Both the lymphotoxin and tumor necrosis factor pathways are involved in experimental murine models of colitis

Abstract

Background and Aims: Membrane lymphotoxin (LT) α/β, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of immune regulatory molecules, is involved both in the development of secondary lymphoid tissues and the maintenance of organized lymphoid tissues in the adult. Defects observed in the mucosal immune system in animals with a genetically disrupted LTα/β pathway coupled with the expression of LTα/β in activated T cells motivated an examination of the importance of this pathway in experimental colitis. Methods: Soluble LTβ receptor (LTβR) immunoglobulin fusion protein was used to inhibit the LTα/β/light axis in two independent rodent models of colitis: CD45RB(hi) CD4+-reconstituted SCID mice ..