bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of loss and change of specificity resulting from random mutagenesis of an antibody VH region.
Authors: Casson L P , Manser T
Published: December 2022

Most data available from in vivo sources regarding the impact of somatic hypermutation on Ab V region structure and function are heavily biased due to the influence of clonal selection. In an effort to address this issue directly, we "randomly" introduced point mutations throughout the length of the VH region of an anti-p-azophenylarsonate (Ars) Ab expressed as an Fab in the phage display format. This was accomplished by means of an error-prone PCR with two protocols, which resulted in two mutant libraries. The nature of the nucleotide substitutions obtained from each protocol differed from each other and resulted in different frequencies of phage clones that did not appear to contain Fab on their surfaces. However, the majority of mutants in both libraries lacked detectable Fab expression. Screening of the library containing the most expressed Fabs for those that had gained affinity for structurally related haptens yielded two independent mutants that lacked detectable affinity for Ars and had high affinity for p-azophenylsulfonate. These mutants both contained amino acid substitutions from Asn to Ser or Thr at VH CDR1 position 35, a putative Ars contact residue. In this paper, we discuss the significance of these data with regard to the frequencies of V region loss of function, gain of increased affinity, and gain of altered specificity that result from somatic hypermutation in vivo.
CD8 T cell clones inhibit antitumor T cell function by secreting IL-10.
Authors: Rohrer J W , Coggin J H
Published: December 2022

We have reported that in irradiated, long-term surviving RFM strain of mice there is enhanced kinetics of tumor development upon challenge with RFM lymphoma cells. We reported that we cloned splenic oncofetal (OFA)-specific, noncytotoxic CD8+ T cells from such mice. These noncytotoxic CD8+ T cell clones secrete a factor upon Ag stimulation that inhibits the ability of OFA-specific RFM cytotoxic T (TC) cell clones from killing 5T RFM lymphoma cells in vitro. These supernatants do not inhibit the tumor cell-induced proliferation of the TC cell clones however. We report here that OFA-stimulated, RFM-noncytotoxic CD8 T cell clone culture supernatants also inhibit IFN-gamma-secretion by stimulated CD4 and CD8 RFM anti-OFA effector T cell clones in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitor in those culture supernatants acts in neither an Ag-specific nor MHC-restricted manner. We find that the culture supernatants of OFA-stimulated, noncytotoxic CD8 T cell clones contain IL-10, while those from OFA-stimulated, RFM OFA-specific TC cell clones do not. We show that monoclonal anti-IL-10 Ab specifically blocks the inhibition of cytotoxic activity and IFN-gamma secretion by OFA-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T cell clones in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Incorporation of anti-IL-10 Ab into the cytotoxicity assays of the OFA-specific, noncytotoxic CD8+ T cell clones against 5T tumor cells restores their cytotoxic activity. This may suggest that one way of inducing anergic T cells is by induction of IL-10 secretion.
Modulation of rat B cell differentiation in vivo by the administration of an anti-mu monoclonal antibody.
Authors: Soares M , Havaux X , Nisol F , Bazin H , Latinne D
Published: December 2022

We have previously described that the administration of an anti-mu mAb to adult rats results in the total depletion of circulating IgM. In the present study we analyzed the cellular mechanisms involved in the depletion of circulating IgM by the administration of an anti-mu mAb to adult rats. Administration of an anti-mu mAb to adult rats led to the cross-linking and internalization of membrane IgM (mIgM) but not mIgD on the surface of B cells. This correlated with the depletion in spleen and bone marrow of immature and short-lived Thy-1+ CD45RB+ B cells and with the specific depletion of the number of IgM but not IgA-, IgG1-, IgG2a-, and IgG2b-secreting cells in the spleen, which paralleled the depletion of circulating IgM but not IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b. In contrast to the other IgG subclasses, IgG2c-secreting cells as well as circulating IgG2c were increased by 10-fold in anti-mu-treated rats as compared with controls. Finally, anti-mu-treated rats showed an inhibition in the generation of primary thymus-dependent as well as thymus-independent Ab responses as compared with controls. In conclusion, the data presented suggests that anti-mu administration in adult rats results in the early arrest of B cell differentiation in the bone marrow, which causes the down-regulation of IgM production. Furthermore, anti-mu mAb administration directly or indirectly activates a particular subset of mature B cells, which differentiates into IgG2c-secreting cells.
Inhibitory effects of sulfasalazine and its metabolites on histamine release and TNF-alpha production by mast cells.
Authors: Bissonnette E Y , Enciso J A , Befus A D
Published: December 2022

Sulfasalazine is an effective treatment in some inflammatory diseases that exhibit mast cell (MC) hyperplasia. However, its effect on MC has been incompletely studied. We have established that sulfasalazine inhibits the release of histamine and TNF-alpha from MC. Sulfasalazine and its metabolites, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and to a lesser extent sulfapyridine, inhibited Ag-stimulated histamine release from rat peritoneal MC in a concentration-dependent manner with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 6 x 10(6)M, 8 x 10(-6)M, and 3 x 10(-4)M, respectively. Similar results were observed with sulfapyridine and 5-ASA on Ag-stimulated histamine release of another population of MC, namely rat intestinal mucosal MC, but sulfasalazine was markedly less potent than its metabolites. Interestingly, sulfasalazine and sulfapyridine, but not 5-ASA, inhibited Ag-stimulated TNF-alpha released by MC. Similar results were observed with MC-mediated cytotoxic activity in which sulfasalazine and sulfapyridine, but nor 5-ASA, inhibited MC TNF-alpha-dependent cytotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of sulfasalazine to MC, up to 12 h after the cytotoxic assay (16 h) had started, significantly inhibited cytotoxic activity, suggesting that sulfasalazine inhibited the cytotoxic mediator, TNF-alpha. Indeed, affinity studies demonstrated that sulfasalazine binds TNF-alpha. Furthermore, the inhibition of MC cytotoxicity by sulfasalazine appeared to require new protein synthesis. Pretreatment of MC with sulfasalazine also inhibited the release of TNF-alpha and reduced the levels of TNF-alpha mRNA. Thus, sulfasalazine inhibits MC-mediated, TNF-alpha-dependent cytotoxicity by multiple mechanisms: competitive inhibition of soluble TNF-alpha, reduction of levels of TNF-alpha mRNA, and inhibition of TNF-alpha release.
In vivo cytokine production in murine listeriosis. Evidence for immunoregulation by gamma delta+ T cells.
Authors: Hsieh B , Schrenzel M D , Mulvania T , Lepper H D , DiMolfetto-Landon L , Ferrick D A
Published: December 2022

