Peripheral B cell receptor editing may promote the production of high-affinity autoantibodies in CD22-deficient mice

CD22-deficient mice are characterized by B cell hyperactivity and autoimmunity. We have constructed knock-in CD22-/- mice, expressing an anti-DNA heavy (H) chain (D42), alone or combined with Vkappa1-Jkappa1 or Vkappa8-Jkappa5 light (L) chains. The Ig-targeted mice produced a lupus-like serology that was age- and sex-dependent. High-affinity IgG autoantibodies were largely dependent on the selection of B cells with a particular H/L combination, in which a non-transgenic, endogenous L chain was assembled by secondary rearrangements through the mechanism of receptor editing. Moreover, we present evidence that these secondary rearrangements are very prominent in splenic peripheral B cells. Since CD22 is primarily expressed on the surface of peripheral B cells, we propose a model for the development of a lupus-like autoimmune disease by a combination of peripheral receptor editing and abnormal B cell activation.     

Local Fas/APO-1 (CD95) ligand-mediated tumor cell killing in vivo

Fas/APO-1 (CD95) is a cell surface receptor which mediates apoptosis when ligated by specific antibodies or by its recently cloned natural ligand, FasL. We have studied the cytotoxic potential of FasL in vivo using Fas/APO-1-expressing Yac-1 cells as targets. Supernatant harvested from Neuro-2a cells transfected with the murine FasL cDNA contains FasL and transduces a potent apoptotic signal to Yac-1 cells in vitro. Specificity of FasL-mediated cytotoxicity was confirmed by competition assays using soluble Fas or anti-Fas/APO-1 F(ab')₂ fragments which specifically interfere with FasL-Fas/APO-1 interactions. Intraperitoneal injection of FasL-containing supernatant efficiently killed Yac-1 target cells which had been implanted in capsules into the peritoneal cavity of mice. Analysis of the target cells revealed DNA fragmentation and nuclear changes typical of apoptosis. As previously shown, intraperitoneal injection of anti-Fas/APO-1 antibodies caused liver failure (Ogasawara, J., Watanabe, F. R., Adachi, M., Matsuzawa, A., Kasugai, T., Kitamura, Y., Itoh, N., Suda, T. and Nagata, S., Nature 1993. 364: 806) and was observed at doses which did not reduce Yac-1 cell viability. In contrast, FasL did not induce histopathology in the liver when applied intraperitoneally at doses cytotoxic for Yac-1 cells. However, intravenous administration of FasL induced lethal liver hemorrhages and hepatocyte apoptosis. Thus, locally applied FasL kills tumor cells very efficiently without systemic toxicity and may therefore represent a candidate for local tumor treatment.     

Regulation of cell surface APO-1/Fas (CD95) ligand expression by metalloproteases

APO-1/Fas (CD95) ligand (APO-1L) induces apoptosis in sensitive target cells. Activation-induced T cell death and Ca²⁺-independent cytotoxicity in perforin knockout mice are mediated by APO-1L. To define whether APO-1L is expressed on the surface of activated T cells and to investigate the mechanisms leading to the release of a soluble form, we developed rabbit anti-APO-1L antibodies (Ab). The purified rabbit Ab detected the mature forms of the human and mouse APO-1L of approximately 42 and 40kDa. In addition, the Ab recognized the non-glycosylated form of APO-1L of approximately 32-33 kDa. In activated human T cells, the soluble form of APO-1L was detectable with a moleculas mass of 26 kDa. Immunofluorescence of three human T lymphoblastoid cell lines showed that activation of these cells by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin induced a significant increase in cell surface APO-1L only in the presence of metalloprotease inhibitors. Zn²⁺, but not Ca²⁺, prevented the increase in surface APO-1L observed in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline. Blocking of other classes of proteases (serine- and acid-proteases, chymotrypsin) had no effect. Increased expression of surface APO-1L by metalloprotease inhibitors was not dependent on T cell activation, as the metalloprotease inhibitors also modulated the low level of constitutive APO-1L expression. These results suggest that cell surface expression of human APO-1L is regulated by Zn²⁺-dependent metalloproteases. Cleavage of surface APO-1L may act as a regulatory mechanism to prevent accumulation of the membrane-bound form and may cause systemic effects of the APO-1L.     

