CD4+ T helper cell-independent antitumor response mediated by murine IFN-beta gene delivery in immunocompetent mice.

Previously, we provided evidence that adenovirus-mediated interferon-beta (IFN-beta) gene therapy inhibits tumor formation and causes dramatic regression of established tumors in immunodeficient mice. We suggested that local IFN-beta gene therapy with adenoviral vectors could be an effective treatment for cancer. In this report, the actions of murine IFN-beta (MuIFN-beta) gene delivery on both subcutaneous and metastatic tumors were evaluated in syngeneic immunocompetent mice. We found that the antitumor response mediated by MuIFN-beta gene delivery relied on CD8(+) T cells but was completely independent of CD4(+) T cells. In fact, depletion of CD4(+) T cells appeared to enhance the effect on tumor inhibition and animal survival induced by adenovirus-MuIFN-beta gene delivery. Therefore, adenovirus-MuIFN-beta gene therapy can bypass CD4(+) T helper (Th) cells and activate an effective CD8(+) T cell-dependent antitumor immunity in immunocompetent mice. Furthermore, we found that depletion of macrophages but not natural killer (NK) cells suppressed the antitumor response induced by MuIFN-beta gene therapy. These data, together with our previous results, suggest that in the clinical setting, local adenovirus-mediated IFN-beta gene therapy may lead to an efficient and long-lasting eradication of tumors by a direct antitumor effect and via activation of the innate and the adoptive immune systems.     

Cure of innate intestinal immune pathology by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (T(R)) cells are a naturally occurring population of T cells that suppress the development of a variety of pathological immune responses. However, as human inflammatory diseases are usually not diagnosed until after the onset of clinical symptoms, it is of great interest to determine whether CD4+CD25+ T(R) cells can reverse established pathology. To examine this question we have utilized a murine model of human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where pathology is triggered by infection of immune deficient RAG-/- mice with the pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter hepaticus. Here we demonstrate that adoptively transferred CD4+CD25+ T(R) cells can cure established intestinal inflammation that is mediated by innate immune activation in H. hepaticus-infected RAG-/- mice. CD4+CD25+ T(R) cell-mediated amelioration of innate intestinal pathology was accompanied by a reversal in systemic innate immune activation, but did not involve any detectable anti-bacterial effects, as bacterial colonization levels were unchanged. Cure of established pathology was not achieved using subpopulations of CD4+CD25- T cells, further emphasizing the enhanced regulatory activity of CD4+CD25+ T(R) cells.     

CD4+Foxp3+调节性T细胞表达升高提示免疫应答而非移植耐受

目的 探讨诱导CD4+Foxp3+调节性T细胞(regulatory T cells,Tregs)表达的机制及其在移植耐受中可能的作用.方法 构建新生移植耐受小鼠动物模型,分析移植耐受与同种异体反应性T细胞、Tregs表达及嵌合体的关系;运用过继转移实验、EGFP转基因小鼠,研究移植排斥过程中Tregs表达及抗原特异性.结果 新生耐受小鼠形成嵌合体,同种异体反应性T细胞被克隆清除,但Tregs表达与初始小鼠相同;同种异体反应性T细胞识别抗原诱导免疫反应,Tregs在移植排斥反应中表达升高,且不仅同种异体反应性Tregs表达升高,非同种异体反应性Tregs表达也升高.结论 Tregs在移植排斥中非特异性诱导产生,可能为一种负反馈免疫调控机制.     

CD4+CD25+T细胞在CD8+T细胞抗肿瘤免疫中的调节作用

实验旨在研究CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞在CD8^＋T细胞抗肿瘤免疫中的调节作用。将小鼠脾脏中分离的单个核细胞分为两组．即去除CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞组和未去除CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞组,测定树突状细胞提呈的肿瘤抗原多肽刺激不同T细胞增殖活性、细胞因子IFN一1分泌,以及多肽特异性CD8^＋T细胞对同源性胃癌细胞株MFC的杀伤活性。结果显示预先去除未致敏T细胞中的CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞,所诱导的特异性CD8^＋CTL对肿瘤细胞免疫应答增强,表现为反应性T细胞对树突状细胞提呈的肿瘤抗原多肽增殖反应增强,IFN-γ分泌量提高及CD8＋T细胞对MFC杀伤活性增强。这些结果表明。预先去除未致敏T细胞中的CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞,肿瘤抗原多肽修饰的树突状细胞肿瘤疫苗效能可明显增加。CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞在CD8^＋T细胞抗肿瘤免疫中起下调作用。     

