CD3−CD4−CD8−CD56−CD19−CD14− cells and CD3+CD8 dull-positive cells produce IL-4 in AIDS patients

We used flow cytometry to identify the presence of intracellular cytokines (cytoflow) and analyse the production of IL-4 in peripheral blood from AIDS patients who have practically no CD4⁺ T cells. We found that IL-4 was produced by CD3⁻CD4⁻CD8⁻CD56⁻CD19⁻CD14⁻ cells and CD3⁺CD8 dull-positive cells in AIDS patients. Moreover, CD3⁻CD4⁻ CD8⁻CD56⁻CD19⁻CD14⁻ cells had helper activity for immunoglobulin synthesis. These findings indicate that instead of CD4⁺ T helper cells, C3⁻CD4⁻CD8⁻CD56⁻ CD19⁻CD14⁻ cells and CD3⁺CD8 dull-positive cells may be an important source of IL-4 in a variety of immune responses for AIDS patients.     

In pregnant mice, the infection of Toxoplasma gondii causes the decrease of CD4+CD25+ -regulatory T cells

Acute maternal infection with Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although previous reports have indicated that T. gondii may result in abortion without direct transmission of the parasite to the foetus, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. CD4⁺CD25⁺-regulatory T cells are known to be involved in maternal tolerance toward the foetus-bearing alloantigens. With a model of pregnant mice infected with T. gondii , we found that Foxp3 mRNA expression levels in both splenocytes and placenta were reduced markedly during the process of infection. Furthermore, the numbers of splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺-regulatory T cells and placental Foxp3⁺ cells decreased synchronously in the infected mice, and the reduction of splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺-regulatory T cells were associated with apoptosis induced by the infection. Additionally, injection of pregnant mice with excretory–secretory antigens (ESA) of T. gondii also resulted in foetal loss, which could be partly prevented by adoptive transfer of CD4⁺CD25⁺-regulatory T cells from normal pregnant mice. These data suggest that foetal loss caused by T. gondii can be independent of vertical infection and that the decrease of CD4⁺CD25⁺-regulatory T cells during infection may represent a previously unrecognized mechanism for the pathogenesis of abortion caused by this parasite.     

Monitoring of CD95 and CD38 expression in peripheral blood T lymphocytes during active human cytomegalovirus infection after orthotopic liver transplantation

Aim:  The aim of the present study was to quantitatively monitor the response of CD95 molecules expressed on CD3⁺ T cells (CD95⁺CD3⁺ cells) and CD38 molecules expressed on CD8⁺ T cells (CD38⁺CD8⁺ cells) to ganciclovir treatment after orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) in recipients with active human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.
Methods:  Blood samples were collected from 20 liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection and 24 recipients without HCMV infection. CD95⁺CD3⁺ cells and CD38⁺CD8⁺ cells were quantitatively detected with QuantiBRITE bead methods by dual-color flow cytometry analysis during the post-transplantation period.
Results:  CD95⁺CD3⁺ cells and CD38⁺CD8⁺ cells were not significantly different among different ages of healthy adults ( P  > 0.05). CD95⁺CD3⁺ cells and CD38⁺CD8⁺ cells were drastically increased in the active HCMV infection group compared with that in the stable group or in the healthy group ( P  < 0.001), and then they were gradually decreased within the next several weeks after ganciclovir treatment when compared with active HCMV infection recipients ( P  < 0.001).
Conclusions:  The present study showed that CD38⁺CD8⁺ T cells can be an appropriate immunological marker for early detection and antiviral therapeutic monitoring of HCMV infection. The evaluation of CD95 molecule levels may be used routinely in clinical practice to assess the level of immunosuppression.     

Expression of CD8β and alteration of cell surface phenotype in adult T-cell leukaemia cells

Typical adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) cells have a CD4⁺CD8⁻ cell surface phenotype, but atypical phenotypes such as CD4⁺CD8⁺ and CD4⁻CD8⁺ have also been reported. The CD8 molecule is composed of α and β chains and commonly used monoclonal antibodies against CD8 molecule detect only CD8α. Since it has been reported that CD8α can be induced in mature CD4⁺ T cells by cell activation, but not CD8β, we studied whether ATL cells which express CD8α may also express CD8β. We found some cases of CD8α⁺ ATL were also positive for CD8β. Furthermore, we experienced a case whose ATL cell surface phenotype changed from CD4⁺CD8α⁺CD8β⁺ to CD4⁻CD8α⁺CD8β⁺ and finally to CD4⁺CD8α⁻CD8β⁻. Southern blot analysis revealed that the monoclonal integration of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) was identical throughout the course of the study, indicating that a single clone had demonstrated the alterations. These data suggest that peripheral CD4⁺CD8⁺ ATL cells can express not only CD8α, but also CD8β and that a single ATL cell clone has the potential to change its surface phenotype in vivo as well as in vitro .     

IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells, pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis are increased in low risk myelodysplastic syndrome

Immunological responses are increasingly recognised as being important in the initiation and progression of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Indeed, autoimmune diseases commonly occur in association with MDS, particularly in subtypes with a low risk of leukaemic transformation. This study showed for the first time that the numbers of CD3⁺ CD4⁺ IL-17 producing T cells (Th17) were markedly increased in low risk MDS compared with high risk MDS ( P  < 0·01). An inverse relationship between the numbers of Th17 cells and naturally occurring CD4⁺CD25^high FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) were also described. The Th17:Tregs ratio was significantly higher in low risk disease ( P  < 0·005) compared with high risk MDS and was correlated with increased bone marrow (BM) apoptosis ( P  < 0·01). Tregs from MDS patients suppressed interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion by effector CD4⁺ T cells but had no effect on interleukin (IL)-17 production. In addition, the serum levels of IL-7, IL-12, RANTES and IFN-γ are significantly elevated in low risk MDS, while inhibitory factors, such as IL-10 and soluble IL-2 receptor, are significantly higher in high risk disease. The 'unfavourable' Th17:Tregs ratio in low risk MDS may explain the higher risk of autoimmunity and the improved response to immune suppression in patients with low risk MDS compared to those with high risk disease.     

Foxp3 expression on normal and leukemic CD4+CD25+ T cells implicated in human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 is inconsistent with Treg cells

Foxp3 is a master gene of Treg cells, a novel subset of CD4⁺ T cells primarily expressing CD25. We describe here different features in Foxp3 expression profile between normal and leukemic CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells, using peripheral blood samples from healthy controls (HCs), human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1)-infected asymptomatic carriers (ACs), patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), and various hematopoietic cell lines. The majority of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in HCs were positive for Foxp3, but not all CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in ACs were positive, indicating that Foxp3 expression is not always linked to CD25 expression in normal T cells. Leukemic (ATL) T cells constitutively expressing CD25 were characteristic of heterogeneous Foxp3 expression, such as intra- and inter-case heterogeneity in intensity, inconsistency with CD25 expression, and a discrepancy in the mRNA and its protein expression. Surprisingly, a discernible amount of Foxp3 mRNA was detectable even in most cell lines without CD25 expression, a small fraction of which was positive for the Foxp3 proteins. The subcellular localization of Foxp3 in HTLV-1-infected cell lines was mainly cytoplasmic, different from that of primary ATL cells. These findings indicate that Foxp3 has two facets: essential Treg identity and molecular mimicry secondary to tumorigenesis. Conclusively, Foxp3 in normal T cells, but not mRNA, is basically potent at discriminating a subset of Treg cells from CD25⁺ T-cell populations, whereas the modulation of Foxp3 expression in leukemic T cells could be implicated in oncogenesis and has a potentially useful clinical role.     

Eosinophilia associated with proliferation of CD3+4−8−αβ+ T cells with chromosome 16 anomalies

We describe a patient with eosinophilia and an abnormal CD3⁺4⁻8⁻αβ⁺ T-cell population. Chromosomal analysis of sorted CD3⁺4⁻8⁻ cells revealed abnormal karyotypes on chromosome 16. In the presence of IL-2 the production of IL-5 from CD3⁺4⁻8⁻ cells was higher than that from CD3⁺4⁺/8⁺ cells. Eosinophil survival-enhancing activity in the patient serum was inhibited by a combination of anti-IL-5 and anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibodies. These data suggest that increased production of IL-5 and GM-CSF from the abnormal CD3⁺4⁻8⁻ cells might cause eosinophilia.     

