Regulation of inflammation, autoimmunity, and infection immunity by HVEM-BTLA signaling

The HVEM, or TNFRSF14, is a membrane-bound receptor known to activate the NF-κB pathway, leading to the induction of proinflammatory and cell survival-promoting genes. HVEM binds several ligands that are capable of mediating costimulatory pathways, predominantly through its interaction with LIGHT (TNFSF14). However, it can also mediate coinhibitory effects, predominantly by interacting with IGSF members, BTLA or CD160. Therefore, it can function like a "molecular switch" for various activating or inhibitory functions. Furthermore, recent studies suggest the existence of bidirectional signaling with HVEM acting as a ligand for signaling through BTLA, which may act as a ligand in other contexts. Bidirectional signaling, together with new information indicating signaling in cis by cells that coexpress HVEM and its ligands, makes signaling within a HVEM-mediated network complicated, although potentially rich in biology. Accumulating in vivo evidence has shown that HVEM-mediated, coinhibitory signaling may be dominant over HVEM-mediated costimulatory signaling. In several disease models the absence of HVEM-BTLA signaling predominantly resulted in severe mucosal inflammation in the gut and lung, autoimmune-like disease, and impaired immunity during bacterial infection. Here, we will summarize the current view about how HVEM-BTLA signaling is involved in the regulation of mucosal inflammation, autoimmunity, and infection immunity.     

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。     

The signaling networks of the herpesvirus entry mediator (TNFRSF14) in immune regulation

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) (TNFRSF14) regulates T-cell immune responses by activating both inflammatory and inhibitory signaling pathways. HVEM acts as both a receptor for the canonical TNF-related ligands, LIGHT [lymphotoxin-like, exhibits inducible expression, and competes with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed on T lymphocytes] and lymphotoxin-α, and as a ligand for the immunoglobulin superfamily proteins BTLA (B and T lymphocyte attenuator) and CD160, a feature distinguishing HVEM from other immune regulatory molecules. The ability of HVEM to interact with multiple ligands in distinct configurations creates a functionally diverse set of intrinsic and bidirectional signaling pathways that control both inflammatory and inhibitory responses. The HVEM system is integrated into the larger LTβR and TNFR network through extensive shared ligand and receptor usage. Experimental mouse models and human diseases indicate that dysregulation of HVEM network may contribute to autoimmune pathogenesis, making it an attractive target for drug intervention.     

TNF Superfamily Networks: bidirectional and interference pathways of the herpesvirus entry mediator (TNFSF14)

The herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM; TNFRSF14) can activate either proinflammatory or inhibitory signaling pathways. HVEM engages two distinct types of ligands, the canonical TNF-related cytokines, LIGHT and Lymphotoxin-α, and the Ig-related membrane proteins, BTLA (B and T lymphocyte attenuator) and CD160. Recent evidence indicates that the signal generated by HVEM depends on the context of its ligands expressed in trans or in cis. HVEM engagement by all of its ligands in trans initiates bidirectional signaling. In contrast, na?ve T cells coexpress BTLA and HVEM forming a cis-complex that interferes with the activation of HVEM by extraneous ligands in the surrounding microenvironment. The HVEM Network is emerging as a key survival system for effector and memory T cells in mucosal tissues.     

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.     

肿瘤坏死因子受体超家族成员HVEM/TR2研究进展

HVEM/TR2是近来发现的肿瘤坏死因子受体超家族成员,可与单纯疱疹病毒包膜糖蛋白D(HSV-gD)结合介导HSV感染细胞过程;可与其配体LIGHT结合刺激T细胞增殖,在肿瘤免疫、移植免疫、炎症反应、自身免疫性疾病的发生及胸腺阴性选择等过程中发挥重要的生物学作用。另外,新近发现它可与另一配体BTLA结合而抑制T细胞增殖,可能为自身免疫病的治疗提供新思路。     

BTLA/HVEM抑制信号通路研究进展

BTLA是新近发现的Ig家族的抑制性受体,其唯一配体HVEM,来自TNF受体超家族,可与TNF家族的LIGHT结合提供正向刺激信号.而BTLA与HVEM的相互作用传递抑制信号下调淋巴细胞的免疫应答.这两个来自不同家族的受体间的负向调节作用,改变了对传统抑制性信号通路作用方式的看法.通过介绍目前对其生物学特性、信号传导机制及与相关疾病关系的研究,为进一步深入了解免疫应答的调控机制及寻找治疗自身免疫病、移植排斥、肿瘤等疾病的新方法提供参考.     

