bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histaminergic regulation of NK cells. Role of monocyte-derived reactive oxygen metabolites.
Authors: Hellstrand K , Asea A , Dahlgren C , Hermodsson S
Published: January 2023

Monocytes, recovered by centrifugal elutriation, effectively inhibit functions of human NK cells in vitro. Histamine, acting via monocyte H2-type histamine receptors, abrogates the inhibitory signal. The aim of this study was to define the histamine-reversible mechanism by which monocytes inhibit NK cells with special reference to the respiratory burst activity of monocytes. Monocytes recovered from patients with chronic granulomatous disease did not suppress NK cell function, indicating the requirement of intact nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAPDH) oxidase activity of monocytes to inhibit NK cells. Furthermore, catalase, a scavenger of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was found to potently reverse the monocyte-induced inhibition of NK cell function; on the other hand, superoxide dismutase (a scavenger of superoxide anion), hydroxyl radical scavengers such as mannitol and deferoxamine, the hypochlorous acid scavenger taurin, or the nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) did not affect the monocyte-derived, suppressive signal. H2O2, at micromolar concentrations, reconstituted the inhibitory effects of monocytes on NK cell function. Histamine had no scavenger activity but effectively suppressed the generation of H2O2 in isolated monocytes. This effect of histamine was transduced by H2-type histamine receptors. We conclude that the histamine-reversible, inhibitory effect of elutriated monocytes on NK cells is dependent on the formation of reactive oxygen metabolites by monocytes and that H2O2 is a pivotal mediator of the suppressive signal.
Coculture of TCR peptide-specific T cells with basic protein-specific T cells inhibits proliferation, IL-3 mRNA, and transfer of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
Authors: Offner H , Vainiene M , Celnik B , Weinberg A D , Buenafe A , Vandenbark A A
Published: January 2023

TCR peptides, namely V beta 8.2-39-59 or the minimal idiotope, V beta 8-44-54, can treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats, presumably by activating naturally induced TCR peptide-specific T cells that arise in response to the focused appearance of V beta 8.2+ encephalitogenic T cells. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the mechanisms by which TCR peptides inhibit EAE. We found that treatment of EAE with the V beta 8.2-39-59 peptide did not induce any evidence of DNA fragmentation (apoptosis) in spinal cord cells isolated from clinically well rats, implicating a regulatory rather than a deletional mechanism. TCR peptide-specific T cell lines failed to inhibit EAE induced by already activated BP-specific T cells when the two T cell specificities were co-injected. However, coculturing the encephalitogenic T cells in the presence of the regulatory T cells during the activation step before transfer almost completely inhibited the induction of EAE. Inhibition could be induced by direct contact between the two cell types or by soluble factors produced in a transwell system, but was greatly enhanced when soluble V beta 8.2-39-59 peptide was used to optimally activate the regulatory T cells. The inhibition was regulatory cell dose dependent, and was reflected in vitro by reduced proliferation response and mRNA production for IL-3, and to a lesser extent, IFN-gamma and IL-2. These results indicate that regulation induced by TCR peptides involves cell-cell interactions that lead to the production and release of soluble factors that locally inhibit the activation of encephalitogenic T cells expressing MHC-bound idiotopes of the target V beta-chain, and possibly "bystander" specificities expressing different V beta-chains.
Signal transduction for nuclear factor-kappa B activation. Proposed location of antioxidant-inhibitable step.
Authors: Suzuki Y J , Mizuno M , Packer L
Published: January 2023

Reactive oxygen species are thought to be messengers for nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activation because its activation can be abrogated by antioxidants. However, this study identifies, for the first time, NF-kappa B activators that are insensitive to antioxidants. NF-kappa B activation that is induced by either calyculin A or okadaic acid (inhibitors of serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A) is not blocked by N-acetylcysteine or dihydrolipoate in Jurkat and U937 cells. Nonetheless, these antioxidants block induction by TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin, and PMA. Unlike okadaic acid and calyculin A, neither TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin, nor PMA inhibited activities of phosphatases 1 and 2A. NF-kappa B activation induced by okadaic acid or calyculin A was not blocked by a myosin light chain kinase inhibitor, but was prevented by a protease inhibitor. The mitochondrial inhibitor, rotenone, also inhibited NF-kappa B activation by calyculin A; however, this inhibition was accompanied by a depletion of cellular ATP. These results suggest that 1) phosphatase inhibitors either target a component of signal transduction, which occurs downstream to an antioxidant-sensitive step or use distinct signaling pathways; 2) inhibition of phosphatases 1 and 2A is not a step in the pathway of TNF-alpha-, lymphotoxin-, or PMA-induced NF-kappa B activation; 3) myosin light chain kinase does not participate in NF-kappa B activation; and 4) activation of NF-kappa B by phosphatase inhibitors is controlled by proteases.
Chymase-directed serine protease inhibitor that reacts with a single 30-kDa granzyme and blocks NK-mediated cytotoxicity.
Authors: Woodard S L , Jackson D S , Abuelyaman A S , Powers J C , Winkler U , Hudig D
Published: January 2023