APO-1(CD95)-dependent and -independent antigen receptor-induced apoptosis in human T and B cell lines

Certain B and T cell lines respond to activation signals, e.g.through the antigen receptor, by undergoing apoptotlc cell death.In T cells it has been recently shown that TCR-mediated apoptosisinvolves APO-1/Fas (CD95) receptor-ligand interaction. To investigatewhether the TCR-CD3 complex can trigger alternative apoptosispathways we generated subclones of the T cell line Jurkat whichwere completely resistant towards APO-1-mediated apoptosis.These Jurkat^R cells differed phenotypically from sensitive parentalJurkat^S cells only by the lack of APO-1 protein expression.Although Jurkat^R cells responded normally to anti-CD3 stimulationby expression of APO-1 ligand they failed to undergo anti-CD3-inducedapoptosis. Thus, in Jurkat cells APO-1 -mediated apoptosis wasthe main, and might be the only, mechanism for anti-CD3-inducedcell death. However, BL-60 B cells, highly sensitive to anti-IgM-inducedapoptosis, did not use the APO-1 receptor-ligand system becausethey failed to express APO-1 ligand mRNA. Taken together, ourresults suggest that malignant T and B cell lines may use APO-1receptor-ligand-dependent and -independent antigen receptor-inducedapoptosis pathways respectively. Similarly, differential pathwaysmay be used by T and B cell subsets.     

儿童系统性红斑狼疮患者外周血淋巴细胞表面CD95的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨儿童系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)外周血淋巴细胞表达CD95的特征及与疾病活动性和其他免疫学指标间的关系.方法:使用流式细胞术检测60例SLE患儿和20例对照外周血T淋巴细胞亚群和B淋巴细胞表面CD95的表达,并分析其与SLE疾病活动性以及实验室检查之间的关系.结果:初发SLE患儿外周血中CD4+T细胞表面CD95的表达显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);初发SLE患儿外周血中CD19+B细胞表面CD95的表达显著高于健康儿童(P<0.05);CD19+CD95+B细胞的比例和SLE疾病活动性呈正相关(r=0.4,P<0.05);CD4+CD95+T细胞的比例和SLE疾病活动性呈正相关(r=0.3,P<0.05),CD4+CD95+T细胞的比例和外周血抗双链DNA抗体(anti-dsDNA Abs)的水平呈正相关(r=0.2,P<0.05);治疗后SLE患儿外周血中CD19+CD95+B细胞和CD4+CD95+T细胞的比例均有显著下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论:儿童SLE患者外周血中淋巴细胞表达CD95的水平显著升高,且与SLE的疾病活动性及血清中抗双链DNA抗体相关,可以作为SLE的评价指标.     

B7/CD28和ICAM-1/LFA-1共刺激信号对T及B细胞功能影响的研究

目的　研究共刺激途径Ｂ７／ＣＤ２８ 和ＩＣＡＭ１／ＬＦＡ１ 对Ｔ 细胞活化以及Ｂ 细胞效应的作用。方法　在体外建立ＡＰＣＴＢ 细胞反应系统, 用Ｂ７１ 单抗和ＩＣＡＭ１ 单抗分别阻断Ｂ７／ＣＤ２８ 和ＩＣＡＭ１／ＬＦＡ１ 共刺激途径, 利用３ ＨＴｄＲ 法检测Ｔ 细胞增殖,ＥＬＩＳＡ 法测定Ｂ 细胞分泌的抗体, 用ＲＴＰＣＲ 法检测细胞因子基因的表达。结果　Ｂ７１ 单抗和ＩＣＡＭ１ 单抗均可抑制Ｔ 细胞增殖及ＩＬ２ 的产生。Ｂ７１ 单抗可下调Ｂ 细胞抗体的产生（ Ｐ＜ ０ ．０５） , 而ＩＣＡＭ１ 单抗未见明显的抑制（ Ｐ＞ ０ ．０５） 。Ｂ７１ 单抗和ＣｓＡ 联用能阻断Ｔ 细胞增殖活性及Ｂ 细胞的效应, 而ＩＣＡＭ１ 单抗和ＣｓＡ联用则无此作用。Ｂ７１ 单抗能下调ＩＬ２ 和ＩＦＮγｍ ＲＮＡ 表达,Ｂ７１ 单抗和ＣｓＡ 联用则阻断ＩＬ２ 和ＩＦＮγｍ ＲＮＡ 表达,ＩＬ４ 和ＩＬ１０ ｍ ＲＮＡ 仍可表达。结论　Ｂ７／ＣＤ２８ 和ＩＣＡＭ１／ＬＦＡ１ 共刺激途径在Ｔ 细胞活化中具有不同的作用,Ｂ７１ 单抗和ＣｓＡ 联用可导致Ｔ 细胞功能失活即无能。     

Expression of the Fas/APO-1/CD95 antigen mediating apoptosis in human leukemic cells

The Fas/APO-1 antigen is not detected on peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in the chronic phase, but is expressed on blast cells in 50% of patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in blast crisis. The expression of Fas/APO-1 correlates with that of leukocytic CD34 antigen. In patients with lymphomas, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or acute myeloblastic leukemia some tumor cells carry Fas/APO-1 antigen. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 11, pp. 544–546, November, 1996     

