The Journal of Experimental Medicine

Streuli, M; Krueger, N X; Hall, L R; Schlossman, S F; Saito, H

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1523pmid: 2972792

A human gene (LAR) that hybridizes to mouse leukocyte common antigen cDNA under relaxed hybridization conditions was isolated. The LAR gene is expressed in a broad range of cells, including T lymphocytes, kidney, and prostate cells. The structure of the protein encoded by the LAR gene was deduced by determining the nucleotide sequences of a 7.7-kb LAR cDNA. The putative LAR protein is composed of a 1,234 amino acid extracellular region, a 24 amino acid transmembrane segment, and a 623 amino acid cytoplasmic region. The cytoplasmic region contains two homologous domains that have extensive sequence similarity to the cytoplasmic region of the leukocyte common antigens. The NH2-terminal region of the extracellular segment of the LAR protein contains three tandem Ig-like domains and nine non-Ig-like domains. Among the known Ig-like proteins, the LAR protein has the highest degree of similarity to neural-cell adhesion molecule. The non-Ig-like domains of the LAR protein are also similar to the non-Ig-like domains of neural-cell adhesion molecule.

Mellins, E; Arp, B; Ochs, B; Erlich, H; Pious, D

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1531pmid: 3263461

Activation of T lymphocytes by immunogenic peptides bound to HLA molecules is a central event in the generation of an immune response. To determine the sites on HLA molecules involved in this process, we isolated mutant EBV-transformed B cell clones that express altered HLA-DR3 molecules. One mutant has lost the ability to stimulate a T cell clone specific for a mycobacterial protein, but retains the ability to stimulate other antigen-specific T cells. The DNA sequence of the complete DR alpha and beta coding regions revealed a single nucleotide change resulting in a glutamic acid to lysine substitution at amino acid 9 in the first hypervariable region of the DR beta chain. These results are discussed in relation to a recently proposed model of class II molecule structure.

Sung, S S; Jung, L K; Walters, J A; Chen, W; Wang, C Y; Fu, S M

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1539pmid: 3263462

The production of TNF/cachectin by human B cell lines and tonsillar B cells was examined. Of the 15 B cell lines examined, 9 cell lines synthesize TNF mRNA constitutively. PMA stimulated most cell lines to accumulate increased amounts of TNF. SeD, 8866P, 32al, RPMI 1788, and four bone marrow-derived EBV-transformed cell lines accumulated high levels of TNF mRNA when stimulated by PMA. TNF production by these cell lines was examined. RPMI 1788 and WIH8 produced little TNF constitutively, but synthesized 5-7 ng/ml TNF when stimulated by PMA. A pre-B cell line, Nalm-6, did not synthesize any detectable amount of TNF mRNA, even with PMA stimulation. Tonsillar B cells could also be stimulated to produce TNF. PMA or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC) alone stimulated some TNF mRNA accumulation, whereas B cell growth factor (BCGF) or anti-mu did not. This accumulation was synergistically elevated by the combinations of PMA and SAC, or PMA and anti-mu. BCGF increased PMA-, SAC-, PMA plus SAC-, or PMA plus anti-mu-induced TNF mRNA accumulations about twofold. The accumulation of TNF mRNA in tonsillar B cells stimulated by PMA plus SAC was between 32 and 48 h, the same peak interval as the accumulation of TNF and IL-2 mRNA in tonsillar T cells. This is in contrast to PMA or PMA plus A23187-stimulated RPMI 1788 cells in which TNF mRNA accumulation was maximal at 1-2 h. TNF activities found in tonsillar B cell supernatants correlated with the TNF mRNA levels in the cells. However, more TNF activity was found on the second-day than the third-day supernatants, indicating active TNF uptake by the B cells. Cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibited SAC and anti-mu responses in B cells in much the same way as the anti-CD3 responses in T cells. SAC-, PMA plus SAC-, and PMA plus anti-mu-stimulated, but not PMA-stimulated, increases in TNF mRNA accumulations in tonsillar B cells were inhibited by CsA. TNF production seems to increase in parallel with B cell proliferation, but the relationship of these two functions needs to be further examined.

