人LIGHT基因转染细胞株的建立及其对T细胞协同刺激作用的研究

建立人协同刺激分子LIGHT的基因转染细胞株,探讨其体外对T细胞活化与增殖的协同刺激作用。采用RT-PCR法从活化的人外周血T细胞中克隆人LIGHT编码区全长基因,经EcoR I和BamH I双酶切后插入pIRES2-EGFP真核表达载体构建成pIRES2-EGFP-LIGHT重组子,脂质体法以重组质粒pIRES2-EGFP-LIGHT转染鼠L929细胞。经G418长期加压筛选,免疫荧光标记和流式细胞术分析LIGHT分子在基因转染的L929细胞膜上的表达,MTT法和酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)探讨获得的基因转染细胞L929/LIGHT体外对T淋巴细胞增殖与活化的影响。结果:流式细胞术检测转基因L929/LIGHT细胞膜上能稳定高表达人LIGHT分子。体外细胞共培养试验表明,与未转染LIGHT基因的L929/mock细胞相比,L929/LIGHT能显著地促进抗人CD3单抗(mAb)刺激的T细胞增殖;同时L929/LIGHT亦能明显促进T细胞对IL-2、IFN-γ和IL-10的分泌。建立了稳定高表达人LIGHT分子的基因转染细胞株,LIGHT介导的信号在体外对T细胞增殖和相关细胞因子的分泌具有显著地促进作用。     

人共信号分子HVEM在外周血PBMC表达特性及其对T细胞的生物学作用

HVEM既可作为受体与LIGHT作用传递正性共刺激信号,又能作为配体作用于BTLA介导负性共抑制信号。为深入探讨HVEM对T细胞复杂而又独特的调控作用,本文研究了HVEM在免疫细胞上的表达特性,初步探讨了T细胞表达的HVEM分子所介导的生物学作用。采用LPS刺激人新鲜PBMC,以及PHA或PMA/IM刺激活化T细胞;间接免疫荧光标记和流式细胞术检测HVEM表达;MTT法分析T细胞增殖作用。结果显示,HVEM在不同条件刺激活化的T细胞表面均呈现先上调后下调表达;T细胞增殖试验表明,基因转染细胞L929/LIGHT能够明显促进T细胞的增殖及IL-2和IFN-γ的分泌,而以抗人BTLA单抗在一定程度上模拟HVEM所介导的BTLA/HVEM信号能够明显抑制T细胞增殖作用及细胞因子IL-2、IFN-γ和IL-10的产生。     

天花粉蛋白联合CD40信号激发的人MoDC介导Th2细胞分化的研究

探讨天花粉蛋白(Tk)联合CD40信号诱导人单核细胞来源DC(MoDC)的成熟活化及其介导Th2细胞分化的作用和机制。采用GM-CSF和IL-4联合方案体外诱导人MoDC,并利用鼠抗人CD40激发型单抗(5C11)刺激负载了Tk的DC制备成熟DC。采用免疫荧光标记和流式细胞术分析DC表型(CD80、CD83、CD86、CD14、PDL1)及其摄取FITC-Dextran的能力;ELISA法测定DC上清中IL-12p70的含量;胞内染色和流式细胞术检测经成熟DC活化的T细胞中CD4~+IFN-γ~+T和CD4~+IL-4~+T的比例。实验结果显示单独Tk不能刺激DC完全成熟,用Tk负载DC后必须联合外源性成熟刺激信号(如5C11),才能有效促进DC成熟,表现在CD80、CD83、CD86的上调表达,CD14下调表达,DC摄取FITC-Dextran的能力降低。与CD40信号单独诱导组相比,Tk联合CD40信号诱导的成熟DC表面PDL1分子呈下调表达,分泌IL-12的能力显著降低,明显提高T细胞中CD4~+IL-4~+T的比例。由此表明负载了Tk的成熟MoDC体外能有效介导Th2细胞分化。     