Cytotoxic NK and T lymphocytes kill virally infected cells within minutes without causing damage to themselves or bystander cells. One mechanism of killing involves exocytosis of granules containing serine proteases and perforin. Serine protease inhibitors block killing of target cells mediated by the cytotoxic lymphocytes. There are at least five different serine protease activities in cytolytic granules. Ten different serine protease sequences have been identified with the use of cDNA-specific clones. It is not known whether only one or several of these serine proteases are essential for cytolytic activity. In this study we show that an irreversible serine protease inhibitor, biotinyl-Aca-Aca-Phe-Leu-PheP(OPh)2, selectively inhibits a chymotrypsin-like (chymase) serine protease activity of rat RNK-16 granule extracts. Under the same conditions, only one 30-kDa (reduced) band was detected on protein blots. Furthermore, only one of three chymase peaks separated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography was inhibited. When this granzyme was inhibited, granule-mediated lysis of erythrocytes was diminished. NK cell killing was completely blocked when biotinyl-Aca-Aca-Phe-Leu-PheP(OPh)2 was added to cytotoxicity assays at 200 microM with rat splenocytes as effectors. By confocal fluorescence microscopy, we show that this inhibitor localizes to distinct regions within RNK-16 cells and rat NK cells. Inhibitor treatment of intact cells inactivated the chymase activity and reduced lysis found in their dense organelles. Together these data indicate that biotinyl-Aca-Aca-Phe-Leu-PheP(OPh)2 inhibits a granule chymase that is essential to cytolytic activity of NK cells.
Characterization of the murine B7-1 genomic locus reveals an additional exon encoding an alternative cytoplasmic domain and a chromosomal location of chromosome 16, band B5.
Authors: Borriello F , Freeman G J , Edelhoff S , Disteche C M , Nadler L M , Sharpe A H
Published: January 2023

The murine B7-1 (mB7-1) molecule expressed on APCs delivers a costimulatory signal for T cell activation through its T cell counter-receptor CD28, resulting in T cell proliferation and IL-2 production. Signaling through the TCR in the absence of CD28 signaling results in T cell anergy. We have analyzed the genomic structure of mB7-1 and here describe the identification of a previously unrecognized sixth exon at the far 3' end of the locus, which encodes an alternative cytoplasmic domain. Reverse transcriptase-PCR amplification of mB7-1 transcripts demonstrates that exon 6 is functionally spliced to the transmembrane-encoding exon 4. Furthermore, using 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends, we determined that the 5'-untranslated region extends over 1505 bp beyond the previously reported transcriptional start site. In addition, we report the chromosomal location of mB7-1 to chromosome 16, band B5.
Limited expression of C/EBP family proteins during B lymphocyte development. Negative regulator Ig/EBP predominates early and activator NF-IL-6 is induced later.
Authors: Cooper C L , Berrier A L , Roman C , Calame K L
Published: January 2023

The importance of C/EBP proteins in B cell biology is suggested by the occurrence of functionally important C/EBP binding sites in Ig gene enhancers and promoters, and the knowledge that family member NF-IL-6 is induced in other systems in response to regulators of B cell differentiation. We have studied the expression pattern and activity of C/EBP family transcriptional regulators in B cells at different developmental stages by using B cell lines and normal splenic B cells. Two family members, Ig/EBP and NF-IL-6, seem to be the major regulators of C/EBP site-dependent transcriptional activity in B cells. Negative regulator Ig/EBP is predominantly present in early B cells; activator NF-IL-6 increases in more mature B cells and is induced by LPS activation of splenic B cells. LIP, an N-terminally truncated form of NF-IL-6, was found in most B cell lines tested; LIP can act as a weak transcriptional activator in B cell lines. Partly as a result of the differential amounts of C/EBP family proteins, C/EBP sites do not function as activator sites in early B cells but are activator sites in terminally differentiated B cells.
Expression of two structurally identical viral superantigens results in thymic elimination at distinct developmental stages.
Authors: Morishima C , Norby-Slycord C , McConnell K R , Finch R J , Nelson A J , Farr A G , Pullen A M
Published: January 2023

Mouse mammary tumor virus proviral integrants encode superantigens. Developing thymocytes bearing TCRs with particular V beta elements encounter these endogenous viral superantigens as self molecules in the thymus and are consequently clonally eliminated. To study this mechanism of tolerance induction, we have bred B10.BR-Mtv-1 and B10.BR-Mtv-6 mice, which carry either Mtv-1 or Mtv-6 proviruses but are otherwise genetically identical. The protein products of these mouse mammary tumor virus integrants, vSAG1 and vSAG6, both interact with V beta 3+ T cells and have identical amino acid sequences. Interestingly, vSAG6 expression results in the complete deletion of V beta 3+ peripheral T cells, whereas vSAG1 expression results in only partial deletion. Flow cytometric analyses indicate that B10.BR-Mtv-6 mice delete V beta 3+ thymocytes at the immature CD4+8+ stage, whereas B10.BR-Mtv-1 mice delete only mature CD4+ or CD8+ cells. In addition, the two strains exhibit different time courses of thymic deletion: neonatal B10.BR-Mtv-6 mice eliminate V beta 3+ T cells by day 2, in contrast to B10.BR-Mtv-1 mice in which deletion does not occur until day 15. RNase protection assays demonstrate that B10.BR-Mtv-6 mice have significantly greater thymic vSAG6 mRNA expression levels than vSAG1 levels in B10.BR-Mtv-1 animals, correlating with a more complete deletion of reactive thymocytes at an earlier point in the maturational sequence.
A protective "concealed" antigen from Boophilus microplus. Purification, localization, and possible function.
Authors: Riding G A , Jarmey J , McKenna R V , Pearson R , Cobon G S , Willadsen P
Published: January 2023