Cellular origin and extent of clonal involvement in multiple myeloma: genetic and phenotypic studies

The cellular origin and extent of clonal involvement in multiple myeloma (MM) are controversial. The third-complementarity-determining region (CDR3) of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene is the target region of V_H replacements and somatic mutations. We analysed the CDR3 sequences of myeloma cells from eight newly diagnosed and three relapsed patients in order to elucidate the target cell of malignant transformation in MM. We also examined the extent of clonal involvement in MM using a CDR3 clone-specific nucleic acid probe. The peripheral lymphocytes from the five MM patients were separated into fractions such as CD34⁺, CD20⁺CD10⁺, CD20⁺CD21⁺, CD20⁺CD19⁻ and CD2⁺ cells. Amplified CDR3 DNAs from these subpopulations were hybridized with the probe specific to each patient's tumour cells. We found no evidence of ongoing V_H replacements or somatic mutations in CDR3 in MM. However, frequent nucleotide mutations in D and J_H segments were observed. Circulating malignant cells were detected in the CD34⁺ and all of the CD20⁺ subpopulations, but not in the CD2⁺ fraction. MM is a neoplasm originating from a B-lineage cell which has already undergone antigendependent selection. Nevertheless, the tumour cells are composed of heterogeneous subpopulations at various stages of differentiation, similar to normal B-lineage cells. Conversely, T cells were not involved in MM. These results imply that there is an analogous developmental pathway between the normal B-lineage cells and the tumour cells of MM.     

Cytokine activity after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, V. Analysis of IL-2 and IFN production by isolated CD4+ and CD8+ cells

Summary. Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that PBMC from recipients of an HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplant produce levels of IL-2 which are 10–100-fold lower than those produced by the same number of PBMC from healthy controls, whereas production of IFN-γ is normal. The present study examined IL-2 and IFN production over a range of cell numbers for PBMC and for isolated CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells for controls and marrow transplant recipients. There was a 5-fold lower IL-2 production in marrow transplant recipient CD8⁺ cells compared with equivalent numbers of control cells, whereas no difference was found in IL-2 production by CD4⁺ cells. In contrast, IFN production by CD4⁺ cells from marrow transplant recipients was 4-fold higher than in controls, whereas CD8⁺ cells from both populations produced similar amounts of IFN. When the observed production of cytokine by PBMC was compared with the expected production based on the CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ content of the PBMC, control values were similar, but the expected values for both cytokines were approximately 2-fold higher than the observed values for marrow transplant recipients. The results suggest that the capacity of T cells from marrow transplant recipients to produce IL-2 and IFN is not impaired, but that the frequency of cytokine-producing cells may be reduced, and that a negative interaction present in recipient PBMC, eliminated by isolating T-cell subsets, is responsible for the observed low levels of cytokine production.     

Blastogenic responses, interleukin-2 production and interleukin-2 receptor expression on CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in rhesus monkeys experimentally inoculated with Loa loa

To better understand cellular responses in loiasis infection, in vitro blastogenesis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to filarial antigen was assessed in 12 Loa loa -inoculated rhesus monkeys over a two-year period. Cellular reactivity to antigen was observed between 10–35 weeks postinoculation (WPI), but had declined by week 50. The roles of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in regulating the response to antigen were examined during the initial (57 WPI) and late (92 WPI) time points of the observed diminished reactivity to antigen. The levels of IL-2 in antigen cultures at both time points were not significantly different from those in unstimulated cultures. Also, exogenous IL-2 partially reversed the PBMC response to antigen. The percentages of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells expressing IL-2R in antigen cultures at 57 WPI were not different from those of control animals. Likewise at 92 WPI, the percentage of CD4⁺ T cells expressing IL-2R in antigen cultures, were not increased above those of control animals. In contrast, the percentage of CD8⁺ T cells expressing IL-2R in antigen cultures were significantly increased above those of control animals ( P  < 0.0001), coinciding with an increase in CD8⁺ T cell numbers in these cultures. The data show that factors besides IL-2, and probably an imbalance in the percentages of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells bearing IL-2R in antigen cultures, may contribute to the diminished reactivity to antigen in L. loa -inoculated rhesus monkeys .     

