转染II类分子反式激活因子基因突变体抑制猪SLA的表达

为观察CIITA基因突变体对猪SLA表达的影响 ,用脂质体转染法将pcDNA3及CIITA突变体pcDNA3mCIITA2、pcDNA3mCIITA3和pcDNA3mCIITA4转染入猪血管内皮细胞系PIEC和猪B淋巴细胞系L2 3。利用流式细胞术 /RT PCR检测各种突变体对猪SLA DR、 DQ分子 /mRNA组成性和诱导性表达的影响。发现两种突变体pcDNA3mCIITA3和pcDNA3mCIITA4对PIEC/L2 3细胞SLAII类分子的表达起明显的抑制作用 ,而空载体pcDNA3和不具有起始密码子的突变体pcDNA3mCIITA2无此作用。提示pcDNA3mCIITA3和pcDNA3mCIITA4能抑制猪SLAII类分子的表达。     

一种新的CIITA显性负向突变体的构建和功能研究

II类反式激活因子(CIITA)参与MHC II类基因转录表达的调控,本研究采用RT-PCR等分子克隆技术构建含起始密码子和NLS序列,但是删除N和P/S/T结构域的CIITA突变体质粒pCDNA3.1(+)mCIITA,用脂质体转染法将上述突变体及pCDNA3.1(+)空载体转入来源于BALB/c小鼠的1B4.B6细胞株,用流式细胞术和RT-PCR观察I-A分子表达的影响,并通过混合淋巴细胞反应观察C3H小鼠CD4+T细胞对转入突变体及空载体的1B4.B6细胞的免疫应答强度。结果在细胞和分子水平证实pCDNA3.1(+)mCIITA对1B4.B6细胞I-A的表达起明显抑制作用,强阳性克隆抑制率为90%以上。细胞已基本丧失了对受者CD4+T细胞的刺激能力。以上结果为减低同种异体/异种器官细胞性排斥提供了新的思路和手段。     

构建可抑制HLA-DR/DQ表达的MHC-Ⅱ类分子反式激活因子基因的突变体及其机制

目的：构建能抑制MHC—Ⅱ类分子表达的MHC—Ⅱ类分子反式激活因子(MHC class Ⅱ transactivator，CⅡTA)基因的突变体．并探讨其抑制MHC—Ⅱ类分子表达的机制。方法：用PCR、酶切及连接技术，构建不含起始密码子的pcDNA3mCⅡTA2，含起始密码子的pcDNA3mCⅡTA3以及含起始密码子及NLS(nuclear localization signal)的pcDNA3mCⅡTA4突变体。用脂质体转染法，将上述3种突变体及空载体pcDNA3转入Hela细胞和Raji细胞中。用流式细胞术和RT-PCR法，观察他们对Hela／Raji细胞HLA—DR／DQ分子的诱导性和组成性表达的影响。将mCⅡTA4转移到对四环素浓度依赖的质粒pU-HD10-3上，通过改变培养环境中四环素的浓度，调节外源CⅡTA突变体的表达量，观察突变体的表达量与MHC-Ⅱ类分子受抑率的关系。结果：细胞和基因水平证实，pcDNA3mCⅡTA3和pcDNA3mCⅡTA4对Hela／Raji细胞HLA-DR／DQ的表达均有明显的抑制作用；而pcDNA3mCⅡTA2和空载体pcD-NA3无此作用。MHC-Ⅱ类分子被抑制的程度与外源转入CⅡTA突变体(pUHD10-3mCⅡTA4)的量明显相关。结论：成功地构建pcDNA3mCⅡTA3和pcDNA3mCⅡTA4，并能抑制HLA-Ⅱ类分子的表达。初步证实CⅡTA突变体是通过与胞内的野生型CⅡTA竞争性结合反式激活蛋白，来抑制MHC-Ⅱ类分子的转录和表达。     

Invariant chain+ N2a neuroblastoma cells stably expressing the class II MHC transactivator CIITA fail to stimulate anti-tumor immunity

A promising cancer treatment strategy involves stimulation of anti-tumor immune responses. CD4⁺ T cell responses are particularly desirable, as they enhance CD8⁺ T cell activity and provide immune memory. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator CIITA can be used to stimulate expression of MHC II on tumor cells, thereby promoting CD4⁺ T cell activation. In this study, N2a neuroblastoma cells were stably transfected with CIITA. N2aCIITA cells displayed increased expression of MHC I, MHC II and invariant chain; CD80 and CD86 were expressed by neither the parental N2a cells nor by the N2aCIITA cells. All mice injected with N2aCIITA cells developed tumors. Furthermore, no increase in the numbers of T cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, or eosinophils was observed in the spleens or tumors of mice injected with N2aCIITA cells, compared to tissues from mice injected with the parental N2a cells. This absence of an anti-tumor immune response despite MHC II expression is likely due to the presence of invariant chain, in support of the MHCII⁺/Ii⁻ paradigm.     

