Superantigen-induced CD4+ T cell tolerance is associated with DNA methylation and histone hypo-acetylation at cytokine gene loci

Anergy is an important mechanism of peripheral tolerance in which T cells lose the capacity to produce proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma). To determine whether the induction of T-cell anergy in vivo is associated with epigenetic changes that oppose cytokine gene expression, we measured DNA methylation and histone acetylation at the IL2 and IFNgamma loci in CD4+ T cells from mice tolerant to a viral superantigen. Tolerant T cells exhibited more DNA methylation and less histone acetylation at the regulatory regions of the IL2 and IFNgamma genes than effector T cells, which are able to produce IL-2 and IFNgamma. These data show that T-cell anergy in this model is associated with epigenetic modifications that oppose gene expression, and suggest that these mechanisms may be important in the maintenance of tolerance.     

Induction of selective anergy by toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in CD8+ T cells.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA expression of murine splenic CD8+ T cells in response to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) was examined in vitro. In primary response to TSST-1, purified CD8+ cells expressed a low frequency of IFN-gamma mRNA and produced very little interleukin-2 (IL-2) compared with unseparated lymphocytes and purified CD4+ cells. The addition of IL-2 to the cell culture enhanced IFN-gamma mRNA expression in the CD8+ population. Upon restimulation with TSST-1, no IL-2 production and hardly any IFN-gamma mRNA expression were observed in the purified CD8+ lymphoblasts. Exogenously added IL-2 did not increase the IFN-gamma mRNA expression in purified CD8+ blasts exposed to TSST-1. In contrast, stimulation with concanavalin A induced a high frequency of IFN-gamma mRNA in purified CD8+ blasts. Moreover, TSST-1 induced strong IFN-gamma mRNA expression in unseparated T lymphoblasts and purified CD4+ populations. Interestingly, a combined immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization technique showed a high frequency of CD8+ IFN-gamma mRNA-expressing cells in an unseparated blast population. These results demonstrate that TSST-1 induces a selective anergy within the purified CD8- T-cell compartment and that the IFN-gamma mRNA expression in CD8+ T blasts can be achieved by stimulation of unseparated T cells with TSST-1.     

Mechanisms of immune tolerance to food antigens in humans.

Immune responses and the mechanisms of tolerance to the common dietary antigens bovine gamma globulin (BGG), ovalbumin (OVA), and soybean protein were evaluated in normal human volunteers. Humoral and T cell proliferative responses to these antigens were measurable but low, consistent with immune tolerance. There were limited correlations between responses in the systemic and mucosal compartments, and in general the responses to one dietary antigen could not predict the response to another. T cell proliferation to dietary antigens increased significantly by addition of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhuIL-2). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with BGG or OVA expressed IL-2Ralpha chain but not IL-2 mRNA, consistent with T cell anergy. Incubation with exogenous IL-2 alone did not restore T cell proliferation to BGG or OVA. In some individuals T cell proliferation to an unrelated vaccine antigen was suppressed by addition of BGG or OVA, but could be reversed with low doses of rhuIL-2. We conclude that in humans anergy is the major mechanism of tolerance to chronic antigen feeding, and we propose that such anergic, antigen-specific T cells actively contribute to maintenance of homeostasis in the intestine in the face of massive antigen challenge.     

Comparison of peptide and superantigen-induced anergy in a peptide-specific polyclonal human T cell line

T cells recognizing tetanus toxin peptide ‘p2’ (sequence830–844) raised in HLA DR6 individuals preferentiallyexpress V_ß2 in the TCR. A p2-specific T cell line(60% V_ß2₊) was used to compare peptide and superantigen[toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1)]-induced clonal anergy.Many experiments consistently revealed that the degree of ‘tolerance’or ‘clonal anergy’ induced by peptide was greaterthan with the superantigen TSST-1. These results are of interestin a number of contexts. First they suggest that using superantigensor anti-V_ß to delete the majority population of Tcells may not be sufficient to diminish an autoimmune response.Secondly, the results indicate that induction of anergy of alarge proportion of peptide-specific T cells does not lead toa suppressive bystander effect on the remaining responsive Tcells. These results emphasize the need to define the dominantautoantigenic epitopes in human autoimmune diseases, since peptidebased therapy such as the use of peptide analogues to induceanergy or a change in cytokine profile, is possibly more effectivein controlling undesired immune responses than the use of non-antigen,TCR-directed approaches such as superantigens.     