A membrane protein that can be used successfully to vaccinate cattle against the tick Boophilus microplus has been purified and characterized. The mature protein, which is referred to as Bm91, has an apparent m.w. of 86,000, an isoelectric point of 4.8 to 5.2, and is glycosylated, with an affinity for lentil lectin. Bm91 is of relatively low abundance, with approximately 300 to 400 micrograms being recovered from 1 kg of semiengorged adult female ticks. The protein is located largely in the salivary gland and gut of these ticks. Partial amino acid sequence data for the protein show striking similarities to that of mammalian angiotensin-converting enzyme, suggesting that the Ag may have an enzymatic function. The protein seems not to be recognized by sera from cattle with extensive exposure to ticks under natural conditions. The immunity induced by vaccination, therefore, represents another example of vaccination against a hematophagous parasite with "concealed" Ags.
Regulation of T helper cell responses in experimental murine schistosomiasis by IL-10. Effect on expression of B7 and B7-2 costimulatory molecules by macrophages.
Authors: Flores Villanueva P O , Reiser H , Stadecker M J
Published: January 2023

Granulomatous inflammation in schistosomiasis is a manifestation of cell-mediated hypersensitivity to parasite egg Ags that is predictably reduced in size over the course of the disease. This down-regulation may reflect a state of anergy in the T cells mediating granuloma formation after interaction with accessory cells incapable of providing full stimulation. The present studies were conducted to investigate this mechanism at the molecular level. We found that granuloma macrophages (GM) strongly inhibit the ability of splenic APC to stimulate egg Ag-specific Th1 responses. This property was shown to be dependent on their secretion of IL-10. Moreover, activated GM in culture were found to express little or no costimulatory Ags B7 or B7-2. However, when their autocrine secretion of IL-10 was neutralized with specific mAb, GM displayed an up-regulation of costimulatory molecules as well as of MHC class II Ags. Most importantly, GM cultured in the presence of anti-IL-10 mAb, acquired the ability to stimulate egg Ag-specific T cells. By independently blocking each of the induced costimulatory Ags, it appeared that B7-2 molecules provided stronger costimulation than B7. In separate experiments, culture supernatants from GM exerted a powerful inhibition of costimulatory Ag expression on Con-A-stimulated peritoneal exudate cells in vivo, which could similarly be attributed to IL-10. Our results demonstrate that IL-10 can play a critical role in the generation of accessory cells that, by virtue of down-regulation of costimulatory molecules, may be capable of inducing anergy in T cells mediating the vigorous granulomatous response of acute stage schistosomiasis. Our studies lend support to the contention that a state of unresponsiveness in pathogenic T cells may precipitate the down-regulation of granuloma formation and provide a molecular basis for the underlying mechanisms.
Local production of IFN-gamma abrogates the intraocular immune privilege in transgenic mice and prevents the induction of ACAID.
Authors: Geiger K , Sarvetnick N
Published: January 2023

The eye represents an immunologically privileged site with specific properties mediated by immunosuppressive constituents of the intraocular fluids. This system, termed ACAID (anterior chamber-associated immune deviation), was originally attributed to the anterior chamber of the eye, and is characterized by impairment of the cellular immune response, including a lack of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in response to intraocularly presented Ag and decreased cytotoxicity of T cells. We created a transgenic mouse with ectopic expression of IFN-gamma in the photoreceptors of the retina to study the effects of this cytokine on the immunosuppressive properties of the eye with special regard to the posterior chamber. BALB/c-derived transgenic and nontransgenic mice were challenged intravitreally either with allogeneic splenocytes from C57Bl/6 mice or with BSA, in IFA, and tested for the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to BSA by intrapinnal injection of the same Ag in the ear 7 days later. Pathologic changes of the eyes were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry. We found that transgenic mice developed an increased amount of ocular inflammation in response to both Ags compared with the nontransgenic controls. Furthermore, transgenic mice showed a marked DTH reaction to BSA, whereas nontransgenic mice did not. Our results indicate that local IFN-gamma production disturbs the immunosuppressive properties of the eye and prevents the induction of ACAID in response to intraocularly presented Ag. The data confirm the extension of the intraocular immune privilege to the posterior chamber of the eye.
CTL access to tissue antigen is restricted in vivo.
Authors: Ando K , Guidotti L G , Cerny A , Ishikawa T , Chisari F V
Published: January 2023

MHC class I-restricted, hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg)-specific, CD8+ polyclonal CTL lines and clones cause a severe necroinflammatory liver disease when they are injected i.v. into transgenic mice that display widespread tissue expression of HBsAg. Surprisingly, the same CTLs fail to cause disease in any other HBsAg-positive tissue in these animals. However, the CTLs are highly cytopathic for HBsAg-positive renal tubules and choroid plexus epithelial cells when they are injected extravascularly, either beneath the kidney capsule or intracerebrally. Analysis of the microvascular anatomy of these tissues reveals that the hepatic sinusoid is characterized by a discontinuous endothelium and the absence of a basement membrane. In contrast, the vasculature of most other tissues displays a continuous endothelium and basement membrane; and the epithelial cells of many of these tissues are also surrounded by a separate basement membrane. These results suggest that viral, tumor, and normal self Ags expressed in the liver are readily accessible to class I-restricted T cells, whereas the vascular endothelium and/or the vascular and cellular basement membranes constitute an extremely effective barrier that precludes CTL access to tissue Ag at many other sites. Because class I-restricted Ag recognition occurs throughout the body in many natural diseases and disease models, the vascular barrier must be breached by other events before CTL access to endogenously synthesized epithelial Ag can occur.
T cell-dependent, B cell-activating properties of antibody-coated small latex beads. A new model for B cell activation.
Authors: Luxembourg A T , Cooper N R
Published: January 2023

