Cell adhesion molecule expression in the sheep thymus

Cell adhesion molecules are potential regulating factors in both prethymic and intrathymic T cell development. An experimental challenge has been the development of a large animal model that facilitates in vivo studies of both intrathymic development and lymphocyte migration. To extend earlier studies of thymic development, we have developed a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to a variety of sheep cell adhesion molecules. Immunohistochemistry was used to define mAb reactivity and flow cytometry was used to quantify expression of cell adhesion molecules within the thymus. To facilitate flow cytometry definition of cortical thymocytes, mAbs were developed to the sheep CD1 antigen. Dual parameter flow cytometry provided a phenotypic characterization of cell adhesion molecule expression on both CD1(+) and CD1(-) sheep thymocyte populations. These studies demonstrated significantly enhanced cortical thymocyte expression of three cell adhesion molecules: beta1 integrin (CD29), ICAM-2 and LFA-3. The beta1 integrin cell adhesion molecule was also expressed at higher levels on CD1(+) thymocytes in post-natal lambs as compared to adult sheep. These studies of thymocyte membrane molecule expression should facilitate future investigations of sheep intrathymic development and T lymphocyte immigration.     

Glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity and GC receptor expression differ in thymocyte subpopulations

Positive and negative selection steps in the thymus prevent non-functional or harmful T cells from reaching the periphery. To examine the role of glucocorticoid (GC) hormone and its intracellular receptor (GCR) in thymocyte development we measured the GCR expression in different thymocyte subpopulations of BALB/c mice with or without previous dexamethasone (DX), anti-CD3 mAb, RU-486 and RU-43044 treatment. Four-color labeling of thymocytes allowed detection of surface CD4/CD8/CD69 expression in parallel with intracellular GCR molecules by flow cytometry. Double-positive (DP) CD4+CD8+ thymocytes showed the lowest GCR expression compared to double-negative (DN) CD4-CD8- thymocytes and mature single-positive (SP) cells. DX treatment caused a concentration-dependent depletion of the DP cell population and increased appearance of mature SP cells with reduced GCR levels. GCR antagonists (RU-486 or RU-43044) did not influence the effect of DX on thymocyte composition; however, RU-43044 inhibited the high-dose GC-induced GCR down-regulation in SP and DN cells. GCR antagonists alone did not influence the maturation of thymocytes and receptor numbers. Combined low-dose anti-CD3 mAb and DX treatment caused an enhanced maturation (positive selection) of thymocytes followed by the elevation of CD69+ DP cells. The sensitivity of DP thymocytes with a GCRlow phenotype to GC action and the ineffectiveness of the GCR antagonist treatment may reflect a non-genomic GC action in the thymic selection steps.     

Distribution of LCA protein subspecies and the cellular adhesion molecules LFA-1, ICAM-1 and p150,95 within human foetal thymus

The distribution of leucocyte common antigen (LCA) protein subspecies and the cellular adhesion molecules LFA-1 (CD11a), ICAM-1 (CD54) and p150,95 (CD11c) has been established within frozen sections of human foetal thymus. Whereas over 95% of foetal cortical thymocytes and approximately 85% of medullary thymocytes were CD45RO positive, CD45RA was only expressed by approximately 29% of medullary thymocytes. The majority of foetal thymocytes also expressed CD11a, whereas CD54 was expressed by thymic epithelial and accessory cells and also apparently by some cortical thymocytes adjacent to epithelial cells. The distribution of CD54 and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule HLA-DR, demonstrated with a monoclonal antibody to a monomorphic determinant, was similar. The CD11c molecule was present on a population of dendritic-type accessory cells, but was absent from the large, scavenger, KiM8-positive macrophages occurring throughout the thymic cortex.     