Regulation of interleukin-4 production and cytokine-induced growth potential in peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The malignant cells in tumour tissues produce cytokines/growth factors that may influence tumour growth, tumour immunogenicity and host immune response. We demonstrate that lymph node cell (LNC) purified neoplastic T cells from CD4⁺ peripheral T-cell lymphoma (CD4⁺ PTCL) and CD8⁺ PTCL spontaneously, and after stimulation with anti-CD3, secreted high amounts of interleukin-4 (IL-4) as compared to LNC-purified CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ non-malignant T cells. Furthermore, IL-4 was observed to be the most potent cytokine that induced in vitro proliferation and growth of the malignant T cells. Moreover, malignant T-cell-derived IL-4 secretion was augmented by exogeneous recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and was profoundly inhibited by IL-2. Because IL-4 was shown to be a locally active cytokine with a wide range of immunoregulatory properties, regulation of IL-4 production by IFN-γ and IL-2 in malignant T cells may be one of the important parameters to be assessed in the design of anticancer-specific immunotherapy. In summary, we report that malignant T cells produce IL-4, a type 2 cytokine (Th2 cell response) that acts as a growth factor and which may play a critical role in PTCL disease mechanism.     

Fas/APO-1 (CD95)-mediated cytotoxicity is responsible for the apoptotic cell death of leukaemic cells induced by interleukin-2-activated T cells

Apoptotic cell death is induced by the cross-linking of Fas/APO-1 receptor (CD95) in acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) cells. Since CD95 ligand (CD95L) is expressed on interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated T cells, we investigated the involvement of CD95-CD95L pathway in T cell-mediated cytotoxicity against AML cells. Activated CD8⁺ T cells could efficiently kill a parental CD95-sensitive AML cell line, MML-1 and, to a lesser extent, a CD95-resistant clone, MML-1R. Neither MML-1 nor MML-1R cells were killed by activated CD4⁺ T cells. The blocking monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against CD95, ZB4, caused a significant inhibition of T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity against MML-1 cells, but not against MML-1R cells. Interestingly, MML-1 cells underwent the classic nuclear morphologic changes and DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis when cultured with activated T cells. Enumeration of apoptotic and necrotic nuclei showed that both apoptosis and necrosis were induced in MML-1 cells, whereas necrosis was exclusively observed in MML-1R cells. Apoptosis of MML-1 cells was completely blocked in the presence of ZB4 MoAb. Similarly, blocking by ZB4 MoAb significantly inhibited T-cell-mediated lysis of fresh AML cells in a CD95-sensitive group, but not in a CD95-refractory group. In addition CD8⁺ T cells expressed CD95L mRNA more abundantly than CD4⁺ T cells upon activation by IL-2. These findings suggest that T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity against AML cells requires participation of CD95-CD95L pathway for cytotoxic signal transduction leading to target apoptosis.     

Major role for CD8+ T cells in the protection against Toxoplasma gondii following dendritic cell vaccination

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a worldwide zoonosis for which an effective vaccine is needed. Vaccination with pulsed dendritic cells is very efficient but their use in a vaccination protocol is unconceivable. Nevertheless, unravelling the induced effector mechanisms is crucial to design new vaccine strategies. We vaccinated CBA/J mice with parasite extract-pulsed dendritic cells, challenged them with T. gondii cysts and carried out in vivo depletion of CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T lymphocytes to study the subsequent cellular immune response and protective mechanisms. CD4⁺ lymphocytes were poorly implicated either in spleen and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cytokine secretion or in mice protection. By contrast, the increasing number of intracerebral cysts and depletion of CD8⁺ cells were strongly correlated, revealing a prominent role for CD8⁺ lymphocytes in the protection of mice. Splenic CD8⁺ lymphocytes induce a strong Th1 response controlled by a Th2 response whereas CD8⁺ cells from MLNs inhibit both Th1 and Th2 responses. CD8⁺ cells are the main effectors following dendritic cell vaccination and Toxoplasma infection while CD4⁺ T cells only play a minor role. This contrasts with T. gondii infection which elicits the generation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells that provide protective immunity.     

