Cell membrane expression and functional role of the p75 subunit of interleukin-2 receptor in lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes

The cell membrane expression and functional role of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) was analyzed in nine patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL) using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) specific for the p75 (TU27) and the p55 (anti-Tac) subunits of IL-2R. Four patients were characterized by the proliferation of CD3+CD8+ granular lymphocytes (GL) expressing the alpha/beta T-cell receptor (T alpha beta) and one case by the proliferation of CD3+CD4-CD8- GL expressing the gamma/delta T-cell receptor (T gamma delta); in four additional cases proliferating cells were CD3 negative GL. Consistent with data observed on normal GL, phenotypic analysis demonstrated that patients' GL lack the expression of the p55 IL-2R, whereas the p75 subunit is constitutionally expressed by expanding GL of both T-cell (either T alpha beta and T gamma delta) and natural killer (NK) origin in variable proportions (11% to 94% of cells). The analysis of the cytotoxic and proliferative activity demonstrated that the anti-p55 MoAb failed to inhibit IL-2-mediated activation, whereas a marked inhibition of both cytotoxicity and proliferation were obtained using the anti-p75 chain specific MoAb. These data indicate that the p75 chain of IL-2R is responsible for IL-2 signal transduction in both CD3+ and CD3- LDGL patients' GL.     

The natural killer-related receptor for HLA-C expressed on T cells from CD3+ lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes displays either inhibitory or stimulatory function

Four patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL) coexpressing CD3 and the natural killer (NK)-related "p58" receptor for HLA-C alleles were studied. These CD3+p58+ LDGLs have been detected among a series of 44 CD3+ LDGLs analyzed. Two patients with LDGL (GI and BA) expressed only the p58 molecule defined by the GL-183 and CH-L monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), while the cases of patients PU and MA also coexpressed the molecular form identified by EB6 anti-p58 MoAb. Three LDGL cases (GI, MA, and PU) displayed the CD8+4-CD16+ T- cell receptor (TCR)alpha/beta+ phenotype, while one patient (BA) was CD8+4+CD16+ TCRalpha/beta+. Freshly isolated granular lymphocytes (GL) from these cases displayed cytolytic activity in an anti-CD3 MoAb- triggered redirected killing assay against the Fcgamma-receptor+ (Fcgamma-R+) P815 target cell line. Lysis of P815 target cells, triggered by an anti-CD3 or by anti-CD16 MoAb, could be inhibited by the addition of anti-p58 MoAb in three fresh or interleukin (IL)-2- cultured GL tested (GI, MA, and PU). Triggering of cytotoxicity against the HLA-DR+ Fcgamma-R+ Daudi cell line induced by appropriate superantigens could also be inhibited by anti-p58 MoAb in patients PU and GI with LDGL. These data indicate that activation through the CD16, CD3, and TCR molecules can be modulated by p58 receptors in these LDGLs. On the contrary, IL-2-expanded cells of patient BA were induced to lyse P815 target cells by anti-p58 MoAb. In addition, anti-p58 MoAB enhanced anti-CD16 MoAb triggered lysis and did not inhibit activation via CD3. These data indicate that, in this particular patient with LDGL, p58 displays a stimulatory effect on cell triggering, rather than the typical inhibitory effect previously observed in p58+ T-cell clones derived from healthy donors. The anti-p58 MoAb did not induce CA++ mobilization in p58+ LDGLs and in a p58+CD3+ normal T-cell clone equipped with inhibitory p58 molecules, while Ca++ mobilization could be observed in cultured GL from patient BA, which could be activated by anti-58 MoAb. These findings suggest that stimulatory and inhibitory p58 molecules are equipped with different signal transducing properties, thus contributing to a better knowledge of the normal counterpart.     

Activation signals leading to proliferation of normal and leukemic CD3+ large granular lymphocytes.

