bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vivo functions mediated by the p41 isoform of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain.
Authors: Takaesu N T , Lower J A , Yelon D , Robertson E J , Bikoff E K 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
We used a "hit and run" gene targeting strategy to generate mice expressing only the p41 isoform of the conserved invariant (Ii) chain associated with MHC class II molecules. In contrast to mutants expressing only p31 Ii chain, a small proportion of A(alpha)b A(beta)b molecules produced by these animals have reduced mobilities in SDS-PAGE and appear incompletely processed. Nonetheless, class II surface expression, peptide occupancy, CD4+ T cell maturation, and proliferative responses toward intact protein Ags are efficiently reconstituted. Moreover, spleen cells exclusively expressing p41 or p31 alone display equivalent dose-response curves in Ag presentation assays. Similar conclusions were reached analyzing mutants expressing two independent MHC haplotypes. Overall, these results demonstrate that Ii chain functional activities as a class II-specific chaperone are largely shared by p31 and p41 isoforms in the intact animal. Mutant mouse strains producing only p31 or p41 under control of endogenous regulatory elements responsible for constitutive and inducible Ii chain expression should prove useful for dissecting the contributions of these isoforms to diverse CD4+ T cell responses in vivo, such as those responsible for Ab production, inflammatory responses, autoimmune diseases, and protection against infectious agents.
Mice with a targeted deletion of the IgE gene have increased worm burdens and reduced granulomatous inflammation following primary infection with Schistosoma mansoni.
Authors: King C L , Xianli J , Malhotra I , Liu S , Mahmoud A A , Oettgen H C 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Although IgE has been considered to play an essential role in host defense against parasitic helminth infections such as Schistosoma mansoni, in vivo evidence of a protective function of IgE in infected mice is lacking. In the present study, mice with a null mutation of the C epsilon gene, and thus incapable of making IgE (IgE deficient), were infected by S. mansoni cercariae percutaneously. In two independent experiments, IgE-deficient mice were significantly more susceptible to primary infection, developing worm burdens twofold greater than those of wild-type mice (p &lt; 0.001). In contrast, resistance to challenge infection following three immunizations with irradiated cercariae was similar in the two groups. The percentage of reduction in worm burdens in immunized IgE-deficient animals compared with unimmunized mice was 50%; immunized wild-type mice had a reduction of 55% compared with the baseline parasite count. Levels of parasite-specific IgG1 were more than twofold lower in IgE-deficient mice after primary infection (p = 0.005), whereas no significant difference was observed in the IgG1 response of animals previously immunized with irradiated cercariae. IgE-deficient animals also developed significantly smaller granulomas (by 37-40%) around schistosome eggs deposited in their livers compared with wild-type animals (p &lt; 0.001). The spleens of IgE-deficient mice contained significantly more Ag-specific IL-4-secreting cells following primary infection. These data show that IgE participates in parasite elimination in primary infection with S. mansoni and in the generation of humoral immunity and cytokine responses to the parasite.
MRC OX-2 defines a novel T cell costimulatory pathway.
Authors: Borriello F , Lederer J , Scott S , Sharpe A H 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
T cell activation requires the engagement of the TCR as well as a second, costimulatory signal. In this study, we demonstrate that MRC OX-2 (OX-2) mediates a previously unrecognized T cell costimulatory signal leading to enhanced T cell proliferation. One extensively studied costimulatory pathway, the B7/CD28 pathway, delivers its signal when CD28 is engaged by either of two ligands, B7-1 or B7-2, expressed on APC. Recent data have suggested that an additional ligand may exist in this pathway. This possibility prompted us to search previously cloned genes with both structural and expression characteristics similar to B7-1 and B7-2. Our search yielded OX-2, a rat lymphocyte activation marker, as a promising candidate gene. We now report that Chinese hamster ovary cell transfectants expressing the OX-2 protein can costimulate murine CD4+ T cells to proliferate in an Ag-independent fashion using anti-CD3, as well as an Ag-dependent fashion using peptide. In contrast to B7-1-mediated costimulation, OX-2 does not result in detectable levels of IL-2, IL-4, or IFN-gamma. In addition, OX-2 transfectants do not bind the soluble receptor reagents of the B7/CD28 pathway (CD28-Ig and CTLA4Ig). Furthermore, OX-2 costimulation is not inhibited by CTLA4Ig, as is B7-1-mediated costimulation, but is readily inhibited with an anti-OX-2 mAb. Thus, OX-2 is a T cell costimulatory ligand that acts through a non-B7/CD28 pathway, which leads to functionally distinct consequences, as reflected by the resulting cytokine profile.