We have developed a new model to study B cell activation induced by complex particulate Ag, immune complexes, and viruses. As the surrogate for such Ag, we have used 100-nm fluorescent latex beads bearing mAb to IgM and IgD. Anti-IgM- and anti-IgD-coated small latex beads bind readily to tonsil resting B cells and induce homotypic B cell aggregation. Aggregation induced by anti-IgM-coated beads but not by anti-IgD-coated beads was massively enhanced by IL-2 and IL-4. Anti-IgM- and anti-IgD-coated beads increased (4- to 12-fold) c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels in resting B cells in a dose-dependent manner; this increase was tyrosine kinase dependent. Anti-IgM- and anti-IgD-coated beads were mitogenic for resting B cells, but unlike other B cell activation models, mitogenesis was absolutely dependent on the presence of IL-2 or IL-4. Finally, anti-IgM-coated beads but not anti-IgD-coated beads were internalized as single beads into small, thin-walled endocytic vesicles; internalization was absolutely dependent on the presence of IL-4. Binding and internalization can be readily quantified because the beads are fluorescent. This model can also be used to study the functions of other cell surface molecules that modulate Ag-specific B cell immune responses. It will also be used for examining multiple aspects of T-B cell interactions during immune responses and Ag processing because of the dependence on T cell factors for B cell activation, coupled with the finding that the Ab-coated beads are internalized.
B cell antigen receptor cross-linking induces phosphorylation of the p21ras oncoprotein activators SHC and mSOS1 as well as assembly of complexes containing SHC, GRB-2, mSOS1, and a 145-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein.
Authors: Saxton T M , van Oostveen I , Bowtell D , Aebersold R , Gold M R
Published: January 2023

Ligation of the B cell AgR activates p21ras (Ras). We have investigated the effects of AgR ligation on three proteins that have been implicated as regulators of Ras: SHC, GRB-2, and mSOS1. We show that AgR cross-linking in B cells stimulated tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of SHC. This correlated with the formation of complexes containing SHC, GRB-2, mSOS1, and an unidentified 145-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. These complexes were present in the cytosol, as well as in the membrane fraction of the cells, where Ras is located. By using a GRB-2 fusion protein to probe blots, we showed that SHC was the major protein that GRB-2 bound to in anti-Ig-stimulated B cells. This argues that SHC couples GRB-2/mSOS1 to the 145-kDa protein and that SHC is likely to be essential for mSOS1 function in B cells. Finally, we found that AgR cross-linking stimulated phosphorylation of mSOS1 and that this could be blocked by an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Thus, signaling by the B cell AgR stimulates phosphorylation of SHC and mSOS1 and induces the formation of membrane-associated complexes containing SHC, GRB-2, mSOS1, and a 145-kDa protein. These events may be important for activation of Ras by the AgR.
V beta repertoire of murine hepatic T cells. Implication for selection of double negative alpha beta + T cells.
Authors: Seki S , Kono D H , Balderas R S , Theofilopoulos A N
Published: January 2023

To further define the origin, selection, and diversity of hepatic T cells, we have determined V beta gene expression profiles in double negative (DN, CD4-8-) and single positive (SP, CD4+8- or CD8+4-) alpha beta + liver T cells of DBA/2 mice. These I-E+ mice express mouse mammary tumor (Mtv) provirus-encoded endogenous superantigens of the Mlsa,c type, and thus display deletions/depletions of several V beta-bearing SP cells. Total liver alpha beta + T cells of these mice exhibited an overall V beta expression profile similar to splenic T cells, with the notable exception of high V beta 7 and V beta 8.1 expression. As previously reported, DN alpha beta + T cells were enriched highly in the liver. This subset exhibited a V beta expression profile similar to thymic DN alpha beta + cells with deletions/depletions in several V beta s, but high V beta 7 expression in both populations. Surprisingly, hepatic CD4+ cells also displayed high V beta 7 expression compared with splenic T cells, suggesting that hepatic DN alpha beta + and CD4+ T cells are selected via a common pathway. The V beta 7-expressing DN alpha beta + and CD4+ liver T cell populations were polyclonal, as evidenced by cloning and sequencing. High V beta 7 expression in these cells was undiminished with age. On the basis of V beta repertoire and surface phenotype, DN alpha beta + and/or certain CD4+ T cells seem to constitute a distinct population primarily found in the liver, thymus, and bone marrow. These cells may originate from SP T cells that have down-regulated their accessory molecules under certain activation conditions and, because of the accompanying expression of particular adhesion molecules, they accumulate in tissues such as the liver and thymus.
Inhibition of IFN-gamma activity in supernatants from stimulated human intestinal mononuclear cells prevents up-regulation of the polymeric Ig receptor in an intestinal epithelial cell line.
Authors: Youngman K R , Fiocchi C , Kaetzel C S
Published: January 2023

