Progression of T cell lineage restriction in the earliest subpopulation of murine adult thymus visualized by the expression of lck proximal promoter activity

The proximal promoter of lck directs gene expression exclusivelyin T cells. To investigate the developmental regulation of thelck proximal promoter activity and its relationship to T celllineage commitment, a green fluorescence protein (GFP) transgenic(Tg) mouse in which the GFP expression is under the controlof the proximal promoter of lck was created. In the adult GFP-Tgmice, >90% of CD4⁺CD8⁺ and CD4⁺CD8^– thymocytes, andthe majority of CD4^–CD8⁺ and CD4^–CD8^– [double-negative(DN)] thymocytes were highly positive for GFP. Slightly lowerbut substantial levels of expression of GFP was also observedin mature splenic T cells. No GFP⁺ cells was detected in non-Tlineage subsets, including mature and immature B cells, CD5⁺B cells, and NK cells, indicating a preserved tissue specificityof the promoter. The earliest GFP⁺ cells detected were foundin the CD44⁺CD25^– DN thymocyte subpopulation. The developmentalpotential of GFP^– and GFP⁺ cells in the CD44⁺CD25^–DN fraction was examined using in vitro culture systems. Thegeneration of substantial numbers of ß and T cells aswell as NK cells was demonstrated from both GFP^– and GFP⁺cells. However, no development of B cells or dendritic cellswas detected from GFP⁺ CD44⁺CD25^– DN thymocytes. Theseresults suggest that the progenitors expressing lck proximalpromoter activity in the CD44⁺CD25^– DN thymocyte subsethave lost most of the progenitor potential for the B and dendriticcell lineage. Thus, progression of T cell lineage restrictionin the earliest thymic population can be visualized by lck proximalpromoter activity, suggesting a potential role of Lck in theT cell lineage commitment.     

Co-stimulation via CD28 induces activation of a refractory subset of MRL-Ipr/Ipr T lymphocytes

Peripheral lymphoid tissues of Ipr mice contain a large proportionof TCRß/CD3⁺CD4^–CD8^– T cells that lacksurface CD2 and express the B cell isoform of CD45, B220. Thissubset of T cells does not proliferate or produce IL-2 in responseto mitogenic signals or TCR–CD3 ligation. At the sametime, these abnormal T cells display several characteristicsof an activated phenotype. Collectively, these properties ofIpr CD4^–CD8^– T cells have functional parallels withanergic T cells. A critical co-stimulatory molecule implicatedin the prevention of or recovery from anergy is CD28, whichbinds the ligand BB1/B7 on certain accessory cells. Ipr CD4^–CD8^–T cells express normal levels of CD28 which is capable of transducinga strong proliferative signal to these cells in co-stimulationwith mitogens. However, proliferation of Ipr CD4^–CD8^–T cells in response to CD28 co-stimulation does not reach thelevels observed in normal T cells stimulated under similar conditions.Stimulation with anti-CD28 mAb in conjunction with phorbol myristateacetate and lonomycin promotes cell cycling in the CD2^–subset of CD4^–CD8^– T cells, and results in a slightinduction of CD2 levels during the course of the culture period.However, the majority of cells obtained at the end of the cultureperiod remain TCRß+ CD4^–CD8^–, CD2^low/–and B220^high, similar to freshly isolated CD4^–CD8^–Ipr T cells. In contrast, if IL-2 is included in the cultures,a strong shift toward a CD2⁺ phenotype is observed by a majorityof the Ipr T cells. Upon repeat stimulation, these Ipr CD4^–CD8^–T cells can now proliferate in an IL-2-dependent manner whenstimulated with only anti-CD3 mAb or mitogens, in the absenceof exogenous IL-2 or anti-CD28 mAb. These data show that thehyporesponsiveness of Ipr CD4^–CD8^– T cells doesnot result from a lack of CD28 expression, that it is not afixed state, and that it can be reversed by the induction ofcell cycling in the presence of IL-2. These observations extendthe parallels between Ipr CD4^–CD8^– T cells and anergicT cells.     

