We have generated LAIR-1 -/- mice on a B6 background to study the in vivo function of LAIR-1. Phenotypic analysis of lymphoid organs did not show large differences between LAIR-1 +/+ and LAIR-1 -/- animals. We have observed a slight increase in the percentage of splenic B cells in the LAIR-1 -/- mice, along with a decrease in T cells, mostly because of a decrease in CD8 T cells. This probably does not result from abnormal trafficking of T lymphocytes, since LAIR-1 +/+ and LAIR-1 -/- T cells traffic equally to peripheral lymphoid organs. In the gut we have observed a slight increase of T cells in the LAIR-1 -/- mice, along with an increase in the NKG2D expression. In vitro experiments showed that OT-II LAIR-1-/- CD4 T cells proliferated less than the OT-II LAIR-1+/+ CD4 T cells when they are cultured with APC loaded with OT-II OVA peptide. To study the immune response in vivo, we have immunized the animals with TNP-OVA and found that class switching is affected in LAIR-1 -/- mice. These animals produced lower levels of IgG2a and IgG2b, while switching to IgG1 is not affected. By using T cell specific LAIR-1 -/- animals (CD4 Cre LAIR-1flox/flox), we confirmed that the defect in class switching is T cell specific. Previous investigators have published that mouse B cells do not express LAIR-1;however, recently we have found that marginal zone B cells are positive for LAIR-1 expression. Other preliminary results have shown that in the LAIR-1 -/- mice there are significant alterations in the recruitment of macrophages and eosinophils into the peritoneum in a model of chemical peritonitis, suggesting a role for LAIR-1 in the trafficking of these cell types towards sites of inflammation. We investigated the effect of a conservative R65K mutation on LAIR-1 ligand binding and function. Compared with LAIR-1 wild-type (wt)-expressing cells, LAIR-1 R65K cells show markedly reduced binding to collagen, which correlates with a reduced level of LAIR-1 polarization to the site of interaction with collagens. Both LAIR-1 wt and R65K cells can generate intracellular signals when ligated by anti-LAIR-1 mAb, but only LAIR-1 wt cells respond to collagens or matrigel. In agreement, surface plasmon resonance analyses showed that LAIR-1 R65K protein has markedly reduced avidity for collagen type I compared with LAIR-1 wt. Likewise, LAIR-1 R65K protein has decreased avidity for cells expressing transmembrane collagen XVII. Thus, a single residue, Arg65, is critical for the interaction of LAIR-1 with collagens.
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