Differential cytokine production by gamma delta+ T cells influences Th1 and Th2 responses. Here, we describe the in vivo kinetics of peritoneal and splenic gamma delta+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell cytokine responses during primary and secondary Listeria infections. The data show differences in the kinetics of IFN-gamma-producing alpha beta+ splenocytes consistent with immunologic memory. Most noteworthy, however, was the elevated production of IL-10 by splenic gamma delta+ T cells in the red pulp and marginal zones that coincided with maximal IFN-gamma production and with a decrease in inflammation and tissue damage. This result implies a role for gamma delta+ T cells in the control of Th1 responses.
A common epitope on platelet integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (glycoprotein IIbIIIa; CD41b/CD61) and alpha M beta 2 (Mac-1; CDIIb/CD18) detected by a monoclonal antibody.
Authors: De Nichilo M O , Shafren D R , Carter W M , Berndt M C , Burns G F , Boyd A W
Published: December 2022

Evidence is presented that the mAb 25E11, directed against the platelet integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (glycoprotein IIbIIIa;CD41b/CD61) also binds the distinct myeloid cell integrin alpha M beta 2 (Mac-1;CDIIb/CD18). The Ab is shown to identify only the alpha IIb beta 3 integrin complex and not the individual subunits in crossed Ab immunoelectrophoresis of platelet lysate. From cultured human macrophages, sequential immunoprecipitation of labeled glycoproteins indicated that 25E11 also bound the Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) complex. This was confirmed using COS-7 and WOP cells doubly transfected with alpha M (CD11b) and beta 2 (CD18) or with alpha L (CD11a) and beta 2 when it was found that the Ab bound only the alpha M beta 2 transfectants. Studies with these cells and the RC2A myeloid cell line stimulated with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate or FMLP indicated that the 25E11 epitope on Mac-1 did not depend on cell activation for its expression. The rationale for this cross-reactivity is not known, but since the 25E11 Ab inhibits the function of both platelets and myeloid cells, it is likely that this shared epitope is important to integrin function. Given the expression of this epitope on IIbIIIa and Mac-1, the dominant integrins of platelets and granulocyte/macrophage cells, but not on other integrins, a role of this epitope in the early events of inflammation is suggested.
Oncostatin M inhibits IL-1-induced expression of IL-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by synovial and lung fibroblasts.
Authors: Richards C D , Langdon C , Botelho F , Brown T J , Agro A
Published: December 2022

The role of oncostatin M (OM) in modulating production of cytokines by connective tissue cells is largely unexplored. We have examined the effects of stimulating fibroblast cultures derived from human synovium and from normal lung with OM alone or in combination with IL-1, IL-1 alpha (or IL-1 beta) at 1 or 5 ng/ml, stimulated production of high levels of granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), IL-8, and IL-6 protein. At various concentrations (0.1-50 ng/ml), OM alone failed to significantly enhance protein or mRNA levels of GM-CSF, IL-8, IL-6, or G-CSF after 18 h of stimulation. When combined with IL-1 alpha or -beta, OM caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the IL-1-induced level of IL-8 and GM-CSF protein and mRNA expression, whereas IL-6 production was simultaneously enhanced. In contrast, when IL-6 or leukemia inhibitory factor (two other cytokines that share gp130 receptor components with OM) were used in a similar fashion in combination with IL-1 alpha, neither cytokine consistently altered the IL-1-induced levels of IL-8, GM-CSF, or IL-6. In addition, only OM and not IL-6 or leukemia inhibitory factor was able to induce STAT-1 nuclear factor binding to DNA in stimulated fibroblast extracts as measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. These results suggest that OM can significantly alter cytokine profiles of stimulated fibroblasts and may play a unique role in modulating cytokine production by these cells at sites of inflammation.
Peroxynitrite-mediated DNA strand breakage activates poly-adenosine diphosphate ribosyl synthetase and causes cellular energy depletion in macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide.
Authors: Zingarelli B , O'Connor M , Wong H , Salzman A L , Szabó C
Published: December 2022