哮喘特异性免疫治疗诱导的卵蛋白致敏小鼠模型T细胞无能机制的探讨

目的:建立哮喘特异性免疫治疗小鼠模型,探讨特异性免疫治疗诱导T细胞无能的机制。方法:通过卵蛋白(OVA)皮下注射致敏,雾化吸入激发的方法,建立哮喘特异性免疫治疗的小鼠模型,并通过对肺组织病理切片及支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中的细胞计数及分类,用ELISA法检测血清OVA特异性IgE(sIgE)及脾脏T细胞IL2和IL4的分泌等证实。分离培养脾脏T细胞,用3HTdR掺入法检测其增殖反应;用流式细胞仪(FACS)检测其表面CTLA4分子的表达。结果:与对照组小鼠相比较,哮喘特异性免疫治疗后,小鼠肺组织的炎症病理变化减轻;BALF中嗜酸性粒细胞(EOS)数、血清sIgE的水平、T细胞分泌IL2和IL4的水平以及小鼠对OVA刺激的反应性均显著降低(P<0.01);但T细胞表面CTLA4分子的表达明显上调。结论:建立了哮喘特异性免疫治疗的小鼠模型。T细胞表面CTLA4分子表达的上调可能是哮喘特异性免疫治疗诱导T细胞无能的机制之一。     

IL-10 directly acts on T cells by specifically altering the CD28 co-stimulation pathway

IL-10 induces T cell anergy in numerous mouse models and specific immunotherapy of allergy in humans. Here, we demonstrate that IL-10 directly acts on T cells which are stimulated via CD28 by efficiently blocking proliferation and cytokine production. T cells tolerized by IL-10 showed high viability and the unresponsive state was reversed by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) stimulation and IL-2, but not by anti-CD28 mAb stimulation. Signal transduction via CD28 requires CD28 tyrosine phosphorylation and binding of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. IL-10 inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of CD28; thus, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase binding to CD28 was blocked. Consequently, IL-10 inhibited the antigen-induced secretion of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, including IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13. Furthermore, neutralization of endogenously produced IL-10 significantly increased T cell proliferation and both Th1 and Th2 cytokine production in vitro. Using superantigen stimuli, T cell suppression by IL-10 was merely induced at low doses when co-stimulation by CD28 was essential. Together, these data demonstrate that IL-10 directly acts on the CD28 signaling pathway and this represents an important T cell suppression mechanism leading to anergy.     

超抗原SEA诱导T细胞失能体外实验模型的建立

目的 建立超抗原诱导T细胞失能的体外实验模型。方法 SEA刺激人外周血淋巴细胞,再加入外源性的rIL-2维持,建立短期SEA反应性T细胞系;进行Ficoll-Hypaque密度梯度离心获取经SEA多次刺激过SEA反应性T细胞;加入处理过的PBMC作APCs,建立超抗原SEA诱导T细胞的化组和失能组。结果 SEA和rIL-2共同作用可得到静息SEA反应性T细胞系;SEA反复刺激使T细胞处于一低反应状态,与活化组相比,其DNA合成能力明显下降,IL－2分泌显著减少,静息一段时间后,其增殖能力慢慢恢复。结论 超抗原SEA多次刺激诱导SEA反应性T细胞处于失能状态。     

The superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 induces CD40 ligand expression and modulates lgE isotype switching

Isotype switching to IgE requires two signals. The first signalis provided by the cytokines IL-4 or IL-13, and the second signalis delivered by the interaction between the B cell antigen CD40and its ligand (CD40L) which is expressed on activated T cells.Since superantigens have been shown to activate T cells, weexamined the effect of the superantigen toxic shock syndrometoxin-1 (TSST-1) on CD40L expression on T cells. TSST-1 inducedexpression of CD40L in both freshly isolated T cells and inT cell lines expanded by re-stimulation with TSST-1. CD40L waspreferentially expressed in the V_ß2 subset of T cellsexpanded by TSST-1. We next examined the effect of TSST-1 onIgE synthesis by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).Addition of TSST-1 to PBMC inhibited IL-4-induced IgE synthesisin a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition was reversed partlyby adding a neutralizing antibody to IFN-. In contrast, TSST-1induced high amounts of IgE synthesis in the presence of IL-4at low T: B cell ratios (0.5: 10 to 4: 10), a condition whichcircumvents the inhibitory effect of IFN-. TSST-1 inductionof IgE synthesis was inhibited by a mAb to CD40L. These resultsindicate that superantigens induce CD40L expression in T cellsand cause isotype switching in B cells which is mediated byCD40L-CD40 interaction.     

