共刺激分子与类风湿性关节炎患者T细胞的平衡失控

共刺激分子和凋亡受体CD95(Fas)分子的异常表达与T细胞的异常活化及其亚群平衡偏移密切相关，本研究拟通过对类风湿性关节炎(RA)患者T细胞亚群上表面CD30和CD95分子表达的检测，探讨细胞信号分子在参与RA免疫紊乱中的作用。     

Activation of CD4+ T cells by delivery of the B7 costimulatory signal on bystander antigen-presenting cells (trans-costimulation)

Increasing evidence in both murine and human systems suggests that the interaction of the T cell surface antigens CD28/CTLA4 with their ligand B7 on the antigen-presenting cells (APC) is the critical costimulatory pathway involved in the induction of maximal T cell activation and the prevention of induction of anergy. It has also been demonstrated that efficient induction of clonal expansion of normal CD4⁺ T cells requires the delivery of the T cell receptor (TCR) ligand and costimulation by the same APC. We demonstrate here that normal murine CD4⁺ T cells can be efficiently activated by soluble anti-CD3 cross-linked by fixed macrophages and by a costimulatory signal delivered by a bystander APC, B7-transfected L cells. The major factor which determined the ability of an APC to provide costimulation in “trans” was the level of cell surface B7 expression. The requirement for B7 costimulation appears to be at initial stage of TCR engagement since optimal T cell activation was only observed when TCR triggering and B7 costimulatory activity were delivered at same time by different APC. Induction of maximal proliferation of both naive CD45RB^hi and memory CD45RB^lo CD4⁺ T cells was B7 dependent and both populations of cells responded equally well to the B7 costimulation delivered in “trans”. Furthermore, trans-costimulation provided by B7 transfected L cells efficiently prevented the induction of anergy in normal murine CD4⁺ T cells induced by anti-CD3 cross-linked by fixed-resting macrophages. Addition of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-7 to the primary culture in the absence of B7-transfected L cells or addition of IL-2 to the culture containing the B7 transfectant and CTLA4Ig completely prevented the induction of hyporesponsiveness. These findings raise the possibility that in certain pathological states, CD4⁺ T cells in vivo may be activated by costimulation delivered by bystander APC.     

抗甲状腺治疗对Graves病患者外周血T、B淋巴细胞亚群及部分协同刺激分子表达的影响

为了研究抗甲状腺药物对Graves病患者外周血T、B淋巴细胞亚群及协同刺激分子的表达影响,探讨其在Graves病免疫病理机制中的作用,运用流式细胞术测定20例初发Graves病患者、11例硫脲类药物治疗的患者及16例正常对照外周血淋巴细胞CD19、CD40、HLA-DR、CD80、CD3、CD4、CD8、CD28等表面分子的表达水平。发现Graves病患者CD19+、CD19+CD40+、CD19+HLA-DR+、CD80+细胞比率高于正常对照组;CD3+CD8+细胞比率低于正常对照组,CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+比值升高,CD3+HLA-DR+细胞比率高于正常对照组。硫脲类药物他巴唑或丙基硫氧嘧啶治疗2~4月后缓解患者CD80+细胞恢复正常。与正常对照比较治疗缓解后患者CD3+CD8+、CD8+CD28+细胞比率降低,CD3+HLA-DR+、CD4+HLA-DR+升高,CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+比值升高。上述结果提示Graves病患者体液免疫处于较高水平,外周血活化T细胞升高,硫脲类药物可以调节部分免疫指标,其改变同临床症状的改善并非同步。     

Prolonged growth of activated B lymphocytes requires interaction with helper T cells

Resting B lymphocytes acquire upon activation responsiveness to soluble factors that support their growth and differentiation. We have studied the growth requirements of anti-mu pre-activated B lymphocytes in vitro. We found that activated B lymphocytes did respond to soluble factors from helper T cells by entering the cell cycle but cell-cell contact with specific helper T cells was required for prolonged growth of activated B lymphocytes. Thus, activated B lymphocytes must receive activation signals from helper T cells in order to stay in the proliferative phase of the cell cycle.     