Functional expression of a human TCR{beta} gene in transgenic mice

A functionally rearranged TCRß (Tcrb) gene was isolatedfrom a cloned human T helper cell recognizing the CS.T3 epitopeof Plasmodium falciparum with HLA-DR2. Transgenic mice weregenerated by co-injection of the human gene together with themouse Tcrb enhancer. Analysis of transgenic mice shows thatthe functional Tcrb gene of xenogenic, i.e. human, origin exertsallelic exclusion of endogenous Tcrb genes. Cytofluorometricanalysis revealed expression of the human TCRß chainon virtually all thymocytes and peripheral T cells togetherwith endogenous TCRß chains and CD3 components. Nosurface expression of mouse TCRß chain or rearrangementof endogenous Tcr genes was detectable. Expression of the hybridreceptor causes a reduction in the number of thymocytes anda bias for CD4⁺CD8^– T cells in the thymus as comparedwith non-transgenic littermates. Peripheral transgenic T cellsmount a normal prollferative response against allogenelc targetsin mixed lymphocyte reactions. These results show that a hybridmouse/human TCR is able to pass positive and negative selectionin the thymus, and is functional in transgenic mice.     

Emergence of CD52 , glycosyiphosphatidylinositol-anchor deficient lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis patients following Campath-1H treatment

CD52 is a glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol (GPI)-llnked glycoproteinexpressed at high levels on normal T and B lymphocytes and atlower levels on monocytes, while being absent on granulocytesand bone marrow stem cell precursors. The emergence of CD52^– lymphocytes of both T and B cell lineages was observedIn three out of 25 rheumatoid arthritis patients treated withthe humanized antibody Campath-1H in phase II clinical trial.Whereas the majority of CD52^– B cells had disappearedfrom the peripheral blood by 3 months post-treatment, both CD52^–CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells persisted in the circulation for at least20 months. In the two patients that were tested, the GPI-anchoredsurface molecules CD55 and CD59 were also absent on the CD52^–cells, although expression of other cell surface transmembraneproteins (CD3, CD4 and CD2) was unaffected. The CD52^–cells maintained a stable phenotype in vitro despite repeatedre-stimulation in culture. Both CD52^– and CD52⁺ clones,established from one of the patients, responded to a similarextent to several T cell mitogens, as assessed by proliferation,suggesting that a general defect in expression of GPI-llnkedmolecules does not impair T cell activation. These data showthat an immune attack against a GPI-anchored surface moleculecan result in the selection of a GPI-anchor-deficient cell population.Despite the persistence of CD52^– T cells in the peripheralblood, no adverse reactions associated with the presence ofthese cells were noted in any of the patients; in fact theyresponded with longer remission times after Campath-1H treatmentthan the other patients in the trial. Received 16 May 1995, accepted 27 November 1995.     

A role for BP-3/BST-1 antigen in early T cell development

In the mouse thymus, pre-T cells are defined by their CD3^–CD4^–CD8^–triple-negative, CD44^10/– CD25⁺ phenotype. We made a ratmAb IF-7, that, among all Tcell subsets analyzed, reacted exclusivelywith pre-T cells. Molecular cloning revealed that the antigenrecognized by IF-7 was identical to BP-3/BST-1, a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked,CD38-related molecule previously described asa possible co-activationmolecule of pre-B cells. We found that IF-7 cross-linking enhancesthe proliferative response ofsorted pre-T cells to anti-CD3stimulation. In addition, IF-7 enhances and accelerates thedevelopment of fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC), although the lineage is unaffected by the treatment. In addition, sortedIF-7⁺ pre-T cells give preferentially rise to ß TCR⁺thymocytes in FTOC. Our observations strongly suggest that BP-3/BST-1is implicated in both early B and T cell growth and development,and is an early marker for the ß lineage.     