BTLA信号对T细胞活化的起始和早期阶段的调节作用

目的:观察BTLA分子在T细胞上的表达并探讨其在各个阶段不同时相对T细胞活化的抑制。方法:分离人外周血单个核细胞,经阴性选择磁珠分离纯化获得T淋巴细胞。检测T细胞上BTLA、CTLA-4和PD-1的表达;用CD3抗体刺激T细胞活化,比较BTLA、CTLA-4和PD-1在T细胞活化过程中的动态表达。CD3抗体联合CD28抗体活化T细胞,在不同的活化时间,MTT法检测BTLA单抗8H9对T细胞增殖的影响。GM-CSF和IL-4体外诱导单核细胞分化成未成熟DC,CD40抗体刺激DC成熟,流式检测HVEM在DC上的表达。用DC诱导T细胞活化,加入游离8H9或抗HVEM抗体,阻断HVEM和BTLA结合,MTT法检测T细胞增殖。结果:静止T细胞组成性高表达BTLA,不表达CTLA-4和PD-1分子。T细胞活化后,BTLA分子表达有所降低,然后迅速回升至高水平。CTLA-4、PD-1分子在活化后两天几乎不表达,第三天开始表达并逐渐上升。8H9可以抑制CD3和CD28抗体活化的T细胞增殖。CD3和CD28抗体预先活化T细胞24小时或48小时后,再加入8H9仍然具有抑制效应,但不如在T细胞活化之初加入8H9的抑制效应。单核细胞诱导的不成熟DC上高表达HVEM,当DC成熟后,HVEM表达降低。用游离8H9或HVEM抗体阻断DC表面HVEM与T细胞表面BTLA结合,48小时之内均明显增强了DC诱导的T细胞增殖。结论:BTLA信号可以提高T细胞的活化阈值,在T细胞活化的起始和早期阶段发挥重要的负性调控作用。     

一株鼠抗人HVEM单克隆抗体的研制及初步鉴定

研制鼠抗人单纯疱疹病毒侵入介质(HVEM)的功能性单克隆抗体,并对其生物学特性进行初步分析。以高表达人HVEM分子的基因转染细胞L929/HVEM作为免疫原,常规免疫小鼠并进行融合,以L929/HVEM作为抗体筛选细胞,L929/mock为对照细胞,筛选出分泌特异性鼠抗人HVEM单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株;采用western blot、间接免疫荧光法和MTT增殖实验对单抗进行生物学特性的分析。结果显示,成功获得一株特异性鼠抗人HVEM的杂交瘤细胞株,命名为2B11。该单抗能够识别肿瘤细胞表达的HVEM分子,且在体外能够显著抑制HVEM介导的T细胞增殖和细胞因子的分泌,从而为进一步研究HVEM介导的免疫学效应提供了物质基础。     

阻断型抗人CD258(LIGHT)单克隆抗体的研制及生物学特性的鉴定

目的分析CD258(LIGHT)/单纯疱疹病毒侵入介体(HVEM)介导的信号通路对T细胞的协同刺激作用与机制。方法以基因转染细胞L929/LIGHT为免疫原免疫小鼠,采用B淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术,次黄嘌呤、氨基蝶呤和胸腺嘧啶脱氧核苷(HAT)选择性培养基培养杂交瘤细胞。流式细胞术分析筛选阳性克隆,经过4次亚克隆化培养,获得1株小鼠抗人LIGHT单克隆抗体(m Ab),检测其是否识别特异性抗原位点,体外外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)与LIGHT m Ab共培养。结果反复筛选并亚克隆获得一株鼠抗人LIGHT单克隆抗体7A8,亚类为Ig G2b,轻链为κ型。流式细胞术分析该m Ab特异性识别细胞表面的LIGHT分子。LIGHT m Ab与转基因细胞的结合率受到HVEM-Ig融合蛋白干预而有所降低。PBMC与LIGHT转基因细胞体外共培养实验证实,该m Ab阻断淋巴细胞活化和增殖,进一步减少细胞因子分泌。结论成功获得一株特异性识别人LIGHT分子的单克隆抗体7A8,与HVEM-Ig融合蛋白结合L929/LIGHT的抗原表位不完全相同,是一株有阻断效应的功能型抗体。     