Lung macrophages and dendritic cells express HLA-G molecules in pulmonary diseases

HLA-G is selectively expressed in extravillous trophoblast of human placenta, which does not express classical HLA-A and -B molecules. Several studies report the role of HLA-G as a molecule involved in immune tolerance. By interacting with NK and T cells inhibitory receptors, HLA-G may downregulate their cytotoxicity functions. To appreciate the biologic and clinical relevance of HLA-G expression in lung diseases, HLA class I and HLA-G expression were analyzed in a panel of 36 ex vivo neoplastic tissues and 8 non-neoplastic lung tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using a pan-HLA class I antibody (W6/32) and three different specific anti-HLA-G antibodies (87G, MEMG/9 and 4H84). These findings demonstrated that HLA-G products were not expressed in pulmonary structural cells. However, HLA-G molecules were detected in activated macrophages and dendritic cells infiltrating lung carcinomas (33%) and nontumoral pulmonary diseases (25%). HLA-G expression was not correlated with classical HLA alterations. No statistical correlation was found between HLA-G expression and clinical or biologic parameters except high tumor size. The expression of HLA-G in myelo-monocytic cells infiltrating lung pathologic tissues could alter antigenic presentation and contribute to decrease immune response efficiency, subsequently favoring the progression of tumoral or inflammatory processes.     

IL-7对胸腺T细胞及树突状细胞体外分化发育的影响

目的:探讨IL-7对胸腺T细胞及胸腺树突状细胞分化的影响。方法:摘取15～16日龄胎鼠胸腺进行体外器官培养(胚胎胸腺器官培养-FTOC),分别将细胞因子IL-7和培养基滴加在胸腺小叶上,12天后收集不同条件下经FTOC培养获得的胸腺细胞,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面分子CD4、CD8、CD11c、B220、Ia等的表达,通过光学显微镜观察细胞形态,通过细胞计数检测细胞数目的变化。再将经FTOC培养获得的胸腺细胞和异源的T细胞进行混合淋巴细胞反应,通过MTT法检测T细胞的增殖情况。结果:细胞计数结果表明添加外源性IL-7组的胸腺细胞数目明显减少,流式细胞仪检测结果显示其中胸腺CD4-CD8-双阴性细胞及CD8+单阳性细胞比例有所增加,而CD4+CD8+双阳性细胞比例显著下降,CD4+单阳性细胞比例没有明显变化;此外,B细胞和树突状细胞、NK细胞数量均有不同程度的增加。结论:IL-7在胸腺T细胞及胸腺树突状细胞的分化发育中发挥重要的调节作用。     

Reciprocal expression of co-stimulatory molecules,B7-1 and B7-2, on murine T cells following activation

The co-stimulatory B7 molecules (B7-1 and B7-2) are expressed on professional antigen-presenting cells in mice. In this study, we demonstrate that B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) are also expressed on murine T cells in the absence of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. The temporal expression of these two molecules on T cells varies with the state of activation where resting T cells express B7-2 but show little or no expression of B7-1. Following activation, B7-2 expression is down-regulated and there is a concomitant increase in the expression of B7-1 on the cell surface which peaks at about 72 h. Thus these two co-stimulatory molecules are reciprocally expressed on the T cell surface. This pattern of expression of B7-1 and B7-2 on T cells suggests that these two molecules may have different roles in the generation and regulation of immune responses.     

Follicular dendritic cells and presentation of antigen and costimulatory signals to B cells

Summary: This review focuses on how immunogens trapped by FDC In the form of Ag-Ab complexes productively signal B cells. In vitro, Ag-Ab complexes are poorly immunogenic but m vivo immune complexes elk ii potent recall responses. FDC trap Ag-Ab complexes and make immune complex mated bodies or "iccosomes". B cells endocytose iccosomes, the Ag is processed, and T-cell help is elicited. In vitro, addition of FDC bearing appropriate Ag-Ab complex to memory T and B cells provoke potent recall responses (IgG and IgE). FDC also provide nonspecific costimulatory signals which augment B-cell proliferation and Ab production. B cell-FDC contact is important and interference with ICAM-1-LFA-1 interactions reduces FDC-mediated costimulation. Preliminary data suggest that a costimulatory signal may be delivered via CRZL on FDC binding CR2 on B cells. FDC can also stimulate B cells to become chemotactically active and can protect lymphocytes from apoptosis. FDC also appear to be rich in that groups and may replace reducing compounds such as 2 mercaptoethanol in cultures. In short, FDC-Ag specifically signals B cells through BCR, and FDC provide B cells with iccosomal-Ag necessary for processing to elicit T i ell help. In addition, FDC provide nonspecific signals that are important to promote B-cell proliferation, maintain viability, and induce chemotactic responsiveness.     