The polymeric IgR (pIgR) mediates transcytosis of polymeric IgA across mucosal epithelia. Expression of this receptor in HT-29.74 human colon carcinoma cells is up-regulated by the recombinant cytokines IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-4. Here, we demonstrate that activation of freshly isolated human intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) induces production of natural cytokines, and these act synergistically as potent stimulators of pIgR expression in HT-29.74 cells. LPMC from normal colonic mucosa were stimulated with PMA and calcium ionophore A-23187. The resulting supernatants consistently induced dose-dependent increases in pIgR expression by HT-29.74 cells, up to 65-fold. Analysis of four separate LPMC supernatants revealed mean concentrations of 8260 pg/ml for IFN-gamma, 420 pg/ml for TNF-alpha, and 15 pg/ml for IL-4. Ab-mediated neutralization of these cytokines suggested that the central regulator of pIgR expression in these supernatants was IFN-gamma. IL-4 neutralization had no effect on induction and TNF-alpha neutralization slightly reduced induction. In contrast, IFN-gamma neutralization abolished up to 93% of pIgR induction and had essentially the same effect as simultaneous neutralization of all three cytokines. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that natural cytokines, predominantly IFN-gamma, produced by stimulated human intestinal lymphocytes and macrophages have the capacity to up-regulate dramatically pIgR expression in an intestinal epithelial cell line, strongly suggesting that their action in vivo leads to enhancement of local defense functions mediated by IgA.
Epitope and functional specificity of peripheral tolerance induction in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in adult Lewis rats.
Authors: Malotky M K , Pope L , Miller S D
Published: January 2023

Intravenous treatment of Lewis rats with neuroantigen-coupled splenocytes 7 days before the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with guinea pig myelin basic protein (GP-MBP) resulted in a significant reduction of both the incidence and severity of clinical disease. To test the epitope and functional specificities of the unresponsiveness, splenocytes (SP) coupled with the major encephalitogenic MBP determinant, GP-68-86, were compared with those coupled with intact GP-MBP for the ability to down-regulate clinical disease and Ag-specific T cell responses (proliferation, cytokine production, and delayed-type hypersensitivity) in animals primed with either intact GP-MBP/CFA or GP-68-86/CFA. GP-MBP-SP and GP-68-86-SP were equally efficient at significantly inhibiting clinical disease in animals primed with GP-68-86/CFA. In contrast, tolerization with intact GP-MBP-SP was significantly more efficient than that with GP-68-86-SP at reducing disease incidence and severity in GP-MBP/CFA-primed animals, which indicates a role for secondary (cryptic) encephalitogenic epitopes in GP-MBP-induced disease. By testing a panel of GP-68-86 peptides that contained conservative amino acid substitutions at either position 75 (A75) or 80 (P80) or at both, residues that previously had been shown to be TCR contact residues, for their ability to inhibit experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induction, were assessed for the fine specificity of tolerance induction. None of the substituted peptides were capable of affecting the course of paralytic disease that had been induced by sensitization with the native GP-68-86 epitope, but all significantly reduced a milder form of the disease that had been produced by priming with the (A75,P80) 68-86 substituted peptide. With regard to the functional specificity of tolerance induction, lymph node T cells derived from either GP-MBP-SP- or GP-68-86-SP-treated animals exhibited a marked reduction in both proliferation and production of Th1-derived cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma, and lymphotoxin/TNF-alpha) in response to either GP-MBP or GP-68-86 in culture. In contrast, no consistent significant differences in delayed-type hypersensitivity responses were observed in any of the experimental groups relative to controls. Histologic examination of central nervous system tissues from the tolerant and control groups revealed significantly reduced, but still demonstrable, levels of perivascular infiltration even in asymptomatic animals.
Inhibition of activation-induced programmed cell death and restoration of defective immune responses of HIV+ donors by cysteine protease inhibitors.
Authors: Sarin A , Clerici M , Blatt S P , Hendrix C W , Shearer G M , Henkart P A
Published: January 2023

In vitro activation of PBLs from HIV+ individuals resulted in programmed cell death (PCD) within 2 days in 58 of 95 HIV+ blood donors, in contrast to only two of 30 control HIV- donors. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from HIV+ donors died under these conditions, and these cells showed apoptotic nuclear morphology and DNA fragmentation. To test the hypothesis that this cell death shares a common biochemical pathway with that induced by TCR cross-linking in normal dividing T cells, inhibitors of the calcium-activated cysteine protease calpain were tested for their ability to block the activation-induced PCD of HIV+ donors. The E-64 (epoxysuccinyl) class of cysteine protease inhibitors gave 40% to 60% inhibition of HIV+ PCD responses, while the aldehyde inhibitors, leupeptin and calpain inhibitor II, gave 60% to 67% inhibition. The involvement of this calpain-dependent death pathway in HIV-induced functional T helper cell deficiency was tested by examining the effect of calpain inhibitors on the defective Ag- and mitogen-dependent proliferative responses of HIV+ donors. Twenty to fifty percent of such defective responses were significantly restored toward normal levels by calpain inhibitors, whereas control responses by normal donors were largely unaffected. These data suggest that a calpain-dependent PCD pathway contributes to HIV-associated immunodeficiency and suggest the use of calpain inhibitors as a possible route to therapy of HIV infection.
Expansion of selected V delta 1+ gamma delta T cells in systemic sclerosis patients.
Authors: Yurovsky V V , Sutton P A , Schulze D H , Wigley F M , Wise R A , Howard R F , White B
Published: January 2023