The activation signals leading to proliferation of normal and leukemic CD3+ large granular lymphocytes (LGL) were studied in vitro. Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) alone (P less than .01) and recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone (P less than .01) caused significant stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from four CD3+ LGL leukemia patients, as measured in a 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. Recombinant interleukin-4 (IL-4) alone had no effect (P = .11). The combination signals of anti-CD3 MoAb and either IL-2 or IL-4 produced a proliferative response greater than anti-CD3 MoAb alone (P less than .01) or lymphokine alone (P less than .01). Leukemic LGL, purified by two-color sorting, were subsequently activated by anti-CD3 MoAb and IL-2 and assessed for DNA content by viable Hoechst No. 33342 (HO) staining. Results of these studies demonstrated that leukemic LGL were stimulated directly by anti-CD3 MoAb and IL-2, with the percentage of cells in cell cycle (S + G2/M) ranging from 16% to 72%. Normal CD3+ LGL were also stimulated to enter the cell cycle by anti-CD3 and IL-2. These results show that leukemic LGL proliferate in vitro after activation through the T-cell receptor and/or lymphokine.     

Flow cytometric analysis of expression of interleukin-2 receptor beta chain (p70-75) on various leukemic cells

We analyzed the expression of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) beta chain (p70-75) on various leukemic cells from 44 patients by flow cytometric analysis using the IL-2R beta chain-specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb), designated Mik-beta 1, which has been recently developed. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the expression of the IL-2R beta chain on granular lymphocytes (GLs) from all eight patients with granular lymphocyte proliferative disorders (GLPDs), on adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells from all three patients with ATL, and on T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells from one of three patients with T-ALL. Although GLs from all the GLPD patients expressed the IL-2R beta chain alone and not the IL-2R alpha chain (Tac-antigen: p55), ATL and T-ALL cells expressing the beta chain coexpressed the alpha chain. In two of seven patients with common ALL (cALL) and in both patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the leukemic cells expressed the alpha chain alone. Neither the alpha chain nor the beta chain was expressed on leukemic cells from the remaining 28 patients, including all 18 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, five of seven patients with cALL, all three patients with multiple myeloma, and two of three patients with T-ALL. These results indicate that three different forms of IL-2R chain expression exist on leukemic cells: the alpha chain alone; the beta chain alone; and both the alpha and beta chains. To examine whether the results obtained by flow cytometric analysis actually reflect functional aspects of the expressed IL-2Rs, we studied the specific binding of 125I-labeled IL-2 (125I-IL-2) to leukemic cells in 18 of the 44 patients. In addition, we performed 125I-IL-2 crosslinking studies in seven patients. The results of IL-2R expression of both 125I-IL-2 binding assay and crosslinking studies were in agreement with those obtained by flow cytometric analysis. These results indicate that flow cytometric analysis using MoAbs, anti-Tac, and Mik-beta 1 is useful for detecting the expression of the IL-2R chains.     

Interleukin-4 protects double-negative and CD4 single-positive thymocytes from dexamethasone-induced apoptosis

Glucocorticoid hormones (GCH) and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) induce in mouse thymocytes and T-cell tumor lines an active process of cell death called apoptosis. Interleukins (IL), including IL- 1 and IL-2, have been reported to inhibit such apoptosis. In this study we show that IL-4 also reduced the DNA fragmentation characteristic of dexamethasone (DEX)-induced apoptosis in thymocytes. This effect, studied in both time-course and dose-response experiments, was also detected at low IL-4 concentrations (1 U/mL) and against high DEX levels (10(-7) mol/L). The effect of IL-4 was blocked by an anti-IL-4 but not by an anti-IL-1 alpha MoAb, and was thus both specific and direct. Phenotypic analysis showed that IL-4 protects predominantly CD4- CD8- and CD4+CD8- cells. Our findings suggest that intrathymic T-cell development may be influenced by IL-4.     