Human intrathymic T cell differentiation

The human thymus develops early on in fetal gestation with morphologic maturity reached by the beginning of the second trimester. Endodermal epithelial tissue from the third pharyngeal pouch gives rise to TE3+ cortical thymic epithelium while ectodermal epithelial tissue from the third pharyngeal cleft invaginates and splits during development to give rise to A2B5/TE4+ medullary and subcapsular cortical thymic epithelium. Fetal liver CD7+ T cell precursors begin to colonize the thymus between 7 and 8 weeks of fetal gestation, followed by rapid expression on thymocytes of other T lineage surface molecules. Human thymic epithelial cells grown in vitro bind to mature and immature thymocytes via CD2 and CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1) molecules on thymocytes and by CD58 (LFA-3) and CD54 (ICAM-1) molecules on thymic epithelial cells. Thymic epithelial cells produce numerous cytokines including IL1, IL6, G-CSF, M-CSF, and GM-CSF--molecules that likely are important in various stages of thymocyte activation and differentiation. Thymocytes can be activated via several cell surface molecules including CD2, CD3/TCR, and CD28 molecules. Finally, CD7+ CD4-CD8- CD3- thymocytes give rise to T cells of both the TCRab+ and TCR gd+ lineages.     

Reactive oxygen species induced by the deletion of peroxiredoxin II (PrxII) increases the number of thymocytes resulting in the enlargement of PrxII-null thymus

In the thymus, CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive (SP) thymocytes develop and mature by positive and negative selection or undergo "death by neglect". CD4+ or CD8+ SP then circulate to other lymphoid tissues. We have investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in thymocyte development using peroxiredoxin II (PrxII)-null mice. The level ofROS in PrxII-null thymocytes is higher than that in wild-type mice. Deletion of the PrxII gene leads to enlargement of the thymus in young (9 weeks) and old (64 weeks) mice. The increased number ofthymocytes in PrxII-null thymus is related to reduced hypodiploid cell formation. For mice on a normal diet, the ratio of SP to double-positive (DP) thymocytes in thymus of PrxII-null mice is lower than that in wild-type mice. After food restriction, which leads to increased ROS production, this ratio becomes much higher in PrxII-null thymus. The amount of apoptosis, induced by food restriction orby the injection of dexamethasone, is consistently lower in PrxII-null thymocytes than in wild-type thymocytes. In the presence of low serum concentrations, PrxII-deleted T cells proliferate more vigorously after stimulation with concanavalin A. Phytohemagglutinin- or OKT3-stimulated proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells is also higher in the presence of lower serum concentrations. Collectively, the results suggest for the first time that thymocyte maturations and proliferations are regulated by ROS levels induced by the deletion of PrxII gene in vivo.     

Differential effect of tumour necrosis factor on human thymocyte subpopulations.

We have studied the effect of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) on purified human thymocyte subpopulations. For this purpose human thymocytes were purified by negative selection with three rounds of several antibodies plus complement. TNF was able to co-stimulate in a dose-response manner the proliferation of single positive (SP) CD3+ CD4+ or CD3+ CD8+ thymocytes in the presence of optimal doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), anti-CD3 antibodies or phorbol esters. However, CD1+ CD3low CD4+ CD8+ cortical thymocytes did not proliferate significantly in response to any stimulus alone or in combination. The TNF proliferative effect on SP thymocytes was blocked by an anti-IL-2R alpha antibody. In addition, TNF enhanced the expression of the IL-2R alpha but not IL-2R beta on the cell surface of CD1- CD3+ SP thymocytes over the levels induced by the other primary stimuli, inducing as a consequence, an increase in the number of high affinity IL-2R. Furthermore, TNF was able to increase IL-2R alpha mRNA levels on SP thymocytes. On the other hand, TNF was mitogenic in the absence of any other stimulus for CD1- CD3- CD4- CD8- prethymocytes, as was IL-2, and this proliferation was not blocked by anti-IL-2R alpha antibodies. Furthermore, the proliferation of this subset in response to IL-2 and TNF was additive. TNF was able to increase directly the cell surface expression of both chains, IL-2R beta and IL-2R alpha, and the IL-2R alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of CD1- CD3- CD4- CD8- prethymocytes. In summary, our results suggest that TNF may have an important role as a co-stimulatory signal in some human thymocyte subpopulations by inducing the expression of IL-2R.     