负性协同刺激分子B7-H4在小鼠树突状细胞上的表达及其生物学意义

目的 探讨B7-H4分子在小鼠树突状细胞分化发育过程中的表达及其在T细胞活化中的作用.方法 采用GM-CSF和IL-4联合方案体外诱导小鼠髓系树突状细胞(DCs);采用流式细胞术检测未成熟DCs、成熟DCs以及IL-10诱导的DCs表面B7-H4分子的表达;采用3H-TdR掺入试验和抗B7-H4单抗(McAb)阻断试验分析DCs表达的B7-H4分子对T淋巴细胞的共刺激效应.结果 经GM-CSF和IL-4联合方案体外诱导的未成熟DCs较高水平表达B7-H4,在IL-10作用下B7-H4表达进一步上调,经TNF-α刺激成熟后,B7-H4的表达显著下调,不同功能状态下DCs表面B7-H4分子均可抑制T细胞的增殖,但以未成熟DCs、IL-10诱导的DCs表面B7-H4分子的抑制作用更为显著.结论 不同功能状态下的DCs均有B7-H4分子的表达,处于抑制状态下的DCs通过高表达B7-H4介导免疫不应答效应.     

The role of costimulatory molecules (B7-1 and B7-2) on allergen-stimulated B cells in cedar pollinosis subjects

BACKGROUND: B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86), which are costimulatory molecules in T-cell activation, play important roles in the differentiation of TH1- or TH2-phenotypes. These molecules were also suggested to play important roles in sensitization to a cedar pollen antigen by blocking studies using neutralizing antibodies, but there have been very few studies concerning the effects following induction by antigen. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the roles of B7-1 and B7-2 in the differentiation of TH1 and TH2 subsets after stimulation with the antigen in subjects with cedar pollinosis. METHODS: Skin-prick test was performed in nine subjects with pollinosis and in nine normal controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and stimulated with Japanese cedar pollen extract. After in vitro stimulation, the expression of CD80 and CD86 on CD19+ cells was analysed by two-colour flow cytometry. Culture supernatants were collected for all subjects and the production of type 1 and type 2 cytokines was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: After in vitro stimulation, the expression of CD80 (B7-1) was upregulated in both pollinosis and control subjects, but no significant difference was observed between the two groups. On the other hand, CD86 (B7-2) was significantly upregulated following stimulation in pollinosis subjects (P = 0.02). A significantly higher level of IL-5 (P = 0.04) was produced by PBMCs of pollinosis subjects than by those of normal controls. A significantly higher level of interferon (IFN)-gamma (P = 0.03) was produced by PBMCs of normal controls than by those of pollinosis subjects. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that TH2 response was predominant in pollinosis subjects, and that CD19+ cells of pollinosis subjects expressed higher levels of B7-2 than those of control subjects after in vitro stimulation. In pollinosis subjects, B7-2 rather than B7-1 may be the costimulatory molecule involved in allergen-induced activation of PBMCs.     

Chicken interleukin-21 is costimulatory for T cells and blocks maturation of dendritic cells

In mammals, interleukin-21 (IL-21) is an immunomodulatory cytokine with pleiotropic effects on the proliferation, differentiation and effector functions of T, B, NK and dendritic cells. A cDNA encoding the chicken orthologue of IL-21 (chIL-21) was cloned by RT-PCR from RNA isolated from activated chicken splenocytes and consists of 438 nucleotides, encoding an open reading frame of 145 amino acids (aa). Chicken IL-21 has 20-30% aa identity to its orthologues in mammals, Xenopus and fish, but is more highly conserved within Aves (50-80%). The four alpha-helical bundle structure of mammalian IL-21 appears to be conserved in the predicted chicken protein, as are the four cysteine residues required for the formation of two disulphide bridges. A glutamine residue in aa position 129, which has been implicated in the binding of IL-21 to the IL-2 receptor γ-chain in mammals, is also conserved. ChIL-21 is expressed in most lymphoid tissues, predominantly by CD4+ TCRαβ+ T cells. As in mammals, chIL-21 synergistically enhances T-cell proliferation and inhibits maturation of dendritic cells.     

