Enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in Gαi2-deficient mice on colitis prone and colitis resistant 129Sv genetic backgrounds

Mice deficient in G-protein subunit αi2 develop colitis closely resembling human ulcerative colitis when raised on 129SvEv background. When backcrossing the Gαi2-deficiency into a 129SvJBom genetic background, surprisingly, mice did not develop colitis. In vitro stimulation of splenocytes with formalin-killed Staphylococcus aureus resulted in significantly increased production of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-12p40 in Gαi2−/− as compared to control mice. The enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was seen in colitis prone as well as in colitis resistant genetic background. A similar outcome was seen upon stimulation with toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, a T cell superantigen, except that Gαi2−/− colitis resistant 129SvJBom splenocytes did not show increased production of IL-12p40 as compared to their controls.