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritis

AIMS: In glomerulonephritis, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) may play important roles in the formation of crescents. These studies are designed to evaluate the expression patterns of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritis and to determine the cellular origin of adhesion molecules in the crescentic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins in renal biopsies with cellular (n=7), fibrocellular (n=9) or fibrous (n=4) crescentic glomerulonephritis, and six controls by immunohistochemistry. mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was further evaluated by RNA in-situ hybridization. Cytokeratin or CD68 immunohistochemistry was performed on the same sections, where in-situ hybridization had been carried out. In cellular crescents, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins were over-expressed to a similar extent. Of the three types of crescents, the extent of ICAM-1 immunopositivity was the greatest in the cellular crescents and decreased towards the fibrous crescents (P < 0.05). Yet the extent of VCAM-1 immunoreactivity was not different between the types. Fibrous crescents still contained some epithelial cells and showed only VCAM-1 expression. In the glomeruli with cellular or fibrocellular crescents, the extent of ICAM-1 immunopositivity in the glomerular tufts was significantly larger than that of VCAM-1 (P < 0.05). In an in-situ hybridization study, the mRNA expression patterns of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 paralleled their protein expressions. A double-labelling study showed that the signal for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNAs was mainly present in cytokeratin-positive and CD68-negative cells in the crescentic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that glomerular parietal epithelial cells in cellular crescents up-regulate both ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and that some epithelial cells retained in fibrous crescents persistently over-express VCAM-1, but not ICAM-1. They also suggest that ICAM-1 is involved in early leucocyte recruitment into glomeruli in crescentic glomerulonephritis.     

CXCR4 tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 induces an apoptotic cascade in immature infected thymocytes that resembles thymocyte negative selection

HIV-1 often replicates in the thymus of infected individuals, causing thymocyte depletion and thymic dysfunction. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which thymocyte depletion occurs are not clear. Here we report that HIV-1 infection induced apoptosis primarily in productively infected thymocytes; aldrithiol-2 or Efavirenz treatment largely abrogated HIV-1-induced apoptosis. Moreover, X4-HIV-1 induced apoptosis primarily in immature CD4+ CD8+ (DP) thymocytes whereas most mature CD4 or CD8 single-positive (SP) thymocytes were resistant to X4 HIV-1-induced apoptosis despite infection. Consistent with this, we observed significant induction of several genes involved in negative selection of DP thymocytes. Furthermore, treatment of thymocytes with cycloheximide abrogated HIV-1-induced apoptosis, implying a requirement for de novo protein synthesis. Our results suggest that HIV-1-induced apoptosis of thymocytes requires the activation of caspases and the participation of mitochondrial apoptosis effectors, which serve to amplify the apoptotic signal, a process similar to that elaborated during thymocyte negative selection.     

Different subpopulations of developing thymocytes are associated with adherent (macrophage) or nonadherent (dendritic) thymic rosettes.

Thymic rosettes (ROS), structures consisting of thymic lymphoid cells attached to a central stromal cell, were isolated from mouse thymus by collagenase digestion and unit-gravity elutriation. The ROS were then separated into those where the stromal cells were either macrophage-like (M-ROS) or dendritic cell-like (D-ROS), on the basis of the differences in adherence properties or in the level of MAC-1 surface antigen. The ROS were then dissociated and the thymocyte content analyzed by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry. M-ROS and D-ROS differed in thymocyte composition, although the major component of both was the CD4+CD8+ cortical thymocyte. D-ROS were enriched in thymocytes expressing high levels of surface T-cell antigen receptor (TcR) and the associated CD3 complex, and these included both CD4+CD8-CD3++ and CD4-CD8+CD3++ mature thymocytes. M-ROS were enriched in CD4-CD8- thymocytes and had a reduced content of thymocytes expressing high TcR-CD3 levels; they nevertheless contained some mature thymocytes, but only of the CD4+CD8-CD3++ category. Several lines of evidence indicated that the mature thymocytes in ROS were cells recently formed in the cortex, and were not from the medullary pool. ROS-associated mature thymocytes expressed lower levels of H-2K than free, mature thymocytes. The CD4+CD8+CD3++ subpopulation, believed to be a developmental intermediate between cortical thymocytes and mature T cells, was present in both ROS populations. Further, late intermediates leading to both mature T-cell categories were evident in D-ROS, but only those leading to CD4+CD8-CD3++ T cells were evident in M-ROS. The results are compatible with a role for ROS in TcR-specificity selection and in the final maturation steps in the thymic cortex.     

