Dopamine D2 receptor on CD4+ T cells is protective against inflammatory responses and signs in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Background Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and has been found to regulate lymphocytes by acting on dopamine receptors (DRs). CD4+ T cells express all the five subtypes of DRs, D1R to D5R. Although CD4+ T cells have been involved in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), roles of DRs expressed on these cells in RA are poorly understood. This study determined whether D2R expressed on CD4+ T cells regulates inflammatory responses and signs in collagen type II (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA), a mouse model of RA. Methods DBA/1 mice and C57BL/6 mice with global D1r or D2r deficiency (D1r –/– or D2r –/– ) or CD4+ T cell-specific D2r deletion (D2r fl/fl /CD4 Cre ) were used to prepare CIA model by intradermal injection of CII. D2R agonist sumanirole was intraperitoneally administered in CIA mice. CD4+ T cells obtained from CIA mice were exposed to sumanirole or/and D2R antagonist L-741,626 in vitro. Arthritic symptoms were assessed by clinical arthritis scores. Flow cytometric assay measured frequencies of CD4+ T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells). Expression of specific transcription factors for the CD4+ T cell subsets was tested by Western blot. Cytokine production was estimated by quantitative PCR and ELISA. Results CIA mice manifested a bias of CD4+ T cells towards Th1 and Th17 cells. D2r –/– CIA mice showed a stronger bias towards Th1 and Th17 phenotypes than CIA mice, while D1r –/– CIA mice did not show the changes. CD4+ T cell-specific D2r deletion exacerbated both the polarization towards Th1 and Th17 cells and the symptoms of arthritis. Sumanirole administration in CIA mice ameliorated the bias of CD4+ T cells towards Th1 and Th17 phenotypes as well as arthritic symptoms. Sumanirole treatment of in vitro CD4+ T cells obtained from CIA mice promoted the shift to Treg cells, and the effect of sumanirole was blocked by L-741,626. Conclusions D2R expressed on CD4+ T cells is protective against imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory T cells and arthritic symptoms in CIA.