The inducible isoform of nitric oxide (NO) synthase produces large quantities of NO, a cytotoxic free radical. Recent studies show that treatment with exogenous NO produces DNA strand breaks, activating the nuclear repair enzyme poly(ADP)ribosyltransferase (PARS), which results in ADP ribosylation, NAD+ consumption, and exhaustion of intracellular energy stores. Here we have characterized the cytotoxic effect of endogenous NO and peroxynitrite, a reactive oxidant formed from NO and superoxide. Immunostimulation of J774.2 macrophages with endotoxin resulted in the generation of superoxide (within 1 h) and NO (after 8 h). NO production paralleled an increase in peroxynitrite formation and DNA strand breakage, and a decrease in intracellular NAD+ content and mitochondrial respiration. Inhibition of NO synthase by NG-methyl-L-arginine or S-methyl-isothiourea or inhibition of PARS activity by 3-aminobenzamide or nicotinamide prevented the decrease in mitochondrial respiration and the depletion of NAD+. A similar pattern of free radical formation and cytotoxicity was observed in peritoneal macrophages from endotoxemic rats (formation of NO, superoxide, peroxynitrite, and DNA strand breaks). In vivo treatment with 3-aminobenzamide preserved mitochondrial respiration, NAD+, and ATP. Our data suggest that inflammatory cell injury involved DNA strand breakage and PARS, triggering an energy-consuming, futile repair cycle leading to cellular energy depletion. The active species responsible for the development of DNA strand breaks is peroxynitrite, rather than NO, since exogenous peroxynitrite, but not NO, induces DNA strand breaks. Inhibition of PARS may improve cellular energy homeostasis in patho-physiologic conditions associated with peroxynitrite generation.
Analysis of initial attachment of B cells to endothelial cells under flow conditions.
Authors: Yago T , Tsukuda M , Tajima H , Nishi T , Kurata-Miura K , Ohkubo J , Minami M
Published: December 2022

This study examined the adhesive interactions of peripheral blood B cells with TNF-alpha-activated endothelial monolayers, and analyzed the roles of E-selectin, P-selectin, or VCAM-1 molecules expressed on activated HUVEC. B cell interaction occurred on activated HUVEC, but not on resting HUVEC under flow conditions. The majority of peripheral blood B cells expressed P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 and alpha4 integrin. However, the expression of cutaneous lymphocyte Ag on B cells was low. Under flow conditions, B cells could bind to P-selectin-coated tubes and VCAM-1-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. In contrast, B cells could not bind to E-selectin-coated tubes. Adhesion activity of B cells to P-selectin-coated tubes was weaker than that of T cells. Furthermore, adhesion activity of B cells to VCAM-1-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells was similar to that of T cells. Treatment of activated HUVEC with anti-VCAM-1 mAb reduced interaction of B cells under flow conditions. However, the treatment of activated HUVEC with anti-P-selectin mAb did not reduce interaction. These data indicated that the interaction of VCAM-1 with alpha4 integrin plays a major role in an initial attachment of B cells to endothelial monolayers under flow conditions.
The hinge as a spacer contributes to covalent assembly and is required for function of IgG.
Authors: Coloma M J , Trinh K R , Wims L A , Morrison S L
Published: December 2022

Chimeric IgG3 lacking a genetic hinge but with Cys residues in CH2 between position 231 and 232 (IgG3 deltaH+Cys) and position 279 (IgG3 deltaH+2Cys) produced by site-directed mutagenesis have been found to be deficient in their intermolecular assembly. Although some H2L2 molecules are formed, significant quantities of assembly intermediates, in particular HL, are found in the secretions. Both IgG3 deltaH+Cys and IgG3 deltaH+2Cys were greatly reduced in their ability to bind Fc gammaRI. They also failed to bind C1q and activate the complement cascade. Addition of the tailpiece from IgM (microtp) to IgG3 deltaH+Cys (yielding IgG3 deltaH+Cys microtp) failed to lead to efficient oligomerization. IgG3 deltaH+Cys microtp failed to bind Fc gammaRII. However, at high concentrations it was able to bind C1q and effect complement-dependent cytolysis. It consumed complement in the absence of added Ag, indicating that removing the flexible hinge was not sufficient to yield polymeric IgG that resembled IgM in its dependence on added Ag for complement activation.
The IL-13 receptor structure differs on various cell types and may share more than one component with IL-4 receptor.
Authors: Obiri N I , Leland P , Murata T , Debinski W , Puri R K
Published: December 2022

We have reported on the expression and characteristics of IL-13R and have demonstrated that IL-13 competes for IL-4 binding while IL-4 did not compete for the IL-13 binding on some cell types. Based on these observations, and the size of IL-13 and IL-4 cross-linked proteins, we concluded that the receptor for IL-13 is complex and shares a subunit with the receptor for IL-4. To explore the complexity of the IL-13R, a wide variety of cell types was examined for IL-13 and IL-4 binding. We report in this work that IL-4 does not always bind well to cells that bind IL-13, but the reverse is also true. We also found that IL-4 can compete more effectively for IL-13 binding than IL-13 itself. Cross-linking studies support these observations and demonstrate that 125I-labeled IL-13 bound exclusively to a single 65- to 70-kDa protein in MA-RCC and U251 cells, while in TF-1 cells it cross-linked to two membrane proteins of 65 to 70 kDa and 140 kDa. Furthermore, by using a chimeric protein composed of IL-13 and Pseudomonas exotoxin A, we observed that IL-4 neutralized the cytotoxicity of the IL-13 toxin on COS-7 cells by blocking a common form of the two cytokine receptors. We propose that the 65- to 70-kDa form of the IL-13R is the predominant common component shared between IL-13 and IL-4R. However, the primary IL-4 binding (p140) protein also participates in the formation of the IL-13R complex in some cell types. In addition, the gamma(c) or another interactive subunit may influence IL-13 binding to its receptor complex. Thus, we propose that there are at least four forms of IL-13R.
In vivo engineering of a cellular immune response by coadministration of IL-12 expression vector with a DNA immunogen.
Authors: Kim J J , Ayyavoo V , Bagarazzi M L , Chattergoon M A , Dang K , Wang B , Boyer J D , Weiner D B
Published: December 2022

