bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diversity of the Killer Cell Ig-Like Receptors of Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Hershberger Karen L. , Shyam Richa , Miura Ayako , Letvin Norman L. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBecause the killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs) have only been characterized in humans and chimpanzees, we do not have a full understanding of their evolutionary history. Therefore, cDNAs encoding the KIR molecules of five rhesus monkeys were characterized, and were found to differ from the KIR molecules identified in humans and chimpanzees. Whereas only one KIR2DL4 molecule is detected in humans and chimpanzees, two distinct KIR2DL4 homologues were identified in the monkeys. Although the two human KIR3DL molecules are limited in their polymorphism, the KIR3DL homologues in the monkeys were highly polymorphic. Up to five KIR3DL homologues were identified in each monkey that was studied, and eleven distinct KIR3DL molecules were detected in the five rhesus monkeys. Two novel families of KIR molecules were identified in the rhesus monkeys, KIR3DH and KIR1D. The KIR3DH molecules have three Ig domains, transmembrane domains homologous to KIR2DL4 molecules that contain an arginine, and short cytoplasmic domains. With these features, the KIR3DH molecules resemble the activating forms of the human KIR molecules. The KIR1D molecule encodes only one complete Ig domain before a frame-shift in the second Ig domain occurs, leading to early termination of the molecule. Multiple splice variants of KIR1D exist that encode at least one Ig domain, as well as transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The extensive diversity of the rhesus monkey KIR3DL homologues and the novel KIR3DH and KIR1D molecules suggests that the KIR family of molecules has evolved rapidly during the evolution of primates.
NF-κB p50-Dependent In Vivo Footprints at Ig Sγ3 DNA Are Correlated with μ→γ3 Switch Recombination
Authors: Wuerffel Robert A. , Ma Limei , Kenter Amy L. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractNF-κB has been demonstrated to play critical roles in multiple aspects of immune responses including Ig H chain isotype switching. To better define the specific roles the p50 subunit of NF-κB plays in μ→γ3 switch recombination (SR), we systematically evaluated p50-deficient B cells for activities that are strongly correlated with SR. B cell activation with LPS plus anti-IgD-dextran plus IL-5 plus IL-4 plus TGF-β produced normal levels of proliferation and γ3 germline transcripts in p50-deficient B cells, but μ→γ3 SR was impaired. In vitro binding studies previously showed that NF-κB p50 homodimer binds the switch nuclear B-site protein (SNIP) of the Sγ3 tandem repeat. Ligation-mediated PCR in vivo footprint analysis demonstrates that the region spanning the SNIP and switch nuclear A-site protein (SNAP) binding sites of the Sγ3 region are contacted by protein in normal resting splenic B cells. B cells that are homozygous for the targeted disruption of the gene encoding p50 (−/−) show strong aberrant footprints, whereas heterozygous cells (+/−) reveal a partial effect in Sγ3 DNA. These studies provide evidence of nucleoprotein interactions at switch DNA in vivo and suggest a direct interaction of p50 with Sγ3 DNA that is strongly correlated with SR competence.
Novel Androgen-Dependent Promoters Direct Expression of the C4b-Binding Protein α-Chain Gene in Epididymis
Authors: Nonaka Mayumi I. , Wang Guixian , Mori Takao , Okada Hidechika , Nonaka Masaru 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is a large plasma protein composed of seven α-chains and one β-chain and is involved in the fluid phase regulation of the classical pathway of the complement system. Complement inhibitory activity is located in the α-chain, and its mRNA has been detected only in liver to date. Here, we have isolated cDNA clones encoding the α-chain of guinea pig C4BP (C4BPα) and have demonstrated significant C4BPα mRNA expression in epididymis as well as liver. The level of C4BPα transcripts increased in the epididymis after birth, while it remained constant in the liver. C4BPα mRNA was also detected in the normal murine epididymis at a significant level, but it decreased drastically after castration, suggesting that epididymal expression of the C4BPα gene is regulated by androgen. Gene analysis of guinea pig C4BPα indicated that liver and epididymis C4BPα mRNA share the coding region and 3′-untranslated region, but are transcribed from independent promoters on a single-copy gene. Two novel epididymis-specific promoters were identified in the region corresponding to the first intron of liver transcripts. The binding motif for hepatocyte NF-1 occurs in the promoter used for transcription of liver C4BPα, whereas androgen-responsive elements occur in both promoters used in the epididymis. These findings present a novel link between complement regulators and reproduction. Furthermore, variation in the 5′-untranslated regions, arising from alternative splicing of the newly identified exons, is demonstrable in the guinea pig C4BPα transcripts.
Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating Factor mRNA Is Stabilized in Airway Eosinophils and Peripheral Blood Eosinophils Activated by TNF-α Plus Fibronectin
Authors: Esnault Stéphane , Malter James S. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAirway eosinophils show prolonged in vitro survival compared with peripheral blood eosinophils (PBEos). Recent studies have shown that autocrine production and release of GM-CSF is responsible for enhanced survival, but the mechanisms controlling cytokine production remain obscure. We compared GM-CSF mRNA decay in eosinophils from bronchoalveolar lavage (BALEos) after allergen challenge or from PBEos. BALEos showed prolonged survival in vitro (60% at 4 days) and expressed GM-CSF mRNA. The enhanced survival of BALEos was 75% inhibited at 6 days by neutralizing anti-GM-CSF Ab. Based on transfection studies, GM-CSF mRNA was 2.5 times more stable in BALEos than in control PBEos. Treatment of PBEos with fibronectin and TNF-α increased their in vitro survival, GM-CSF mRNA expression, and GM-CSF mRNA stability to a comparable level as seen in BALEos. These data suggest that TNF-α plus fibronectin may increase eosinophil survival in vivo by controlling GM-CSF production at a posttranscriptional level.
A Comparison of Mediators Released or Generated by IFN-γ-Treated Human Mast Cells Following Aggregation of FcγRI or FcεRI
Authors: Okayama Yoshimichi , Hagaman David D. , Metcalfe Dean D. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
The high affinity receptor for IgG (FcγRI, CD64) is expressed on human mast cells, where it is up-regulated by IFN-γ and, thus, may allow mast cells to be recruited through IgG-dependent mechanisms in IFN-γ-rich tissue inflammation. However, the mediators produced by human mast cells after aggregation of FcγRI are incompletely described, and it is unknown whether these mediators are distinct from those produced after activation of human mast cells via FcεRI. Thus, we investigated the release of histamine and arachidonic acid metabolites and examined the chemokine and cytokine mRNA profiles of IFN-γ-treated cultured human mast cells after FcγRI or FcεRI aggregation. Aggregation of FcγRI resulted in histamine release and PGD2 and LTC4 generation. These responses were qualitatively indistinguishable from responses stimulated via FcεRI. Aggregation of FcεRI or FcγRI led to an induction or accumulation of 22 cytokine and chemokine mRNAs. Among them, seven cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, IL-1R antagonist, and GM-CSF) were significantly up-regulated via aggregation of FcγRI compared with FcεRI. TNF-α mRNA data were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. Furthermore, we confirmed histamine and TNF-α data using IFN-γ-treated purified human lung mast cells. Thus, aggregation of FcγRI on mast cells led to up-regulation and/or release of three important classes of mediators: biogenic amines, lipid mediators, and cytokines. Some cytokines, such as TNF-α, were released and generated to a greater degree after FcγRI aggregation, suggesting that selected biologic responses of mast cells may be preferentially generated through FcγRI in an IFN-γ-rich environment.
Cutting Edge: Telomerase Activation in Human T Lymphocytes Does Not Require Increase in Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) Protein But Is Associated with hTERT Phosphorylation and Nuclear Translocation
Authors: Liu Kebin , Hodes Richard J. , Weng Nan-ping 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Capacity for cellular replication is critically important for lymphocyte function and can be regulated by telomerase-dependent maintenance of telomere length. In contrast to most normal human somatic cells that do not express telomerase due to the failure to transcribe telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), lymphocytes express telomerase in a highly regulated fashion yet constitutively transcribe hTERT during development and activation. Here, we report that hTERT protein is present in both thymocytes and blood T cells at equivalent levels despite their substantial differences in telomerase activity, and that induction of telomerase activity in resting CD4+ T cells is not dependent on net hTERT protein increase. Moreover, hTERT is phosphorylated and translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus during CD4+ T cell activation. Thus, human T lymphocytes regulate telomerase function through novel events independent of hTERT protein levels, and hTERT phosphorylation and nuclear translocation may play a role in regulation of telomerase function in lymphocytes.