B and T lymphocyte attenuator regulates T cell activation through interaction with herpesvirus entry mediator

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) provides an inhibitory signal to B and T cells. Previously, indirect observations suggested that B7x was a ligand for BTLA. Here we show that BTLA does not bind B7x; instead, we identify herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) as the unique BTLA ligand. BTLA bound the most membrane-distal cysteine-rich domain of HVEM, distinct from regions where the ligands LIGHT and lymphotoxin-alpha bound HVEM. HVEM induced BTLA tyrosine phosphorylation and association of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 and repressed antigen-driven T cell proliferation, providing an example of reverse signaling to a non-tumor necrosis factor family ligand. The conservation of the BTLA-HVEM interaction between mouse and human suggests that this system is an important pathway regulating lymphocyte activation and/or homeostasis in the immune response.     

Monoclonal antibodies to B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) have no effect on in vitro B cell proliferation and act to inhibit in vitro T cell proliferation when presented in a cis, but not trans, format relative to the activating stimulus

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an immunoglobulin superfamily member surface protein expressed on B and T cells. Its ligand, herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), is believed to act as a monomeric agonist that signals via the CRD1 of HVEM to inhibit lymphocyte activation: HVEM is also the receptor for lymphotoxin-α and LIGHT, which both bind in the CRD2 and CRD3 domains of the HVEM molecule, and for CD160 which competes with BTLA. We have shown that recombinant HVEM and a panel of different monoclonal antibodies specifically bind murine BTLA on both B and T cells and that some antibodies inhibit anti-CD3ε-induced T cell proliferation in vitro, but only when constrained appropriately with a putatively cross-linking reagent. The antibodies had no significant effect on in vitro T cell proliferation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay nor on in vitro DO11.10 antigen-induced T cell proliferation. None of these antibodies, nor HVEM-Fc, had any significant effect on in vitro B cell proliferation induced by anti-immunoglobulin M antibodies (±anti-CD40) or lipopolysaccharide. We further elucidated the requirements for inhibition of in vitro T cell proliferation using a beads-based system to demonstrate that the antibodies that inhibited T cell proliferation in vitro were required to be presented to the T cell in a cis, and not trans, format relative to the anti-CD3ε stimulus. We also found that antibodies that inhibited T cell proliferation in vitro had no significant effect on the antibody captured interleukin-2 associated with the in vivo activation of DO11.10 T cells transferred to syngeneic recipient BALB/c mice. These data suggest that there may be specific structural requirements for the BTLA molecule to exert its effect on lymphocyte activation and proliferation.     

Targeting lymphocyte activation through the lymphotoxin and LIGHT pathways

Summary: Cytokines mediate key communication pathways essential for regulation of immune responses. Full activation of antigen-responding lymphocytes requires cooperating signals from the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related cytokines and their specific receptors. LIGHT, a lymphotoxin-β (LTβ)-related TNF family member, modulates T-cell activation through two receptors, the herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) and indirectly through the LT-β receptor. An unexpected finding revealed a non-canonical binding site on HVEM for the immunoglobulin superfamily member, B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), and an inhibitory signaling protein suppressing T-cell activation. Thus, HVEM can act as a molecular switch between proinflammatory and inhibitory signaling. The non-canonical HVEM–BTLA pathway also acts to counter LTβR signaling that promotes the proliferation of antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) within lymphoid tissue microenvironments. These results indicate LTβ receptor and HVEM–BTLA pathways form an integrated signaling circuit. Targeting these cytokine pathways with specific antagonists (antibody or decoy receptor) can alter lymphocyte differentiation and activation. Alternately, agonists directed at their cell surface receptors can restore homeostasis and potentially reset immune and inflammatory processes, which may be useful in treating autoimmune and infectious diseases and cancer.     