人BTLA-Fc融合蛋白的制备及其生物学活性的研究

为建立CHO/BTLA-Fc基因转染细胞株,使之能稳定分泌BTLA-Fc融合蛋白,采用PCR法从本单位构建的pEGZ-Term/B7-H1-Fc重组质粒中扩增人IgG1(Fc)恒定区,Xho I、BamH I双酶切后与真核表达载体pIRES2-EGFP连接为重组质粒pIRES2-EGFP-Fc,同时PCR法从pEGZ-Term/BTLA重组质粒中获得人BTLA胞外段基因片段,用Nhe I、Xho I双酶切插入上述pIRES2-EGFP-Fc构建重组载体pIRES2-EGFP/BTLA-Fc。脂质体法以该重组载体转染鼠CHO细胞,G418筛选并亚克隆化。Protein G亲和层析柱对上清中的融合蛋白进行纯化,Western blot作定性分析。CCK-8检测BTLA-Fc融合蛋白对抗人CD3单抗激发的T淋巴细胞增殖的影响。结果表明,基因转染CHO细胞培养上清中表达的BTLA-Fc融合蛋白能与L929/HVEM细胞有效结合,纯化的融合蛋白经Western blot鉴定有清晰的目的条带,而且BTLA-Fc融合蛋白对T细胞的体外增殖具有抑制作用。     

LIGHT-HVEM—BTLA共信号分子的研究进展

BTLA是新近发现的一个CD28超家族共抑制分子,它的配体不是B7家族成员而是TNF受体超家族成员HVEM。HVEM同时还存在一个TNF超家族的配体,即T细胞上可诱导表达的与HSV的糖蛋白D竞争结合HVEM的淋巴毒素类似物（LIGHT）。HVEM可以作为一个分子开关,通过结合LIGHT或BTLA7E免疫调节中发挥不同的作用。     

肿瘤特异性TCRαβ基因转染诱导记忆性T细胞分化及其免疫功能的研究

目的研究特异性TCR基因转染T细胞被肿瘤抗原激活后,记忆性T细胞的分化情况,并明确其表型特征和免疫功能。方法密度梯度离心法分离PBMC,重组TCR腺病毒感染T细胞,流式细胞术检测外源TCR表达效率。AFP表位肽刺激T细胞,流式细胞术检测TCR基因转染T细胞经抗原刺激后,记忆性T细胞标志分子表达。MTT法检测T细胞对不同肿瘤细胞株的杀伤活性。Annexin V-PI双染法检测靶细胞凋亡比例。ELISA法检测T细胞作用于靶细胞后IFN-γ与IL-2分泌水平。结果重组腺病毒载体感染3 d后,外源TCR表达比例接近30%。特异性TCR基因转染可有效促进T细胞识别肿瘤抗原后活化,CD45RO+细胞比例逐渐上升至接近50%。CD45RO+细胞以CD62L–CD44+表型为主。此后CD62L+细胞比例逐渐上升。最终出现分群明显的CD62L+CD44+TCM表型细胞。特异性TCR基因转染能够促进T细胞杀伤AFP+靶细胞,诱导靶细胞凋亡,并促进IFN-γ分泌。抗原预先刺激能够进一步增强TCR基因转染T细胞抗肿瘤免疫效应。结论 TCR基因转染能够有效促进T细胞识别肿瘤抗原后活化。经肿瘤抗原预先刺激的TCR基因转染T细胞将启动记忆性T细胞分化,在再次遭遇表达相同抗原的肿瘤细胞时发挥更为强烈的免疫效应。     