The development of CD4+ T effector cells during the type 2 immune response

Multiple pathways may be involved in the development of interleukin 4 (IL-4) producing T helper (Th) cells and the associated type 2 immune response. Increasing evidence suggests that the strength of signals delivered to the T cell may favor the development of the type 2 response. In contrast, antigen-presenting cell- (APC) derived stimuli produced following pattern recognition receptor binding during the innate response promotes the development of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) producing cells and the associated type 1 immune response. In many cases, the balance between increased signaling strength and the innate response may determine whether the type 2 response develops. T cell receptor (TCR), CD4, and costimulatory molecule interactions may all contribute to signal strength, but the type 2 immune response may be particularly dependent on the availability of coreceptor and costimulatory molecule interactions. B7 ligand interactions are required for the development of the type 2 immune response and interaction of CD28 with either B7-1 or B7-2 can provide sufficient signals for its initiation. In B7-2-deficient mice, the initial type 2 immune response is intact, but the response is not sustained, suggesting that B7-2 is important at later stages of the type 2 immune response. The roles of CD28 and CTLA-4 during the type 2 response remain unclear. The type 2 response to infectious pathogens is pronounced in CD28-/- mice, suggesting that other costimulatory molecule interactions can substitute for CD28 for the development of IL-4 producing T cells and the associated type 2 immune response.     

A role for CD4+CD25+ T cells in regulation of the immune response during human tuberculosis

Active tuberculosis (TB) is associated with prolonged suppression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific immune responses, but mechanisms involved are understood incompletely. We investigated a potential role for CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in depressed anti-MTB immunity by evaluating serially CD4 cell phenotype and interferon (IFN)-gamma production by mononuclear cells from patients with TB. At diagnosis, frequencies of CD4+CD25+ T cells were increased in blood from TB patients compared to healthy purified protein derivative (PPD)-positive controls (with a history of prior TB exposure), and remained elevated at completion of therapy (6 months). By contrast, expression of another activation marker, CD69, by CD4 T cells was increased at diagnosis, but declined rapidly to control levels with treatment. Among CD4+CD25+ T cells from TB patients at diagnosis those expressing high levels of CD25, probably representing regulatory T cells, were increased 2.9-fold when compared to control subjects, while MTB-stimulated IFN-gamma levels in whole blood supernatants were depressed. A role for CD4+CD25+ T cells in depressed IFN-gamma production during TB was substantiated in depletion experiments, where CD25+-depleted CD4 T cells produced increased amounts of IFN-gamma upon MTB stimulation compared to unseparated T cells. At follow-up, IFN-gamma production improved most significantly in blood from TB patients with high baseline frequencies of CD4+CD25+ T cells (more than threefold higher than controls for both total and CD25hi+ CD4 T cells), who also had a significant drop in frequencies of both total and 'regulatory' CD4+CD25+ T cells in response to treatment. Expansion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells during active TB may play a role in depressed T cell IFN-gamma production.     

Double positive CD4+CD8+ T cells are part of the adaptive immune response against Candida albicans

Although multiple immune cells participate in the innate and adaptive immune response against Candida albicans, the elucidation of cellular and inflammation kinetics may be a promising strategy to decipher events propitious to infection eradication. We used an in vitro Candida-human leucocyte coculture approach to study the dynamics of rare CD4+CD8+ double positive T lymphocytes (DP T) produced in response to this fungus. Our results highlight the presence of two phenotypically distinct subsets of DP T cells: CD4hiCD8lo and CD4loCD8hi, and that the different ratio of these cells correlates with infection outcome. The ratio of CD4hiCD8lo over CD4loCD8hi by day 6 was significantly higher in controlled infections and decreased when infection persisted due to a significant increase in the proportion of CD4loCD8hi. When infection was controlled, CD4hiCD8lo T cells secreted IFNγ, TNFα, IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines two days after challenge. By day 2, under conditions of persistent infection, CD4hiCD8lo and CD4loCD8hi T cells secreted significant levels of IL-4 and IL-10, respectively, compared to uninfected cultures. Frequency kinetics and original cytokine profiles detailed in this work indicate that DP T cells could participate in the adaptive immune response to C. albicans.     

CD4+CD25+免疫调节性T细胞对CD4+T细胞介导的移植物抗宿主病预防作用的研究

目的研究CD4+CD25+免疫调节性T(Treg)细胞在小鼠骨髓移植后,对移植物抗宿主病的预防作用及其作用机制.方法用C3H(H-2k)小鼠骨髓作为供体,提取C3H(H-2k)小鼠CD4+T及CD4+CD25+T细胞,C3H×B6(H-2k/b)F1小鼠为骨髓移植的受者.在受者接受致死量全身放射后,输注供者去除T细胞的骨髓(ATBM),使其造血功能重建(ATBM组).于不同的实验组给予CD4+(CD4组)T细胞,CD4+CD25+T(CD25组)或二者同时输注(CD4/CD25组).观察各组小鼠移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)的发生率.结果所有10只ATBM组小鼠至骨髓移植后60天仍全部存活,无GVHD发生;所有10只CD4组小鼠在骨髓移植10天内全部死于GVHD(P＜0.01);所有5只CD25组小鼠于骨髓移植后60天仍全部存活,无明显GVHD发生(P＞0.05);同样,所有6只CD4/CD25组小鼠至骨髓移植后仍全部存活,无明显GVHD发生(P＞0.05).结论在同种异基因小鼠的骨髓移植模型中,CD4+CD25+T不诱导GVHD的发生,并有预防CD4+T细胞介导的GVHD发生的作用.     

