bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clustering of Th Cell Epitopes on Exposed Regions of HIV Envelope Despite Defects in Antibody Activity
Authors: Brown Scott A. , Stambas John , Zhan Xiaoyan , Slobod Karen S. , Coleclough Chris , Zirkel Amy , Surman Sherri , White Stephen W. , Doherty Peter C. , Hurwitz Julia L. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractA long-standing question in the field of immunology concerns the factors that contribute to Th cell epitope immunodominance. For a number of viral membrane proteins, Th cell epitopes are localized to exposed protein surfaces, often overlapping with Ab binding sites. It has therefore been proposed that Abs on B cell surfaces selectively bind and protect exposed protein fragments during Ag processing, and that this interaction helps to shape the Th cell repertoire. While attractive in concept, this hypothesis has not been thoroughly tested. To test this hypothesis, we have compared Th cell peptide immunodominance in normal C57BL/6 mice with that in C57BL/6μMT/μMT mice (lacking normal B cell activity). Animals were first vaccinated with DNA constructs expressing one of three different HIV envelope proteins, after which the CD4+ T cell response profiles were characterized toward overlapping peptides using an IFN-γ ELISPOT assay. We found a striking similarity between the peptide response profiles in the two mouse strains. Profiles also matched those of previous experiments in which different envelope vaccination regimens were used. Our results clearly demonstrate that normal Ab activity is not required for the establishment or maintenance of Th peptide immunodominance in the HIV envelope response. To explain the clustering of Th cell epitopes, we propose that localization of peptide on exposed envelope surfaces facilitates proteolytic activity and preferential peptide shuttling through the Ag processing pathway.
Evidence for Naturally Acquired T Cell-Mediated Mucosal Immunity to Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Davenport Victoria , Guthrie Terry , Findlow Jamie , Borrow Ray , Williams Neil A. , Heyderman Robert S. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Naturally acquired protective immunity against Neisseria meningitidis is thought to partially explain the disparity between the high levels of carriage in the human nasopharynx and the rare incidence of disease. To investigate this immunity to Neisseria meningitidis at the mucosal level, in vitro cellular responses to outer membrane vesicle preparations derived from this pathogen were examined using mononuclear cells from the palatine tonsils of adults and children. Characterization of these responses was achieved by depletion of CD45RA+, CD45RO+, and CD19+ populations and outer membrane vesicles derived from isogenic mutants expressing different serosubtypes of the major outer membrane protein, porin A (PorA), no PorA and membrane preparations from a mutant with no LPS (LpxA−). The magnitude of cellular proliferative responses against the outer membrane vesicles were strongly associated with age and were largely T cell mediated, involving both CD45RO+ and CD45RA+ T cell phenotypes. Responses were not dependent on LPS but consisted of both PorA cross-specific and non-PorA-dependent responses. Cellular immunity against Neisseria meningitidis was found to be frequently associated with systemic IgG Abs but was not associated with serum bactericidal Abs. For the first time our results demonstrate an age-associated acquisition of mucosal T effector/memory cell responses to Neisseria meningitidis. This mucosal cellular immunity can be present in the absence of serum bactericidal Abs, a classical marker of protective immunity.
Myosin Autoimmunity Is Not Essential for Cardiac Inflammation in Acute Chagas’ Disease
Authors: Leon Juan S. , Wang Kegiang , Engman David M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractInfection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi leads to acute myocarditis that is accompanied by autoimmunity to cardiac myosin in susceptible strains of mice. It has been difficult to determine the contribution of autoimmunity to tissue inflammation, because other inflammatory mechanisms, such as parasite-mediated myocytolysis and parasite-specific immunity, are coincident during active infection. To begin to investigate the contribution of myosin autoimmunity to myocarditis, we selectively inhibited myosin autoimmunity by restoring myosin tolerance via injection of myosin-coupled splenocytes. This tolerization regimen suppressed the strong myosin-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) that normally develops in infected mice, although it did not affect myosin-specific Ab production. Suppression of myosin autoimmunity had no effect on myocarditis or cardiac parasitosis. In contrast, myosin tolerization completely abrogated myocarditis in mice immunized with purified myosin, which normally causes severe autoimmune myocarditis. In this case, myosin-specific DTH and Ab production were significantly reduced. We also examined the contribution of T. cruzi-specific immunity to inflammation by injection of T. cruzi-coupled splenocytes before infection. This treatment reduced T. cruzi DTH, although there was no effect on parasite-specific Ab production. Interestingly, cardiac inflammation was decreased, cardiac parasitosis was significantly increased, and mortality occurred earlier in the parasite-tolerized animals. These results indicate that myosin-specific autoimmunity, while a potentially important inflammatory mechanism in acute and chronic T. cruzi infection, is not essential for inflammation in acute disease. They also confirm previous studies showing that parasite-specific cell-mediated immunity is important for myocarditis and survival of T. cruzi infection.