Katz, J D; Ohnishi, K; Lebow, L T; Bonavida, B

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1553pmid: 2460577

Previous studies have revealed that the reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS) of SJL/J (H-2s, IE-) mice express an "IE-like" stimulatory tumor-associated antigen, the expression of which is requisite for stimulating host T cells necessary for tumor growth. Herein, we present evidence that the predominant T cells raised in the syngeneic response to both spontaneous and transplantable RCS tumors are of the V beta 17a TCR clonotype. The V beta 17a+ clonotype of T cells has been shown to interact with IE allogeneic specificities. We demonstrate that all four characterized RCS-specific T cell hybridomas stained positively for the anti-V beta 17a mAb, KJ23a. Additionally, KJ23a, when added to cocultures of the T cell hybridomas and RCS tumors, inhibited the release of IL-2 by the hybridomas. Further, KJ23a was shown to markedly inhibit the proliferation of SJL/J T cells when cocultured with either spontaneous or transplantable RCS tumor cells. When analyzed by flow cytometry, the T cell blast population raised in response to both spontaneous and transplantable RCS were greater than 80% KJ23a+. These T cells were brightly stained by the anti-CD4 mAb, Gk1.5, and, therefore, represent class II-responsive T cells. In corroboration of the in vitro data, T cells derived from mesenteric lymph nodes of RCS tumor-bearing mice had likewise undergone a similar expansion of V beta 17a+, CD4+ T cells. Together, these results indicate that KJ23a+ T cells play an important and predominant role in the response of SJL/J mice to spontaneous RCS tumors and provide further suggestive evidence that the stimulatory antigen(s) on the RCS tumor is IE or an "IE-like" molecule. Significantly, the important role V beta 17a+ T cells play in the response to RCS suggests a potential therapeutic role for KJ23a mAb in the intervention and prevention of RCS tumors in SJL/J mice.

Saito, Y; Sabe, H; Suzuki, N; Kondo, S; Ogura, T; Shimizu, A; Honjo, T

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1563pmid: 3263463

The IL-2-R is composed of at least two proteins, that is, a 55-kD protein (p55, the L chain, or Tac) and a 75-kD protein (p75, the H chain, or converter). The high affinity binding of IL-2 results in the formation of the ternary complex consisting of IL-2, and the L and H chains. To distinguish the affinity conversion model and the binary complex model we have carried out kinetic studies on the IL-2 binding to the high affinity IL-2-R on T lymphocytes expressing various numbers of L chains and a relatively constant number of H chains. We found that expression of a larger number of L chains accelerated the association of IL-2 to the high affinity receptor. The results are not compatible with the binary complex model that assumes a fixed number of high affinity sites determined by the numbers of a limiting chain. Instead, the results are consistent with the prediction of the affinity conversion model that assumes association of IL-2 to the L chain as the first step of the ternary complex formation and they indicate that the possible role of excess L chains is to accelerate the formation of the ternary complex. The reaction rate constants calculated from the affinity conversion model were reasonably constant.

Firestein, G S; Xu, W D; Townsend, K; Broide, D; Alvaro-Gracia, J; Glasebrook, A; Zvaifler, N J

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1573pmid: 3263464

Because previous studies showed low levels of IFN-gamma in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fluid (SF) and synovial tissue (ST) explant supernatants, we assayed RA SF and ST for IL-2 and IL-3-like activity. Using an IL-2 dependent murine CTLL line, 6 of 14 RA SF caused increased thymidine uptake (greater than three times control). The activity was distinct from IL-2 because it was not blocked by antibody to IL-2-R. In addition, IL-2 was not detected (less than 50 pg/ml) in 16 joint samples using an ELISA. Multi-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) activity was measured using two assays that can detect murine IL-3 (mast cell proliferation, and bone marrow CSF). In the mast cell assay, 3HTdR uptake was 493 +/- 67 cpm for medium, 2,910 +/- 329 cpm in the presence of RA SF (p less than 0.001), 1,246 +/- 156 cpm in the presence of SF from patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies (p less than 0.001), and 736 +/- 100 cpm in the presence of osteoarthritis SF (p greater than 0.1). In the CSF assay, four of five RA SF and five of five RA ST induced colony formation from bone marrow nonadherent cells. Macrophage colonies were most common, although mixed colonies and granulocytes were occasionally observed. The multi-CSF activity in RA is not due to IL-3 since human rIL-3 was not active in either murine assay, and IL-3 mRNA was not detected in RA synovium. Sephadex column chromatography of RA SF revealed that the mast cell growth factor (approximately 6 x 10(3) mol wt) and the CSF (approximately 40 and 100 x 10(3) mol wt) are distinct. The colony-stimulating aspect of the "IL-3-like" activity in RA SF is likely due to CSF-1 because it is the appropriate mol wt and because the activity was neutralized by specific anti-CSF-1 antibody. Finally, an RIA detected 1.6-25 ng/ml of CSF-1 in RA SF and ST and CSF-1 mRNA was detected in four of five RA synovial tissue samples tested.