Corticosteroids inhibit lymphocyte binding to endothelium and intercellular adhesion: an additional mechanism for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect.
Authors: Pitzalis C , Pipitone N , Bajocchi G , Hall M , Goulding N , Lee A , Kingsley G , Lanchbury J , Panayi G 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Glucocorticosteroids (GCS) are potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents widely used in the treatment of many medical conditions, but their mechanism of action is not yet fully understood. Some of the anti-inflammatory effects of GCS have been attributed to the synthesis of lipocortins, whereas the immunosuppressive effects are thought to be mediated through the inhibition of several immune functions through a down-regulation of cytokine gene expression. Another important mechanism of action of GCS may relate to their ability to interfere with the phenomena of adhesion and migration of inflammatory cells. In this study, the direct effects of GCS on lymphocyte adhesion capacity in vitro were investigated. We demonstrate that GCS inhibit lymphocyte adhesion to endothelium through the down-modulation of lymphocyte adhesion molecules. We also provide evidence that GCS inhibit cell aggregate formation induced by TCR ligation, which directly correlates with the down-modulation of LFA-1 and CD2, but not LFA-3 or ICAM-1. Such down-modulation was paralleled by a decrease in the steady state mRNA level of LFA-1 and CD2 gene products, which suggests a direct GCS control of the expression of these genes. Finally, we show that GCS effects are mediated through the GCS receptor, since they can be completely reversed by the GCS-R antagonist RU-486. This study supports the concept that some of the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects of GCS are likely to be exerted by the inhibition of adhesion-dependent lymphocyte functions.
Differential infection of CD34+ cell-derived dendritic cells and monocytes with lymphocyte-tropic and monocyte-tropic HIV-1 strains.
Authors: Warren M K , Rose W L , Cone J L , Rice W G , Turpin J A 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Monocytes and dendritic cells are infected by HIV-1 and subsequently produce virions that initiate further rounds of infection. Current methods for the isolation and study of dendritic cells are hampered by the low frequency of these cells and contamination with other cell types. A two-step culture method was devised to generate large numbers of either dendritic cells or monocytes from fetal liver CD34+ progenitors. CD34+ cells were first expanded with the growth factors granulocyte-macrophage CSF and stem cell factor to generate a population of intermediate progenitor cells with a relatively immature phenotype. To induce specific differentiation to dendritic cells, the cultures were switched to serum-free medium with the growth factors granulocyte-macrophage CSF, stem cell factor, TNF-alpha, and IL-4. The cells became highly positive for HLA class II Ags and the dendritic cell marker CD1a. Culture of the intermediate progenitors in serum-containing medium with macrophage CSF resulted in differentiation to adherent monocytes expressing high levels of CD14 with low CD1a expression. The intermediate progenitors were permissive for HIV infection by both monocyte- and lymphocyte-tropic strains. In contrast, differentiation to monocytes or dendritic cells resulted in restricted viral tropism. Dendritic cells efficiently replicated the lymphocyte-tropic virus HIV-1MN, but not the monocyte-tropic virus HIV-1ADA. As expected, monocytes only supported replication of HIV-1ADA. This two-step culture method allows for the production of large numbers of monocytes or dendritic cells from a common precursor pool for studying the development of tropism-associated events.
A newly recognized pathway for the negative regulation of mast cell-dependent hypersensitivity and inflammation mediated by an endogenous cell surface receptor of the gp49 family.
Authors: Katz H R , Austen K F 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Mast cells are constitutively present at the portals between self and nonself, and contain a large and diverse complement of proinflammatory mediators. These characteristics suggest that the activation of mast cells must be carefully regulated in vivo. Regulation of pathologic and physiologic mast cell activation has been traditionally associated simply with the presence or absence of an activating signal. We examine here evidence supporting a new paradigm: mast cell homeostasis may result from inhibition of activation mediated by receptors on the surface of mast cells, typified by a member of the gp49 family.