Alterations in thymocyte subpopulations in Down's syndrome (trisomy 21)

To correlate the histologically observed thymic abnormalities with the cellular immunodeficiency found in Down's syndrome (DS), thymus fragments and thymocyte suspensions from 14 noninstitutionalized DS subjects were studied. Histologic examination and immunohistologic studies using an anticluster of differentiation (CD) 1 monoclonal antibody showed a contracted cortex due to cortical thymocyte depletion. When DS unselected thymocytes were phenotyped, a significant reduction of CD3-, CD1-, CD4-, and CD8-positive cells was found as compared to controls. To evaluate if the deficient expression of these markers was due to the reduction of thymocyte subsets identifiable on the basis of their physical properties, we separated DS unselected thymocytes into 10 fractions by continuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation. DS thymuses were almost completely devoid of high density thymocytes. Since in normal thymus, these cells correspond to small CD1+, CD4+, CD8+, and 50% CD3+ cortical thymocytes, their absence may explain the unrestricted reduction of markers on DS unfractionated thymocytes. Furthermore DS thymuses appeared to be enriched in CD1+ first fraction (Fr1) low density thymocytes of the Percoll gradient. Fr1 CD1+ cells constitute the main spontaneously proliferating pool in normal human thymus. When the spontaneous proliferating activity of DS Fr1 was compared to that of the control, a significant reduction was observed. This reduction associated with the absence of high density thymocytes, with the reduction of cells expressing alpha- and beta-chains of the T cell receptor and in conclusion with the lymphocyte depletion, suggests that in DS thymuses there is a deficient expansion of immature T cells resulting in a reduction of the various thymocyte subpopulations, including the thymocyte pool able to differentiate into functionally mature T cells.     

Disturbed homeostasis of lung intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 during sepsis

Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in mice was associated with perturbations in vascular adhesion molecules. In CLP mice, lung vascular binding of (125)I-monoclonal antibodies to intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 revealed sharp increases in binding of anti-ICAM-1 and significantly reduced binding of anti-VCAM-1. In whole lung homogenates, intense ICAM-1 up-regulation was found (both in mRNA and in protein levels) during sepsis, whereas very little increase in VCAM-1 could be measured although some increased mRNA was found. During CLP soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) appeared in the serum. When mouse dermal microvascular endothelial cells (MDMECs) were incubated with serum from CLP mice, constitutive endothelial VCAM-1 fell in association with the appearance of sVCAM-1 in the supernatant fluids. Under the same conditions, ICAM-1 cell content increased in MDMECs. When MDMECs were evaluated for leukocyte adhesion, exposure to CLP serum caused increased adhesion of neutrophils and decreased adhesion of macrophages and T cells. The progressive build-up in lung myeloperoxidase after CLP was ICAM-1-dependent and independent of VLA-4 and VCAM-1. These data suggest that sepsis disturbs endothelial homeostasis, greatly favoring neutrophil adhesion in the lung microvasculature, thereby putting the lung at increased risk of injury.     

Effects of 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutyl imidazole (THI) on the thymus of rats.