Analysis of TNF-receptor and ligand superfamily molecules in patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes

In 21 patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL), we investigated the expression and the function of molecules belonging to TNF-receptor and TNF-ligand superfamilies (CD30/CD30L; CD40/CD40L; CD27/CD70; Fas [CD95]/FasL[CD95L]). Fourteen patients were characterized by a proliferation of granular lymphocytes (GLs) expressing the CD3(+)CD16(+) phenotype, whereas 7 cases showed the CD3(-)CD16(+) CD56 +/- phenotype. Our data show that both CD3(+) and CD3-GLs are preferentially equipped with CD30, CD40, CD40L, CD70, and CD95 antigens; this pattern is usually associated with the lack of CD27 and CD30L antigens expression. CD95L was demonstrated in the cytoplasm in 14 of 21 cases by flow cytometry, but a definite signal was demonstrated in all cases studied using polymerase chain reaction analysis. On functional grounds, a stimulatory activity on rIL-2 mediated redirected-cytotoxicity against Fcgamma+ P815 targets was demonstrated with anti-CD30, CD40, CD40L, CD70, CD95, and CD95L mAbs, although resting cells were unable to exhibit significant redirected-cell lysis. The addition of anti-CD30, CD30L, CD40, CD40L, CD95, and CD95L mAbs did not show any significant effect on cell proliferation at resting conditions or after rIL-2 stimulation, whereas anti-CD70 mAb mediated cell proliferation in 6 of 10 cases tested. This figure was not related to an increase in apoptotic cells, as investigated by Annexin-V expression. Our data indicate that both CD3(+) and CD3(-) GLs are equipped with different costimulatory antigens, supporting the concept that these cells are in vivo activated and suggesting that these molecules might play a role in the cytotoxic mechanisms of GLs. (Blood. 2000;96:647-654)     

IL-12 is involved in the activation of CD3+ granular lymphocytes in patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes

We investigated the effects of IL-12 on functional properties of CD3⁺CD8⁺ granular lymphocytes (GL) of patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL). To this aim, in 10 cases with a clonal CD3⁺ GL proliferation (nine cases with an associated TCR α/β receptor and one case with a TCR γ/δ receptor) we studied the proliferative and cytotoxic activities of resting and αCD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) activated cells in the presence of rIL-12 and anti-IL-12 blocking antibodies. Specific mRNA for IL-12 p40 subunit was also investigated.   Our results showed that rIL-12 increased the proliferation of αCD3 pre-stimulated GL (2 to 6 times). Further, anti- IL-12 antibodies partially inhibited αCD3-induced cell growth, suggesting a role for this cytokine in the αCD3-mediated GL activation. The addition of antibodies blocking the p55 and p75 chains of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) did not inhibit the rIL-12-mediated cell proliferation, indicating that the activity of rIL-12 is independent of IL-2 in the in vivo expanded GL of patients under study. Concerning the cytotoxic activity, rIL-12 increased the αCD3-mediated NK activity against K-562 target cells and αCD3 redirected cytotoxicity against P815 target cells. Molecular analysis pointed out that, following αCD3 stimulation, patients' GL increased the expression of specific mRNA for the p40 subunit of IL-12 as compared to baseline conditions.   Our data indicate that IL-12 is involved in the mechanisms of activation of clonal CD3⁺ GL in patients with LDGL; these features are consistent with the possibility that this discrete subset of GL might represent in vivo primed cytotoxic T lymphocytes.     

Engagement of the natural killer cell IgG Fc receptor results in tyrosine phosphorylation of the zeta chain.