Correlation of effector function with phenotype and cell division after in vitro differentiation of naive MART-1-specific CD8+ T cells

Adoptive transfer of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells may representan effective strategy for immunotherapy of tumors such as melanoma,but is limited by the number and functionality of in vitro expandedT cells. Here, we document that although ELAGIGILTV-specificCD8⁺ T cells from different donors initially possessed a naivephenotype, after antigen-induced in vitro expansion two distinctphenotypes correlating with cell proliferation rate emergedin the different donors. Those cultures achieving fewer cumulativepopulation doublings (CPDs) were cytotoxic and displayed a CD45RA⁺CCR7^–phenotype. In contrast, cultures reaching higher CPDs were non-cytotoxicT cells with a CD45RA^–CCR7^– phenotype. Thus, thegeneration of larger numbers of ELAGIGILTV-specific CD8⁺ T cellscorrelates negatively with the acquisition of a CD45RA⁺CCR7^–phenotype and cytotoxic capacity. A better understanding ofthe differentiation pathways of cytotoxic T cells to obtainoptimally efficient cells for adoptive transfer will allow thedevelopment of new immunotherapy protocols.     

Fas (CD95)-independent regulation of immune responses by antigen-specific CD4 CD8+ T cells

Antigen-activated T cells of the CD4⁺CD8^– and the CD4^–CD8⁺phenotype are susceptible to antigen receptor-stimulated celldeath. This form of apoptotic cell death has been shown to bedependent on the expression of the Fas (CD95) antigen and canoccur via an autocrine mechanism involving the concomitant up-regulationof Fas and its ligand on activated T cells. Mutations in genesencoding Fas (lpr) and the Fas ligand (gld) contribute to thedevelopment of an autoimmune syndrome similar to systemic lupuserythematosus in mice. These observations led to the suggestionthat the Fas signaling pathway is an important regulator ofimmune responses in vivo. Here we evaluated the importance ofthe Fas pathway in regulating immune responses by male antigen-specificCD4^–CD8⁺ T cells. We found that the in vivo eliminationof male antigen-activated cells was independent of Fas expressionby these cells. However, the elimination of these activatedcells was inhibited by the transgenic expression of Bcl-2, aprotein that inhibits multiple forms of apoptotic cell death.The transgenic Bcl-2 protein also inhibited the death of maleantigen-activated cells following IL-2 deprivation. Cell deathresulting from IL-2 deprivation occurred efficiently in maleantigen-activated Fas^- cells. We propose that the rapid deletionof male antigen-activated Fas^– cells in vivo is due tolimiting amounts of IL-2 that are available in the microenvironmentof the activated cells at the peak of the response.     

IL-2 receptor {alpha} chain (CD25JAC) expression defines a crucial stage in pre-B cell development

The analysis of the expression of the a chain of the IL-2 receptor(CD25.TAC) on the surface of B lineage cells In mouse bone marrowreveals that it is a useful marker to distinguish pre-B-I frompre-B-II cells. CD25 Is not expressed on CD45R(B220)⁺ c-kit⁺CD43⁺ TdT⁺ ₅⁺ C_µ^– slg^– lgH chain locus DJ_H-rearrangedpre-B-I cells of mouse bone marrow. It is expressed on largecycling CD45R(B220)⁺ c-kit⁺ CD43⁺ TdT⁺ ₅⁺ C_µ^– sig^–and on small resting CD45R(B220)⁺ c-kit⁺ CD43^– TdT⁺ ₅⁺C_µ^– sig^– sig- IgH chain locus VHDJH-rearrangedpre-B-II cells. Therefore, the transition from pre-B-I to largepre-B-II cells is marked by the downregulation of c-kit andterminal deoxynucleotldyl transferase (TdT), and by the upregulattonof CD25. SCID, RAG-2T, _µMT and ₆T mutant mice do havenormal, If not elevated numbers of pre-B-I cells but lack allCD25⁺ pre-B-II cells in their bone marrow. The expression ofa transgenic H chain under control of the _µH chain enhancerin RAG-2T bone marrow B lineage precursors allows the developmentof large and small CD25⁺ pre-B-II cells. The results suggestthat the differentiation of pre-B-I to pre-B-II cells in mousebone marrow requires the expression of _µH chains and surrogateL chains in membranes, probably on the surface of precursorB cells.     