A CCR5-Dependent Novel Mechanism for Type 1 HIV gp120 Induced Loss of Macrophage Cell Surface CD4
Authors: Hewson Tim J. , Logie James J. , Simmonds Peter , Howie Sarah E. M. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Type 1 HIV gp120 is especially effective in disrupting immune cell function because it is able to cause dysregulation of both infected and uninfected cells. We report a novel CCR5-dependent mechanism of gp120-induced CD4 loss from macrophages. An M-tropic gp120, using CCR5, is able to induce 70% loss of cell surface CD4 from macrophages within an hour. This cell surface CD4 loss is more substantial and rapid than the 20% loss observed with T-tropic gp120IIIB by 3 h. The rapid and substantial CD4 loss induced by M-tropic gp120 is not observed on macrophages homozygous for the ccr5Δ32 mutation, which fail to express cell surface CCR5. We have used confocal imaging to show that gp120 and CD4 are internalized together by a process resembling receptor-mediated endocytosis, and that both proteins enter HLA-DR containing compartments of the macrophage. We have also shown by semiquantitative RT-PCR that, in response to CD4 loss from the cell surface, mRNA for CD4 is up-regulated and the intracellular pool of CD4 increases. CCR5 mRNA levels are also increased. It is proposed that internalization of self and viral protein and increased pools of intracellular CD4 could modulate Ag presentation efficiencies and have implications for the induction and maintenance of both productive immune responses and self-tolerance.
The Role of Dendritic Cells, B Cells, and M Cells in Gut-Oriented Immune Responses
Authors: Alpan Oral , Rudomen Gregory , Matzinger Polly 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAlthough induction of T cell responses to fed Ag (oral tolerance) is thought to happen within the organized lymphoid tissue of the gut, we found that mice lacking Peyer’s patches, B cells, and the specialized Ag-handling M cells had no defect in the induction of T cell responses to fed Ag, whether assayed in vitro by T cell proliferation or cytokine production, or in vivo by delayed-type hypersensitivity or bystander suppression against mycobacterial Ags in CFA. Feeding of Ag had a major influence on dendritic cells from fed wild-type or μMT mice, such that these APCs were able to elicit a different class of response from naive T cells in vitro. These results suggest that systemic immune responses to soluble oral Ags do not require an organized gut-associated lymphoid tissue but are most likely induced by gut-conditioned dendritic cells that function both to initiate the gut-oriented response and to impart the characteristic features that discriminate it from responses induced parenterally.
Acute Rejection in the Absence of Cognate Recognition of Allograft by T Cells
Authors: Braun Michel Y. , Grandjean Isabelle , Feunou Pascal , Duban Livine , Kiss Robert , Goldman Michel , Lantz Olivier 
Published: April 2014

AbstractWe studied the effects of the indirect pathway of allograft recognition using T cells from TCR transgenic Marilyn mice, which recognize the male Ag H-Y in an I-Ab-restricted fashion. The T cells are not alloreactive to the H-2k haplotype, because they are not activated when adoptively transferred into recombinase-activating gene-2−/− common γ-chain−/− double-mutant H-2k male or female mice. However, skin from H-2k males, but not from H-2k females, is acutely rejected by recombinase-activating gene-2−/− transgenic female recipients. In vitro, Marylin spleen cells primed by H-2k skin grafting proliferated and secreted both IL-4 and IFN-γ in response to H-2k male stimulators. However, the removal of H-2b APC from the responding population abolished the response. Taken together, these results show that the indirect recognition that triggers rejection in this model is due to the recognition of H-Y Ag shed from H-2k male allograft and presented by the recipient’s own I-Ab APC to transgenic T cells. This study demonstrates unequivocally the capacity of naive CD4+ T cells to promote the rejection of allografts through mechanisms that involve indirect destruction of grafted tissues.