The zeta chain has emerged to be a key subunit of the T-cell antigen receptor with central roles not only in intracellular assembly of the multimeric receptor but also in mediating signal transduction events. This subunit is present in natural killer (NK) cells that lack the other subunits of the T-cell antigen receptor. In NK cells, the zeta chain appears to be associated with the NK Fc receptor [type 3 receptor for the Fc portion of IgG (Fc gamma RIII or CD16)] and may be necessary for efficient cell surface expression of this receptor complex. In T cells, the zeta chain is a prominent substrate that becomes phosphorylated on tyrosine residues after occupancy of the TCR; zeta chain phosphorylation was in fact the first evidence that the TCR was coupled to a protein-tyrosine kinase as well as to inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. To determine if Fc gamma RIII is coupled to a protein-tyrosine kinase in a manner analogous to the T-cell antigen receptor, we investigated ligand-dependent zeta-chain phosphorylation in NK cells. We observed that activation of NK cells with an anti-Fc gamma RIII monoclonal antibody induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the zeta chain whereas other activating stimuli, such as the combination of phorbol ester and ionomycin or a lymphokine, interleukin 2, did not result in phosphorylation of this protein. Perturbation of Fc gamma RIII by the more physiological stimulus, incubation of NK cells with antibody-coated target cells, also induced zeta-chain phosphorylation. Previous data have indicated that the NK-cell Fc gamma RIII is coupled to inositol phospholipid hydrolysis. This present finding that Fc gamma RIII is coupled to a protein-tyrosine kinase illustrates that there are significant similarities in the signaling pathways activated by Fc gamma RIII in NK cells and the T-cell antigen receptor in T cells; the zeta chain is a common element that may serve as a coupling protein for both of these receptors.     

Interleukin-3-induced downregulation of the expression of interleukin-2 receptor beta chain in human T cells

We examined the effect of interleukin-3 (IL-3) on human CD4+ cloned T cells, P607 and 1C2. By flow cytometric analysis, we found that IL-3 downregulated the surface expression of IL-2 receptor (R) beta chain in a dose-dependent manner but had little effect on that of IL-2R alpha chain. A simultaneous 125I-labeled IL-2 binding assay showed a decrease in the number of high-affinity, but not of low-affinity, IL-2Rs by IL-3. The downregulation of the IL-2R beta chain began 3 hours after culture initiation, increased further thereafter, and was completely inhibited by anti-IL-3 antibodies. Expression of mRNA for either alpha or beta chain was not reduced by IL-3, and this suggests that the reduction of surface beta chain expression was not caused by the reduction of beta chain mRNA. IL-3-accelerating internalization of IL-2R beta chain appeared to be one of the mechanisms for IL-3-induced downregulation of surface IL-2R beta chain expression. IL-3 alone increased the proliferation of T-cell clones but decreased the existing increment of their proliferation by IL-2. Accordingly, IL-3 may be one of the factors acting as a liaison between the hematopoietic and immune systems.     

Engagement of the adhesion receptor CD22 triggers a potent stimulatory signal for B cells and blocking CD22/CD22L interactions impairs T-cell proliferation

The B-lymphocyte-restricted adhesion protein CD22 mediates sialic acid- dependent cell-cell interactions. Engagement of CD22 on B lymphocytes with a CD22 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) HB22.7 that blocks the binding of CD22 to its ligand(s) directly stimulated B-cell proliferation. In addition, the HB22.7 MoAb costimulated B-cell proliferation with either anti-IgM, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, or CD40 and triggered predominantly B-cell IgG secretion with IL-2. Even more striking levels of B-cell proliferation occurred with HB22.7 MoAb under culture conditions that enhanced B-B-cell interactions. In contrast, a nonblocking CD22 MoAb (CD22.5) poorly costimulated in similar experiments. The functional differences between the two antibodies likely result from differing abilities to trigger downstream signaling events as significant differences in CD22 tyrosine phosphorylation and the recruitment of the tyrosine kinase p53/56lyn and the tyrosine phosphatase SH-PTP1C were found. Besides their role in B-cell stimulation, CD22/CD22L interactions may also assist in regulating T- cell proliferation because inhibition of CD22-CD22L engagement with the HB22.7 MoAb impaired T-cell proliferation in a costimulatory assay. Thus, CD22/CD22L interactions result in stimulatory signals for both B and T lymphocytes.     