Recruitment of CD8+ T cells expressing granzyme A is associated with lesion progression in human cutaneous leishmaniasis

Human infection with Leishmania braziliensis leads to the establishment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), characterized by the appearance of skin lesions that progress from nonulcerated to ulcerated forms. Our goal was to characterize the immunological kinetics associated with this progression, comparing the cellular composition, cytokines and granzyme expression between lesions of patients with early (E-CL) and late stages (L-CL) of CL. Histopathological analysis showed that lesions from L-CL had more exuberant inflammatory infiltrate as compared to E-CL. Although E-CL and L-CL lesions were predominantly mononuclear, lesions from E-CL patients presented higher neutrophil and eosinophil counts than L-CL. While percentages of CD4⁺ and of CD68⁺ cells were slightly higher in L-CL, a fivefold increase of CD8 ⁺ cells was observed in L-CL, as compared to E-CL. Moreover, CD8⁺ T-cells from L-CL expressed significantly higher levels of granzyme A than E-CL. Interestingly, granzyme A expression was positively correlated with intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate in L-CL but not E-CL. Lastly, percentages of IFN-γ ⁺ and IL-10⁺ cells were higher in L-CL as compared to E-CL, with CD4⁺ T-cells and CD68⁺ monocytes as the main sources of these cytokines, respectively. These results suggest that recruitment of CD8⁺ granzyme A⁺ T cells is involved in lesion progression in human CL.     

Regulatory T Cells in children with intestinal parasite infection

Chronic intestinal parasite infection can induce both persistent immune activation and defective responsiveness of T cells. This study aimed to assess the number and function of T regulatory (Treg) cells in children with intestinal parasite infection. We have studied the peripheral blood from 93 children, 53 of them parasitized with protozoa, helminths, or both; the remainder were non parasitized, healthy controls. The number and function of CD4⁺ CD25^high and CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ cells were similar in parasitized and control children. In contrast, there was a significant increase in the levels of CD3⁺ CD69⁺, CD4⁺ CTLA-4⁺, and CD8⁺ CD28⁻ T cells in helminth infected children. Moreover, some of these patients showed a diminished response to CD3/CD28 stimulation in comparison with the control children. Our data strongly suggest that whilst Treg cells are not affected by intestinal parasite infection, CD3⁺ CD69⁺, CD4⁺ CTLA-4⁺ and CD8⁺ CD28⁻ lymphocytes may play an important, but as yet undetermined role in the diminished immune competence observed in parasitized children.     

CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞对肺结核患者特异细胞免疫的调节作用

目的　探讨调节性T细胞对结核患者特异性细胞免疫的调节作用及其在结核病发生中的意义。方法 采用免疫磁珠从健康对照和结核患者外周血单个核细胞中分离CD4⁺CD25⁺调节性T细胞,观察其对结核患者外周血免疫反应,包括细胞增殖反应和细胞因子IFN-γ及IL-10分泌的影响。结果 体外消除CD4⁺CD25⁺调节性T细胞没有显著影响健康对照PBMC对BCG抗原的增殖反应,但可以显著增强结核患者PBMC对BCG抗原的细胞增殖反应、细胞因子IFN-γ及IL-10的分泌。分离的CD4⁺CD25⁺调节性T细胞能显著抑制结核患者CD4⁺CD25^-T细胞对BCG抗原及抗-CD3的细胞增殖和细胞因子IFN-γ分泌;CD4⁺CD25⁺调节性T细胞也抑制BCG刺激的CD4⁺CD25^-T细胞IL-10的分泌,但不影响抗-CD3刺激的IL-10分泌。结论 CD4⁺CD25⁺调节性T细胞可能通过抑制结核患者特异性细胞免疫应答促进肺结核病的发生发展。     

Flow cytometric identification of candidate normal stem cell populations in CD45-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

CD45-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) provides a unique model to study the stem cell compartment in ALL as leukaemic CD34-positive cells, unlike their normal counterparts, do not express CD45. By increasing the number of events analysed to 10⁶, storing only the events in the region of interest (storage gate), using appropriate isotype controls and stringent washing procedures, a flow cytometric protocol was established to characterize rare CD34⁺CD19⁻ events. In eight of 12 patients (67%) with CD45-negative B-cell precursor ALL, a distinct CD34⁺CD19⁻CD45⁺ candidate normal stem cell population could be detected. In one patient analysed by four-colour staining, the CD34⁺CD19⁻CD45⁺ cells, unlike the CD45-negative leukaemic cells, expressed CD117 (c-kit), providing further evidence that these cells represent residual non-leukaemic normal cells. By multiparameter analysis, this population of candidate normal stem cells could be separated from contaminating leukaemic CD34⁺CD19⁻CD45⁻cells, which were detected in 11 of the 12 patients within the CD34⁺CD19⁻ compartment.