Anti-CD2 antibodies induce T cell unresponsiveness in vivo.Gückel, B; Berek, C; Lutz, M; Altevogt, P; Schirrmacher, V; Kyewski, B A
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.957pmid: 1682413
The CD2 receptor functions as an adhesion and signal molecule in T cell recognition. Multimeric binding of CD2 on T cells to its physiologic ligand LFA-3 on cognate partner cells in vitro efficiently augments the antigen-specific T cell signal delivered by the T cell receptor/CD3 complex. The precise contribution of the antigen-nonspecific CD2-LFA-3 interactions to T cell immune responses in vivo, however, has been difficult to assess. Here we analyzed the role of CD2 in the murine immune response using a nondepleting anti-CD2 monoclonal antibody that induces a marked, reversible modulation of CD2 expression on murine T and B cells in situ. This modulation is dose and time dependent, specific for CD2, and does not require the Fc portion of the antibody. Anti-CD2 antibodies rat IgG1 or F(ab')2 significantly inhibit the CD4+ T cell-mediated response to hen egg lysozyme and the cytotoxic CD8+ T cell response to a syngeneic tumor cell line. In both cases, anti-CD2 antibodies are only effective when administered before or within 24 h after antigen priming. The suppression of the antitumor response corresponds to a sixfold reduction of specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor cells and results in the abrogation of protective antitumor immunity. Anti-CD2 antibodies also affect the humoral immune response to oxazolone: the isotype switch from specific IgM to IgG1 antibodies is delayed, whereas the IgM response is unaltered. In addition, a single antibody injection results in sustained polyclonal unresponsiveness of T cells irrespective of antigen priming and CD2 modulation. These results document that CD2-mediated signals induce a state of T cell unresponsiveness in vivo.
T cell memory is short-lived in the absence of antigen.Gray, D; Matzinger, P
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.969pmid: 1834764
Immunological memory has generally been ascribed to the development of long-lived memory cells that can persist for years in the absence of renewed antigenic encounter. In the experiments reported here, we have adoptively transferred memory T cells in the presence and absence of priming antigen and assessed their functional survival. The results indicate that, in contrast to the traditional view, the maintenance of T cell memory requires the presence of antigen, suggesting that memory, like tolerance, is an antigen-dependent process rather than an antigen-independent state.
Tumor necrosis factor induces rapid production of 1'2'diacylglycerol by a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C.Schütze, S; Berkovic, D; Tomsing, O; Unger, C; Krönke, M
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.975pmid: 1658188
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a proinflammatory polypeptide that is able to induce a great diversity of cellular responses via modulating the expression of a number of different genes. One major pathway by which TNF receptors communicate signals from the membrane to the cell nucleus involves protein kinase C (PKC). In the present study, we have addressed the molecular mechanism of TNF-induced PKC activation. To this, membrane lipids of the human histiocytic cell line U937 were labeled by incubation with various radioactive precursors, and TNF-induced changes in phospholipid, neutral lipid, and water-soluble metabolites were analyzed by thin layer chromatography. TNF treatment of U937 cells resulted in a rapid and transient increase of 1'2'diacylglycerol (DAG), a well-known activator of PKC. The increase in DAG was detectable as early as 15 s after TNF treatment and peaked at 60 s. DAG increments were most pronounced (approximately 360% of basal levels) when cells were preincubated with 14Clysophosphatidylcholine, which was predominantly incorporated into the phosphatidylcholine (PC) pool of the plasma-membranes. Further extensive examination of changes in metabolically labeled phospholipids indicated that TNF-stimulated hydrolysis of PC is accompanied by the generation of phosphorylcholine and DAG. These results suggest the operation of a PC-specific phospholipase C. Since no changes in phosphatidic acid (PA) and choline were observed and the production of DAG by TNF could not be blocked by either propranolol or ethanol, a combined activation of phospholipase D and PA-phosphohydrolase in DAG production appears unlikely. TNF-stimulated DAG production as well as PKC activation could be blocked by the phospholipase inhibitor p-bromophenacylbromide (BPB). Since BPB did not inactivate PKC directly, these findings underscore that TNF activates PKC via formation of DAG. TNF stimulation of DAG production could be inhibited by preincubation of cells with a monoclonal anti-TNF receptor (p55-60) antibody, indicating that activation of a PC-specific phospholipase C is a TNF receptor-mediated event.