Cytokine secretion induced by superantigens in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, lamina propria lymphocytes, and intraepithelial lymphocytes.

Superantigens are potent inducers of T-cell proliferation and induce a broad range of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), gamma interferon, and interleukin 2 (IL-2). In the present study, we compared the abilities of different staphylococcal superantigens (staphylococcal enterotoxin B [SEB], staphylococcal enterotoxin E [SEE], and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 [TSST-1]) to stimulate distinct cytokine profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL), and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL). One million PBMC, LPL, and IEL were stimulated with various concentrations of superantigen (10 to 0.001 ng/ml) for 24, 48, and 72 h. Maximum cytokine production by PBMC, LPL, and IEL was observed for all three superantigens at 48 h at a concentration of 1 ng/ml. In PBMC, SEE and TSST-1 stimulated more IL-2 and gamma interferon than SEB. SEE and TSST-1 also stimulated more TNF and IL-4 production than SEB. In contrast, SEB stimulated more IL-6 than either SEE or TSST-1. In LPL, there was no SEE-induced IL-2 or IL-4 production, but IL-6, TNF, and gamma interferon were induced. SEB similarly induced no IL-2 or gamma interferon from the LPL, but IL-4, IL-6, and TNF were detected. TSST-1 stimulation of LPL resulted in IL-2 and TNF production but no IL-4, IL-6, or gamma interferon. In IEL, SEE induced no IL-2, IL-4, or gamma interferon but produced IL-6 and TNF, while SEB stimulation resulted in no IL-2 or gamma interferon but did result in detectable IL-4, IL-6, and TNF. Taken together, these data indicate that there are significant differences in the cytokine profiles induced by superantigens in LPL and IEL compared with those in PBMC, and these differences may relate to differences in activation requirements.     

Increased Th1 and Th2 allergen-induced cytokine responses in children with atopic disease

BACKGROUND: Polyclonal cytokine responses following stimulation of T cells with mitogens or superantigens provides information on cytokine production from a wide range of T cells. Alternatively allergen-induced T cell responses can provide information on cytokine production by allergen-reactive T cells. While there is evidence of increased Th2 and reduced Th1 cytokine production following T cell stimulation with non-specific mitogens and superantigens, the evidence that Th1 cytokine production to allergens is decreased in line with a postulated imbalance in Th1/Th2 responses is unclear, with studies finding decreased, no difference or increased IFN-gamma responses to allergens in atopic subjects. OBJECTIVE: To examine childhood polyclonal and allergen-induced cytokine responses in parallel to evaluate cytokine imbalances in childhood atopic disease. METHODS: PBMC cytokine responses were examined in response to a polyclonal stimulus, staphylococcal superantigen (SEB), in parallel with two inhalant allergens, house dust mite (HDM) and rye grass pollen (RYE), and an ingested allergen, ovalbumin (OVA), in (a) 35 healthy children (non-atopic) and (b) 36 children with atopic disease (asthma, eczema and/or rhinitis) (atopic). RESULTS: Atopic children had significantly reduced IFN-gamma and increased IL-4 and IL-5 but not IL13 production to SEB superantigen stimulation when compared with non-atopic children. HDM and RYE allergens stimulated significantly increased IFN-gamma, IL-5 and IL-13, while OVA stimulated significantly increased IFN-gamma production in atopic children. CONCLUSION: We show that a polyclonal stimulus induces a reduced Th1 (IFN-gamma) and increased Th2 (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokine pattern. In contrast, the allergen-induced cytokine responses in atopic children were associated with both increased Th1 (INF-gamma) and Th2 (IL-5 and IL-13) cytokine production. The increased Th1 response to allergen is likely to reflect prior sensitization and indicates that increases in both Th1 and Th2 cytokine production to allergens exists concomitantly with a decreased Th1 response to a polyclonal stimulus in atopic children.     