Recent studies support the importance of investigating a DNA vaccination approach for the immunologic control of HIV-1. In this regard, it may be important to specifically engineer immune responses in order to improve on first generation vaccine attempts. Especially for HIV, induction of cell-mediated immunity may be an important feature for any candidate vaccine. In an attempt to engineer in vivo the enhancement of cellular immune response and to direct Ag-dependent immune response from Th2 to Th1 type, we investigated the role of codelivery of genes for IL-12 and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF along with DNA vaccine formulations for HIV-1 Ag. We found that codelivery of IL-12 expression cassettes with DNA vaccines for HIV-1 in mice resulted in splenomegaly as well as a shift in the specific immune responses induced. The codelivery of IL-12 genes resulted in the reduction of specific Ab response, while the coinjection of granulocyte-macrophage-CSF genes resulted in the enhancement of specific Ab response. In addition, we observed a significant Ag-specific stimulation of T cells with codelivery of both cytokines. Most importantly, we observed a dramatic increase in specific CTL response from the group coimmunized with the HIV-1 DNA vaccine and IL-12 genes. This work demonstrates the power of DNA delivery in vivo for both the production of a new generation of more effective and targeted vaccines or immunotherapies as well as an analytic tool for the molecular dissection of the mechanisms of immune function.
Intranasal immunization with CTL epitope peptides from HIV-1 or ovalbumin and the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin induces peptide-specific CTLs and protection against tumor development in vivo.
Authors: Porgador A , Staats H F , Faiola B , Gilboa E , Palker T J
Published: December 2022

To evaluate the ability of mucosal immunization protocols using peptide immunogens to induce CTL responses, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were immunized intranasally (i.n.) with peptides corresponding to a known CTL epitope in HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 or OVA, respectively, and the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin (CT). Intranasal immunization of BALB/c mice with a 10- or 15-amino acid peptide corresponding to a CTL determinant in HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 and CT induced peptide-specific CTLs in spleen cells that persisted through 35 days after the last immunization. Intranasal immunization of C57BL/6 mice with the octameric OVA peptide and CT produced similar results with detectable peptide-specific CTL in both the cervical lymph node and spleen. To test whether CTL induced by i.n. immunization with OVA peptide and CT were functional in vivo, groups of C57BL/6 mice were injected with E.G7-OVA tumor cells that express the OVA protein and monitored for tumor growth. Animals immunized i.n. with OVA and CT were protected against tumor development as efficiently as animals immunized by the potent CTL induction protocol of i.v. injection with OVA-pulsed dendritic cells. Intranasal immunization with peptides corresponding to known CTL epitopes and CT provides a noninvasive route of immunization for the induction of CTL responses in vivo.
The human complement C1 complex has a picomolar dissociation constant at room temperature.
Authors: Tseng Y , Zavodszky P , Schumaker V N
Published: December 2022

Periodic sampling of serum or reconstituted C1 initially diluted 1/2000 and 1/4000 (that is, to 0.1 and 0.05 nM) into a recombinant C1s-containing solution showed a gradual decline of hemolytic activity until equilibrium was approached, consistent with a simple dissociation, reassociation equilibrium, presumably C1 <--> C1q + C1r2C1s2. The presence of excess (5 nM) recombinant C1s minimized further dissociation of the C1r2C1s2, allowing the first step to be studied independently of the dissociation of C1r2C1s2 <--> C1r2 + 2 C1s. Reassociation experiments were also performed, starting with the dissociated C1 diluted to the same concentrations and following the regain of hemolytic activity to approximately the same values, showing that the same equilibrium had been achieved from both directions. Analysis of the kinetic data yielded forward and reverse rate constants and the equilibrium constant, for which values of approximately 72 and 3 pM were estimated at 0 and 23 degrees C, respectively. The effects of temperature, ionic strength, Ca2+ ion concentration, and activation of the zymogen on the equilibrium constants were explored; extreme sensitivity to temperature, ionic strength, and activation were found. At 23 and 30 degrees C, slow activation of C1 was also evident. Highly purified, reconstituted C1 yielded approximately the same values for the kinetic and equilibrium parameters as serum C1, suggesting that the structure of the reconstituted complex was similar to or identical with that of the serum C1 complex.
TNF-alpha-mediated lung cytokine networking and eosinophil recruitment in pulmonary fibrosis.
Authors: Zhang K , Gharaee-Kermani M , McGarry B , Remick D , Phan S H
Published: December 2022

Despite abundant evidence documenting the importance of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, its actual role has not been fully elucidated. Recent observations also indicate that eosinophils found in fibrotic lung express elevated levels of cytokines known to be important in lung fibrosis. These findings suggest a possible role for TNF-alpha in eosinophil recruitment and cytokine expression in this disease. To examine this hypothesis, pulmonary fibrosis was induced in mice by endotracheal bleomycin treatment, and separate groups of animals were also treated with either anti-TNF-alpha Ab or control serum. On days 7 and 14 post-bleomycin treatment, lungs were harvested and analyzed for fibrosis, cytokine expression, and eosinophil influx. Anti-TNF-alpha caused a significant reduction in lung fibrosis, as indicated by a reduction in hydroxyproline content, which was accompanied by suppression of lung TGF-beta1, IL-5, and JE mRNA expression. Examination of tissue sections revealed a significant reduction in lung eosinophils and overall cellularity by anti-TNF-alpha treatment without a significant effect on the number of lung macrophages. The number of IL-5-expressing cells was also significantly reduced by anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Since IL-5 is important in eosinophil differentiation, activation, and recruitment, these findings suggest a novel mechanism by which TNF-alpha could mediate pulmonary fibrosis via induction of IL-5-mediated eosinophil recruitment and fibrogenic cytokine production. Since these eosinophil-derived cytokines include JE/monocyte chemotactic factor-1 and TGF-beta1, this cytokine networking orchestrated by TNF-alpha could, in turn, amplify the inflammatory response and drive the progression to fibrosis and end-stage lung disease.
Identification of a novel, spliced variant of CREB that is preferentially expressed in the thymus.
Authors: Yang L , Lanier E R , Kraig E
Published: December 2022