The V beta 17+ T cell repertoire: skewed J beta usage after thymic selection; dissimilar CDR3s in CD4+ versus CD8+ cells.Candéias, S; Waltzinger, C; Benoist, C; Mathis, D
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.989pmid: 1940807
To ascertain how the actual repertoire of T cell receptors (TCRs) deviates from the theoretical, we have generated a large number of junctional region sequences from TCRs carrying the V beta 17 variable region. The greater than 600 sequences analyzed represent transcripts from nine different cell populations, permitting several comparisons: transcripts from an expressed vs. a non-expressed V beta 17 allele, those from E+ vs. E- mice, transcripts from immature vs. mature thymocytes, those from thymic vs. peripheral T cells, and those from CD4+ vs. CD8+ cells. These comparisons have allowed us to distinguish between the influence of molecular events involved in TCR gene rearrangement and that of various selection events that shape the T cell repertoire. Our most striking findings are: (a) that J beta usage is markedly skewed, partly due to recombination mechanics and partly due to selection forces: in particular, those mediated by the class II E molecule in the thymus; and (b) that TCRs on CD4+ and CD8+ cells show intriguing dissimilarities. In addition, we present evidence that N nucleotide additions occur with clear biases, probably due to idiosyncrasies of the recombination enzymes, and provide arguments that TCR and immunoglobulin CDR3s have distinct structures.
An unusual lineage of alpha/beta T cells that contains autoreactive cells.von Boehmer, H; Kirberg, J; Rocha, B
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.1001pmid: 1834758
In male mice that express a transgenic alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR) specific for a male-specific peptide presented by class I Db major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, we describe an unusual lineage of alpha/beta T cells that are thymus dependent but do not require selection by Db MHC molecules on thymic epithelium in the absence of the specific peptide (positive selection). These cells express the transgenic alpha/beta TCR and have the CD4-8- or CD4-8low phenotype. Cells with the latter phenotype are only detected when hemopoietic cells express both the male-specific peptide as well as Db MHC molecules. In fact, these cells are autoreactive, as they expand relatively slowly after transfer into male nude mice. Also in male but not female alpha/beta TCR transgenic mice, the CD8+ cells with the transgenic TCR bear the Pgp1 marker characteristic of mature T cells activated by antigen. CD4-8- as well as CD4-8low cells do not respond significantly when cultured with male stimulator cells but proliferate vigorously when stimulated by TCR antibodies. By this latter criterion, cells in the periphery of male alpha/beta TCR transgenic mice differ from mature male-specific T cells from female alpha/beta TCR transgenic, which become intrinsically anergic when transferred into male nude mice and cannot be stimulated significantly by TCR antibodies. Thus, intrathymic deletion does not eliminate all autoreactive T cells and it is possible that cells with an apparently "benign" autoreactivity may be involved in certain forms of autoimmunity.
Nitric oxide derived from L-arginine impairs cytoplasmic pH regulation by vacuolar-type H+ ATPases in peritoneal macrophages.Swallow, C J; Grinstein, S; Sudsbury, R A; Rotstein, O D
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.1009pmid: 1658185
The ability of macrophages (Møs) to function within an acidic environment has been shown to depend on cytoplasmic pH (pHi) regulation by vacuolar-type H+ ATPases. Møs metabolize L-arginine via an oxidative pathway that generates nitric oxide, nitrate, and nitrite. Since each of these products could potentially inhibit vacuolar-type H+ ATPases, we investigated the effect of L-arginine metabolism on Mø pHi regulation in thioglycolate-elicited murine peritoneal Møs. H+ ATPase-mediated pHi recovery from an imposed cytoplasmic acid load was measured fluorometrically. When Møs were incubated with L-arginine (0.25-2.0 mM), their rate of pHi recovery declined progressively from 2 to 6 h of incubation. By contrast, the recovery rate of cells incubated in arginine-free medium remained stable over the same period. The impairment of pHi recovery was specific for L-arginine, and was blocked competitively by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, demonstrating its dependence on L-arginine metabolism. In addition, the inhibition of pHi recovery was enhanced by lipopolysaccharide, an agent known to stimulate L-arginine metabolism by Møs. Scavenging the L-arginine metabolite nitric oxide with either ferrous sulphate or ferrous myoglobin prevented the inhibition of pHi recovery, implying that L-arginine-derived nitric oxide was the species responsible for the inhibition. This concept was supported by the finding of elevated nitrite levels in the supernatant of cells incubated in L-arginine. Furthermore, incubation of Møs with sodium nitroprusside mimicked the L-arginine-dependent inhibition of H+ ATPase activity. Treatment with the cyclic GMP analogue, 8-bromoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, similarly impaired Mø pHi recovery, suggesting that a nitric oxide-stimulated elevation of cyclic GMP may contribute to the L-arginine-dependent inhibition of pHi regulation.