IL-2/IL-2R对单核来源树突状细胞的体外分化发育和功能的作用

目的 分别比较抗人CD40单抗和肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor,TNF)对单核来源树突状细胞(monocyte-derived dendritic cell,Mo-DC)体外诱导表达CD25(IL-2Rα)的作用,并进一步探讨了IL-2在Mo-DC分化成熟和功能介导中的生物学效应.方法 采用联合粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor,GM-CSF)和IL-4体外诱导Mo-DC的培养方法 ,分别加入CD40单抗和TNF-α诱导Mo-DC成熟;免疫荧光标记分析Mo-DC表型;ELISA法测定γ干扰素(interferon-r,IFN-γ)的分泌水平;3H-TdR掺入法分析Mo-DC对自体T细胞的促增殖效应.结果 (1)CD40信号能有效诱导成熟Mo-DC上调表达CD25(IL-2Rα),而TNF-α则无此作用;(2)Mo-DC在CD40激发后,加入不同剂量的IL-2继续培养可促进Mo-DC对IFN-γ的分泌,同时3H-TdR掺入法的结果也显示,在Mo-DC培养时加入IL-2可以增强Mo-DC对T细胞的促增殖作用.结论 CD40激发的Mo-DC上调表达CD25(IL-2Rα),外源性IL-2能促进Mo-DC分泌IFN-γ和介导T细胞的促增殖效应.     

The CD160, BTLA, LIGHT/HVEM pathway: a bidirectional switch regulating T-cell activation

Summary:  CD160 is a newly identified ligand for HVEM (herpes virus entry mediator). Previously identified HVEM ligands include BTLA (B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator), LIGHT (lymphotoxin-like, exhibits inducible expression, and competes with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes) and LTα (lymphotoxin-α). The binding of LIGHT or LTα to HVEM delivers a costimulatory signal, whereas the binding of BTLA or CD160 to HVEM delivers a coinhibitory signal. Thus, HVEM is a bidirectional switch regulating T-cell activation in a costimulatory or coinhibitory fashion whose outcome depends on the ligand engaged. The cysteine-rich domain 1 (CRD1) of HVEM is essential for the binding of coinhibitory ligands CD160 and BTLA but not costimulatory ligand LIGHT. Deletion or blockade of HVEM CRD1 abolishes the binding of CD160 and BTLA, but not LIGHT, and converts HVEM to a dominant costimulatory molecule, possibly through the loss of negative signaling by CD160/BTLA. Therapies targeting the CRD1 of HVEM to block BTLA and CD160 binding are being developed to enhance immune responses and vaccination.     

The capacity of the TNF family members 4-1BBL, OX40L, CD70, GITRL, CD30L and LIGHT to costimulate human T cells

Activating signals generated by members of the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily upon interaction with their cognate ligands play important roles in T-cell responses. Members of the tumour necrosis factor family namely 4-1BBL, OX40L, CD70, GITRL, LIGHT and CD30L have been described to function as costimulatory molecules by binding such receptors on T cells. Using our recently described system of T-cell stimulator cells we have performed the first study where all these molecules have been assessed and compared regarding their capacity to costimulate proliferation and cytokine production of human T cells. 4-1BBL, which we found to be the most potent molecule in this group, was able to mediate sustained activation and proliferation of human T cells. OX40L and CD70 were also strong inducers of T-cell proliferation, whereas the costimulatory capacity of human GITRL was significantly lower. Importantly CD30L and LIGHT consistently failed to act costimulatory on human T cells, and we therefore suggest that these molecules might be functionally distinct from the costimulatory members of this family.     

LIGHT, a new TNF superfamily member, is essential for memory T helper cell-mediated activation of dendritic cells

LIGHT is a recently identified member of the TNF superfamily that is up-regulated on activated T cells and can cooperate with CD40L to condition DC for the priming of CTL. In this report, we show that an intracellular pool of LIGHT is found selectively in some CD45RA-CD27+CD4+ "central" memory T cells and to a greater extent in some CD45RA-CD27-CD4+ effector memory T cells. LIGHT, like CD40L, is rapidly up-regulated on memory CD4+ T cells upon activation. Unlike CD40L, LIGHT up-regulation on naive T cells is delayed. Stimulation of DC with each subset of memory T cells in the presence of superantigen revealed that CD40L and LIGHT are required for optimal secretion of IL-12. Moreover, effector memory T cells, which can interact with DC in peripheral tissues, contribute to CCR7 induction on DC. LIGHT and CD40L can also regulate IL-12 production by CCR7+ DC capable of migration to lymph nodes. These data suggest that both LIGHT and CD40L may be involved in the maintenance or reactivation of secondary Th1 responses.     