High-level expression of B7-H1 molecules by dendritic cells suppresses the function of activated T cells and desensitizes allergen-primed animals

A body of evidence indicates that expression of the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor by activated T cells plays an important role in the down-regulation of immune responses; however, the functions of its known ligands, B7-H1 (PD-L1) and B7-dendritic cell (DC; PD-L2), at the effector phase of immune responses are less clear. In the current study, we investigated the roles of B7-H1 in DC-mediated regulation of hapten-activated T cells and the delayed-type contact hypersensitivity response in primed animals. We found that the expression of B7-H1 and B7-DC was induced on activation of DC by hapten stimulation. Blockade of B7-H1, but not B7-DC, enhanced the activity of hapten-specific T cells. Interaction with a DC line that expresses high cell-surface levels of B7-H1 (B7-H1/DC) suppressed the proliferation of, and cytokine production by, activated T cells. In vivo administration of hapten-carrying B7-H1/DC desensitized the response of sensitized animals to hapten challenge, and this desensitization was hapten-specific. These data indicate that B7-H1 expressed by DC mediates inhibitory signals for activated T cells and suppresses the elicitation of immune responses. The ability of B7-H1/DC to inhibit the function of preactivated T cells in vivo suggests novel strategies for the treatment of immune response-mediated disorders.     

Skin-derived dendritic cells acquire and degrade the scrapie agent following in vitro exposure

The accumulation of the scrapie agent in lymphoid tissues following inoculation via the skin is critical for efficient neuroinvasion, but how the agent is initially transported from the skin to the draining lymph node is not known. Langerhans cells (LCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells that continually sample their microenvironment within the epidermis and transport captured antigens to draining lymph nodes. We considered LCs probable candidates to acquire and transport the scrapie agent after inoculation via the skin. XS106 cells are dendritic cells (DCs) isolated from mouse epidermis with characteristics of mature LC cells. To investigate the potential interaction of LCs with the scrapie agent XS106 cells were exposed to the scrapie agent in vitro. We show that XS106 cells rapidly acquire the scrapie agent following in vitro exposure. In addition, XS106 cells partially degrade the scrapie agent following extended cultivation. These data suggest that LCs might acquire and degrade the scrapie agent after inoculation via the skin, but data from additional experiments demonstrate that this ability could be lost in the presence of lipopolysaccharide or other immunostimulatory molecules. Our studies also imply that LCs would not undergo maturation following uptake of the scrapie agent in the skin, as the expression of surface antigens associated with LC maturation were unaltered following exposure. In conclusion, although LCs or DCs have the potential to acquire the scrapie agent within the epidermis our data suggest it is unlikely that they become activated and stimulated to transport the agent to the draining lymph node.     

Soluble B7-H1: differences in production between dendritic cells and T cells

Tumor cells aberrantly express several T cell inhibitory molecules including members of the B7-H co-regulatory family. Presumably tumor-expressed B7-H1 and B7-H3 confer resistance to elimination by the immune system. In addition, elevated levels of soluble B7-H1 (sB7-H1) has been identified in the sera of cancer patients, including renal carcinoma patients and is associated with increased cancer related death. Here we report that sB7-H1 is produced and released by activated mature dendritic cells (mDC). Immature DC, macrophages, monocytes, or T cells are refractory to releasing sB7-H1. Exposure of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to mDC-derived sB7-H1 molecules induced apoptosis. These data suggest that the immunobiology of B7-H1 is perhaps more complex than previously thought. sB7-H1 molecules may represent an unanticipated contributing factor to immune homeostasis. That both immune and tumor cells can be sources of sB7-H1 suggests that optimization of co-regulatory blockade immunotherapy for solid malignancies of necessity will require impact of targeting tumor and immune-derived B7-H1 molecules.     