Correlation of tolerogenicity of a viral antigen with its immunogenicity.
Authors: Bachmann M F , Fehr T , Freer G , Hengartner H , Zinkernagel R M 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Induction of B cell tolerance or activation was analyzed with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoprotein (G) expressed as a neo-self Ag. A membrane form of VSV-G expressed in all tissues, including the bone marrow, induced unresponsiveness at both the Th and B cell level, whereas a soluble form of VSV-G expressed peripherally in liver and kidney did not tolerize B cells and only reversibly anergized Th cells. Interestingly, a similar correlation was found for activation of mature lymphocytes. When mature normal spleen cells were transferred into the two transgenic mouse lines, the membrane form of VSV-G was strongly immunogenic for both Th and B cells, and high VSV-G-specific IgG Ab titers were induced in these transgenic mice. In contrast, spleen cells transferred into mice expressing the soluble form of VSV-G were not activated, and no VSV-G specific Abs were induced. These results indicate that highly immunogenic Ags are strongly tolerogenic for both immature B and T cells.
NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells lose NK1.1 expression upon in vitro activation.
Authors: Chen H , Huang H , Paul W E 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells produce IL-4 promptly in vivo upon injection of anti-CD3 and may play a role in initiating Th2 cell-mediated immunity. To characterize their in vitro activation properties, NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells were obtained in high purity from spleens of normal C57BL/6 mice, where they represent 2 to 5% of CD4+ T cells, or from MHC-class II I-Ab gene knockout mice, where they constitute 42% of CD4+ T cells. Activation of NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells from either source with plate-bound anti-CD3 resulted in loss of expression of NK1.1 as determined both by flow cytometric analysis and by reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis. A portion of these cells also lost CD4 expression. Both the CD4+ and CD4- activated cells retained the over-representation of V beta8 and V alpha14 chains and expressed the intermediate levels of the TCR-CD3 complex that is characteristic of resting NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells. The anti-NK1.1 mAb used for cell sorting was not the cause of NK1.1 or CD4 disappearance, since the sorted cells remain both NK1.1+ and CD4+ when cultured in the absence of anti-CD3 or in the presence of anti-CD3 and cyclosporin A. Furthermore, NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells that were not treated with anti-NK1.1 Ab also lost NK1.1 expression after activation. Populations of activated CD4+ and CD4- cells (derived from NK1.1+ CD4+ T cells) produced both IL-4 and IFN-gamma upon restimulation with plate-bound anti-CD3.
Diurnal rhythmicity of human cytokine production: a dynamic disequilibrium in T helper cell type 1/T helper cell type 2 balance?
Authors: Petrovsky N , Harrison L C 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Diurnal rhythmicity is a characteristic of neuroendocrine pathways but is less understood in relation to immune function. We asked whether cellular (type 1) or humoral (type 2) immune responses or type 1/type 2 balance exhibit diurnal rhythmicity in healthy humans, and, if so, whether this is related to plasma levels of cortisol or melatonin, two hormones with immunomodulatory actions. LPS- or tetanus-stimulated human whole blood IFN-gamma and IL-10 production, and the IFN-gamma/IL10 ratio exhibited significant diurnal rhythmicity. The IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio peaked during the early morning and correlated negatively with plasma cortisol and positively with plasma melatonin. IFN-gamma and, to a lesser extent, IL-10 production was sensitive to inhibition by exogenous cortisone; the IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio decreased by &gt;70% after the administration of oral cortisone acetate (25 mg). Our findings support the concept that plasma cortisol and possibly melatonin regulate diurnal variation in the IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio. As IFN-gamma and IL-10 have opposing effects on cellular immunity, changes in their balance would be anticipated to impose diurnal rhythmicity on cellular immunity. This implies that the nature of an immune response, e.g., to vaccination, may be modified by the time of day of Ag presentation and could be therapeutically manipulated by the administration of cortisol or melatonin.
Indirect suppression of IL-7-responsive B cell precursors by vasoactive intestinal peptide.