Mucosally Delivered E1-Deleted Adenoviral Vaccine Carriers Induce Transgene Product-Specific Antibody Responses in Neonatal Mice
Authors: Xiang Zhiquan , Li Yan , Gao Guangping , Wilson James M. , Ertl Hildegund C. J. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractE1-deleted adenoviral vectors of the human serotype 5 (AdHu5) and the chimpanzee serotype 68 (AdC68) expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein (rab.gp) were tested for induction of transgene product-specific Abs upon intranasal or oral immunization of newborn mice. Both vectors induced Abs to rabies virus that could be detected in serum and from mucosal secretions. Serum rabies virus neutralizing Ab titers sufficed to protect neonatally vaccinated mice against a subsequent challenge with rabies virus. The efficacy of the AdHu5rab.gp vector given orally to newborn mice born to AdHu5 virus-immune dams was not impaired by maternally transferred Abs to the vaccine carrier.
Toll/IL-1 Receptor Domain-Containing Adaptor Inducing IFN-β (TRIF) Associates with TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 and TANK-Binding Kinase 1, and Activates Two Distinct Transcription Factors, NF-κB and IFN-Regulatory Factor-3, in the Toll-Like Receptor Signaling
Authors: Sato Shintaro , Sugiyama Masanaka , Yamamoto Masahiro , Watanabe Yasuyuki , Kawai Taro , Takeda Kiyoshi , Akira Shizuo 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
We previously reported a new Toll/IL-1R (TIR)-containing molecule, named TIR domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β (TRIF). Although initial study indicated that TRIF possesses the ability to activate not only the NF-κB-dependent but also the IFN-β promoters, the molecular mechanisms of TRIF-induced signaling are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the signaling cascades through TRIF. TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF)6 interacted with TRIF through the TRAF domain of TRAF6 and TRAF6-binding motifs found in the N-terminal portion of TRIF. Disruption of TRAF6-binding motifs of TRIF disabled it from associating with TRAF6, and resulted in a reduction in the TRIF-induced activation of the NF-κB-dependent but not IFN-β promoter. TANK-binding kinase (TBK)-1, which was recently reported to be a kinase of IFN regulatory factor-3, which is an essential transcription factor for IFN-β expression, also associated with the N-terminal region of TRIF. Moreover, the association between TRIF and TBK1 appeared to require the kinase activity of TBK1, as well as phosphorylation of TRIF. Because TRAF6 and TBK1 bind close the region of TRIF, it seems that TRAF6 physically prevents the association between TRIF and TBK1. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TRIF associates with TRAF6 and TBK1 independently, and activates two distinct transcription factors, NF-κB and IFN regulatory factor-3, respectively.
Costimulatory Molecule Immune Enhancement in a Plasmid Vaccine Model Is Regulated in Part Through the Ig Constant-Like Domain of CD80/86
Authors: Agadjanyan Michael G. , Chattergoon Michael A. , Holterman Mark J. , Monzavi-Karbassi Behjatolah , Kim J. Joseph , Dentchev Tzvete , Wilson Darren , Ayyavoo Velpandi , Montaner Luis J. , Kieber-Emmons Thomas , Sekaly Rafick-P. , Weiner David B. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThere is great interest in understanding the role of costimulatory molecules in immune activation. In both the influenza and HIV DNA immunization models, several groups have reported that coimmunization of mice with plasmids encoding immunogen and CD86, but not CD80, effectively boosts Ag-specific T cell activation. This difference in immune priming provided an opportunity to examine the functional importance of different regions of the B.7 molecules in immune activation. To examine this issue, we developed a series of chimeric CD80 and CD86 constructs as well as deletion mutants, and examined their immune activating potential in the DNA vaccine model. We demonstrate that the lack of an Ig constant-like region in the CD80 molecule is critically important to the enhanced immune activation observed. CD80 C-domain deletion mutants induce a highly inflammatory Ag-specific cellular response when administered as part of a plasmid vaccine. The data suggest that the constant-like domains, likely through intermolecular interactions, are critically important for immune regulation during costimulation and that engineered CD80/86 molecules represent more potent costimulatory molecules and may improve vaccine adjuvant efficacy.