The unexpected effect of cyclosporin A on CD56+CD16- and CD56+CD16+ natural killer cell subpopulations

Cyclosporin A (CSA) is commonly used to prevent graft-versus-host disease. The influence of CSA on T-cell function has been extensively investigated; however, the effect of CSA on natural killer (NK) cells is less understood. NK cells were cultured with IL-2 and IL-15 with and without CSA for 1 week. Compared with controls, CSA-treated cultures showed fewer CD56(+)CD16(+)KIR(+) NK cells and a reciprocal increase in CD56(+)CD16(-)KIR(-) cells. These changes were due mainly to a reduced proliferation of the CD56(dim) NK-cell subpopulation and a relative resistance of CD56(bright) NK cells to CSA. Following coculture with K562 targets, CSA-exposed NK cells differed from controls and lacked Ca(2+) oscillations, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) dephosphorylation, and NFAT nuclear translocation. NK cells cultured in CSA retained cytotoxicity against K562, Raji, and KIR ligand-expressing lymphoblastoid cells. NK cells cultured in CSA showed increases in NKp30 and reductions in NKp44 and NKG2D. Following IL-12 and IL-18 stimulation, CSA-treated NK cells showed more IFN-gamma-producing cells. Using in vitro NK-cell differentiation, progenitor cells gave rise to more CD56(+)KIR(-) NK cells in the presence of CSA than controls. Collectively, these studies show that CSA influences NK-cell function and phenotype, which may have important implications for graft-versus-leukemia effects.     

Proliferation of early human myeloid precursors induced by interleukin- 1 and recombinant soluble CD23

Low affinity Fc epsilon receptors (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) or their soluble fragments have various biologic effects on B- and T-cell lineages. In this study, we have assessed the effect of recombinant soluble CD23 (rsCD23) on the proliferation of human bone marrow (BM)- derived myeloid precursors with or without recombinant interleukin-1 (rIL-1) addition. Non-adherent CD2- or CD34+ BM cell subsets were used as target cells. Our results show that rsCD23 in synergy with rIL-1 displays an interleukin-3-like activity as it promotes the proliferation of multipotential marrow precursors. This effect was abolished by anti-CD23 addition to these cultures, but was not affected by anti-IL-3 monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, sequential study indicates that rIL-1 induces bone marrow cell responsiveness to rsCD23.     

Phenotypic and functional analyses of dendritic cells in patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL)

We investigated whether dendritic cells (DCs) play a role in favoring granular lymphocyte (GL) proliferation in patients with lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL). The presence of in vivo circulating DCs was studied in 11 patients (5 CD3+ and 6 CD3- LDGL). Autologous immature (iDCs) and mature (mDCs) DCs generated in vitro were studied for stimulatory activity on cell proliferation of CD3+ and CD3- GLs. The topographic organization of GLs and DCs was also studied in bone marrow (BM) biopsies. Peripheral blood (PB) CD3- GLs from patients showed significant proliferative activity in the presence of iDCs and mDCs. Conversely, monoclonal CD3+ GLs were unresponsive to autologous and allogeneic PB DCs. Analysis of BM biopsies demonstrated a topographic distribution of DCs and GLs that indicates contact between the 2 cell types. On functional assays, DCs obtained from BM were more efficient than PB DCs in stimulating CD3- GLs, and surprisingly, a low but definite stimulatory effect was demonstrated also on CD3+ GLs. The putative contact between DCs and GLs in the BM and, more crucial, the proliferative response of discrete GL populations to DC stimulation suggest the presence of a specific antigen within BM DCs, providing evidence for a role of DCs in the pathogenesis of LDGL.     