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。     

Regulating the mucosal immune system: the contrasting roles of LIGHT,HVEM, and their various partners

LIGHT and herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) comprise a ligand–receptor pair in the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. These molecules play an important role in regulating immunity, particularly in the intestinal mucosa. LIGHT also binds the lymphotoxin β receptor, and HVEM can act as a ligand for immunoglobulin family molecules, including B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator, which suppresses immune responses. Complexity in this pivotal system arises from several factors, including the non-monogamous pairing of ligands and receptors, and reverse signaling or the ability of some ligands to serve as receptors. As a result, recognition events in this fascinating network of interacting molecules can have pro- or anti-inflammatory consequences. Despite complexity, experiments we and others are carrying out are establishing rules for understanding when and in what cell types these molecules contribute to intestinal inflammation.     

Herpes virus entry mediator synergizes with Toll-like receptor mediated neutrophil inflammatory responses

In microbial infections polymorphnuclear neutrophils (PMN) constitute a major part of the innate host defence, based upon their ability to rapidly accumulate in inflamed tissues and clear the site of infection from microbial pathogens by their potent effector mechanisms. The recently described transmembrane receptor herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is a member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor super family and is expressed on many haematopoietic cells, including T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, monocytes and PMN. Interaction of HVEM with the natural ligand LIGHT on T cells has a costimulatory effect, and increases the bactericidal activity of PMN. To further characterize the function of HVEM on PMN, we evaluated the effect of receptor ligation on human PMN effector functions using an agonistic monoclonal antibody. Here we demonstrate that activation of HVEM causes activation of neutrophil effector functions, including respiratory burst, degranulation and release of interleukin-8 in synergy with ligands for Toll-like receptors or GM-CSF. In addition, stimulation via HVEM enhanced neutrophil phagocytic activity of complement opsonized, but not of non-opsonized, particles. In conclusion, these results indicate a new, as yet unknown, participation of HVEM in the innate immune response and points to a new link between innate and adaptive immunity.     

人膜型LIGHT分子对Mo-DC成熟和T细胞激活的调节作用

利用我们建立的表达人膜型LIGHT分子的基因转染细胞(L929/LIGHT)探讨LIGHT/HVEM信号体外对Mo-DC诱导分化的影响,并进一步研究其对T细胞活化和抗凋亡的共刺激作用。从健康人外周血中分离的单核细胞经GM-CSF联合IL-4诱导形成Mo-DC,流式细胞术分析Mo-DC诱导过程中HVEM和LIGHT的表达;基因转染细胞L929/mock、L929/LIGHT、L929/CD40L或L929/LIGHT联合L929/CD40L,分别经丝裂霉素处理后,与GM-CSF联合IL-4诱导的Mo-DC共育,流式细胞术检测Mo-DC细胞表面成熟标志CD83和CD86的表达,利用FITC-Dextran分析Mo-DC对抗原的摄取能力;L929/LIGHT或L929/mock经丝裂霉素处理后,与抗人CD3单抗激发的T细胞共育,流式细胞术分析CD4+和CD8+T细胞表面活化标志CD25的表达,Annexin V和PI双标记分析T细胞的凋亡率。结果表明,高表达HVEM的单核细胞在诱导形成成熟Mo-D(iDC)的过程中下调了HVEM的表达,成熟Mo-DC(mDC)又上调表达HVEM,而LIGHT在Mo-DC分化过程中呈短暂的诱导性表达;基因转染细胞L929/LIGHT及其联合L929/CD40L能上调Mo-DC表面共刺激分子CD83和CD86的表达,并下调Mo-DC对FITC-Dextran的摄取能力;L929/LIGHT细胞能上调CD4+、CD8+T细胞CD25的表达,并增强T细胞抗凋亡能力。因此,基因转染细胞L929/LIGHT表面表达的人膜型LIGHT分子介导的LIGHT/HVEM共刺激信号对Mo-DC的诱导成熟和T细胞活化及抗凋亡能力具有促进作用。     