Authors: Shimozato T , Kincade P W 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Bone marrow is supplied with nerves and neuropeptides that influence a variety of cellular responses. This study represents an initial evaluation of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) as a possible regulator of B lineage lymphocyte formation. As little as 10(-10) M concentrations of VIP inhibited the IL-7-driven clonal proliferation of pre-B cells in semisolid agar cultures. The response was blocked by a VIP antagonist and augmented by the ectoenzyme inhibitor, phosphoramidon. Suspensions of highly enriched B lineage precursors were unaffected by VIP unless they were cocultured with macrophage-like cells and conditioned medium from VIP-treated macrophages contained inhibitory activity. Neutralizing Abs were used to determine that IFN-alpha is at least one substance that is elicited by exposure of macrophages to VIP. These findings suggest that a neuropeptide can potentially modulate lymphopoiesis through a regulatory circuit that involves macrophages and IFN-alpha. They also raise the possibility that VIP can participate in antiviral defense.
IL-6 induction of protein-DNA complexes via a novel regulatory region of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene promoter: role of octamer binding proteins.
Authors: Sawada T , Falk L A , Rao P , Murphy W J , Pluznik D H 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Macrophage inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) catalyzes the synthesis of NO. IL-6-stimulated macrophage differentiation of murine myeloid M1 cells is accompanied by iNOS gene induction and steady-state mRNA expression. Two regions within the iNOS promoter mediate transcriptional responsiveness to LPS and IFN-gamma. Region I contains several essential transcription factor binding motifs and promotes responsiveness to LPS, whereas region II potentiates the LPS response by IFN-gamma. Because region I possesses basal promoter activity and directly mediates iNOS gene activation, we attempted to identify the trans-acting factors involved in IL-6-stimulated induction of the murine iNOS gene through this region. Using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and methylation interference, we show that IL-6 induced reciprocal changes in the binding activity of POU family members to the candidate nonconsensus octamer sequence of region I that correlated, temporally, with iNOS steady-state mRNA expression. Although DNA-protein binding activity of IL-6-stimulated whole-cell extracts also interacted with a radiolabeled canonical octamer motif, such DNA-protein complexes were not eliminated in competition assays using consensus nuclear factor kappaB or IL-6 oligonucleotides. Specifically, our studies show that octamer binding protein-1-related protein binding activity decreased, while binding of octamer binding protein-2-related proteins increased during differentiation. Mutation of the octamer motif disrupted both binding of the IL-6-induced protein-DNA interactions and transcriptional activation through region I, revealing that this motif is absolutely essential for IL-6 induction of iNOS. Thus, differential activation of octamer binding transcriptional modulators from the POU family may be a novel mechanism of IL-6-mediated iNOS gene regulation.
Protective effect of neoglycoprotein-conjugated muramyl dipeptide against Leishmania donovani infection: the role of cytokines.
Authors: Sarkar K , Das P K 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Active targeting of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) to macrophages was studied by conjugation with the neoglycoprotein, mannosyl human serum albumin (mannose-HSA) using visceral leishmaniasis as the model macrophage disease. Conjugation did not decrease the affinity of the neoglycoprotein for macrophage mannose receptor. Mannose-HSA-MDP was 50 times more efficient than free MDP in inhibiting the growth of Leishmania donovani inside peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, in a 60-day murine model of visceral leishmaniasis, 95% of the spleen parasite burden was reduced by mannose-HSA-MDP at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day given for 4 days. Free MDP at a similar dose had very little effect. In vitro exposure of MDP caused enhanced generation of O2- by macrophages, whereas generation of nitric oxide (NO) was not induced. The elevated antileishmanial activity of MDP-treated macrophages in culture was abrogated by O2- scavengers. In contrast, considerably enhanced amounts of NO and O2- were generated from macrophages of mannose-HSA-MDP-treated animals, and their splenocytes secreted soluble factors providing all the signals required for the induction of NO biosynthesis. The increase in NO production was paralleled by a concomitant increase in antileishmanial activity, which was reversed by NO synthesis inhibitors. Splenocyte supernatants treated with anti-IFN-gamma or anti-TNF-alpha Abs suppressed inducible NO generation by macrophages. Moreover, i.v. administration of anti-IFN-gamma and anti-TNF-alpha along with mannose-HSA-MDP greatly reduced protection against L. donovani infection. Neoglycoprotein-conjugated MDP, therefore, activated mouse macrophages in vivo to kill L. donovani, and this may depend on the physiologic generation of NO induced by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha.