TNF-alpha receptor 1 (p55) on islets is necessary for the expression of LIGHT on diabetogenic T cells

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus results from T-cell-mediated destruction of pancreatic islet beta cells. Both CD4 and CD8 T cells have been shown to be independently capable of beta cell destruction. However, the mechanism of beta cell destruction has remained elusive. It has previously been shown that the absence of TNF-alpha receptor 1 (p55) on the islets protected islets from CD4 T-cell-mediated destruction as long as the T cells did not have access to wild-type islets in vivo. Wild-type and TNF-alpha receptor 1 (p55) deficient islets induce similar levels of proliferation of BDC2.5 T cells. In this study, we demonstrate that islet TNF-alpha receptor 1 (p55) influences the expression of LIGHT (TNFSF-14), a TNF family member with both cytolytic and costimulatory properties, on BDC2.5 T cells and the expression of its receptor HVEM (TNFRSF-14) by islets, indicating a role for LIGHT-HVEM interactions in autoimmune diabetes.     

CD160 inhibits activation of human CD4+ T cells through interaction with herpesvirus entry mediator

CD160, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is expressed on both cytolytic lymphocytes and some unstimulated CD4+ T cells. Here we show that CD160 expression was increased after activation of human CD4+ T cells and that crosslinking CD160 with monoclonal antibody strongly inhibited CD3- and CD28-mediated activation. We found that herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) was a ligand of CD160 that acted as a 'bidirectional switch' for T cell activation, producing a positive or negative outcome depending on the engagement of HVEM by CD160 and known HVEM ligands such as B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) and the T lymphocyte receptor LIGHT. Inhibition of CD4+ T cell activation by HVEM-transfected cells was dependent on CD160 and BTLA; when the cysteine-rich domain 1 of HVEM was deleted, this inhibition was lost, resulting in strong T cell activation. CD160 thus serves as a negative regulator of CD4+ T cell activation through its interaction with HVEM.     

LIGHT is dispensable for CD4+ and CD8+ T cell and antibody responses to influenza A virus in mice

The tumor necrosis factor family ligands, LIGHT (lymphotoxin like, exhibits inducible expression and competes with HSV glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes), 4-1BBL and CD70, are found in the same gene cluster on mouse chromosome 17. Although the roles of 4-1BB-4-1BBL and CD27-CD70 interactions in anti-viral T cell responses have been well established, the role of LIGHT in T cell activation/expansion in vivo is less clear. Under conditions that were previously employed to demonstrate a role for 4-1BBL in CD8+ T cell memory, wild-type and LIGHT-/- mice were infected with influenza A virus and primary and memory/recall responses were measured at various time points thereafter. Neither primary expansion nor memory/recall CD8+ T cell responses were affected by the absence of LIGHT, as measured up to 2 months post-infection. CD4+ T cell responses were also unaffected by LIGHT deficiency. Furthermore, we found that LIGHT played no role in the induction of influenza-specific IgG1 and IgG2a serum antibodies. Taken together, these data suggest that LIGHT is dispensable for the acquired immune response to influenza virus in mice with no effect on the induction, maintenance or reactivation of CD8+ T cell memory.     

Investigation of osteoclastogenic signalling of the RANKL substitute LIGHT

LIGHT (TNFSF14) is a member of the TNF superfamily and is known to substitute for RANKL to induce osteoclast differentiation. LIGHT binds HVEM and LTβR, but it is not known whether these receptors play a role in osteoclast formation or whether LIGHT acts via RANKL signalling pathways. We found that both RANKL and LIGHT strongly induced phosphorylation of Akt and NFκB but not JNK in mouse osteoclast precursor cells. The addition of an Akt inhibitor showed decreased osteoclast differentiation and resorption mediated by both RANKL and LIGHT. RT-PCR and FACS analysis showed that CD14⁺ human osteoclast precursors expressed HVEM and LTβR; expression levels of HVEM increased in the course of osteoclastogenesis and a decrease in LIGHT expression was associated with an increase in HVEM suggesting that there is a feedback loop related to this receptor. Our findings show that LIGHT is not inhibited by the soluble RANKL receptor OPG and that LIGHT is a potent osteoclastogenesis factor that activates the Akt, NFκB and JNK pathways.