Frequent deletion of the transgene in T cell receptor {beta} chain transgenic mice

TCR V_ß8.1 transgenic mice were generated using a genomicTCR V_ß gene construct under the control of its promoterand enhancer. Among three lines of transgenic mice, one lineexpressed the transgenic TCR on only 70% of peripheral T cells,while the other two lines expressed it on almost all matureT cells. T cells which lacked expression of the transgenic TCRß chain expressed endogenous TCR ß chains.The molecular basis underlying the lack of transgene expressionin T cells of this line of transgenic mice was investigated.The transgenic TCR^– cells were isolated by two methods.First, Thy-1⁺ V_ß8.1/8.2^– cells were purifiedfrom peripheral T cells using cell sorting. Second, transgenicTCR^– T cell clones were established. In both cases, Southernblotting indicated that V_ß8.1^– T cells had deletedthe transgenic TCR gene. Thus, deletion of the transgenic TCRcan occur in a high proportion of T cells, which allows rearrangementand expression of endogenous TCR ß chains.     

Selection of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte T cell receptors: evidence for a dynamic tissue-specific process

An extensive comparison of TCRß V-reglon usage byCD8ß^-CD4⁺CD8⁺ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), CD4^-CD8⁺IEL, and lymph node (LN) T cell subsets in three minor lymphocytestimulating (MIs)-disparate, MHC-ldentical mouse strains revealednovel TCR selection patterns. In cases where forbidden V regionswere expressed by CD8ß^- CD4^-CD8⁺ IEL, the same TCRswere deleted from CD8ß^– CD4⁺CD8⁺ IEL, Indicatingthat lack of CD8ß expression was not solely responsiblefor forbidden V-region expression. These results also suggestedthat CD4 may be involved in negative selection of CD4⁺CD8⁺ IELTCRs. In C57BR/cdJ (Mls-1^b2^b) mice, a major increase in V_ß3⁺CD4⁺CD8⁺IEL but not in other IEL or LN subsets was noted suggestinga subset-specific expansion of V_ß3⁺ cells. Negativeselection of V_ß14⁺ cells in only the CD4⁺CD8⁺ IELsubset further supported the existence of intestine-specificTCR selection processes. Analysis of V-reglon expression ofCD8ß⁺ and CD8ß^–CD4^–CD8⁺ IELsubsets revealed that forbidden V-region expression was notstrictly confined to the CD8ß^– subset in allcases. Overall, the data point to a dynamic, gut-specific TCRselection process that may be antigen driven.     

ER-MP12 antigen, a new cell surface marker on mouse bone marrow cells with thymus-repopulating ability: II. Thymus-homing ability and phenotypic characterization of ER-MP12-positive bone marrow cells

In the accompanying paper we showed that six distinct subsetsof bone marrow (BM) cells can be identified using the mAb ER-MP12and ER-MP20 in two-colour immunofluorescence analysis. Uponintrathymic transfer into sublethally irradiated mice thymus-repopulatingability was restricted to ER-MP20^– BM cells expressingeither high or intermediate levels of the ER-MP12 antigen (1–2%and –30% of BM nucleated cells respectively). The highestfrequency of thymus-repopulating cells was found in the minorsubset of ER-MP12⁺⁺20^– BM cells. In the present studywe demonstrate that upon intravenous transfer, thymus-homingand-repopulating BM cells are exclusively confined to the ER-MP12⁺⁺20^–and ER-MP12⁺20^– subpopulations, the highest frequencybeing detected among ER-MP12⁺⁺20^– BM cells. Analysis ofthe peripheral blood leucocytes of reconstituted mice showedthat not only prothymocytes but also progenitorcells of theB cell lineage as well as the myelold lineage were present withinboth subsets. Three-colour flow cytometric analysis revealedthat ER-MP12⁺⁺20^– BM cells in particular were phenotyplcallyheterogeneous with respect to the expression of the cell surfacemarkers Thy-1, Sca-1, CD44, B220 and c-kit. Taken together ourdata demonstrate that ER-MP12 positively identifies BM cellswith the ability to home to and repopulate the thymus. The phenotypicheterogeneity displayed by the ER-MP12⁺⁺20^– BM subset,containing the highest frequency of thymus-homing and-repopulatingcells, provides a basis for further separation of prothymocyteactivity from other haematopoietic activities in the BM of themouse.     

