosomal regions, leading to differences in proviral expression, could underlie the observed difference in tumor frequency.