GCSF receptor regulates antigen uptake and expression of cytokines and costimulatory molecules in dendritic cells

RNA interference (RNAi), a process that specifically silences target gene expression, is a powerful technique to modulate cellular functions. In this study, we identified two small interference RNA (siRNA) sequences that can specifically and efficiently silence the expression of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (GCSF-R) gene and achieved stable knockdown of GCSF-R using pFIV lentivirus containing the GCSF-R siRNA. GCSF-R knockdown significantly reduces the expression of IL-lalpha, IL-lbeta, IL-6, IL-10, H-2Kb, I-Ab, CD80 and CD86, and increases PDL1 and PDL2 expression, while IL-12p35, TGFbeta, TNFalpha and CD40 expression is unaltered. Furthermore, GCSF-R knockdown significantly changes the endocytosis and micro-pinocytosis abilities as well as surface expression of antigens of DC2.4 cells.     

Interactions of dendritic cells with cancer cells and modulation of surface molecules affect functional properties of CD8+ T cells

To understand the interaction of dendritic cells (DCs) with cancer cells, we investigated molecular changes in DCs following co-culture with cancer cells. DCs co-cultured with Jurkat cancer cells showed remarkable down-regulation of MHC class I molecules, while DCs co-cultured with MCF-7 cancer cells showed minimal changes. Interestingly, down-regulation of MHC class I on DCs was not observed upon treatment with Jurkat cell lysate or culture supernatant, suggesting the importance of direct cell-cell interactions. The expressions of CD40, CD80, CD83, MHC class II, and IL-12p40 on DCs co-cultured with Jurkat cells were only slightly affected. In contrast, DCs co-cultured with MCF-7 cells showed increased expressions of CD80, CD83, CD86, and IL-12p40. Furthermore, DCs co-cultured with Jurkat cells showed a down-regulation of low molecular weight polypeptides (LMP) 7, and of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) 1 and 2 at the mRNA expression level. LMP7, TAP2 and β2-microglobulin (β2M) were also down-regulated at the protein level. We further demonstrated how altered expression of MHC class I on DCs caused by co-culture with cancer cells affected autologous CD8(+) T cells, using the model MHC class I-presented HSV antigen. We found that DCs that had been HSV-treated and co-cultured with Jurkat cells showed a reduced potency to activate CD8(+) T cells. In contrast, HSV-treated DCs that had been co-cultured with MCF-7 cells induced activation of CD8(+) T cells, including high expression of CD25, CD69, granzyme B and cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ.     

B7-H1协同刺激淋巴细胞增殖并诱导产生抑制性T细胞

目的：探讨B7-H1分子在抗原诱导的免疫反应中的作用。方法：在可溶性抗原PPD诱导淋巴细胞增殖体系中,加入中和抗体检测B7-H1的协同刺激作用。转染表达B7-H1的ECV304细胞,观测其对PPD诱导的淋巴细胞增殖、细胞因子分泌及淋巴细胞亚群比例的影响。将刺激后的淋巴细胞过继至自体或同种异体增殖体系中,检测其功能。结果：抗B7-H1中和抗体可降低PPD诱导的淋巴细胞增殖反应和细胞因子分泌;转染B7-H1的ECV304细胞可协同刺激抗原诱导的淋巴细胞增殖,促进细胞因子IL-10的表达,并改变T细胞亚群分布,增加CD4^＋T细胞亚群比例;自体或同种异体过继实验显示,B7-H1刺激后的淋巴细胞具有显著的免疫抑制功能。结论：B7-H1分子可协同刺激淋巴细胞增殖并诱导产生具有免疫抑制功能的T细胞亚群。     

小鼠B7-H3对T细胞的体外正性协同刺激作用

小鼠B7-H3作为协同刺激分子的生物学功能至今尚未明确.本文拟通过构建小鼠B7-H3基因的真核表达载体,获取稳定表达小鼠B7-H3基因的细胞株,并进一步通过体外实验研究其对T淋巴细胞体外活化及功能的调节作用.作者运用RT-PCR技术从小鼠肝脏组织中获得全长小鼠B7-H3基因,并构建真核表达载体pIRES2-B7-H3,...