2-Acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutyl imidazole (THI), a component of the food colouring ammonia caramel, has been shown to produce suppression of cell-mediated immunity and a reduction in circulating TH and TC/S lymphocytes in rats. Accordingly in this study the effects of THI on the thymus has been investigated. THI (1 mg/kg/day) was given for up to 7 days in the drinking water to Fischer 344 rats on a vitamin B6 deficient diet. No marked change in thymus weight was found but the cellularity was marginally decreased and flow cytometric analysis of the lymphocyte subsets revealed an increase in the number of CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ single positive (SP) cells and a reduction in the number of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes. This reduction was in agreement with histological findings of increased numbers of pyknotic cells in the cortex, mainly engulfed by macrophages. Mitogen-induced proliferation of thymocytes prepared from THI-treated animals was increased, concordant with the gradual increase in the percentage of mature SP cells. No change in normal proliferation of thymocytes cultured in vitro, or, in proliferation in vivo, detected as 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation, was found. It is concluded that THI produced an increase in death of immature DP cells. However, THI did not affect thymocyte proliferation or their differentiation into mature SP cells in the thymus, but rather impairs their migration into the circulation. The mechanism of action of THI appears to be indirect, but THI does not act through increasing the release of adrenal corticosteroids to supra-physiological levels as the same histopathological changes in the thymus were found in adrenalectomized rats.     

Remote T cell co-stimulation via LFA-1/ICAM-1 and CD2/LFA-3: demonstration with immobilized ligand/mAb and implication in monocyte-mediated co-stimulation.

Proliferative response of resting T cells generally requires not only cross-linking of the T cell receptor (TcR) but also co-stimulatory signals from accessory molecules. We here have used a "three-cell" model consisting of: (a) resting human CD4+ T cells as responders; (b) CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) OKT3 on latex beads as surrogate stimulators; (c) autologous monocytes as source of co-stimulation. As described by Kawakami et al. (J. Immunol. 1989, 142: 1818), T cell proliferation in this system is observed with paraformaldehyde-fixed monocytes if they have been activated and interleukin (IL) 1 beta/IL 6 is supplied. Since this three-cell system provides TcR cross-linking at a site spatially "remote" from co-stimulation, they help distinguish adhesion from signal transduction but the molecules that mediate co-stimulation in this system have not been identified. Our studies now demonstrate that co-stimulation by the monocytes is dependent on each of two receptor/ligand pathways CD2/LFA-3 and LFA-1/ICAM-1 since it is inhibited by each relevant mAb but not a variety of control mAb. The hypotheses that CD2 and LFA-1 could each mediate co-stimulation was tested in simplified model systems in which the monocyte was replaced with immobilized CD2 mAb or purified ICAM-1 presented on a separate surface from the CD3 mAb. The results in these simplified models demonstrate that on resting T cells either CD2 or LFA-1 molecules alone can mediate "remote" co-stimulation unlike most other T cell surface molecules. Co-stimulation requires IL 1 beta/IL6 both in the weaker LFA-1 ligand-mediated co-stimulation and at lower CD2 mAb concentrations in the stronger CD2 mAb-mediated co-stimulation. Thus: (a) the accessory cell function of stimulated fixed monocytes in T cell proliferation requires both the LFA-1/ICAM-1 and CD2/LFA-3 pathways; and (b) the T cell molecules CD2 and LFA-1 can give co-stimulatory signals that can act in a "remote" fashion.     

Different role of Apaf-1 in positive selection,negative selection and death by neglect in foetal thymic organ culture

Apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) is a component of the apoptosome which is required for the activation of procaspase-9. As Apaf-1 knockout (KO) (Apaf-1-/-) mice die before birth, the role of Apaf-1 during thymic selection was investigated using 5 day foetal thymic organ culture (FTOC) of thymi obtained at gestational day 15. There was a lower ratio of CD4 single-positive (SP) to CD8 SP cells and decreased apoptosis of CD4+CD8+ (DP) thymocytes from Apaf-1-/- mice compared with wild-type. To determine if these defects resulted in increased production of neglected thymocytes, the Apaf-1-/- mice were crossed with the T-cell receptor (TCR)-alpha-chain KO mice. There was no difference in thymocyte development in the thymi of TCR-alpha-/-Apaf-1-/- and TCR-alpha-/-Apaf-1+/+ mice 5 days after FTOC. To determine if Apaf-1 is involved in apoptosis during death by negative or positive selection, FTOC of the thymus of Apaf-1-/- Db/HY TCR-alphabeta transgenic (Tg) mice was carried out. There was decreased apoptosis of the HY clonal-specific M33+ thymocytes and an increased percentage of the autoreactive CD8+M33+ thymocytes in male, but not female Apaf-1-/- Db/HY TCR Tg mice. Our data suggest that Apaf-1 is not involved in positive selection or death by neglect, but may have a partial role in negative selection during early thymic T-cell development.     