The three HveA receptor ligands, gD, LT-alpha and LIGHT bind to distinct sites on HveA

The herpes virus entry mediator A (HveA), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, interacts with three different protein ligands; lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha) and LIGHT (LIGHT stands for lymphotoxin homolog, which exhibits inducible expression and competes with HSV glycoprotein D for HveA and is expressed on T-lymphocytes) from the host and the herpes simplex virus (HSV) surface glycoprotein gD. It has been reported that the gD binding site on HveA is located within the receptor's two N-terminal CRP domains, and that gD and LIGHT compete for their binding to HveA. However, whether these ligands interact with the same or different sites on the receptor is unclear. We analyzed and compared the sites of interaction between HveA and its TNF ligands, by using two recombinant forms of the receptor, comprising the full-receptor ectodomain (HveA (200t)) and its two first CRP domains (HveA (120t)), as well as several monoclonal antibodies recognizing HveA. Two HveA peptide ligands (BP-1 and BP-2) that differentially inhibit binding of soluble gD and LT-alpha to the receptor were also used to demonstrate that gD, LIGHT and LT-alpha bind to distinct sites on the receptor. Our results suggest that binding of a ligand to HveA may alter the conformation of this receptor, thereby affecting its interaction with its other ligands.     

CpG-ODN-induced sustained expression of BTLA mediating selective inhibition of human B cells

BTLA (B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator) is a prominent co-receptor that is structurally and functionally related to CTLA-4 and PD-1. In T cells, BTLA inhibits TCR-mediated activation. In B cells, roles and functions of BTLA are still poorly understood and have never been studied in the context of B cells activated by CpG via TLR9. In this study, we evaluated the expression of BTLA depending on activation and differentiation of human B cell subsets in peripheral blood and lymph nodes. Stimulation with CpG upregulated BTLA, but not its ligand: herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), on B cells in vitro and sustained its expression in vivo in melanoma patients after vaccination. Upon ligation with HVEM, BTLA inhibited CpG-mediated B cell functions (proliferation, cytokine production, and upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules), which was reversed by blocking BTLA/HVEM interactions. Interestingly, chemokine secretion (IL-8 and MIP1β) was not affected by BTLA/HVEM ligation, suggesting that BTLA-mediated inhibition is selective for some but not all B cell functions. We conclude that BTLA is an important immune checkpoint for B cells, as similarly known for T cells.     

Light stimulates IFNgamma-mediated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 upregulation of cancer cells

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) works as one of the ligands for activating the killing activity of natural killer (NK) cells and cancer specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Expression of ICAM-1 enhances lymphocyte adhesion to the cancer cells in vivo. Cancer cell lines express significantly lower level of ICAM-1 than that of normal epithelium or benign cells. Overexpression of LIGHT (LIGHT: homologous to lymphotoxins, indicating inducible expression, and competes with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator [HVEM/TR2]) in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells was observed to suppress tumor growth in vivo. In order to elucidate the mechanisms how LIGHT overexpression could trigger tumor suppression, the expression level of a panel of cell surface makers CD54, CD56, CD95, and CD119 was investigated in a group of cancer cells. Flow cytometry analysis results demonstrate that LIGHT gene expression in cancer cells can greatly increase ICAM-1 expression level, IFNgamma alone can stimulate cancer cells to express ICAM-1, which can be highly augmented by LIGHT in a dose-dependent manner. This upregulation of ICAM-1 expression is not only at ICAM-1 protein trafficking level on cell surface as demonstrated by flow cytometry analysis, but also at ICAM-1 total protein level as confirmed by Western blot. There is no difference of expression level among these cancer cell lines for the other three cell surface markers: CD56, CD95 (Fas), and CD119. It was confirmed that LIGHT enhancement upregulation of ICAM-1 expression is at least STAT1 and JAK1 dependent by using STAT1-deficient U3A and JAK1-deficient E2A4 cells. These findings suggest that LIGHT-induced inhibition of tumor growth is highly correlated with its upregulation of ICAM-1 expression.