Proliferation and apoptosis of B220+ CD4 CD8 TCR{alpha}{beta}intermediate T cells in the liver of normal adult mice: implication for Ipr pathogenesis

Small numbers of T cells have been isolated from the normalmouse liver and many of these are of the CD4^–CD8^–TCRß⁺phenotype. Larger numbers of such cells are present in the liversof mice homozygous for the Ipr mutation and the liver has beenproposed to be the site of an extrathymlc T cell developmentpathway that is expanded in Ipr/lpr mice. Using a modified separationprocedure that increases the liver T cell yield, we have beenable to characterize a subset of CD4^–CD8^–TCRß^intermediateT cells that express the B220 epltope of the CD45 molecule,and resemble in this and many other ways the accumulating Tcells in Ipr lymph nodes. These cells are an actively dividingpopulation and even in healthy, unmanipulated mice a large proportionof them are undergoing apoptosis. We propose the model thatthe normal liver is a major site for T cell destruction andthat the Ipr defect results in failure of this process withleakage of B220⁺CD4^–CD8^–TCRß⁺ cells fromthe liver to peripheral lymphoid tissues, particularly lymphnodes.     

Resident CD4+ {alpha}{beta} T cells of the murine female genital tract: a phenotypically distinct T cell lineage that rapidly proliferates in response to systemic T cell activation stimuli

A population of CD4⁺ cells has been identified in the murinefemale genital tract (FGT). Phenotypic studies of FGT CD4⁺ cellsdemonstrate that they express CD3 and that the majority of thesecells are ßTCR⁺Thy-1⁺. Most of the Thy-1⁺CD4⁺ßTCR⁺ cells resemble memory T cells based on their expressionof CD44, L-selectin and CD45RB antigens. The vast majority ofThy-1⁺CD4⁺ßTCR⁺ FGT cells are CD5⁺ and all of themare B220^–. Systemic stimuli including infection with Trypanosomabrucel brucel, injection with anti-CD3, or bacterial superantigensstaphylococcal enterotoxin A or B cause a rapid accumulationof CD4+cells in the FGT exceeding that observed for CD4⁺ cellsin spleen and lymph nodes (LN). Expansion of the FGT CD4⁺ cells,which are phenotypically distinct from the splenic and LN CD4⁺T cells, is due to local proliferation rather than an influxof cells from the circulation. The CD4⁺ population in the FGTof adult nu/nu mice is dramatically reduced, indicating itsthymic dependency. In lpr/lpr mice, FGT CD4 cells do not displaychanges characteristic of splenic or LN CD4 cells in the sameanimals. These findings demonstrate that the CD4⁺ cells of themurine FGT are thymic dependent, but that they constitute aT cell lineage that phenotypically and, probably functionally,is distinct from other peripheral CD4⁺ T cell populations.     

IL-7 induces proliferation of CD3 /low CD4 CD8 human thymocyte precursors by an IL-2 independent pathway

The proliferation potential of highly purified human CD3^–CD4^–CD8^–(triple negative) and CD3^low(lo)CD4^–CD8^– thymocyteprecursors in response to various cytokines was investigated.High in vitro growth ability was observed in response to recombinanthuman IL-2 (riL-2) and human riL-7, both in the absence of anyco-mitogen and in combination with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA). Furthermore, the proliferation of these thymocyte precursorsin the presence of rlL-7, although accompanied by a significantincrease of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) p55 expression, appeared independentof that mediated by the autocrine IL-2 pathway, since mAbs toIL-2 and IL-2R p55 did not eliminate responsiveness to rlL-7.Synergism of rlL-7 with rlL-2 was also observed, while no cooperationwas detectable with rlL-4 or rlL-6. Analysis of surface phenotypeand cell cycle status of cells cultured in the presence of rlL-7,both plus and minus PMA, showed that CD3^– as well as CD3¹⁰cells readily proliferated to rlL-7. Upregulation of the levelsof expression of CD3 antigen was also observed in these cultures.These results, together with the previous characterization ofIL-7 as a human pre-B cell and mature T cell growth factor,Identify IL-7 as a cytokine with biologic activities on a varietyof target cells. They also suggest that IL-7, in analogy withthe mouse system, might play a role in human T cell ontogeny.     

Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement in B cell deficient mice generated by targeted deletion of the JH locus

B lymphocyte differentiation is characterized by an orderedseries of Ig gene assembly and expression events. In the majorityof normal B cells, assembly and expression of Ig heavy (H) chaingenes precedes that of light (L) chain genes. To determine therole of the Ig heavy chain protein in B cell development andL chain gene rearrangement, we have generated mice that cannotassemble Ig H chain genes as a result of targeted deletion ofthe J_H gene segments in embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygousfor this deletion are devoid of slg⁺ B cells in the bone marrowand periphery. B cell differentiation in these mice is blockedat the large, CD43⁺ precursor stage. However, these precursorB cells do assemble L chain genes at a low level in the absenceof µ H chain proteins. These data demonstrate that rearrangementand expression of the µ H chain gene is not absolutelyrequired for L chain gene rearrangement in vivo. Expressionof µ chains may facilitate either efficient L chain generearrangement or the survival of cells that have rearrangedlight chain genes by promoting the differentiation of large,CD43⁺ to small, CD43^– pre-B cells.     

Characterization of a 50 kDa surface membrane protein on thymic stromal cells as an important factor for early T cell development

We previously reported that the nude mouse-derived splenic Tcell clone, N-9F, exhibits a prollferative response to the SL10.3thymic epithelial cell clone. In the present study we generatedan Armenian hamster mAb, HS9, specific for SL10.3, which Inhibitedthe N-9F's proliferative response to SL10.3. We performed thymocyterepopulation experiments using fetal liver cells and 2'-deoxyguanosine-treatedthymic rudiments. After 14 days of culture, donor fetal livercells proliferated and differentiated to CD4⁺CD8⁺ and CD4^–CD8⁺with some CD4⁺CD8^– cells in the host thymic rudiments.However, most of the thymocytes remained at a CD4^–CD8^–immature stage in the presence of HS9 and the cell recoverywas reduced to 30% of the control. Immunohistostaining and flowcytometry studies revealed that HS9 reacted with stromal cellsof fetal thymus at the earliest from day 14 gestation. Neitherthymocytes nor lymph node T cells were stained with HS9. HS9antigen was distributed not only on thymic subcapsular and corticalstromal cells, but also on peripheral B cells in adult mice.The antigen that HS9 detected was found to be a 50 kDa surfacemembrane protein on thymic stromal cells. On the other hand,the 50 kDa molecule is associated with two other molecules of80 and 100 kDa on the B cells. These data indicate that theHS9 antigen may have an important role for early T cell development,especially at a stage from CD4^–CD8^– to CD4⁺CD8⁺,and may have some unknown function on B cells.     

A novel form of self tolerance dictated in the thymus of transgenic mice with autoreactive TCR {alpha} and {beta} chain genes

Transgenic (TG) mice with TCR and ß chain genes froma CD4-dependent auto-l-A^k reactive T cell clone were generated.H-2^k TG mice had a large number of thymic and splenic CD4 Tcells expressing the autoreactive TCR without manifestationof autolmmunlty. The cells were not anergic, as they could respondto autologous antigen presenting cells and antl-TCR antibodiesin vitro to proliferate and to produce interleuklns. Variousdegrees of down-regulation of CD2 and CD44 was observed in TGmice, Indicating the presence of a defective co-stlmulatoryprocess in TG T cells. These features indicate that the selftolerance in autoreactive TCR TG mice is due not to clonal deletionand anergy but to a novel mechanism where T cells cannot sufficientlyrespond to normally existing self ligand in vivo. That suchan in vivo unresponsiveness of autoreactive T cells is dictatedin the thymus during CD4 T cell differentiation as an atypicalform of positive selection of autoreactive T cells was suggestedby the abnormal surface expression of CD69 and HSA.