Self-antigen recognition by TGFβ1-deficient T cells causes their activation and systemic inflammation

To investigate whether the multifocal inflammatory disease in TGFb1-deficient mice is caused by self-antigen (self-Ag)-specific autoreactive T cells, or whether it is caused by antigen independent, spontaneous hyperactivation of T cells, we have generated Tgfb1(-/-) and Tgfb1(-/-) Rag1(-/-) mice expressing the chicken OVA-specific TCR transgene (DO11.10). On a Rag1-sufficient background, Tgfb1(-/-) DO11.10 mice develop a milder inflammation than do Tgfb1(-/-) mice, and their T cells display a less activated phenotype. The lower level of activation correlates with the expression of hybrid TCR (transgenic TCR beta and endogenous TCR alpha), which could recognize self-Ag and undergo activation. In the complete absence of self-Ag recognition (Tgfb1(-/-) DO11.10 Rag1(-/-) mice) inflammation and T- cell activation are eliminated, demonstrating that self- Ag recognition is required for the hyper- responsiveness of TGF beta 1-deficient T cells. Thus, TGF beta 1 is required for the prevention of autoimmune disease through its ability to control the activation of autoreactive T cells to self-Ag.