Mechanism of the immune response to human factor VIII in murine hemophilia A

Mice genetically deficient in factor VIII (fVIII) are a model of hemophilia A. As a first step to reproduce in this mouse model what occurs over time in hemophilia A patients treated with human fVIII (hfVIII), we have investigated the time course and the characteristics of their immune response to hfVIII, after multiple intravenous injections. Anti-hfVIII antibodies appeared after four to five injections. They were IgG1 and to a lesser extent IgG2, indicating that they were induced by both Th2 and Th1 cells. Inhibitors appeared after six injections. CD4⁺ enriched splenocytes from hfVIII-treated mice proliferated in response to fVIII and secreted IL-10: in a few mice they secreted also IFN-γ and in one mouse IL-4, but never IL-2. A hfVIII-specific T cell line derived from hfVIII-treated mice secreted both IL-4 and IFN-γ, suggesting that it included both Th1 and Th2 cells. CD4⁺ enriched splenocytes of hfVIII-treated mice recognized all hfVIII domains. Thus, hemophilic mice develop an immune response to hfVIII administered intravenously similar to that of hemophilia A patients. Their anti-hfVIII antibodies can be inhibitors and belong to IgG subclasses homologous to those of inhibitors in hemophilic patients; their anti-hfVIII CD4⁺ cells recognize a complex repertoire and both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and especially IL-10, may drive the antibody synthesis.