A conserved decamer sequence, AGTGA(T/C)(G/A)TCA, related to the cAMP response element (CRE), is found in the promoter regions of most TCR V beta gene segments. It has been shown to be a critical element for T cell-specific transcriptional regulation of the TCR genes. However, none of the decamer or CRE-binding proteins identified thus far is restricted in its expression to cells of the T cell lineage. Therefore, to find T cell-restricted decamer-binding proteins, we screened thymus cDNA expression libraries using the decamer probe. One of the thymus cDNAs identified, clone pmLY2, a novel spliced variant of CREB, was shown to be preferentially expressed in thymus. Therefore, clone pmLY2 is the first T cell-enriched decamer-binding sequence identified. We hypothesize that this CREB variant may play a role in the developmental regulation of TCR and of other T cell specific genes.
Thymic cortical epithelium is sufficient for the development of mature T cells in relB-deficient mice.
Authors: DeKoning J , DiMolfetto L , Reilly C , Wei Q , Havran W L , Lo D
Published: December 2022

Thymic development of T lymphocytes progresses as a consequence of both TCR-mediated and non-TCR-mediated interactions between thymocytes and stromal cells. As relB-deficient mice appear to lack thymic medullary epithelium and mature dendritic cells, we studied the effect of this "cortex-only" thymus on T cell development. Two major consequences were observed. First, in both relB mutant and TCR transgenic/relB mutant mice, positive selection of both TCR alpha beta and delta gamma T cells appeared to proceed normally, with export of fully functional T cells to the periphery, suggesting that the thymic medullary stromal cells are not required for full maturation of T cells nor is an organized medullary compartment required for accumulation of mature single positive CD4 and CD8 T cells. Second, thymic negative selection was impaired, as evidenced by significant autoreactive proliferative responses to normal spleen stimulators. Peripheral T cells in relB mutant mice showed an unusually high proportion of CD69+ and CD44high cells. While some of these cells may be autoreactive T cells, most of the cells appeared to be activated by cytokines produced by relB mutant nonlymphoid cells, as the effect is minimized in relB mutant bone marrow chimeras. In sum, while the TCR-mediated steps in T cell maturation require both thymic cortex and medulla (epithelium and dendritic cells) for normal positive and negative selection of the repertoire, non-TCR-mediated interactions in the thymic cortex alone are sufficient to generate mature functional T cells.
Abnormal CD40-mediated activation pathway in B lymphocytes from patients with hyper-IgM syndrome and normal CD40 ligand expression.
Authors: Durandy A , Hivroz C , Mazerolles F , Schiff C , Bernard F , Jouanguy E , Revy P , DiSanto J P , Gauchat J F , Bonnefoy J Y , Casanova J L , Fischer A
Published: December 2022

The CD40-mediated activation pathway of B cells from 10 patients with hyper-IgM syndrome and normal expression of CD40 ligand was studied. In all 10 cases, B cells were found to be defective for IgG, IgA, and IgE production after stimulation by anti-CD40 mAbs and cytokines. In the patients tested, neither B cell proliferation (n = 6) nor CD23 molecule expression (n = 5) were observed in cultures stimulated with anti-CD40 mAb. These results point to an intrinsic B cell deficiency and a defect in the CD40-triggered B cell activation pathway; this conclusion was supported by a lack of detectable germinal centers in the spleen of two patients. CD40-triggered activation events, i.e., phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase activation and induction of transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1, were next analyzed in B cell lines derived from five patients. Three distinct patterns were observed: an absence of detectable abnormalities (n = 1), defective PI3 kinase activation with normal induction of NF-kappaB and AP-1 (n = 3), and defects in both PI3 kinase activation and induction of NF-kappaB and AP-1 (n = 1). In three B cell lines, each exhibiting one of the CD40-mediated activation patterns, sequences of CD40 and CD40 binding protein coding regions were normal. The coding region of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), which is known to interact with CD40 for NF-kappaB induction, was also found to be normal in B cell lines deficient in NF-kappaB induction. Altogether, these results suggest that CD40 ligand-positive hyper-IgM syndrome could be genetically heterogeneous, although phenotypic variability is not excluded, and that an early defect in the CD40-triggered activation cascade can account for defective Ig class switching in some patients with CD40 ligand-positive hyper-IgM syndrome.
Antigenic phenotype and gene expression pattern of lymphohemopoietic progenitors during early mouse ontogeny.
Authors: Marcos M A , Morales-Alcelay S , Godin I E , Dieterlen-Lievre F , Copin S G , Gaspar M L
Published: December 2022