Treatment with anti-LFA-1 alpha monoclonal antibody selectively interferes with the maturation of CD4- 8+ thymocytes.

Maturation of T lymphocytes in the thymus is driven by signals provided by soluble factors and by the direct interaction between thymocytes and stromal cells. Although the interaction between T-cell receptor (TCR) and major histocompalibility complex (MHC) molecules on stromal cells is crucial for T-cell development, other accessory molecules seem to play a role in this process. In order to better understand the role of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) molecules in thymocyte maturation, mice were treated from birth with saturating doses of non-cytolytic-specific monoclonal antibodies. The effect of this treatment on thymocyte subpopulations and the expression of CD3 and TCR-alpha beta by these cells was investigated by flow cytometry. Our data demonstrated that the effective saturation of LFA-1 alpha chain in the thymus, but not ICAM-I or LFA-I beta chain, selectively interfered with the maturation of CD8+ T cells, as manifested by a marked reduction in the frequency of CD4-8+ thymocytes expressing high levels of CD3 and TCR-alpha beta. This selective reduction was also observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and spleen cells. The analysis of the frequencies of various V beta TCR showed that CD4-8+ thymocytes were globally affected by the treatment. These results underline the importance of the interaction between LFA-1 and its ligands in the maturation of CD8+ T cells and document the existence of different molecular requirements for the differentiation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.     

Increased expression of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) and lymphocyte recruitment in murine gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori

Although T cell involvement in Helicobactor pylori-induced gastritis is known, mechanism about T cell recruitment is not understood. In this study we examined how mucosal addressin cell adhesion -molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) is involved in lymphocyte recruitment in murine chronic gastritis induced by H. pylori. C57 BL/6 mice were infected with Sydney strain (SS1). Six months after infection, the stomach was removed. The expression of adhesion molecules, MAdCAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and the cell surface antigens CD4, CD8, CD45R/B220 or beta7-integrin were determined by immunohistochemistry. A significant increase in CD4 lymphocytes was observed in the body portion of stomach in SS1-infected mice and most of these CD4 cells express beta7-integrin, a known counter ligand for MAdCAM-1 molecule. Strong MAdCAM-1 expression was observed adjacent to these cells in the lamina propria as well as in the submucosa of SS1-infected stomach. Quantitative analysis showed that the area of MAdCAM-1 expression well correlated with the infiltration of beta7-integrin positive lymphocytes. On the other hand, expression of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 in the lamina propria was few even in the SS1-infected stomach. Increased expression of MAdCAM-1 was well correlated to the location of lymphocytes, which express CD4 and beta7-integrin. These results suggest the possibility that MAdCAM-1 may be largely involved in the lymphocyte recruitment in the gastritis mucosa with H. pylori.     

Intracellular signaling required for CCL25-stimulated T cell adhesion mediated by the integrin alpha4beta1

The alpha4beta1 integrin is expressed on thymocytes and mediates cell attachment to its ligands CS-1/fibronectin (CS-1/FN) and VCAM-1 in the thymus. The chemokine CCL25 is highly expressed in the thymus, where it binds to its receptor CCR9 on thymocytes promoting migration and activation. We show here that alpha4beta1 and CCR9 are coexpressed mainly on double- and single-positive thymocytes and that CCL25 strongly stimulates CD4(+)CD8(+) and CD4(+)CD8(-) adhesion to CS-1/FN and VCAM-1. CCL25 rapidly activated the GTPases Rac and Rap1 on thymocytes, and this activation was required for stimulation of adhesion, as detected using the CCR9(+)/alpha4beta1(+) human T cell line Molt-4. To study the role on CCL25-stimulated adhesion of the Rac downstream effector Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family verproline-homologous protein 2 (WAVE2) as well as of Rap1-GTP-interacting proteins, regulator of adhesion and cell polarization enriched in lymphoid tissues (RAPL) and Rap1-GTP-interacting adapter molecule (RIAM), we knocked down their expression and tested transfectant attachment to alpha4beta1 ligands. We found that WAVE2 and RAPL but not RIAM were required for efficient triggering by CCL25 of T cell adhesion to CS-1/FN and VCAM-1. Although Rac and Rap1 activation was required during early steps of T cell adhesion stimulated by CCL25, WAVE2 was needed for the development of actin-dependent T cell spreading subsequent to adhesion strengthening but not during initial alpha4beta1-ligand interactions. These results suggest that regulation by CCL25 of adhesion of thymocyte subpopulations mediated by alpha4beta1 could contribute to control their trafficking in the thymus during maturation, and identify Rac-WAVE2 and Rap1-RAPL as pathways whose activation is required in inside-out signaling, leading to stimulated adhesion.     