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.     

Phenotype of Resting and Activated Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Grown from Peripheral Blood of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Decreased levels of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression and impaired formation of immunological synapse by dendritic cells (DCs) of HLA-B27 transgenic rats have been recently demonstrated. The resulting dysfunction of DCs may be implicated in the pathogenesis of the HLA-B27-related disease in transgenic animals. The phenotype of DCs in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has not been evaluated. Monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs) were grown from patients with active AS and age-matched healthy volunteers. Surface expression of HLA-DR, co-stimulation molecules CD80, CD86 and CD40, as well as CD83 was assessed by flow cytometry and compared between the groups under 3 conditions: in resting state, after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and after stimulation by LPS in the presence of etanercept, a soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor α. Lower baseline expression of class II MHC molecules (HLA-DR) was observed by MDDCs grown from AS patients, as compared to healthy subjects. Post-stimulated levels of HLA-DR were comparable in both groups, suggesting greater up-regulation of class II MHC molecules by MDDCs from AS in response to LPS. No difference between groups in the levels of expression of co-stimulation molecules and CD83 was observed. Lower basic expression of class II MHC by the MDDCs grown from patients with AS may be associated with impaired regulation of their activity. Functional studies on DCs from patients with AS are needed to evaluate the integrity of their antigen-presenting function.     

The road to transplant tolerance is paved with good dendritic cells

After transplantation, recipient T cells can recognize donor antigens either by interacting with MHC class II on donor bone marrow‐derived cells (direct allorecognition), or by recognizing allogeneic peptides bound to self‐MHC class II molecules on recipient antigen presenting cells (indirect allorecognition). The activation of pro‐inflammatory T cells via either of these pathways leads to allograft rejection, so the suppression of both of these pathways is needed to achieve transplantation tolerance. A study in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2013. 43: 734–746] shows that allogeneic dendritic cells (DCs) modified to either lack expression of CD80/86 or over‐express indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) are able to inhibit direct and/or indirect alloresponses in vitro and in vivo in mice. Notably, both allorecognition pathways were suppressed by the coexpression of self‐ and allo‐MHC molecules on semi‐allogeneic DCs. This Commentary discusses the challenges and potential of using genetically‐modified DCs to suppress alloreactivity in the context of transplant tolerance.     

Early activation markers of human peripheral dendritic cells

Two major populations of dendritic cells (DCs), myeloid and plasmacytoid, can be isolated from human peripheral blood, and are distinguished by differential expression of the cell surface markers CD11c and CD123. These two populations of DCs also are different in their expression of Toll-like receptor (TLRs), which are involved in their activation. To investigate the early events during activation of peripheral DCs, the cells were stimulated in vitro with ligands for TLR-4 (as in lipopolysaccharides [LPS]) or TLR-9 (CpG-containing oligonucleotide [CpG]). The earliest change in protein expression detected after stimulating peripheral DCs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or CpG was increased production of the chemokine interleukin (IL)-8. Enhanced production of IL-8 occurred already within 2 hours of stimulation in both myeloid dendritic cells (M-DCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (P-DCs), and preceded expression of the well established activation marker CD40. Although both populations of DCs secreted IL-8 upon activation, the levels of IL-8 produced was several times higher within the M-DCs compared with the P-DCs population. Before activation, both subsets of DCs expressed the IL-8 receptor type B (CD128b); but after stimulation the IL-8 receptor was down-regulated in both populations of DCs. Increased expression of MHC class II molecules is generally regarded as an early activation marker of DCs. However, only the P-DCs showed a significant up-regulation of MHC class II after stimulation. The M-DC population up-regulated MHC class II without any prior activation; thus care should be taken using increased expression of MHC class II molecules as an early activation marker of peripheral M-DCs after activation in vitro. In conclusion, we propose that during activation of human DCs the production of IL-8 and loss of CD128b are the earliest signs of activation preceding both MHC class II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 expression.     