Proliferative pathways in CD1- CD3+ CD4+ CD8+ T-prolymphocytic leukemic cells: analysis with monoclonal antibodies and cytokines

The antigenic profile and the proliferative pathways in leukemic cells from the patient TRT with T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) were analyzed using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and cytokines. T-PLL cells expressed the phenotype CD1- CD3+ CD4+ CD8+. Incubation with the differentiating agent phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate markedly increased the percentage of cells with the CD4- CD8+ phenotype, suggesting that leukemic cells were already committed towards a differentiated element with the CD4- CD8+ phenotype. T-PLL cells were induced to proliferate by anti-CD2 MoAb 9-1 + 9.6 and by anti-CD3 MoAb OKT3. The two pathways exhibited normal functional interactions and were susceptible to modulation by anti-HLA class I MoAbs. These results indicate that regulation of cell proliferation was preserved to a significant extent in the T-PLL cells analyzed. At variance with normal resting T cells that require previous activation to proliferate when incubated with interleukin-1 (IL-1) or interleukin-2 (IL-2), T-PLL cells proliferated vigorously when incubated with either interleukin. Furthermore, T-PLL cells proliferated when incubated with immune interferon (IFN-gamma). The latter finding parallels the enhancement by IFN-gamma of the proliferative response of lectin-activated murine T lymphocytes. These results suggest that T-PLL cells, which express a high constitutive level of c-myc mRNA, may be in an activated state. The antigenic phenotype and the characteristics of the proliferative pathways of T-PLL cells from the patient TRT are compatible with the possibility that they may be derived from an intermediate thymocyte.     

Response of human platelets to activating monoclonal antibodies: importance of Fc gamma RII (CD32) phenotype and level of expression.

Certain monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) specific for platelet membrane glycoproteins are known to be capable of activating platelets, and it is generally thought that platelets from normal subjects are equally susceptible to stimulation by such MoAbs. We found that platelets from 20 normal donors varied significantly in their sensitivity to three IgG1 murine MoAbs specific for membrane glycoproteins CD9, GPIV (CD36), and the GPIIb/IIIa complex (CD41), respectively. The response of platelets to these MoAbs was blocked by prior addition of MoAb IV.3 specific for the Fc gamma RII receptor, indicating that activation was Fc receptor mediated. Platelets that responded poorly to these MoAbs failed to bind the MoAb 41H.16, specific for the "responder" form of Fc gamma RII, but platelets that responded well reacted with this MoAb. The average number of Fc gamma RII receptors on platelets from "responders" and "non-responders" was approximately the same. However, the number of Fc gamma RII receptors expressed influenced sensitivity of a subgroup of "responder" platelets to the anti-CD41 MoAb. These platelets were judged on the basis of MoAb binding studies to be heterozygous for the two alleles of Fc gamma RIIA. In contrast to their varying sensitivity to IgG1 MoAbs, members of the platelet panel responded equally well to 50H.19, an IgG2a MoAb specific for CD9, and these responses could not be blocked by MoAb IV.3 in the presence of plasma. This appears to be because of dual actions of 50H.19 on platelets: one FcR-dependent and the other complement-dependent. Our findings confirm previous reports that certain IgG1 MoAbs activate platelets through binding of their Fc domains to Fc gamma RII receptors and demonstrate that this response is influenced both by Fc gamma RII phenotype and (in the case of the anti-CD41 MoAb) by the number of Fc gamma RII receptors expressed. The failure of nonresponding platelets to bind detectable amounts of MoAb 41H.16, which is thought to recognize all Fc gamma RII receptors except for one allele of the Fc gamma RIIA gene, is consistent with the possibility that Fc gamma RIIA gene products, but not Fc gamma RIIB or Fc gamma RIIC gene products, are expressed on platelets.     