Hemopoiesis, initiated in the early embryo yolk sac (YS) (7.5-8 days postcoitum (pc) in mouse), takes place thereafter in sites successively seeded by extrinsic hemopoietic stem cells (HSC). Since the existence of intraembryonic HSC has been proven experimentally in some vertebrates, it is also likely that not all HSC originate in the YS in mammals, as previously thought. Candidate intraembryonic sites that may be active in producing HSC before liver colonization are the para-aortic splanchnopleura (P-Sp) and the aorta-gonads-mesonephros region (AGM). Here we explore these sites directly for the presence of cells with hemopoietic-specific surface molecules and gene activities. The Ags c-kit, AA4.1, Mac-1, and Sca-1 begin to be expressed on some P-Sp and AGM cells, making it possible to distinguish subpopulations that evolve according to reproducible developmental patterns. On the basis of RAG-1 gene transcription, the first lymphoid precursors in the mouse embryo appear to be present 9.5 to 10 days pc in P-Sp/AGM and YS. Starting B-cell lymphopoiesis (9-12 days pc) is characterized by nonexpression of the surrogate light chain lambda 5-encoding gene and biased usage of IgH DJ4 rearrangements. In the 12.5- to 13.5-day-pc fetal liver (FL), a switch occurs, characterized by the random use of all IgH DJ and the detection of lambda 5 gene transcripts.
Human T helper cell differentiation is regulated by the combined action of cytokines and accessory cell-dependent costimulatory signals.
Authors: Palmer E M , van Seventer G A
Published: December 2022

We have developed an in vitro differentiation model for human Th cells to study the role of cytokines and accessory cell-dependent costimulatory signals in this process. Peripheral blood-derived CD4+ "naive" (CD45RA+ RO-) T cells were stimulated in weekly intervals with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb, accessory cells, and exogenous cytokines, and were analyzed for cytokine secretion pattern. With the B cell line JY (B7-1+ B7-2+), as source of accessory cells, we could generate distinct Th subsets. Coculture with the combination of recombinant human (rh) IL-1beta and rhIL-6 gave rise to Th0-like cells, which secreted low levels of IFN-gamma and IL-5. The addition of rhIL-12 led to the generation of Th1-like cells, which secreted high levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and upon multiple stimulations, significant levels of IL-10. The presence of rhIL-4 induced Th2-like cells that secreted high levels of IL-5 and IL-13, but undetectable levels of IL-4. Only after stimulation with phorbol ester and calcium ionophore could these Th2-like cells be induced to secrete significant levels of IL-4, indicating distinct stimulatory requirements for the induction of IL-5 and IL-13 compared with IL-4. The B7-1-negative monocytic cell line U937 could only provide accessory cell-dependent costimulatory signals for the generation of Th1-like cells, while B7-1-transfected U937 cells acquired the capacity to provide costimulation for the generation of Th2-like cells. These results indicate a differential dependence on CD28-mediated costimulation for the generation of human Th1-like and Th2-like cells.
TGF-beta differentially modulates epidermal growth factor-mediated increases in leukemia-inhibitory factor, IL-6, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta in human thymic epithelial cells.
Authors: Schluns K S , Cook J E , Le P T
Published: December 2022

The regulation of cytokine production by thymic epithelial cells (TEC) in the thymus is under coordinated and temporal control and is important for the development of T cells. Human TEC express TGF-beta R and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, and produce TGF-beta 3 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, EGF has been shown to increase IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 mRNA and protein levels in human TEC. Since EGF has been shown to modulate TGF-beta effector functions, we determined whether TGF-beta can modulate EGF-mediated increases in cytokine gene expression in human TEC. We established that a single TEC expresses both EGF receptor and TGF-beta R. TGF-beta plus EGF synergistically increased leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF), additively increased IL-6, but had little effect on IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA levels. In contrast, TGF-beta alone increased LIF and IL-6, had little effect on IL-1 alpha, and slightly decreased IL-1 beta mRNA levels. The increases in LIF and IL-6 mRNA levels by TGF-beta plus EGF correlate with the increases in LIF and IL-6 concentrations in TEC culture supernatants as detected by ELISA. We also determined the mechanism responsible for the increases in cytokine mRNA levels. TGF-beta plus EGF did not affect transcription of LIF and IL-6 genes; this suggests that the increases in the steady state levels of cytokine mRNA were mediated post-transcriptionally, most likely at the level of mRNA stability. Our data demonstrate that TGF-beta modulates TEC cytokine production. We speculate that TGF-beta produced in situ plays a role in thymocyte development by directly affecting thymocyte differentiation and by indirectly modulating TEC cytokine production.
Role of costimulators in T cell differentiation: studies using antigen-presenting cells lacking expression of CD80 or CD86.
Authors: Schweitzer A N , Borriello F , Wong R C , Abbas A K , Sharpe A H
Published: December 2022

For T cells to be optimally activated, recognition of Ag/MHC complexes by the TCR must be accompanied by a second, costimulatory signal that can be provided efficiently by the related costimulatory molecules CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2). Recently, CD80 and CD86 have been implicated as differential determinants of Th1- vs Th2-type cytokine profiles. However, this remains a controversial issue since conflicting results have been obtained in different experimental models both in vivo and in vitro. To investigate the role of CD80 and CD86 in Th subset differentiation, we have examined the cytokine profiles induced in TCR transgenic T cells stimulated by peptide in association with splenic APCs obtained from knockout mice that selectively lack expression of either the CD80 or the CD86 molecule. Our data suggest that CD86, and to a lesser extent CD80, can make significant contributions to the production of both IL-4 and IFN-gamma. However, neither molecule plays an obligatory role in priming for the production of either effector cytokine. Furthermore, CD80 and CD86 contribute to the magnitude of T cell activation, but do not appear to selectively regulate Th1 vs Th2 differentiation.
Restoration of T cell-independent type 2 induction of Ig secretion by neonatal B cells in vitro.
Authors: Snapper C M , Rosas F R , Moorman M A , Mond J J
Published: December 2022