CIITA promoter I CARD-deficient mice express functional MHC class II genes in myeloid and lymphoid compartments

Three distinct promoters control the master regulator of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression, class II transactivator (CIITA), in a cell type-specific manner. Promoter I (pI) CIITA, expressed primarily by dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, expresses a unique isoform that contains a caspase-recruitment domain (CARD). The activity and function of this isoform are not understood, but are believed to enhance the function of CIITA in antigen-presenting cells. To determine whether isoform I of CIITA has specific functions, CIITA mutant mice were created in which isoform I was replaced with isoform III sequences. Mice in which pI and the CARD-encoding exon were deleted were also created. No defect in the formation of CD4 T cells, the ability to respond to a model antigen or bacterial or viral challenge was observed in mice lacking CIITA isoform I. Although CIITA and MHC-II expression was decreased in splenic DCs, pI knockout animals expressed CIITA from downstream promoters, suggesting that control of pI activity is mediated by unknown distal elements that could act at pIII, the B-cell promoter. Thus, no critical function is linked to the CARD domain of CIITA isoform I with respect to basic immune system development, function and challenge.     

Legionella pneumophila infection up-regulates dendritic cell Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)/TLR4 expression and key maturation markers

Dendritic cells (DCs) have a critical role in linking innate to adaptive immunity, and this transition is regulated by the up-regulation of costimulatory and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules as well as Toll-like receptors. These changes in DCs have been observed to occur following microbial infection, and in the present study, we examined the effect of Legionella pneumophila infection on the expression of these DC markers. We showed that bone marrow-derived DC cultures from BALB/c mice infected with live L. pneumophila resulted in the up-regulation of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 and the activation of CD40, CD86, and MHC class I/II molecules.     

Tumor rejection by gene transfer of the MHC class II transactivator in murine mammary adenocarcinoma cells

The murine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line TS/A is a highly malignant MHC class II-negative tumor. We show that transfection of TS/A cells with the MHC class II transactivator CIITA renders them MHC class II-positive and highly immunogenic in vivo. These cells were fully rejected by 51% of syngeneic recipients and had a significantly lower growth rate in the remaining 49% of animals. This directly correlated to the amount of MHC class II molecules expressed in the transfected tumor. Tumor rejecting animals were protected against rechallenge with the parental TS/A tumor. The rejection required CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. CD4(+) T cells were fundamental in the priming phase of the antitumor response. CTL-specific for a peptide of the envelope gp70 of an endogenous ecotropic retrovirus were identified and explained the specificity of the effector mechanism of rejection against the TS/A and the antigenically related C26 carcinoma cells but not against the unrelated gp70-negative syngeneic fibrosarcoma F1F cells. This is the first example of successful tumor vaccination by genetic transfer of CIITA. These results open the way to a possible use of CIITA for increasing both the inducing and the effector phase of the antitumor immune response.     

转染MHCII类基因对卵巢癌细胞株免疫特性的影响

建立稳定表达CIITA基因的人卵巢癌细胞株HO CIITA ,分析转染CIITA基因对T细胞体外抗肿瘤免疫应答的影响。以CIITA基因逆转录病毒 (pLXSN/CIITA )转染并筛选获得HO CIITA。用FACS和RT PCR分析HLA以及抗原加工递呈基因表达水平。以磁珠法分离得到正常人外周血CD4 +/CD8+T细胞 ,分别进行混合淋巴细胞反应及细胞因子测定 (ELISA和RT PCR )。结果显示 ,转染CIITA基因后 ,使HO细胞HLAII类分子和LMP7基因表达增高 ,而Ii基因表达由阳性转为阴性 ,未检测到TAP1表达 ;HO和HO CIITA细胞刺激CD4 +T细胞分泌IL 4含量两者有显著差异。刺激 4 8h后达到顶峰 ,前者分泌量约为后者的 1/2 ,但分泌IFN γ无差异 ,RT PCR与ELISA两种测定结果一致。表明转染CIITA基因可增加肿瘤细胞表面MHCII类分子的表达 ,该作用与IFN γ具有协同效应 ;并能诱导CD4 +T细胞表达IL 4。     