Antibody Binding to a Conformation-Dependent Epitope Induces L-Selectin Association with the Detergent-Resistant Cytoskeleton
Authors: Leid Jeff G. , Steeber Douglas A. , Tedder Thomas F. , Jutila Mark A. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractL-Selectin mediates leukocyte rolling on endothelium and immobilized leukocytes. Its regulation has been the subject of much study, and the conformation of the molecule may play an important role in its function. Here we report that a conformational change in L-selectin, induced by an anti-lectin domain mAb (LAM1-116) and recognized by another mAb directed to a conserved epitope on L-selectin (EL-246), predisposed L-selectin to cytoskeletal association. This effect was due to direct binding of the mAb, not to overt signaling events, and was specific to LAM1-116. Nineteen other anti-L-selectin mAbs directed against the lectin, epidermal growth factor, or short consensus repeat domains lacked this activity. The induced conformational change occurred at 37°C, at 4°C, in the presence of sodium azide and tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A and genistein, and with soluble detergent-extracted L-selectin. In the presence of LAM1-116, EL-246 induced cytoskeletal association of L-selectin in the absence of Ab cross-linking as visualized by L-selectin staining after low dose detergent treatment of the cells. We propose that the conformational change described herein regulates L-selectin-mediated events by exposing a high avidity binding site that, when engaged, triggers association of L-selectin with the cytoskeleton, which may lead to stronger tethers with physiological ligands.
Adjuvanticity of α2-Macroglobulin, an Independent Ligand for the Heat Shock Protein Receptor CD91
Authors: Binder Robert J. , Karimeddini David , Srivastava Pramod K. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
We recently have identified CD91 as a receptor for the heat shock protein gp96. CD91 was identified initially as a receptor for α2-macroglobulin (α2M). Gp96 and α2M are both ligands for CD91. Because gp96-chaperoned peptides can prime CD8+ T cell responses and are re-presented by APCs, we tested α2M for similar properties. Our studies show that α2M binds peptides in vitro and that the peptides, chaperoned by α2M, efficiently prime peptide-specific CD8+ T cell responses in mice immunized with α2M-peptide complexes. Furthermore, peptides chaperoned by α2M, like those chaperoned by gp96, can be re-presented by CD91+ APCs on their MHC I molecules. These studies demonstrate that α2M molecules, like the heat shock protein molecules, are T cell adjuvants that can channel exogenous Ags into the endogenous pathway of Ag presentaion. The remarkable similarities between an intracellular chaperone and an extracellular serum chaperone may have interesting physiological ramifications.
The Activity of Immunoregulatory T Cells Mediating Active Tolerance Is Potentiated in Nonobese Diabetic Mice by an IL-4-Based Retroviral Gene Therapy
Authors: Yamamoto Ana Maria , Chernajovsky Yuti , Lepault Françoise , Podhajcer Osvaldo , Feldmann Marc , Bach Jean-François , Chatenoud Lucienne 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Splenocytes from nonobese diabetic mice overexpressing murine IL (mIL)-4 upon recombinant retrovirus infection lose their capacity to transfer diabetes to nonobese diabetic-scid recipients. Diabetes appeared in 0–20% of mice injected with mIL-4-transduced cells vs 80–100% of controls injected with β-galactosidase-transduced cells. Protected mice showed a majority of islets (60%) presenting with noninvasive peri-insulitis at variance with β-galactosidase controls that exhibited invasive/destructive insulitis. Importantly, in all recipients, the transduced proteins were detected within islet infiltrates. Infiltrating lymphocytes from recipients of mIL-4-transduced cells produced high levels of mIL-4, as assessed by ELISA. In recipients of β-galactosidase-transduced cells, ∼60% of TCRαβ+ islet-infiltrating cells expressed β-galactosidase, as assessed by flow cytometry. The protection from disease transfer is due to a direct effect of mIL-4 gene therapy on immunoregulatory T cells rather than on diabetogenic cells. mIL-4-transduced purified CD62L− effector cells or transgenic BDC2.5 diabetogenic T cells still transferred disease efficiently. Conversely, mIL-4 transduction up-regulated the capacity of purified immunoregulatory CD62L+ cells to inhibit disease transfer. These data open new perspectives for gene therapy in insulin-dependent diabetes using T cells devoid of any intrinsic diabetogenic potential.