We have previously shown an increased percentage of gamma delta T cells expressing the TCR V delta 1 gene segment in the peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSC). To estimate clonality of these V delta 1+ T cells, the diversity of V delta 1 junctional regions (V-D-J) was examined using a reverse transcriptase-PCR to amplify TCR delta-chain transcripts isolated from PBMC, lung, esophagus, stomach, or skin of patients and controls. Limited diversity of V delta 1-J delta junctional regions in SSC patients was demonstrated by comparing the size distribution of PCR-amplified junctional region cDNA from patients with that of controls. Sequence analyses confirmed that V delta 1-J delta junctional regions from the blood of SSc patients had less diversity than those from controls, in that a significantly higher proportion of sequences were repeated in patients (54.4 vs 19.4% in controls). Evidence for selection of the V delta 1+ T cells in the tissues of SSC patients came from the findings that the same V delta 1-J delta junctional sequences persisted in an individual patient over time and that identical junctional sequences were isolated from multiple sites. Analysis of deduced amino acid sequences revealed two clusters of similarities among the junctional regions from patients. These data suggest that expansion of V delta 1+ gamma delta T cells may be Ag driven in SSC patients.
The in vivo and in vitro effects of antibodies against rabbit beta 2-integrins.
Authors: Rutter J , James T J , Howat D , Shock A , Andrew D , De Baetselier P , Blackford J , Wilkinson J M , Higgs G , Hughes B
Published: January 2023

Beta 2-integrins play a crucial role in the development of an inflammatory response. In ours study, Abs have been used to investigate the role of individual members of this family of adhesion molecules in both in vivo and in vitro assays. An Ab against rabbit LFA-1 effectively inhibited the adhesion of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes to rabbit endothelial cells in culture and was also effective in blocking cell recruitment to the peritoneum and vascular leakage at dermal sites of inflammation. An Ab that inhibited rabbit complement receptor type 3 function in vitro failed to inhibit cell recruitment to the peritoneum or vascular leakage in response to intradermal FMLP. Histologic studies suggested that the anti-complement receptor type 3 Ab may have modified the cell migration process.
The native structure of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a dimer. Correlation with binding to LFA-1.
Authors: Reilly P L , Woska J R , Jeanfavre D D , McNally E , Rothlein R , Bormann B J
Published: January 2023

In solution, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) exhibits extremely low affinity for its receptor, LFA-1, as direct binding to LFA-1 has not been reported. Furthermore, there are conflicting reports on the ability of ICAM-1 in solution to inhibit cell adhesion events. These differences could be due to the valency or an oligomeric native biochemical form of membrane-bound and soluble ICAM-1, which may correlate with its ability to bind to integrins. To test this, stimulated adenocarcinoma (A549) cells or HUVEC were labeled with 35S-methionine/cysteine and treated with a chemical cross-linker. A high m.w. form (200 kDa) of ICAM-1 but not ICAM-2 was specifically immunoprecipitated from cross-linked cell lysates and supernatants. Affinity purification of crosslinked supernatants revealed that the majority of ICAM-1 was dimeric as opposed to recombinant soluble ICAM-1, which contains a minor fraction of dimer. Gel filtration chromatography was used to isolate monomeric and dimer-rich fractions of recombinant soluble ICAM-1, and tested for direct binding to affinity-purified LFA-1. Dimer-rich fractions demonstrated an enhanced ability and estimated affinity, compared with monomeric protein, to bind to purified LFA-1. These data suggest that ICAM-1 exists in its native membrane-bound and shed form as a non-covalent dimer, and that dimerization directly correlates with enhanced binding to LFA-1.
Interference with thymocyte differentiation by an inhibitor of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase.
Authors: Benveniste P , Zhu W , Cohen A
Published: January 2023

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency causes severe combined immune-deficiency disease in humans. It is believed that the accumulation of the ADA substrate deoxyadenosine affects T cell development through interference with deoxynucleotide metabolism and/or S-adenosylmethionine-mediated methylation processes. In this study, we used a specific inhibitor of methylation, (Z)-5'-fluoro-4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxyadenosine (FddA), to study the effect of inhibition of methylation on intrathymic T cell development in a murine model for ADA deficiency. FddA causes inhibition of thymocyte differentiation specifically at the CD8low and CD4CD8 double-positive stages. This inhibition is not due to induction of apoptosis, rather it is a result of specific inhibition of regulation of the levels of the mRNAs coding for TCR and CD4 and CD8 co-receptor molecules that normally occurs at these stages of thymocyte differentiation. We hypothesize that the transcription of these T cell-specific molecules is regulated by a common developmental stimulus involving a S-adenosylmethionine-mediated methylation step. Identification of this step will help in understanding the role of methylation in intrathymic differentiation and will also provide a molecular explanation for the tissue and developmental stage specificity observed in severe combined-immune-deficient patients with ADA deficiency.
Activation of B lymphocyte maturation by a human follicular dendritic cell line, FDC-1.
Authors: Clark E A , Grabstein K H , Gown A M , Skelly M , Kaisho T , Hirano T , Shu G L
Published: January 2023