Carboxy-terminal residues of major histocompatibility complex class II-associated peptides control the presentation of the bacterial superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 to T cells

Previous studies have shown that the presentation of some bacterial superantigens by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules is strongly influenced by class II-associated peptides. For example, presentation of the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) superantigen by antigen-processing-defective T2-I-A^b cells (which expresses I-A^b that is either empty or associated with invariant chain-derived peptides) can be strongly enhanced by some, but not other, I-A^b-binding peptides. Here we investigate the contribution of I-A^b-associated peptides in the presentation of TSST-1 to T cells. The data show that overlapping peptides expressing the same core I-A^b-restricted epitope, but with various N and C termini, can differ profoundly in their ability to promote TSST-1 presentation to T cells. Analysis of altered and truncated peptides indicates that residues at the C-terminal end of the peptide have a dramatic effect on TSST-1 presentation. This effect does not involve a cognate interaction between the peptide and the TSST-1 molecule, but appears to depend on the length of the C-terminal region. These data are consistent with crystallographic studies suggesting that TSST-1 may interact with the C-terminal residues of MHC class II-associated peptides. We also examined the capacity of naturally processed peptides to promote TSST-1 binding using a superantigen blocking assay. The data demonstrated that a naturally processed epitope is dominated by peptides that do not promote strong TSST-1 binding to I-A^b. Taken together, these data suggest that TSST-1 binding to MHC class II molecules is controlled by the C-terminal residues of the associated peptide, and that many naturally processed peptide/class II complexes do not present TSST-1 to T cells. Thus, the peptide dependence of TSST-1 binding to class II molecules may significantly reduce the capacity of TSST-1 to stimulate T cells.     

组蛋白化学修饰改变对c-Myb结合的影响及其在职业性苯中毒患者造血损伤中的作用

 目的:研究职业性苯中毒造血损伤患者中与拓扑异构酶Ⅱα启动子调控因子c-Myb结合的组蛋白化学修饰改变, 证实组蛋白乙酰化修饰水平改变在职业性苯中毒造血损伤中发挥一定的作用。方法:25例职业性苯中毒再生障碍性贫血患者为病例组,25例正常人为对照组,提取骨髓单个核细胞,用染色质免疫沉淀(ChIP)探讨与c-Myb结合的组蛋白乙酰化和甲基化水平的改变,RT-PCR法检测c-Myb的mRNA表达水平,组蛋白去乙酰化酶(HDAC)试剂盒检测HDAC活性的变化。结果:与正常对照组相比,职业性苯中毒再生障碍性贫血患者c-Myb与乙酰化组蛋白H4、H3结合的水平下降(P<0.01), 而与甲基化组蛋白H3K4和H3K9结合的水平无明显改变,差异无统计学显著性。与正常对照组相比,职业性苯中毒再生障碍性贫血患者c-Myb的mRNA表达水平降低,HDAC活性明显升高,差异均有统计学显著性(P<0.05)。结论:拓扑异构酶Ⅱα启动子调控因子c-Myb可能通过组蛋白乙酰化修饰的改变在职业性苯中毒造血损伤中发挥作用。     

Trichostatin A attenuates airway inflammation in mouse asthma model

BACKGROUND: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition has been demonstrated to change the expression of a restricted set of cellular genes. T cells are essential in the pathogenesis of allergen-induced airway inflammation. It was recently reported that treatment with HDAC inhibitors induces a T cell-suppressive effect. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment with trichostatin A (TSA), a representative HDAC inhibitor, would reduce allergen-induced airway inflammation in a mouse asthma model. METHODS: BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged with an aerosol of OVA. TSA (1 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally every 2 days beginning on day 1. Mouse lungs were assayed immunohistochemically for HDAC1, a major HDAC subtype, and for infiltration of CD4+ cells. The effect of TSA on airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) was determined, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of these mice was assayed for the number and types of inflammatory cells, and for the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, and IgE. RESULTS: HDAC1 was localized within most airway cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells of asthmatic lungs. Treatment with TSA significantly attenuated AHR, as well as the numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes in BALF. TSA also reduced infiltration of CD4+ and inflammatory cells and mucus occlusions in lung tissue, and decreased the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, and IgE in BALF. CONCLUSION: TSA attenuated the development of allergic airway inflammation by decreasing expression of the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-5, and IgE, which resulted from reduced T cell infiltration. Our results suggest that HDAC inhibition may attenuate the development of asthma by a T cell suppressive effect.     

CD8 T cell-specific downregulation of histone hyperacetylation and gene activation of the IL-4 gene locus by ROG,repressor of GATA

Chromatin remodeling of type 2 cytokine gene loci occurs during differentiation of naive CD4 and CD8 T cells into type 2 helper (Th2) and cytotoxic (Tc2) T cells. IL-4 production and histone hyperacetylation in IL-4-associated nucleosomes in developing Tc2 cells were significantly lower than those of Th2 cells; however, cytokine production and histone hyperacetylation of IL-5 and IL-13 genes were equivalent. Developing Tc2 cells expressed lower GATA3 levels and dramatically increased levels of repressor of GATA (ROG). A ROG response element in the IL-13 gene exon 4 displayed Tc2-specific binding of ROG, HDAC1, and HDAC2 and exhibited repression of IL-4 gene activation. Thus, ROG may confer CD8 T cell-specific repression of histone hyperacetylation and activation of the IL-4 gene locus.     