BXSB小鼠外周B淋巴细胞异常增生的研究

系统性红斑狼疮（ＳＬＥ）突出的免疫学异常表现是Ｂ淋巴细胞的异常增生与活化，其发生机制至今不明，本文以遗传性自发性ＳＬＥ模型ＢＸＳＢ小鼠为对象，采用体内ＢｒｄＵ标记法及ＨＵ增殖细胞删除法研究了ＢＸＳＢ小鼠脾脏Ｂ细胞的增殖动力学。结果表明，与正常对照相比，ＢＸＳＢ小鼠脾脏Ｂ细胞更新速率明显增高。提示Ｂ细胞更新加速可能是ＢＸＳＢ小鼠外周Ｂ细胞异常增生的原因。     

外周血CD19+B细胞PD-L1的表达与系统性红斑狼疮发病的相关性分析

目的:探讨程序性死亡配体1(Programmed death ligand-1,PD-L1)在系统性红斑狼疮(Systemic lupus erythema-tosus,SLE)患者外周血B细胞上的表达及临床意义。方法:应用流式细胞仪检测51例SLE患者和38例健康对照者外周血CD19+B细胞表面PD-L1的表达水平,比较SLE稳定组、活动组和健康对照组以及狼疮肾炎组和无狼疮肾炎组之间CD19+B细胞表面PD-L1表达阳性细胞的百分比,并分析其与临床表现及实验室检查数据的相关性。结果:SLE活动组和稳定组CD19+PD-L1+B细胞百分率均低于健康对照组,活动组又低于稳定组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。狼疮肾炎患者CD19+PD-L1+B细胞百分率低于无狼疮肾炎患者(P<0.05)。SLE患者CD19+PD-L1+B细胞百分率与SLEDAI评分、尿蛋白定量、呈负相关,与C3呈正相关。SLE患者中抗dsDNA抗体、抗Sm抗体、抗U1snRNP抗体、抗核小体抗体阳性组外周血B细胞PD-L1表达水平均低于对应阴性组,且均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论:SLE患者外周血CD19+B细胞表达PD-L1下降,与病情活动性和抗体产生有很好的相关性。     

CD40 expression and function in murine B cell ontogeny

The CD40 antigen, a member of the nerve growth factor/tumornecrosis factor receptor family, is expressed on all matureB lymphocytes and plays a crucial role in B cell activation,T cell- dependent antigen-driven isotype switching and germinalcenter formation. We have analyzed C040 expression and functionduring mouse B cell development by examining B cell precursorsin normal mice and in transgenic animals in which B cell developmentis frozen at discrete stages. These models included RAG-2 ^-/-mice, and transgenlc littermates that express µ heavychain and/ or the bcl-2 proto-oncogene transgene. CD40 was undetectableat the pro-B cell stage, but was expressed, although at lowlevels, on pre-B cells. However, pre-B cells failed to respondto CD40 triggering either by expression of CD23 or by proliferationin the presence of lL-4. Overexpression of bcl-2 increased thedensity of CD40 expression on pre-B cells: these cells respondto CD40 ligation by expressing CD23 and by proliferating inthe presence of IL-4.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者外周血CD4+CD25high Tr和 CD4+CD25low T细胞PD-1表达的分析和意义

目的 探讨PD-1(programmed death-1)在系统性红斑狼疮(systemic lupus erythematosus,SLE)患者外周血CD4+ CD25high调节性T细胞(regulatory T cell,Tr)和CD4+ CD25lowT细胞上的表达及临床意义.方法 应用流式细胞仪检测51例SLE患者和38例健康对照者外周血CD4+ CD25high Tr和CD4+ CD25lowT细胞表面PD-1表达水平,同时收集SLE患者临床表现、实验室检查数据,比较SLE稳定组、活动组和健康对照组以及狼疮肾炎组和无狼疮肾炎组之间CD4+ CD25 high Tr和CD4+CD25lowT细胞表PD-1表达的百分比,并分析其与临床表现及实验室检查数据的相关性.结果 (1)SLE活动组和稳定组外周血CD4+ CD25 high Tr和CD4+ CD25lowT细胞的百分率均低于对照组.(2)SLE活动组和稳定组外周血CD4+ CD25 highTr表达PD-1的百分率均高于对照组.SLE稳定组和对照组外周血CD4+ CD25lowT细胞表达PD-1的百分率均高于活动组.(3)狼疮肾炎患者外周血CD4+CD25highTr表达PD-1的百分率高于无狼疮肾炎患者.而狼疮肾炎患者CD4+ CD25lowT细胞表达PD-1的百分率低于无狼疮肾炎患者.(4) CD4+CD25high PD-1+T细胞百分率与SLEDAI评分呈正相关;CD4+ CD25high Tr、CD4+CD25lowPD-1+T细胞百分率与SLEDAI评分呈负相关.结论 SLE患者外周血中CD4+ CD25high Tr、CD4+ CD25lowT细胞以及它们表面PD-1表达异常,并且与疾病活动性相关,PD-1/PD-L1信号通路可能对CD4+CD25highTr、CD4+CD25lowT细胞的数量和功能有影响.     

