Lymphocyte function—associated antigen 1 overexpression and t cell autoreactivity

OBJECTIVE: To determine if DNA methylation inhibitors make T cells autoreactive by inducing lymphocyte function-associated antigen type 1 (LFA-1) (CD11a/CD18) overexpression. METHODS: T cell clones were treated with 3 distinct DNA methylation inhibitors or were stably transfected with a CD18 cDNA in a mammalian expression vector, and the effects on LFA-1 expression and activation requirements were examined. RESULTS: LFA-1 overexpression, caused by DNA methylation inhibitors or by transfection, correlates with the development of autoreactivity. CONCLUSION: LFA-1 overexpression may contribute to T cell autoreactivity.