Major histocompatibility complex class II-associated peptides determine the binding of the superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1

Superantigens bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II proteins and interact with variable parts of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) β-chain. Cross-linking the TCR with MHC class II molecules on the antigen-presenting cell by the superantigen leads to T cell activation that plays an essential role in pathogenesis. Recent crystallographic data have resolved the structure of the complexes between HLA-DR1 and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), respectively. For TSST-1, these studies have revealed possible contact sites between the superantigen and the HLA-DR1-bound peptide. Here, we show that TSST-1 binding is dependent on the MHC-II-associated peptides by employing variants of T2 mutant cells deficient in loading of peptides to MHC class II molecules as superantigen-presenting cells. On HLA-DR3-transfected T2 cells, presentation of TSST-1, but not SEB, was dependent on HLA-DR3-associated peptides. Thus, although these superantigens can be recognized in the context of multiple MHC class II alleles and isotypes, they clearly bind to specific subsets of MHC molecules displaying appropriate peptides.     

Chromatin remodeling at the Th2 cytokine gene loci in human type 2 helper T cells

The differentiation of mouse na?ve CD4 T cells into type 2 helper (Th2) cells is accompanied by chromatin remodeling at the nucleosomes associated with the IL-4, IL-13 and IL-5 genes. However, little is known about how chromatin remodeling of these Th2 cytokine gene loci occurs in human Th2 cells. We herein established an in vitro culture system in which both Th1 and Th2 cells are efficiently differentiated from human peripheral blood na?ve CD4 T cells. This system allowed us to investigate the chromatin status at the Th2 cytokine gene loci and the IFNgamma locus in human Th2 and Th1 cells, respectively. In typical individuals, the chromatin remodeling indicated by the induction of hyper-acetylation of histone H3 lysine 9 and hyper-methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 was induced at the whole Th2 cytokine gene loci in developing Th2 cells. We more precisely assessed the methylation status of histone H3 lysine 4 at the Th2 cytokine gene loci (IL-5 exon 3, IL-5 promoter, IL-5/RAD50 intergenic region, RAD50 promoter, CGRE, CNS1, IL-13 promoter, IL-4 promoter, and VA enhancer regions) and the IFNgamma locus in developing Th1 and Th2 cells prepared from 20 healthy volunteers. Th2-cell specific chromatin remodeling was induced at most of the Th2 cytokine gene loci. In parallel with the induction of chromatin remodeling, GATA3 mRNA was preferentially expressed in developing Th2 cells, whereas T-bet, HLX and ROG mRNA was selectively expressed in developing Th1 cells.     

Direct evidence for anergy in T lymphocytes tolerized by oral administration of ovalbumin

The present study investigated bystander suppression, specific suppression and anergy as mechanisms for oral tolerance. Oral tolerance was induced in mice by a single gastric intubation of 20 mg ovalbumin (OVA) and was evaluated in vitro by the absence of T lymphocyte proliferative responses to OVA after priming by OVA-complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). T lymphocyte unresponsiveness was antigen specific, systemic and was not affected by the vehicle used for immunization. T lymphocytes derived from tolerant popliteal lymph nodes (PLN) responded to an acetone precipitate (AP) of mycobacteria present in CFA; this response was not suppressed by co-culture with OVA, thereby arguing against a mechanism of bystander suppression in our system. Responses of PLN T lymphocytes derived from OVA-CFA primed, non-tolerant mice, or those of an OVA-specific T lymphocyte line, were not suppressed by PLN or spleen cells derived from OVA tolerant mice. These results excluded the possibility that oral tolerance was induced and maintained by a mechanism of specific suppression. At the cellular level, we found that OVA-tolerant T lymphocytes did not produce interleukin-2 (IL-2) nor express IL-2 receptor in response to OVA stimulation in vitro; both observations are indicative of a state of anergy. Incubation of OVA-tolerant PLN T lymphocytes together with murine recombinant IL-2 for 5 days, released anergic T lymphocytes and a concomitant OVA-specific proliferative response of CD4⁺ T cells was detected. Taken together, our experimental system excludes the involvement of bystander or specific suppression in the induction of oral tolerance to OVA, and provides direct evidence to show that oral tolerance results from specific T lymphocyte anergy.