Clonal deletion of major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in vitro is independent of the CD95 (APO-1/Fas) ligand

The CD95 (APO-1/Fas) ligand (CD95L) mediates apoptosis in sensitive target cells, Ca²⁺-independent cytotoxicity of cells from perforin knock-out mice, and peripheral deletion of activated T cells through engagement of its cognate receptor CD95. Double-positive thymocytes show a high constitutive expression of CD95. Therefore, we used a model system and investigated whether negative selection through apoptosis might involve CD95/CD95L. We analyzed whether CD95L may induce antigen-specific deletion of double-positive thymocytes from mice transgenic for a lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)/H2^b-specific T cell receptor (TCR). These cells are deleted in vitro upon addition of the LCMV-peptide 33–41 in a major histocompatibility complex-class I-restricted fashion. Deletion was not blocked by soluble mouse and human CD95-Fc receptor decoys. CD95-Fc receptor decoys, however, were effective in blocking apoptosis induced by mouse CD95L-transfected L929 cells in sensitive CD95⁺ target cells and in thymocytes. These results suggest that TCR-induced deletion of immature thymocytes in vitro is independent of CD95L. Thus, our data argue against a role of CD95L in negative selection of MHC-class I-restricted autoreactive thymocytes.     

The efficacy of novel B cell biologics as the future of SLE treatment: A review

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with wide ranging multi-systemic effects. Current understanding centralises B cells in SLE pathogenesis with clinical features resulting from autoantibody formation, immune complex deposition, antigen presentation and cytokine activation. Existing standard of care therapies generates adverse side effects; secondary to corticosteroid use and untargeted immunosuppression. The inability to uphold remission and abolish the disease process, in addition to the increasing numbers of patients seen with refractory disease with these therapies, has provoked the development of novel B cell biologics targeting specific pathogenic pathways fundamental to the SLE disease process.     

Anti-Sm B cell tolerance and tolerance loss in systemic lupus erythematosus

Autoimmunity is a serious health problem and understanding the maintenance and loss of tolerance to self-antigens are key issues in developing new therapeutic strategies to treat these diseases. Despite considerable progress toward understanding B cell tolerance and tolerance loss, much remains unknown, particularly regarding B cells specific for antigens targeted in disease. Our interest in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies to numerous nuclear antigens, is focused on understanding B cell tolerance and tolerance loss to the SLE-specific autoantigen Sm in mice and humans. Our work aims to provide the cellular and molecular underpinnings for the development of rational therapies to target autoreactive B cells in human SLE.     

A new CD21low B cell population in the peripheral blood of patients with SLE

A hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the production of autoantibodies. Recent reports suggest an abnormal peripheral blood B cell homeostasis in SLE patients without being conclusive. We analyzed by four color flow-cytometry peripheral blood B cell subpopulations of SLE patients, healthy donors, and patients with other systemic autoimmune diseases. IgM memory but not switched memory B cells of SLE patients were significantly decreased compared to healthy donors, whereas transitional B cells, characterized by CD19+IgMhiIgD+CD24hiCD38hi, were significantly expanded in SLE patients but also found in other autoimmune disorders. The population of plasmablasts (CD19loCD21loCD27++CD38++) was increased in active disease. Most interestingly, B cells in autoimmune disorders contain a so far uncharacterized subpopulation with an activated phenotype (CD19hiCD21loCD38loCD86int). None of the identified subpopulations was associated with current or previous therapy and therefore may represent different aspects of the disturbed B cell homeostasis in patients with SLE.     

Abnormalities of B cell subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The prototypic autoimmune disease, SLE, is known to be associated with polyclonal B cell hyperreactivity. Developing an understanding of the complex nature of human B cell differentiation, largely through the application of multiparameter flow cytometry to an analysis of circulating B cells has permitted an assessment of whether specific stages of B cell maturation are affected by the tendency for polyclonal B cell activation. Moreover, the analysis of perturbations of the specific stages of B cell maturation has generated new information on whether abnormalities in B cell differentiation are primarily involved in autoimmune disease immunopathology or, rather, are secondary to the inflammatory environment characteristic of subjects with this autoimmune disease. Multivariant analysis has begun to document abnormalities in B cell maturation that are primarily associated with lupus, or, alternatively related to disease duration, disease activity and concomitant medication. Together, these analyses have provided new insights on the role of B cell over-reactivity in SLE.