The humoral immune response of neonates to T cell-independent type 2 (TI-2) Ags is markedly defective. We previously demonstrated that multivalent membrane Ig cross-linking, using dextran-conjugated anti-Ig Abs (anti-Ig-dextran), is an in vitro model for membrane Ig-dependent TI-2 induction of Ig secretion. In this work, we demonstrate that highly purified neonatal B cells are intrinsically defective in IgM secretion in response to anti-Ig-dextran and cytokines in vitro, as well as other modes of B cell activation, relative to adult B cells. However, costimulation of anti-Ig-dextran-activated neonatal B cells with either CD40-ligand, a recombinant bacterial lipoprotein, or LPS restores the IgM secretory response of neonatal B cells to adult levels. Analysis of Ig isotype secretion indicates that neonatal B cells have an enhanced capacity to secrete IgE and IgA relative to other Ig isotypes. These data suggest that neonatal B cells are competent to secrete Ig in response to TI-2 Ags if adequate costimuli are provided, and thus may have particular relevance for the design of vaccine strategies in the immunodeficient host. The data also suggest that neonatal B cells are programmed to secrete relatively enhanced amounts of IgE and IgA, which may be relevant for antimicrobial resistance at mucosal surfaces.
Analysis of the frequency and pattern of somatic mutations within nonproductively rearranged human variable heavy chain genes.
Authors: Dörner T , Brezinschek H P , Brezinschek R I , Foster S J , Domiati-Saad R , Lipsky P E
Published: December 2022

Somatic hypermutation plays an essential role in avidity maturation of Ab. To characterize the effects of hypermutation without the imposed bias of Ag-mediated selection, the mutational pattern of 37 nonproductively rearranged VH genes amplified from individual human B cells was analyzed. A high frequency of mutations as well as frequent replacement mutations were observed in the complementarity-determining regions (CDR) and in the framework regions of nonproductive VHDJH rearrangements. Comparison with 57 productive VH rearrangements indicated that replacement mutations, especially those occurring in the framework regions, were less frequent in productively rearranged VH genes, suggesting that they were deleted from the expressed repertoire. A number of factors contributed to the nonrandom localization of mutations, including: the targeting of specific motifs, such as AGY, GCY, GTA, TAY, and RGYW; an increased frequency of some commonly mutated motifs in the CDRs; and an apparent increased likelihood of mutations of CDR nucleotides. Each of these appeared to bias the mutational machinery, resulting in an increased frequency of replacement mutations in the CDRs of nonproductive VH rearrangements.
Requirement of glycosylation of the human thyrotropin receptor ectodomain for its reactivity with autoantibodies in patients' sera.
Authors: Seetharamaiah G S , Dallas J S , Patibandla S A , Thotakura N R , Prabhakar B S
Published: December 2022

To understand the role of glycosylation on autoantibody reactivity, we expressed cDNA encoding amino acid residues 22 to 416 of the human thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), along with the baculovirus-encoded glycoprotein 67 signal sequence (ETSHR-gp) in insect cells. N-terminal sequence analysis revealed that the signal peptide was cleaved and confirmed the identity of ETSHR-gp protein. The molecular mass of the ETSHR-gp protein was 63 kDa and was higher than the expected molecular mass of 45 kDa, suggesting that the protein was glycosylated. Carbohydrate analysis showed that the protein was glycosylated and that mannose was the major oligosaccharide. A nonglycosylated recombinant ETSHR protein expressed earlier in our laboratory neutralized TSH-binding-inhibitory Ig (TBII) activity in the sera of rabbits immunized with the protein but did not neutralize TBII activity in the sera of patients. In contrast, the glycosylated ETSHR-gp protein neutralized TBII activity in the sera of both experimental animals and patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders. Furthermore, only the ETSHR-gp protein completely neutralized the activities of stimulatory and blocking Abs in the sera of patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, respectively. These data clearly show that glycosylated ETSHR-gp, but not the nonglycosylated ETSHR protein, can react with autoantibodies in patients' sera and that it has the epitopes required for the binding of TBII, thyroid stimulatory Abs, and thyroid stimulatory blocking Abs. Moreover, these data suggest that glycosylation might be an important determinant of autoantigenicity of human TSHR.
Precursor frequency analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to pre-erythrocytic antigens of Plasmodium falciparum in West Africa.
Authors: Plebanski M , Aidoo M , Whittle H C , Hill A V
Published: December 2022

Some individuals living in malaria-endemic areas have CTL to Plasmodium falciparum liver stage Ags. We have quantified these CTL responses using limiting dilution analysis studies on the peripheral blood cells of naturally exposed Gambian donors. CTL precursor frequencies were determined to a wide range of epitopes derived from different liver stage Ags (liver stage protein 1, circumsporozoite protein, thrombospondin-related anonymous protein, and sporozoite threonine/asparagine-rich protein) restricted through common HLA alleles present in this population (HLA-A2.1, -A2.2, -B7, -B8, -B35, and B53). Precursor frequencies were between 17 and 98/million PBMC and correlated with the levels of specific lysis in parallel bulk cultures. The quantitative nature of limiting dilution assay analysis revealed varying degrees of immunodominance in the CTL responses to different epitopes within single proteins (thrombospondin related anonymous protein: tr42, tr43, tr26, tr29, and tr39; circumsporozoite protein: cp6, cp26, and cp29) and within individual donors. The temporal stability of some of these CTL responses was determined over a 4-yr period. This is the first quantitative study of CTL specific for any plasmodial species or nonviral pathogen in humans and provides a basis for a multiepitope approach to malaria vaccination.
In vitro prevention and reversal of lipopolysaccharide desensitization by IFN-gamma, IL-12, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
Authors: Randow F , Döcke W D , Bundschuh D S , Hartung T , Wendel A , Volk H D
Published: December 2022

