The stage of negative selection in tolerance induction in neonatal mice

In flow microfluorometry analysis of thymus and lymph node cells of C57BL/6(I-E-,Mlsb) mice rendered neonatally tolerant to (C57BL/6 x AKR/J)F1 (I-E+,Mlsb/a) lymphoid cells, both CD4+ and CD8+ cells showed a striking reduction in the number of V beta 6+ cells capable of recognizing Mlsa in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, indicating that clonal deletion of V beta 6+ cells by Mlsa antigen occurs just at a stage of immature V beta 6lowCD4+CD8+ thymocytes. On the other hand, the number of V beta 11+ cells capable of recognizing I-E was markedly reduced in CD4+ cells, but CD8+ cells showed only partial (20%) reduction of such a population. The clonal deletion of V beta 11+ cells by I-E may begin at the transitional stage from V beta 11lowCD4+CD8+ to V beta 11highCD4+CD8- single-position cells, and V beta 11lowCD4+CD8+ cells differentiating to V beta 11highCD4-CD8+ cells seem to be resistant to clonal deletion. V beta 11+ T cells are also stimulated by staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) irrespective of expression of CD4 or CD8. Nearly all of both V beta 11+CD4+ and V beta 11+CD8+ lymph node T cells were deleted by the injection of SEA every other day from birth. In their thymi, both V beta 11+CD4+CD8- and V beta 11+CD4-CD8+ single-positive thymocytes were deleted, and the proportion of V beta 11low thymocytes was lower than that of normal mice. The clonal deletion of V beta 11+ T cells by SEA injection occurs at a stage of immature V beta 11lowCD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes, resulting in deletion of both V beta 11+CD4+ and V beta 11+CD8+ T cells.     

Functional and phenotypic analysis of thymic B cells: role in the induction of T cell negative selection.

The phenotype of mouse thymic B cells and their capacity to induce T cell negative selection in vitro were analyzed. Thymic B cells expressed B cell markers such as IgM, Fc gamma receptor, CD44, heat-stable antigen, LFA-1 and CD40. In addition, they were positive for the activation molecule CD69 and displayed high levels of B7-2. Although thymic B cells expressed CD5 on their surface, no CD5-specific mRNA was detected. Moreover, thymic B cells induced a stronger deletion of TCR-transgenic (TG) thymocytes than splenic B cells, which had low CD69 and B7-2 levels. Interestingly, CD40-activated splenic B cells up-regulated CD69 and B7-2 and acquired a capacity to induce T cell deletion comparable to that of thymic B cells. Moreover, thymic B cells from CD40-deficient mice displayed lower CD69 and B7-2 levels than control thymic B cells, and lower capacity to induce the deletion of TCR TG thymocytes. These results support the hypothesis that CD40-mediated activation of thymic B cells determines a high efficiency of antigen presentation, suggesting that within the thymus B cells may play an important role in the elimination of autoreactive thymocytes.     

Characterization of anti-DNA B cells that escape negative selection

One of the challenges in the study of autoimmunity is to understand which autoreactive cells are subject to regulation and what mechanisms of regulation are operative. In mice transgenic for the R4A-gamma2b heavy chain of an anti-double stranded (ds) DNA antibody, the gamma2b heavy chain can pair with the full spectrum of endogenous light chains to produce a multitude of antibodies, including anti-dsDNA antibodies of different affinities and fine specificities. We have previously demonstrated the existence of two populations of anti-DNA B cells in non-autoimmune hosts: a high-affinity population which is rendered anergic in vivo, and a second high-affinity population which is deleted. We have now identified a third population of dsDNA-binding B cells. These cells produce germ-line-encoded antibodies with an apparent affinity for dsDNA that is 1 to 4 logs lower than the apparent affinities of antibodies made by anergic or deleted B cells, and represent a non-tolerized population which escapes regulation. Based on its characterization, we can define a molecular threshold for tolerance induction, and can speculate on the fate of these B cells when they are recruited to an immune response and undergo somatic mutation to become high-affinity anti-DNA B cells.     