Selective Depletion of Nonspecific T Cells During the Early Stage of Immune Responses to Infection
Authors: Jiang Jiu , Lau Lisa L. , Shen Hao 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Transient T cell depletion occurs before the development of an effective immune response to infection. In this study we show that most T cells, regardless of specificity, are induced to express early activation markers soon after infection with Listeria monocytogenes or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Ag-specific T cells are further activated to display late activation markers and undergo extensive proliferation. As Ag-specific T cells begin to expand, nonspecific T cells are depleted en masse and exhibit no sign of further activation or proliferation before their depletion. This selective depletion of nonspecific T cells is due to in situ death via apoptosis, as visualized by confocal microscopy. Thus, early activation and subsequent depletion of nonspecific T cells are integral parts of the immune response to proinflammatory infections. These results have important implications for our understanding of early events in the development of a robust T cell response.
Regulation of Eotaxin Gene Expression by TNF-α and IL-4 Through mRNA Stabilization: Involvement of the RNA-Binding Protein HuR
Authors: Atasoy Ulus , Curry Stephanie L. , López de Silanes Isabel , Shyu Ann-Bin , Casolaro Vincenzo , Gorospe Myriam , Stellato Cristiana 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDuring inflammatory responses, a major posttranscriptional regulation of early response and inflammatory gene expression occurs through modulation of mRNA turnover. We report that two potent inducers of the CC chemokine eotaxin, TNF-α and IL-4, regulate its production in airway epithelial cells by increasing eotaxin mRNA stability. In experiments using the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D, eotaxin mRNA half-life was significantly prolonged by cell stimulation with TNF-α or IL-4, with the combination of the two cytokines being the most effective in extending the mRNA half-life. Involvement of the eotaxin 3′ untranslated region in the mRNA-stabilizing effect was tested by transient transfection of a construct expressing a chimeric transcript carrying a serum-inducible β-globin reporter linked to the eotaxin 3′ untranslated region. The half-life of the chimeric mRNA was markedly increased in cells stimulated with TNF-α and IL-4. Evidence that the mRNA-stabilizing protein HuR participated in the cytokine effect was obtained: first, HuR presence in the cytoplasm, believed to be required for HuR-mediated mRNA stabilization, increased in both transformed (BEAS-2B cell line) and primary bronchial epithelial cells following treatment with TNF-α and IL-4. Second, endogenous eotaxin mRNA was found to bind to HuR in vivo, as detected by immunoprecipitation of HuR-containing messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes followed by real-time RT-PCR analysis; such association increased after cell treatment with TNF-α and IL-4. Third, overexpression of HuR in BEAS-2B cells significantly increased the expression of eotaxin mRNA and protein. Our findings implicate mRNA stabilization in the cytokine-mediated increase in eotaxin expression and strongly suggest a role for HuR in this effect.
Mast Cells Exert Effects Outside the Central Nervous System to Influence Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis Disease Course
Authors: Tanzola Melinda B. , Robbie-Ryan Michaela , Gutekunst Claire Anne , Brown Melissa A. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Previous studies using mast cell-deficient mice (W/Wv) revealed that mast cells influence disease onset and severity of experimental allergic/autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the murine model for multiple sclerosis. The mast cell populations of these mice can be restored by transferring bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Studies using the W/Wv reconstitution model have lead to major advances in our understanding of mast cell roles in vivo. However, despite its common use, details regarding the sites and kinetics of mast cell repopulation have remained largely uncharacterized. In this study, we examined the kinetics and tissue distribution of green fluorescent protein+ BMMCs in reconstituted W/Wv mice to identify sites of mast cell influence in EAE. Reconstitution of naive animals with BMMCs does not restore mast cell populations to all organs, notably the brain, spinal cord, lymph nodes, and heart. Despite the absence of mast cells in the CNS, reconstituted mice exhibit an EAE disease course equivalent to that induced in wild-type mice. Mast cells are found adjacent to T cell-rich areas of the spleen and can migrate to the draining lymph node after disease induction. These data reveal that mast cells can act outside the CNS to influence EAE, perhaps by affecting the function of autoreactive lymphocytes.