Selective autoantibody production by Yaa+ B cells in autoimmune Yaa(+)-Yaa- bone marrow chimeric mice.Merino, R; Fossati, L; Lacour, M; Izui, S
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.1023pmid: 1834759
The accelerated autoimmune syndrome observed in BXSB/MpJ male mice is associated with the presence on the Y chromosome of an as yet unidentified mutant gene, designated Y chromosome-linked autoimmune acceleration (Yaa). To study the mechanisms by which the Yaa gene accelerates and/or induces the production of autoantibodies, we have developed double-congenic bone marrow chimeras containing B cells from autoimmune males carrying the Yaa gene, and from nonautoimmune male or female mice lacking it and differing by the Igh allotype. The analysis of the allotype of total immunoglobulins and anti-DNA antibodies in Yaa+ male-normal female (Yaa-) chimeric mice revealed that the selective activation of B cells from autoimmune Yaa+ male mice was responsible for the hypergammaglobulinemia and autoantibody production. This phenomenon was not due to an anti-HY interaction between female T helper cells and male B cells, because first, Yaa+ B cells were selectively stimulated to produce autoantibodies in Yaa+ male-Yaa- male chimeric mice; and second, normal male and female chimeras failed to develop an autoimmune syndrome. In addition, the fact that both B cell populations in Yaa(+)-Yaa- chimeras similarly responded to a foreign antigen, human IgG, argues against the possibility that the selective activation of Yaa+ B cells may be due to their hyper-responsiveness to T helper signals. We propose that a cognate interaction of T helper cells with Yaa+ B cells, because of possible T cell recognition of a Yaa-related molecule expressed on Yaa+ B cells, may be responsible for the acceleration and/or induction of autoantibodies in BXSB/MpJ mice.
Phenolic glycolipid-1 of Mycobacterium leprae binds complement component C3 in serum and mediates phagocytosis by human monocytes.Schlesinger, L S; Horwitz, M A
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.1031pmid: 1940785
Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that Mycobacterium leprae, an obligate intracellular bacterial parasite, enters human mononuclear phagocytes via complement receptors on these host cells and bacterium-bound C3. The present study investigates the role of M. leprae surface molecules in C3 fixation and phagocytosis. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, C3 binds selectively to phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1), a major surface molecule of the leprosy bacillus. C3 fixation to PGL-1 is serum concentration dependent and is abolished in heat-inactivated serum or serum containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. C3 fixation is also abolished in serum containing ethyleneglycol-bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N'-tetraacetic acid and MgCl2 indicating that isolated PGL-1 fixes C3 via the classical complement pathway. The capacity of PGL-1 to fix C3 is dependent upon its terminal trisaccharide since sequential removal of monosaccharide units of the trisaccharide results in a stepwise reduction in C3 fixation. Deacylation of PGL-1 also abolishes C3 fixation. C3 fixes to the trisaccharide of PGL-1 that is chemically linked to bovine serum albumin via the chemical carrier, 8-methoxycarbonyloctanol. PGL-1 mediates C3 fixation to polystyrene microspheres, and PGL-1 and C3 together mediate ingestion of polystyrene microspheres by human monocytes, wherein these inert test particles reside in membrane-bound phagosomes. Thus, complement receptors on mononuclear phagocytes, complement component C3, and PGL-1 comprise a three-component receptor-ligand-acceptor molecule system for mediating phagocytosis of M. leprae.
Lysozyme is an inducible marker of macrophage activation in murine tissues as demonstrated by in situ hybridization.Keshav, S; Chung, P; Milon, G; Gordon, S
doi: 10.1084/jem.174.5.1049pmid: 1940787
This study demonstrates the induction of lysozyme mRNA expression in situ in tissue macrophages (M phi) of mice following in vivo stimulation. The resting resident tissue M phi of most tissues do not contain enough lysozyme mRNA to be detected by in situ hybridization using 35S-labeled RNA probes. Following Bacille Calmette Guerin or Plasmodium yoelli infection, however, M phi recruited to liver and spleen hybridize strongly to the lysozyme probe. Within 24 h of infection, cells found in the marginal zone of the spleen begin to produce lysozyme mRNA. This response is also evoked by a noninfectious agent (intravenously injected sheep erythrocytes), and is possibly the result of an early phagocytic interaction. Later in the infection, other cells in the red and white pulp of the spleen, and cells in granulomas in the liver, become lysozyme-positive. Kupffer cells are rarely lysozyme-positive. Lysozyme mRNA levels in liver granulomas remain relatively constant during the infection, and lysozyme is produced by most granuloma cells. This contrasts with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) mRNA, which is produced by fewer cells in the granuloma, and which can be massively induced by lipopolysaccharide administration. The production of lysozyme, previously considered a constitutive function of M phi, is therefore an indicator of M phi activation in vivo, where immunologically specific and nonspecific stimuli both stimulate lysozyme production at high levels in subpopulations of cells occupying discrete anatomical locations.