Decreased inducible expression of CD80 and CD86 in human monocytes after ultraviolet-B irradiation: its involvement in inactivation of allogenecity

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation of antigen presenting cells (APCs) modifies their allogenecity, resulting in inhibition of the proliferative response of T cells in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Costimulation by the CD28 ligand CD80 (B7/B7-1) and CD86 (B70/B7-2) plays an important role during T-cell proliferation by augmenting synthesis of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and other cytokines. In this study, we demonstrated induced expression of both CD80 and CD86 during allogeneic MLR, though human freshly isolated monocytes express CD86 constitutively with a much lower level of CD80. A monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against CD86, but not CD80, efficiently inhibited allogeneic T- cell proliferative responses stimulated with highly purified monocytes. UV-B exposure (0 to 1,000 J/m2) of monocytes inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes in MLR in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that UV-B exposure of monocytes impaired the constitutive expression of CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) by 24 hours after irradiation, but the effect on CD86 was relatively less. The surface expression of CD80, CD86, CD54, and HLA-DR on monocytes was further augmented by interferon (IFN)-gamma; this cytokine-induced expression was dose-dependently reduced by UV-B irradiation. Similarly, the upregulation of these molecules following allogeneic MLR was downregulated by UV-B irradiation. UV-B irradiation of monocytes inhibited the expression of IL-2 mRNA in monocyte-stimulated allogeneic MLR. In contrast, the addition of anti-CD28 MoAb at the onset of MLR prevented, at least partially, the reduction of IL-2 mRNA. These results strongly suggest that the impairment of inducible expression of CD86 and CD80 may contribute to the reduced MLR response following exposure of monocytes of UV-B.     

Interleukin-7 is a critical growth factor in early human T-cell development

Highly purified human CD34+ fetal liver stem cells differentiate to mature T cells when seeded in vitro into isolated fetal thymic lobes of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice followed by fetal thymus organ culture (FTOC). Here, this chimeric human-mouse FTOC was used to address the role of interleukin-7 (IL-7) and of the alpha chain of the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R alpha) in early human T-cell development. We report that addition of either the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) M25, which neutralizes both human and mouse IL-7, or the MoAb M21, which recognizes and blocks exclusively the human high-affinity alpha-chain of the IL-7R, results in a profound reduction in human thymic cellularity. Analysis of lymphoid subpopulations indicates that a highly reduced number of cells undergo maturation from CD34+ precursor cells toward CD4+CD3-CD1+ progenitor cells and subsequently toward CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Our results reveal a critical role for IL-7 during early human thymocyte development, and may explain the absence or highly reduced levels of T cells in patients with X-linked SCID. The molecular defect in these patients has been shown to be a mutation in the gamma chain of the IL-2R. Although this gamma chain is not only present in the IL-2R, but also forms an essential part of other cytokine receptors, including IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-13, and IL-15, the T- cell defect in these patients can be explained by the fact that IL-7 is not able to transduce its signal by the molecular defect of the common gamma (gamma c) chain and that IL-7 is indispensable for T-cell development.     

Heterogeneous immunophenotype of granular lymphocyte expansions: differential expression of the CD8 alpha and CD8 beta chains.

In this study, we have evaluated 14 large granular lymphocyte (LGL) expansions, 11 of which were CD8+. Analysis of the membrane expression of the alpha and beta chains of the CD8 antigen, using specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), has shown that LGL expansions with the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD57+ T-cell receptor (TcR) alpha beta phenotype bear the CD8 alpha/alpha isoform, while the CD3+, CD4-, CD8+, CD57+ TcR alpha beta samples were positive for both the CD8 alpha and CD8 beta chains. These data were confirmed also by messenger RNA analysis. One additional case, with a peculiar phenotype (CD3-, CD2-, CD4-, CD8+, CD57-) and a germline configuration of the TcR beta and gamma chain genes, expressed only the CD8 alpha chain. After additional phenotypic analysis with a wider panel of MoAbs, it was found that the beta chain of the interleukin-2 receptor was constitutively expressed on the majority of the samples tested, and that most of the monoclonal samples coexpressed CD45RA/R0 antigens. Using MoAbs directed against the variable regions of the TcR beta chain, we could show a preferential V beta region restriction in the CD8+ monoclonal cases. This more extensive characterization of CD8+ LGL expansions has further documented the marked heterogeneity within this rare condition and allowed a better phenotypic dissection between the monoclonal and polyclonal cases.