TNF-α Induces Phosphorylation of p47phox in Human Neutrophils: Partial Phosphorylation of p47phox Is a Common Event of Priming of Human Neutrophils by TNF-α and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
Authors: Dewas Cédric , Dang Pham My-Chan , Gougerot-Pocidalo Marie-Anne , El-Benna Jamel 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Phosphorylation of p47phox is a key event in NADPH oxidase activation. We examined the ability of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα, IL-1, and G-CSF to induce this process compared with GM-CSF. Only TNF-α and GM-CSF induced a clear p47phox phosphorylation. This phosphorylation was time dependent and reached its maximum at 20 min. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping of p47phox phosphorylated in neutrophils primed with TNF-α revealed partial phosphorylation of p47phox on the same peptide as for GM-CSF. Neutrophil incubation with TNF-α and subsequent addition of the chemotactic peptide fMLP resulted in more intense phosphorylation of p47phox sites than with each reagent alone. A neutralizing Ab against the p55 TNF receptor, contrary to a neutralizing Ab against the p75 TNF receptor, inhibited TNF-α-induced p47phox phosphorylation. Neutrophil treatment with both TNF-α and GM-CSF resulted in more intense phosphorylation of the same p47phox peptide observed with each cytokine alone, suggesting that they engaged pathways converging on common serines. This additive effect was also obtained on the priming of NADPH oxidase activity. The use of protein kinase inhibitors pointed to the involvement of a protein tyrosine kinase, but not protein kinase C. These findings show that TNF-α, via its p55 receptor, induces a protein tyrosine kinase-dependent selective phosphorylation of p47phox on specific serines. The ability of TNF-α and GM-CSF, two different cytokines with two different receptors to induce this specific p47phox phosphorylation, suggests that this event could be a common element of the priming of neutrophils by TNF-α and GM-CSF.
Activation of Group IV Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 in Human Eosinophils by Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Through a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Independent Pathway
Authors: Myou Shigeharu , Leff Alan R. , Myo Saori , Boetticher Evan , Meliton Angelo Y. , Lambertino Anissa T. , Liu Jie , Xu Chang , Munoz Nilda M. , Zhu Xiangdong 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Activation of group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2 (gIV-PLA2) is the essential first step in the synthesis of inflammatory eicosanoids and in integrin-mediated adhesion of leukocytes. Prior investigations have demonstrated that phosphorylation of gIV-PLA2 results from activation of at least two isoforms of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). We investigated the potential role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) in the activation of gIV-PLA2 and the hydrolysis of membrane phosphatidylcholine in fMLP-stimulated human blood eosinophils. Transduction into eosinophils of Δp85, a dominant negative form of class IA PI3K adaptor subunit, fused to an HIV-TAT protein transduction domain (TAT-Δp85) concentration dependently inhibited fMLP-stimulated phosphorylation of protein kinase B, a downstream target of PI3K. FMLP caused increased arachidonic acid (AA) release and secretion of leukotriene C4 (LTC4). TAT-Δp85 and LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, blocked the phosphorylation of gIV-PLA2 at Ser505 caused by fMLP, thus inhibiting gIV-PLA2 hydrolysis and production of AA and LTC4 in eosinophils. FMLP also caused extracellular signal-related kinases 1 and 2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation in eosinophils; however, neither phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinases 1 and 2 nor p38 was inhibited by TAT-Δp85 or LY294002. Inhibition of 1) p70 S6 kinase by rapamycin, 2) protein kinase B by Akt inhibitor, or 3) protein kinase C by Ro-31-8220, the potential downstream targets of PI3K for activation of gIV-PLA2, had no effect on AA release or LTC4 secretion caused by fMLP. We find that PI3K is required for gIV-PLA2 activation and hydrolytic production of AA in activated eosinophils. Our data suggest that this essential PI3K independently activates gIV-PLA2 through a pathway that does not involve MAPK.