Intrinsic resistance to T cell infection with HIV type 1 induced by CD28 costimulation.
Authors: Riley J L , Carroll R G , Levine B L , Bernstein W , St Louis D C , Weislow O S , June C H 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
When HIV-infected leukocytes are activated by the CD28 costimulatory receptor, HIV-1 is rapidly cleared from cultures, suggesting that costimulation can render T cells resistant to HIV-1 infection. In this study we tested the hypothesis that enhanced secretion of cytokines or chemokines could account for CD28-induced antiviral effects. In an acute infection system, resistance to infection with macrophage-tropic strains of HIV-1 was shown to be comprised of both soluble and cell-associated components. Induction of HIV-1 resistance was specific for CD28 costimulation, in that a variety of other accessory receptors, such as CD2, CD4, CD5, and MHC class I, failed to confer the antiviral resistance. The soluble component was secreted by both CD4 and CD8 T cells, was not unique to CD28 costimulation, and could be neutralized by removal of C-C chemokines (RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha and -1beta) from the culture supernatants of costimulated CD4 T cells. In contrast, CD28 stimulation of CD4 cells resulted in the specific induction of a pronounced intrinsic resistance to HIV-1 infection by macrophage tropic isolates of HIV-1.
A pronounced thymic B cell deficiency in the spontaneously diabetic BB rat.
Authors: Tullin S , Farris P , Petersen J S , Hornum L , Jackerott M , Markholst H 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
In an attempt to elucidate the origin of the T cell lymphopenia and/or the beta-cell-specific autoimmunity observed in diabetes-prone Bio-Breeding (DP-BB) rats, a thymic cDNA library was subjected to differential screening with thymic cDNA probes of DP-BB rats and nonlymphopenic nondiabetic controls. This approach resulted in the identification of a prominent lack of thymic B cells in DP-BB rats. This deficiency is distinct from a less pronounced peripheral B cell deficiency of different timing. The thymic B cell defect is linked to the lymphopenia trait on chromosome 4 and thereby with susceptibility to diabetes in crosses involving the DP-BB rat. In conclusion, our data suggest that the contribution of thymic B cells to the (negative) selection of thymocytes is inadequate in DP-BB rats, thus providing a plausible explanation for at least some of the spontaneous autoimmune phenomena in this animal model.
IL-2 induces Fas ligand/Fas (CD95L/CD95) cytotoxicity in CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocyte clones.
Authors: Esser M T , Dinglasan R D , Krishnamurthy B , Gullo C A , Graham M B , Braciale V L 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
IL-2 is a T cell growth factor that has pleiotropic functions in T cell differentiation, induction of lymphokine-activated killer cells, and regulation of immune responses. In studying TCR triggering of perforin or Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas (CD95 ligand/CD95) cytotoxicity in our influenza-specific T cell clones, we found that IL-2 can also induce FasL/Fas cytotoxicity. IL-2 induces FasL/Fas cytotoxicity in our CD8+ and CD4+ Th1 clones, but not in our CD4+ Th2 clones. IL-2 induction of cytolytic activity occurs when the CD8+ T cells are refractory to IL-2-induced proliferation. This killing is Ag independent, MHC unrestricted, and blocked by Fas.Fc fusion protein. IL-2 induces FasL/Fas cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, but does not induce high levels of FasL expression as detected by flow cytometry. TCR triggered FasL/Fas cytotoxicity is detectable in CD8+ and Th1 clones by 3 h and peaks at 6 h; high levels of killing are maintained for at least 24 h. Similarly, IL-2 induces FasL/Fas killing in CD8+ and Th1 clones within 3 h of stimulation and maintains high levels for at least 24 h. TCR-triggered FasL/Fas killing is inhibited by emetine and cyclosporin A, whereas IL-2-induced FasL/Fas killing is inhibited by emetine, but not by cyclosporin A. These results demonstrate a second mechanism to induce FasL/Fas cytotoxicity in CD8+ and Th1 clones and may explain IL-2 induction of Ag-independent MHC-unrestricted lymphokine-activated killer cell activity.