The effect of second signals on the induction of B cell tolerance: failure of helper T cells to block tolerance induction

The effect of carrier-primed helper T (Th) cells and T cell-replacing factors on the induction of hapten-specific tolerance in B cells from adult mice has been tested. The 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl conjugate of human gamma-globulin (TNP17HGG) was used as tolerogen in an in vitro tolerance induction system. Tolerance was assessed by the subsequent induction of plaque-forming cell responses using TNP-Brucella abortus and trinitrophenylated sheep red blood cells (TNP-SRBC) plus SRBC-primed Th cells as T-independent (TI) and T-dependent (TD) forms of TNP, respectively. B cells that respond to the different forms of TNP appear to be distinct B cell subpopulations. TNP17HGG induced TNP-specific tolerance in B cells responsive to TI and TD forms of the antigen, although more tolerogen was required to induce unresponsiveness in the TD antigen-reactive B cells. The presence of antigen nonspecific T cell-replacing factors during tolerance induction had no effect on the induction of unresponsiveness in either TI or TD antigen-responsive B cells, although these factors were able to support primary anti-TNP responses in T-depleted B cell populations to subtolerogenic doses of TNP-HGG. Populations of irradiated lymphocytes enriched for HGG-specific Th cells also had no effect on tolerogenesis in TI or TD antigen-responsive B cells, although priming of TD antigen-responsive B cells occurred at subtolerogenic doses of tolerogen. The inability of these Th cells to modulate B cell unresponsiveness was not due to their inability to exert helper function at higher concentrations of HGG. Thus, in this system, tolerance susceptibility is an intrinsic property of B lymphocytes, i.e. immunogenicity vs. tolerogenicity of signals is not determined by a "second signal" provided by Th cells.     

B-cell-receptor-dependent positive and negative selection in immature B cells.

This review touches on only a small part of the complex biology of B cells, but serves to illustrate the point that the antigen receptor is the most important of many cell-surface receptors affecting cell-fate decisions. Receptor expression is necessary, but not sufficient, for cell survival. It is also essential that a B cell's antigen-receptor specificity be appropriate for its environment. The need to balance reactivity with self tolerance has resulted in an intricate feedback control (affected by both the recombinase and cell survival) that regulates independent selection events at the level of the receptor and the cell.     

Antigen-presenting cells and tolerance induction

T cell tolerance induction to foreign and self-antigens has occupied research since the beginning of the understanding of the immune system. Much controversy still exists on this question even though new methods became available to investigate immunoregulatory mechanisms. Antigen-presenting cells play a pivotal role in transferring information from the periphery of the organism to lymphoid organs. There, they initiate not only the activation of naive T cells but seem to deliver important signals which result in T cell unresponsiveness with antigen-specific tolerance induction.     

Requirement of Fas expression in B cells for tolerance induction.

Fas is a death receptor that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and is expressed in various cell types, in particular, in lymphoid cells. A loss-of-function mutation in the Fas gene (lpr mutation) causes lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, and accelerates autoimmune diseases in some strains of mice such as MRL. In this report, Fas cDNA driven by murine lck distal promoter was used to establish transgenic MRL-lpr mouse lines. The transgenic mice expressed functional Fas in mature T cells and B cells. The lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly caused by accumulation of abnormal T cells in the lpr mice were rescued in the transgenic mice. The number of B cells in the periphery as well as the serum IgG level were significantly reduced, and the autoimmune symptoms and mortality were ameliorated. These results indicate that both mature B cells and T cells must undergo Fas-mediated apoptosis to prevent the development of autoimmune diseases.     

Ontogeny of susceptibility of mouse splenic B cells to tolerance induction in vitro by TNP-D-GL.

The susceptibility of mouse spleen cells to hapten-specific tolerance induction of a primary in vitro thymus-independent antibody response was examined. Both the induction of tolerance by 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-D-glutamic acid-D-lysine (TNP96D-GL) and of antibody formation (elicited by TNP-Brucella abortus) in neonatal spleen cell cultures were unaffected by anti-Thy-1.2 plus complement treatment. Spleen cells from neonatal mice were only slightly more sensitive to TNP96D-GL tolerance induction than were cells from adult mice. The difference in susceptibility to tolerance induction was not nearly as great as that predicted by "clonal abortion"-type theories of B cell tolerogenesis.     

Positive and negative selection during B lymphocyte development

Our laboratory is interested in a variety of issues related to lymphocyte development. More specifically, we have focused on the processes that regulate the decision to commit to the B lymphocyte (B cell) lineage, then the subsequent signals that are involved in maintaining this commitment to the B cell lineage. These signals result in the positive selection of those B cells that properly execute the complex genetic changes associated with B cell development, then trigger the elimination of B cells that are responsive to self-antigens and, therefore, possess the potential to mediate autoimmune disease. Our general experimental approach has been to address these issues from the perspective of signal transduction. Our goal is to define the biochemical and genetic processes that are integrated in order to accomplish these selection processes. To do so, we employ in vivo animal models as well as more defined in vitro studies, using both primary and transformed cell lines. For the past several years, we have been primarily interested in the precise mechanisms by which the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), and intermediate forms of this receptor, regulate these complex developmental processes. We have used the ongoing studies described below as two representative examples of how we are approaching these issues and some of the insights that we have made. To place both of these studies in context, we will begin with a brief introduction into B cell development.     