逆转录病毒介导乙型肝炎病毒C基因在树突状细胞中的转移

目的：探讨逆转录病毒介导乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原(HBcAg)基因在骨髓来源的树突状细胞(DC)的转移效率，以及对DC成熟和功能的影响。方法：用含有HBV C基因的重组逆转录病毒载体，感染处于分裂期的小鼠骨髓祖细胞，感染后的骨髓细胞在GM—CSF和IL—4存在的条件下继续培养获得成熟的DC，用PCR、RT—PCR，分析目的基因的整合与转录；用Western blot和流式细胞仪，分析HBcAg的表达及基因转移效率，以及检测感染前后DC CD80和MHC—Ⅱ类分子的表达以及分泌IL—12能力的变化；通过将基因转移后的DC与淋巴细胞进行混合培养，检测其体外诱导CTL的能力。结果：逆转录病毒感染后并不影响骨髓来源的DC成熟，对其表面分子CD80和MHC-Ⅱ类分子的表达和分泌IL-12的能力没有影响。目的基因能整合到DC的基因组DNA中，并能转录和翻译。约28％的DC能表达HBcAg，感染后的DC体外能诱导T细胞应答。结论：逆转录病毒能有效地将HBV C基因转移到骨髓来源的DC中，对DC的成熟和功能无明显影响，并能诱导CTL应答，这将有助于开展以DC为基础的慢性乙肝的免疫治疗。     

Bladder cancer immunogenicity: expression of CD80 and CD86 is insufficient to allow primary CD4+ T cell activation in vitro

Transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the urinary bladder are known to express proteins which can yield potentially immunogenic peptide epitopes for expression in the context of cell surface class I or class II MHC antigens. However, additional costimulatory ligands must also be expressed before such a cell might directly induce full activation and proliferation of resting, antigen-specific T lymphocytes. Intravesical therapy might be used to manipulate T cell costimulation in order to promote specific rejection of TCC cells. This in vitro study examined the potential of such a strategy by transfection of the prototypical TCC line J82 with the important costimulatory molecules CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2). Untransfected J82 cells expressed class I and II MHC antigens, a range of cell adhesion molecules, though did not induce T cell proliferation in a robust, allogeneic co-culture system. Transfected J82 cells expressed CD80 or CD86 at levels comparable to an antigen-presenting B cell line. Furthermore, functional surface expression of CD80 and CD86 was demonstrated in a mitogen-dependent assay of costimulation. However, neither CD80+ nor CD86+ transfectant J82 cells could induce significant proliferation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. Further analysis showed that bystander J82 cells could inhibit independent T cell activation in an effect dependent on direct cell contact. This inhibitory effect was associated with increased cell death in the responding lymphocyte population and is concordant with surface expression of CD95L by the J82 cell line.     

MHC class II expression is differentially regulated in plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-restricted antigen presentation is essential for the function of dendritic cells (DCs). We show here that plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) differ from all other DC subsets with respect to expression of CIITA, the 'master regulator' of MHC class II genes. The gene encoding CIITA is controlled by three cell type-specific promoters: pI, pIII and pIV. With gene targeting in mice, we demonstrate that pDCs rely strictly on the B cell promoter pIII, whereas macrophages and all other DCs depend on pI. The molecular mechanisms driving MHC class II expression in pDCs are thus akin to those operating in lymphoid rather than myeloid cells.     

Activation of purified allogeneic CD4(+) T cells by rat bone marrow-derived dendritic cells induces concurrent secretion of IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10

Dendritic cells (DCs) are highly specialized antigen-presenting cells that play a key role in the initiation and regulation of immune responses. The ability of DCs to process antigens and the outcome of their interaction with T cells are largely dependent on phenotype as well as maturation state of DCs. In this study, we generated DCs from rat bone marrow precursors. Bone marrow cells cultured in the presence of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-4, and Flt-3 ligand (FL) produced immature DCs that expressed intermediate levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, low levels of CD80 and CD86 molecules and displayed a high capacity of endocytosis. Bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) matured in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulated expression of MHC class II, CD80 and CD86, while their phagocytic capacity was dramatically reduced. Mature BMDCs stimulated vigorous proliferation of purified allogeneic CD4(+) T cells in a primary mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) and elicited a mixed cytokine profile in allogeneic CD4(+) T cells: DCs activated CD4(+) T cells to produce interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10. Thus, rat BMDCs effectively internalize antigens and stimulate T cell proliferation but fail to induce an unidirectional polarization of T helper (T(H)) cells and in this respect differ from both human and mouse DCs.