Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) resulting from ovarian autoimmunity is a poorly understood clinical condition lacking in effective treatments. Understanding the targets of the autoimmune response and induction of ovarian-specific tolerance would allow development of focused
therapies to preserve fertility in an at-risk population. MATER (maternal
antigen that embryos require) is a known ovarian
autoantigen targeted in autoimmune syndromes of POI. We attempt to induce ovarian-specific tolerance via transgenic expression of the MATER
antigen on potentially tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells (APC), which typically present
antigen via the major histocompatibility complex (
MHC) class II molecule. We hypothesize that expression of MATER in a MHC class II-dependent manner on APC can mediate induction of ovarian tolerance. We utilized a well-characterized murine model of ovarian autoimmunity, whereby
oophoritis develops after d 3 neonatal
thymectomy (NTx). Wild-type and transgenic mice, carrying an MHC Class II-driven Mater gene (IE-Mater), were subjected to NTx and assessed for evidence of
autoimmune oophoritis. After disease induction by NTx, female mice carrying the IE-Mater transgene had significant reductions in histological
oophoritis (56%) and circulating ovarian
autoantibodies (28%) compared with wild-type females (94% and 82%, respectively). Incidence of other autoimmunity was unaffected as assessed by
antinuclear autoantibodies. Transgenic expression of MATER in APC can induce
antigen-specific tolerance with a significant reduction in ovarian autoimmunity. Lack of complete disease protection suggests that other
antigens may also play a role in
autoimmune oophoritis. As a known
autoantigen in the human APS1 (
autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1), which is associated with POI, MATER may represent a relevant target for future diagnostic and therapeutic clinical interventions.