An HLA-DRB1-Derived Peptide Associated with Protection Against Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Naturally Processed by Human APCs
Authors: Snijders Alies , Elferink Diënne G. , Geluk Annemieke , van der Zanden A. Linda , Vos Koen , Schreuder Geziena M. T. , Breedveld Ferdinand C. , de Vries René R. P. , Zanelli Eric H. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractPredisposition to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is thought to be associated with HLA-DR1, -DR4, and -DR10. However, many epidemiological observations are better explained by a model in which the DQ alleles that are linked to these DR alleles, i.e., DQ5, DQ7, and DQ8, predispose to RA, while certain DR alleles have a dominant protective effect. All protective DRB1 alleles, e.g., *0402, *1301, and *1302, encode a unique motif, 70DERAA74. The protection may be explained by the presentation of DRB1-derived peptides by DQ to immunoregulatory T cells, because it was demonstrated in various autoimmune disease models that T cell responses to certain self-Ags can be involved in disease suppression. The aim of this study was to analyze whether peptides carrying the DERAA motif are naturally processed by human APC and presented in the context of the RA-predisposing DQ. Using a synthetic peptide carrying the DRB1*0402-derived sequence 65KDILEDERAAVDTYC79, we generated DERAA peptide-specific DQ-restricted T cell clones (TCC) from a DQ8 homozygous individual carrying DERAA-negative DR4 alleles. By analyzing the proliferation of these TCC, we demonstrated natural processing and presentation of the DERAA sequence by the APC of all the individuals (n = 12) carrying a DERAA-positive DRB1 allele and either DQ8 or the DQ8-related DQ7. Using a panel of truncated synthetic peptides, we identified the sequence 67(I)LEDERAAVD(TY)78 as the minimal determinant for binding to DQ8 and for recognition by the TCC. These findings support a model in which self-MHC-derived peptide can modulate predisposition to autoimmune disease in humans.
Murine Dendritic Cells Derived from Myeloid Progenitors of the Thymus Are Unable to Produce Bioactive IL-12p70
Authors: Martinon-Ego Catherine , Berthier Rolande , Cretin François , Collin Véronique , Laharie Anne-Marie , Marche Patrice N. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDendritic cells (DC) are present at low density in the thymus where they mediate negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes. Previous reports suggest that thymic DC (TDC) are a single population of lymphoid-related DC. In this study, we documented the presence in the adult mouse thymus of an additional population of TDC exhibiting a myeloid phenotype (CD11c+ CD8α− CD11b+). This population, which can be purified, represented ∼20% of the total TDC and differs from the population of lymphoid TDC (CD11c+ CD8+ CD11b−) by its incapacity to produce IL-12p70 under double stimulation by LPS and anti-CD40. Furthermore, using an original culture system allowing expansion of DC from myeloid progenitors, we demonstrated that DC exhibiting a similar myeloid phenotype can be derived from a common DC/macrophage progenitor resident in the adult mouse thymus. We found that, in contrast with myeloid splenic DC expanded in the same conditions, these cultured TDC were unable to produce IL-12p70 under double stimulation by LPS and anti-CD40 or LPS and IFN-γ. Thus, our results suggest that 1) adult mouse thymus contains at least two phenotypically and functionally distinct populations of DC; and 2) cultured myeloid DC derived from thymus and spleen differ by their ability to produce IL-12p70. The mechanisms underlying the differences in IL-12-secreting capacities of the cultured splenic and thymic DC are under current investigation.
HLA-G2, -G3, and -G4 Isoforms Expressed as Nonmature Cell Surface Glycoproteins Inhibit NK and Antigen-Specific CTL Cytolysis
Authors: Riteau Béatrice , Rouas-Freiss Nathalie , Menier Catherine , Paul Pascale , Dausset Jean , Carosella Edgardo D. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
HLA-G is a nonclassical MHC class I molecule that plays a major role in maternal-fetal tolerance. Four membrane-bound (HLA-G1 to -G4) and two soluble (HLA-G5, and -G6) proteins are generated by alternative splicing. Only HLA-G1 has been extensively studied in terms of both expression and function. We provide evidence here that HLA-G2, -G3, and -G4 truncated isoforms reach the cell surface of transfected cells, as endoglycosidase H-sensitive glycoproteins, after a 2-h chase period. Moreover, cytotoxicity experiments show that these transfected cells are protected from the lytic activity of both innate (NK cells) and acquired (CTL) effectors. These findings highlight the immunomodulatory role that HLA-G2, -G3, and -G4 proteins will assume during physiologic or pathologic processes in which HLA-G1 expression is altered.