Previously, we described the characteristics of a cell line that is derived from a low density fraction of human tonsillar cells and, on the basis of a number of criteria, is related to follicular dendritic cells (FDC). This line, FDC-1, binds B lymphocytes and not T lymphocytes, and promotes anti-Ig- or anti-CD40-induced B cell proliferation. In this work, we show that culturing B cells with small numbers of FDC-1 cells leads to significant production of IL-6 and of both IgM and IgG. As few as 50 to 100 FDC-1 augmented B cell IgM production by 10- to 100-fold. Although fixed FDC-1 cells, unlike live FDC-1 cells, do not stimulate Ig production, cell contact is not required for all FDC-dependent Ig production. Supernatants from cultured FDC-1 cells can also stimulate B cells to produce IgM, suggesting that FDC produce a soluble B cell stimulating factor(s). Augmentation of FDC-dependent IgM production by either IL-6 or IL-7 and augmentation of FDC-dependent IgG production by IL-4 does require FDC-1 cells to be in contact with B cells. When the effects of FDC-1 cells were compared with those of epithelial cell lines and human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF), both FDC-1 cells and HFF induced B cells to produce IgM. FDC-1, unlike HFF, were positive for CD40, CD54, CD73, CD74, and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), and unlike HFF, but like certain stromal cells, FDC-1 cells also expressed smooth muscle actin, and a novel marker for stromal cells, BST-1. The possible relationship of FDC-1 cells and FDC in general to a fibroblast/stromal cell lineage is discussed.
Efficient internalization of MHC class II-invariant chain complexes is not sufficient for invariant chain proteolysis and class II antigen presentation.
Authors: Swier K , Miller J
Published: January 2023

In Ag-presenting cells, MHC class II molecules bind antigenic peptides in endocytic compartments and transport them to the cell surface for presentation to CD4+ T cells. Newly synthesized class II alpha beta heterodimers associate with a third polypeptide, invariant chain (Ii), in the endoplasmic reticulum. This association may prevent class II molecules from binding peptides until they are transported to endocytic compartments where Ii is proteolyzed. Signals in the Ii cytosolic tail are believed to be responsible for the targeting of class II-Ii complexes to endocytic compartments, but it is unclear whether this targeting event occurs at the trans face of the Golgi or at the plasma membrane. In this report, we address whether the endosomal localization signal in the Ii cytosolic tail can be functionally substituted with a tyrosine-based signal for rapid internalization from the cell surface. A chimeric protein was generated in which the Ii cytosolic tail was replaced in its entirety with the cytosolic tail from transferrin receptor. In cells expressing this chimeric form of Ii, newly synthesized class II-Ii complexes travel rapidly to the cell surface and are internalized efficiently, but Ii proteolysis is delayed and class II Ag presentation is inhibited. These results suggest that targeting class II-Ii complexes to early/recycling endosomes from the cell surface does not in itself lead to Ii proteolysis; subsequent delivery to later endosomes may be required. The data suggest that signals for this targeting event may lie in residues 18 to 29 of the Ii cytosolic tail.
Lack of strict correlation of functional sensitization with the apparent affinity of MHC/peptide complexes for the TCR.
Authors: al-Ramadi B K , Jelonek M T , Boyd L F , Margulies D H , Bothwell A L
Published: January 2023

We describe a comprehensive analysis of the effect of avidity of TCR-MHC/peptide interaction on activation of the (p2Ca). In study, monosubstituted variants of p2Ca were used and assessed for binding to purified H-2Ld, binding of H-2Ld/peptide complexes to sTCR, and ability to activate 2C cells to two independent effector functions. Among the > 20 variants analyzed, functional activity of most peptides that bound the MHC well correlated with the strength of interaction of MHC/peptide complexes with sTCR. However, with some variants, a clear discordance between the apparent TCR-MHC/peptide affinity and biologic function was observed, demonstrating that the former cannot always be gauged by the latter. In the case of L4 peptide (phenylalanine at position 4 substituted with leucine), peptide/MHC complexes showed no detectable binding to sTCR, indicating a 10-fold or greater decrease in affinity. Nevertheless, this peptide sensitized target cells for lysis at a level equivalent to the parental peptide. A clearer understanding was revealed by studying the extent to which activation by variant peptides was dependent on CD8. Our data indicate that resistance to anti-CD8 mAb blocking correlates with strong binding affinity between sTCR and MHC/peptide complexes. These data suggest that, for the activation of CTL function, the absolute level of intrinsic affinity of TCR for MHC/peptide ligand is not a single critical determinant, but rather, that activation is governed by the compound influence of several factors, which ensures a minimum threshold of intracellular triggering is reached to elicit the response.
Structure and diversity of the T cell antigen receptor beta-chain in a teleost fish.
Authors: Partula S , de Guerra A , Fellah J S , Charlemagne J
Published: January 2023