Parenchymal cells in immune and tolerance induction

There is increasing evidence that dendritic cells are capable of inducing T cell tolerance to tissue-specific antigens by presenting these antigens to CD4 and CD8 T cells in the respective draining lymph nodes. In contrast, parenchymal cells are often seen as immunologically inert. This lecture summarizes studies showing that tissue cells like sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes in the liver as well as keratinocytes in the skin can induce peripheral T cell tolerance. This tolerance induction is often preceded by T cell activation. Thus, several tolerance mechanisms are operating in parallel. We still have no learn which mechanism is most suitable for therapeutic intervention in autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation.     

Early developing B cells undergo negative selection by central nervous system-specific antigens in the meninges

1. Download : Download high-res image (162KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Natural selection and the molecular basis of electrophoretic variation at the coagulation F13B locus

Electrophoretic analysis of protein variation at the coagulation F13B locus has previously revealed three alleles, with alleles 1, 2, and 3 each being at high frequency in European, African, and Asian populations, respectively. To determine if this unusual pattern of interpopulation differentiation reflects local natural selection or neutral genetic drift, we re-sequenced 4.6 kb of the gene, encompassing all exons, splice junctions, and 1.4 kb of the promoter, in African, European, and Asian samples. These analyses revealed three major lineages, which correspond to the common protein alleles and differ from each other at a non-synonymous substitution in exon 3 and a novel splice acceptor in intron K. There is previous evidence that these lineages are not functionally equivalent; we therefore carried out case-control analyses and confirmed that variability at F13B modulates susceptibility and/or survivorship in coronary artery disease (P<0.05) and type II diabetes within the coronary artery disease cohort (P<0.01). Tajima's D and Fu and Li's tests did not indicate significant departures from neutral expectations. However, publicly available data from SeattleSNPs and HapMap do indicate highly unusual levels of population differentiation (P=0.003) and an excess of allele-specific, extended haplotype homozygosity within the African population (P=0.0125). Possible causes of this putative signal of selection include hematophagous organisms, infection by pathogens that cause disseminated intravascular coagulation, and metabolic or dietary factors.     

Antigen processing at the molecular level

The recognition of antigen by helper T cells is one of the key steps in the induction of an immune response. Most helper T cells recognize a processed form of antigen; here, Paul Allen reviews the definition of antigen processing and shows that it may take at least three forms which depend upon the antigen and T cells being examined.     

An alternative to current thinking about positive selection, negative selection and activation of T cells

Given that recognition by the T-cell receptor (TCR) of allele-specific determinants on major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-encoded restricting elements (Rs) is germline encoded, whereas recognition of peptide (P) is somatically encoded, two combining site repertoires, anti-R and anti-P, are implied. As a consequence, the three pathways of T cells, positive selection, negative selection and activation, must be signalled by qualitatively distinct interactions engaging the TCR. These are spelled out as they provide an alternative to the current thinking that these pathways depend on affinity-based quantitatively distinguishable interactions.     

Autoreactivity and the positive selection of B cells

The diversity among B‐cell antigen receptor (BCR) specificities is generated by random rearrangement of gene segments during early B‐cell development. While such stochastic recombination of gene segments is important for diversity, it introduces the risk of producing self‐reactive BCRs which might lead to the development of autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it has been proposed that negative selection of autoreactive BCR specificities during early B‐cell development are required to establish tolerance towards self. In fact, transgenic mouse models have identified a number of “tolerance mechanisms” such as receptor editing, clonal deletion and anergy, all of which prevent the development of autoreactive B cells. Recent data, however, reveal that self‐recognition is crucial for the generation of B cells, and that the precursor‐BCR (pre‐BCR), which is essential for early B‐cell development, basically plays the role of an autoreactive BCR. Moreover, although it has become clear that autoreactive B cells are present in the periphery of healthy individuals, the role of autoantigen in their development, persistence and regulation is unclear. This review outlines the important role of autoreactivity in early B‐cell development and presents potential models for the regulation of the activation of peripheral B cells by different forms of self or foreign antigens.     

Aire regulates negative selection of organ-specific T cells

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 is a recessive Mendelian disorder resulting from mutations in a novel gene, AIRE, and is characterized by a spectrum of organ-specific autoimmune diseases. It is not known what tolerance mechanisms are defective as a result of AIRE mutation. By tracing the fate of autoreactive CD4+ T cells with high affinity for a pancreatic antigen in transgenic mice with an Aire mutation, we show here that Aire deficiency causes almost complete failure to delete the organ-specific cells in the thymus. These results indicate that autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome 1 is caused by failure of a specialized mechanism for deleting forbidden T cell clones, establishing a central role for this tolerance mechanism.