Accelerated transition from the double-positive to single-positive thymocytes in G alpha i2-deficient mice

Deletion of alpha i2 subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins induces a 2-4-fold increase in the proportions of CD4 and CD8 single-positive (SP) thymocytes as compared with wild-type littermates, but how G alpha i2 is involved in thymocyte development is unknown. To determine a role for G alpha i2 in a specific developmental stage of thymocyte differentiation, we studied the ontogeny of thymocytes in G alpha i2-deficient mice. Our data show that an accelerated transition from the double-positive (DP) to SP thymocytes, rather than impairment in thymic emigration, accounts for a high proportion of the SP thymocytes in the absence of G alpha i2. Lack of G alpha i2 greatly augmented a response of thymocytes to TCR-mediated stimulation, as evidenced by enhanced proliferation of the DP thymocytes upon ligation of the TCRs. The augmented response may be the reason behind the expedited transition from the DP to SP thymocytes in the animal. In accordance with this, effects of G alpha i2 deficiency on CD8 or CD4 SP thymocyte differentiation required engagement of the TCRs with either MHC class I or MHC class II molecule. The abnormal thymocyte development resulted in an increase in positive selection, altered usage of TCR Vbeta gene, aberrant development of CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells and untimely thymic involution, the contribution of which to colitis development in the animal is discussed. These findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for G alpha i2 protein in clonal selection and functionality of thymocytes.     

Antigen and glucocorticoid hormone (GC) induce positive selection of DP thymocytes in a TcR transgenic mouse model

Thymocyte maturation in the thymus is controlled by stromal and humoral components. Among the humoral regulators locally produced glucocorticoids (GCs) seem to have a key role in the positive selection of thymocytes. Our previous studies have shown that the administration of GCs or the stimulation through the CD3 complex can induce apoptosis of double positive (DP) cells, but the combined presence of these stimuli induces positive selection. In this work our aim was to investigate the effects of antigen exposure and synthetic GC hormone (dexamethasone, DX) administration on the selection processes of DP cells in TcR transgenic mice. In our model, AND—pigeon cytochrome c (PCC)-specific I-E^k (MHC-II) restricted Vβ3, V11 TcR expressing transgenic mice were treated with PCC, with high or low dose DX, or with PCC and DX together, followed by the analysis of total thymocyte numbers, thymocyte composition, with regard to their CD69, Vβ3 and Annexin V expression. The administration of PCC and/or DX for 2 days resulted in a decreased DP cell number and a significantly increased CD4 SP cell ratio. However, in both cases the total thymocyte numbers decreased. CD69 expression increased on both DP and CD4 SP cells after PCC and/or DX treatments. We found that after DX or combined treatment, the percentage of Annexin V positive cells increased. The ratio of Vβ3 TcR bearing DP thymocytes showed no change after DX or PCC administrations alone, but it decreased significantly after combined treatment. MHC-II bound PCC peptides in the presence of GCs enhanced the maturation of Vβ3+ DP cells into CD4 SP stage, therefore, the Vβ3− cells remained mostly in the DP immature stage. These data indicate that both antigen and low dose GC alone are capable of inducing positive selection of DP cells, but together they gave a stronger effect in promoting positive selection. From these we conclude that GCs influence the maturation and selection processes of thymocytes.