Cell-mediated immunity (e.g., allograft rejection) is found in all vertebrates, and these reactions are known to depend on thymus-derived cells in amphibian, avian, and mammalian species. The participation of peripheral T cell-like lymphocytes subpopulations to fish immunity is now well documented, but the developmental origin, migration, and peripheral tissue distribution of these cells remain practically unknown. This is mainly due to the difficulty of efficiently thymectomizing fish at an early stage of development and to the lack of Ab strictly specific for thymocytes and T cell surface Ag. One strategy for analyzing T cell biology in fish would be to characterize the genes encoding polypeptides homologous to the TCR molecules. This report describes cDNA clones from the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that have sequences very similar to amphibian, avian, and mammalian TCR beta-chains. Three complete trout V beta segments belonging to different families were analyzed; one of them had limited amino acid sequence similarity to the human V beta 20 family. The 10 trout beta-chain-joining segments all retain the invariant mammalian J beta residues, and comparison of 66 V beta-J beta junctions led to the identification of a D beta-like sequence (GGACAGGG) that is shorter than but very similar to the chicken D beta and mammalian D beta 1 sequences. There is considerable diversity at the V beta-D beta and D beta-J beta junctions, suggesting the presence of N-nucleotides. The trout C beta extracellular domain is shorter than mammalian C beta, and the hinge region has no cysteine residue. The transmembrane C beta domain contains a lysine residue that in mammals is thought to be involved in charged interactions with members of the CD3 complex.
Dimeric and tetrameric IgA are transcytosed equally by the polymeric Ig receptor.
Authors: Song W , Vaerman J P , Mostov K E
Published: January 2023

Polymeric IgA (pIgA) is transcytosed across epithelial cells and into external secretions by the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR). Binding of dimeric IgA (dIgA) to the pIgR stimulates transcytosis of the pIgR. The pIgA in secretions is found as dimers (dIgA) and higher polymers, such as tetramers (tIgA), but little is known of the functional significance of the different sizes. Here we compared the ability of dIgA and tIgA to perform three functions that are essential to their transport into mucosal secretions. 1) Equilibrium binding studies showed that there were twice as many binding sites for tIgA as dIgA at the basolateral cell surface, but that the affinity of these sites for tIgA was one-half of that for dIgA. 2) Both dIgA and tIgA were rapidly transcytosed by the pIgR, although transcytosis of tIgA was slower. 3) Both dIgA and tIgA could stimulate transcytosis of the pIgR, although tIgA was less effective. The possible implications of these findings for the relative biologic roles of dIgA and tIgA are discussed.
Co-segregation of tumor immunogenicity with expression of inducible but not constitutive hsp70 in rat colon carcinomas.
Authors: Ménoret A , Patry Y , Burg C , Le Pendu J
Published: January 2023

Recent results have shown the importance of heat-shock proteins (hsp) in immune reactions. In addition, immunization against hsp purified from some immunogenic tumors specifically protects animals from a challenge with the tumor from which the hsp were purified. The protection is dependent on the association between hsp and immunogenic peptides. Using a model of rat colon carcinoma, we studied the importance of hsp70 expression in determining the tumorigenicity of cancer cells in immunocompetent syngeneic animals. Various clones with distinct tumorigenic potentials have been derived from the same parental tumor. Some clones are tumorigenic and others are rejected through an immune-based mechanism. It was observed that among all parameters tested, immunogenicity of tumors co-segregated with expression of inducible hsp70 but not with constitutive hsc70. Variants were obtained from a highly tumorigenic clone (PROb) and from a regressive clone (REGb). The PROb variant (Ph8), selected by repeated sublethal heat shocks, showed an increased capacity for hsp70 synthesis concomitant with a decreased tumorigenicity. Inversely, the REGb variant (REGR73), selected after in vivo growth in partially immunosuppressed rats, acquired tumorigenicity and lost the ability to synthesize hsp70. Expression of other immunologic mediators such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, MHC I, and MHC II did not co-segregate with tumor immunogenicity. Depletion experiments showed that the immunity elicited by these tumors involves TCR-alpha beta-bearing T cells. Such observations imply that, in this experimental model, inducible but not constitutive hsp70 is involved in immunogenicity of tumors.
IL-12 prevents mortality in mice infected with Histoplasma capsulatum through induction of IFN-gamma.
Authors: Zhou P , Sieve M C , Bennett J , Kwon-Chung K J , Tewari R P , Gazzinelli R T , Sher A , Seder R A
Published: January 2023

Histoplasma capsulatum is a pathogenic fungus found in discrete geographic locations throughout the world. The fungus invades the reticuloendothelial organs such as the spleen and liver of immunocompetent hosts where it is usually controlled. However, in individuals with immune deficiency, histoplasmosis is a severe and potentially fatal disease. Resistance to this infection is due primarily to a cellular immune response mediated by T cells and macrophages. Moreover, IFN-gamma is critical in activating macrophages to kill the organism. Herein we study the regulation of cytokine induction in mice infected with H. capsulatum and the effects of IL-12 in the course of infection. Mice infected with H. capsulatum and treated with neutralizing Abs to IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, or IL-12 experienced accelerated mortality, indicating that endogenous production of these cytokines plays an important role in response to infection. In contrast, mice treated with IL-12 or a neutralizing Ab to IL-4 at the initiation of infection had substantially diminished mortality. Moreover, mice infected and treated with IL-12 show a two- to threefold increase in the amount of IFN-gamma following in vitro stimulation with specific H. capsulatum Ag compared with the control infected mice. The protective effect of IL-12 could be abrogated if a neutralizing Ab to IFN-gamma was given at the same time, demonstrating that the role of IL-12 in protection was mediated by IFN-gamma. Additionally, infected mice treated with IL-12 had a severalfold decrease in the colony counts of H. capsulatum in spleen cells after 5 days of infection as compared with control animals. Lastly, spleen cells from infected animals treated with IL-12 showed a striking decrease in their proliferative response to mitogen or H. capsulatum Ag. Responses could be restored by adding inhibitors of IFN-gamma or of nitric oxide to the in vitro cultures. The above observations suggest that IL-12 may be useful in immunologic intervention against this opportunistic pathogen.