LPS tolerance is characterized by a diminished monocytic synthesis of TNF-alpha and, interestingly, IL-10 after LPS restimulation. We wondered whether granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-12, and IFN-gamma can prevent or reverse this down-regulation of TNF-alpha and IL-10 production. The LPS-induced TNF-alpha amounts in desensitized PBMC treated with GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, or IL-12 and in naive, non-cytokine-primed cultures were similar, while much more TNF-alpha was induced in cytokine-primed naive cells. The effect of IL-12 was dependent on the presence of nonmonocytic cells and could be completely blocked with an IFN-gamma antiserum. Treatment of LPS-desensitized pure monocytes with IFN-gamma or GM-CSF resulted in a very high TNF-alpha expression and no difference to cytokine-primed naive monocytes was evident any longer. While IFN-gamma and IL-12 decreased IL-10 expression in naive PBMC, it was increased by both and by GM-CSF in LPS-tolerant cultures. Again, only IL-12 was dependent on the presence of nonmonocytic cells. For prevention of LPS tolerance, similar results were obtained. Recently, we have shown that IL-10 and TGF-beta mediate LPS desensitization in vitro and can be used to establish LPS hyporesponsiveness in the absence of LPS. IFN-gamma and GM-CSF prevented and reversed down-regulation of TNF-alpha and IL-10 synthesis also in the model of IL-10/TGF-beta1-induced LPS hyporesponsiveness, while IL-12 was ineffective because of its obvious inability to induce IFN-gamma. In summary, after LPS desensitization/hyporesponsiveness, IFN-gamma and GM-CSF tended to normalize pro- and anti-inflammatory monocytic behavior. Our results suggest that during LPS desensitization/hyporesponsiveness, monocytes acquire a hitherto unknown functional state with an altered reaction to biologic response modifiers.
Lack of chronic immune activation in HIV-infected chimpanzees correlates with the resistance of T cells to Fas/Apo-1 (CD95)-induced apoptosis and preservation of a T helper 1 phenotype.
Authors: Gougeon M L , Lecoeur H , Boudet F , Ledru E , Marzabal S , Boullier S , Roué R , Nagata S , Heeney J
Published: December 2022

Chimpanzees are one of the few species, along with humans, susceptible to persistent HIV-1 infection. However, HIV-infected chimpanzees do not exhibit the marked immune system alterations seen in humans and remain relatively resistant to AIDS. In humans, HIV infection leads to unresponsiveness of T cells in response to TCR stimulation, associated with increased T cell death by apoptosis. In an effort to understand some of the mechanisms used to limit lentivirus infection in African nonhuman primates, we compared apoptosis in infected humans vs chimpanzees in CD4 and CD8 T cells in relation with the expression of Bcl-2 and Fas molecules. The intensity of apoptosis in CD4 and CD8 T cells from infected chimpanzees was very low, was not inducible by several TCR-dependent activators, and was comparable to that detected in noninfected chimpanzees. Moreover, CD45RO+ and HLA-DR+ subsets, which were shown to exhibit ex vivo a high propensity to undergo apoptosis in infected humans, were not modified in infected chimpanzees. Interestingly, in contrast to the situation found in infected humans, Fas ligation by agonistic Abs or recombinant human Fas ligand on CD4 and CD8 T cells from infected chimpanzees did not induce apoptosis in these subsets even when Bcl-2 was down-regulated. Finally, this resistance to apoptosis was associated with the predominance of CD3 T cells with a Th1 phenotype. Together these observations argue for a strong relationship among the absence of chronic immune stimulation in HIV-1-infected chimpanzees, the normal control of lymphocyte survival, and the resistance to disease progression.
Fcε Receptor I-Associatedlyn-Dependent Phosphorylation of Fcγ Receptor IIB During Negative Regulation of Mast Cell Activation
Authors: Malbec Odile , Fong Dana C. , Turner Martin , Tybulewicz Victor L. J. , Cambier John C. , Fridman Wolf H. , Daëron Marc
Published: December 2022

FcγRIIB are low-affinity receptors for IgG whose intracytoplasmic domain contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM). FcγRIIB inhibit cell activation triggered by receptors that signal via immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs. This inhibition requires ITIM tyrosyl phosphorylation and is correlated with the binding of SH2 domain-containing phosphatases that may mediate the inhibitory signal. In the present work, we investigated the mechanism of FcγRIIB phosphorylation and its consequences in mast cells. We demonstrate that the phosphorylation of FcγRIIB requires coaggregation with FcεRI and that, once phosphorylated, FcγRIIB selectively recruit the inositol polyphosphate 5 phosphatase SHIP, in vivo. In vitro, however, the phosphorylated FcγRIIB ITIM binds not only SHIP, but also the two protein tyrosine phosphatases, SHP-1 and SHP-2. We show that the coaggregation of FcγRIIB with FcεRI does not prevent FcεRI-mediated activation of lyn and syk. Both kinases can phosphorylate FcγRIIB in vitro. However, when coaggregated with FcεRI, FcγRIIB was in vivo phosphorylated in syk-deficient mast cells, but not in lyn-deficient mast cells. When FcεRI are coaggregated with FcγRIIB by immune complexes, FcεRI-associated lyn may thus phosphorylate FcγRIIB. By this mechanism, FcεRI initiate ITIM-dependent inhibition of intracellular propagation of their own signals.