Miyazawa, M; Nishio, J; Chesebro, B

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1587pmid: 3141552

T cells primed specifically for the envelope glycoprotein of Friend murine leukemia helper virus (F-MuLV) were prepared by immunizing mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus that expressed the entire env gene of F-MuLV. Significant proliferative responses of F-MuLV envelope-specific, H-2a/b T cells were observed when the T cells were stimulated with antigen-pulsed peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) having the b allele at the K, A beta, A alpha, and E beta loci of the H-2. On the other hand, PEC having only the kappa allele at these loci did not induce the envelope-specific T cell proliferation, even when the PEC had the b allele at the E alpha, S, or D loci. F-MuLV envelope-specific proliferation of H-2a/b T cells under the stimulation of antigen-pulsed, H-2a/b PEC was specifically blocked with anti-I-Ab and anti-I-Ek mAbs but not with anti-Kb, anti-Kk, or anti-I-Ak mAbs. Moreover, (B10.MBR x A/WySn)F1 mice that have the b allele only at the K locus but not in I-A subregion were nonresponders to the envelope glycoprotein, and the bm12 mutation at the A beta locus completely abolished the T cell responsiveness to this antigen. These results indicate that proliferative T cells recognize a limited number of epitopes on F-MuLV envelope protein in the context of I-Ab, hybrid I-Ak/b, and/or hybrid I-Ek/b class II MHC molecules but fail to recognize the same envelope protein in the context of I-Ak or I-Ek molecules. This influence of the H-2I region on T cell recognition of the envelope glycoprotein appeared to control in vivo induction of protective immunity against Friend virus complex after immunization with the vaccinia-F-MuLV env vaccine. Thus, these results provide, for the first time, direct evidence for Ir gene-controlled responder/nonresponder phenotypes influencing the immune response to a pathogenic virus of mice.

Carroll, W L; Starnes, C O; Levy, R; Levy, S

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1607pmid: 3141553

Idiotype variants of 38C13, a murine B cell lymphoma, have been isolated by immunoselection with antiidiotype mAbs. The V region genes for the kappa light chains and mu heavy chains expressed by these tumor cells were sequenced and compared. There was no evidence for V region somatic point mutation in this tumor. However, while the heavy chain genes were all identical, the light chain genes were all different. The light chain genes of each variant were derived from the V kappa-Ox1 gene family and joined to J kappa 4, whereas the light chain gene of the parental tumor was derived from the V kappa 9 family and joined to J kappa 2. Two of the variants used the identical V kappa gene but differed by the inclusion of a variable number of additional nucleotides in the V/J joint. Thus, the idiotypic heterogeneity of this B cell lymphoma arises as a consequence of alternative light chain rearrangements rather than point mutation. This process repetitively uses members of the same V kappa gene family. Two of the variants use the identical V kappa and J kappa gene segments but differ by the presence of extra nucleotides at the V kappa/J kappa joint.

Cebrián, M; Yagüe, E; Rincón, M; López-Botet, M; de Landázuri, M O; Sánchez-Madrid, F

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1621pmid: 2903209

In this report, we describe a novel activation antigen that appears very early after T cell activation and is absent in resting lymphocytes, through which agonistic proliferative signals can be triggered by mAb binding. It has been designated as activation inducer molecule (AIM) and is a disulphide-linked heterodimeric structure containing two polypeptide chains of Mr 33,000 and 27,000. The expression of AIM can be induced by different activation stimuli such as PMA, PHA, or anti-CD3 mAb, but not by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and it precedes the expression of other activation molecules such as 4F2 or the IL-2-R. Once AIM antigens are expressed on lymphocytes after stimulation with submitogenic doses of PMA, the binding of anti-AIM mAbs triggers a strong proliferative response. Furthermore, a comitogenic effect of the anti-AIM mAbs is exerted in the presence of either PHA or anti-CD3 mAb. The activation of lymphocytes through AIM antigens induces both IL-2 and IL-2-R receptor synthesis and is inhibited by anti-IL-2-R mAbs.

Cronin, M E; Love, L A; Miller, F W; McClintock, P R; Plotz, P H

doi: 10.1084/jem.168.5.1639pmid: 2846742

Picornaviruses can initiate chronic inflammation that persists after the virus can no longer be cultured from inflamed tissues. In an attempt to understand this transition we have sought evidence for viral persistence by methods that detect viral genome independent of whether or not whole competent virus is present. In mice infected with a myotropic variant of encephalomyocarditis virus, EMC-221A, virus can be cultured in high yield at 1 wk and in low yield at 2 wk from skeletal muscle, heart, and brain; a small number of plaque-forming units could be cultured from brain at 4 wk. By contrast, in situ hybridization detected viral nucleic acid at least a week or two thereafter, often in single cells. In the skeletal muscle, inflammation disappeared by 3 wk, but in heart it remained for the full 12 wk of observation. In the brain, microglial nodules, sometimes with associated viral nucleic acid, were present for a long period. Application of this technique allows a more accurate assessment of the role of viral persistence in the pathogenesis of virus-initiated but apparently autoimmune inflammation.