IL-7 Stimulates T Cell Renewal Without Increasing Viral Replication in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques
Authors: Nugeyre Marie-Thérèse , Monceaux Valérie , Beq Stéphanie , Cumont Marie-Christine , Fang Raphaël Ho Tsong , Chêne Laurent , Morre Michel , Barré-Sinoussi Françoise , Hurtrel Bruno , Israël Nicole 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe main failure of antiretroviral therapy is the lack of restoration of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells. IL-7, which has been shown to be a crucial cytokine for thymopoiesis, has been envisaged as an additive therapeutic strategy. However, in vitro studies suggest that IL-7 might sustain HIV replication in thymocytes and T lymphocytes. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the effect of IL-7 on both T cell renewal and viral load in SIVmac-infected young macaques in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. This evaluation was conducted during the asymptomatic phase in view of a potential treatment of HIV patients. We show that IL-7 induces both a central renewal and a peripheral expansion of T lymphocytes associated with cell activation. No alarming modulation of the other hemopoietic cells was observed. No increase in the viral load was shown in blood or lymph nodes. These data strengthen the rationale for the use of IL-7 as an efficient immunotherapy in AIDS.
Role of IL-12 Receptor β1 in Regulation of T Cell Response by APC in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Zhang Guang-Xian , Yu Shuo , Gran Bruno , Li Jifen , Siglienti Ines , Chen Xiaohan , Calida Divina , Ventura Elvira , Kamoun Malek , Rostami Abdolmohamad 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
IL-12 was thought to be involved in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a Th1 cell-mediated autoimmune disorder of the CNS. However, we have recently found that IL-12 responsiveness, via IL-12Rβ2, is not required in the induction of EAE. To determine the role of IL-12Rβ1, a key subunit for the responsiveness to both IL-12 and IL-23, in the development of autoimmune diseases, we studied EAE in mice deficient in this subunit of IL-12R. IL-12Rβ1−/− mice are completely resistant to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced EAE, with an autoantigen-specific Th2 response. To study the mechanism underlying this Th2 bias, we cocultured purified CD4+ T cells and APCs of MOG-immunized mice. We demonstrate that IL-12Rβ1−/− APCs drive CD4+ T cells of both wild-type and IL-12Rβ1−/− mice to an Ag-induced Th2 phenotype, whereas wild-type APCs drive these CD4+ T cells toward a Th1 type. IL-12Rβ1−/− CD4+ T cells, in turn, appear to exert an immunoregulatory effect on the capacity of wild-type APCs to produce IFN-γ and TNF-α. Furthermore, decreased levels of IL-12p40, p35, and IL-23p19 mRNA expression were found in IL-12Rβ1−/− APCs, indicating an autocrine pathway of IL-12/IL-23 via IL-12Rβ1. IL-18 production and IL-18Rα expression are also significantly decreased in IL-12Rβ1−/− mice immunized with MOG. We conclude that in the absence of IL-12Rβ1, APCs play a prominent regulatory role in the induction of autoantigen-specific Th2 cells.
Interplay between TCR Affinity and Necessity of Coreceptor Ligation: High-Affinity Peptide-MHC/TCR Interaction Overcomes Lack of CD8 Engagement
Authors: Kerry Samantha E. , Buslepp Jennifer , Cramer Lorraine A. , Maile Robert , Hensley Lucinda L. , Nielsen Alma I. , Kavathas Paula , Vilen Barbara J. , Collins Edward J. , Frelinger Jeffrey A. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
CD8 engagement is believed to be a critical event in the activation of naive T cells. In this communication, we address the effects of peptide-MHC (pMHC)/TCR affinity on the necessity of CD8 engagement in T cell activation of primary naive cells. Using two peptides with different measured avidities for the same pMHC-TCR complex, we compared biochemical affinity of pMHC/TCR and the cell surface binding avidity of pMHC/TCR with and without CD8 engagement. We compared early signaling events and later functional activity of naive T cells in the same manner. Although early signaling events are altered, we find that high-affinity pMHC/TCR interactions can overcome the need for CD8 engagement for proliferation and CTL function. An integrated signal over time allows T cell activation with a high-affinity ligand in the absence of CD8 engagement.