CD4~+CD25~+T细胞在CD8~+T细胞抗肿瘤免疫中的调节作用

实验旨在研究CD4+CD25+T细胞在CD8+T细胞抗肿瘤免疫中的调节作用。将小鼠脾脏中分离的单个核细胞分为两组,即去除CD4+CD25+T细胞组和未去除CD4+CD25+T细胞组,测定树突状细胞提呈的肿瘤抗原多肽刺激不同T细胞增殖活性、细胞因子IFN-γ分泌,以及多肽特异性CD8+T细胞对同源性胃癌细胞株MFC的杀伤活性。结果显示预先去除未致敏T细胞中的CD4+CD25+T细胞,所诱导的特异性CD8+CTL对肿瘤细胞免疫应答增强,表现为反应性T细胞对树突状细胞提呈的肿瘤抗原多肽增殖反应增强,IFN-γ分泌量提高及CD8+T细胞对MFC杀伤活性增强。这些结果表明,预先去除未致敏T细胞中的CD4+CD25+T细胞,肿瘤抗原多肽修饰的树突状细胞肿瘤疫苗效能可明显增加。CD4+CD25+T细胞在CD8+T细胞抗肿瘤免疫中起下调作用。     

Generation of peptide-specific CD8+ T cells by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated antigen-mRNA-transduced CD4+ T cells

Functional analysis of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells is important for understanding the immune response in various immunological disorders. To analyze CD8(+) T cell responses to a variety of antigens with no readily defined peptides available, we developed a system using CD4(+) phytohemagglutinin (PHA) blasts transduced with mRNA for antigen molecules. CD4(+) PHA blasts express MHC class I and II, and also CD80 and CD86 and are thus expected to serve as potent antigen presenting cells. EGFP mRNA could be transduced into and the protein expressed by more than 90% of either LCL or CD4(+) PHA blasts. Its expression stably persisted for more than 2 weeks after transduction. In experiments with HLA-A*2402 restricted CD8(+) CTL clones for either EBNA3A or a cancer-testis antigen, SAGE, mRNA-transduced lymphoid cells were appropriate target cells in ELISPOT assays or (51)Cr releasing assays. Finally, using CD4(+) PHA blasts transduced with mRNA of a cancer-testis antigen MAGE-A4, we successfully generated specific CTL clones that recognized a novel HLA-B*4002 restricted epitope, MAGE-A4(223-231). Messenger RNA-transduced CD4(+) PHA blasts are thus useful antigen presenting cells for analysis of CD8(+) T cell responses and induction of specific T cells for potential immunotherapy.     

Activated CD4+ CD25+ T cells suppress antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells but induce a suppressive phenotype only in CD4+ T cells

CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells are increasingly recognized as central players in the regulation of immune responses. In vitro studies have mostly employed allogeneic or polyclonal responses to monitor suppression. Little is known about the ability of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells to suppress antigen-specific immune responses in humans. It has been previously shown that CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells anergize CD4(+) T cells and turn them into suppressor T cells. In the present study we demonstrate for the first time in humans that CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells are able to inhibit the proliferation and cytokine production of antigen specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. This suppression only occurs when CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells are preactivated. Furthermore, we could demonstrate that CD4(+) T-cell clones stop secreting interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), start to produce interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-beta after coculture with preactivated CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells and become suppressive themselves. Surprisingly preactivated CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells affect CD8(+) T cells differently, leading to reduced proliferation and reduced production of IFN-gamma. This effect is sustained and cannot be reverted by exogenous interleukin-2. Yet CD8(+) T cells, unlike CD4(+) T cells do not start to produce immunoregulatory cytokines and do not become suppressive after coculture with CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells.     

Instruction of naive CD4+ T cells by polarized CD4+ T cells within dendritic cell clusters

Cooperation between CD4(+) T cells can enhance the response and modulate the cytokine profile, and defining these parameters has become a major issue for multivalent-vaccine strategies.We explored cooperation using adoptive transfer of two populations of TCR transgenic T cells of different specificity. One was transferred without prior activation, whereas the second was activated for five days by antigen stimulation under polarizing culture conditions. Both populations were transferred into a single adoptive host and then primed by particle-mediated DNA delivery. Polarized Th1 cells (inducers) raised the frequency of IFN-gamma(+) cells within a naive (target) population, whereas Th2 inducers raised the frequency of IL-4(+) and reduced that of IL-2(+) cells. These effects were obtained when the genes for both antigens were on the same particle, favoring presentation by the same dendritic cell, but not when on different particles delivered to different dendritic cells. Autonomy of DC clusters allows linked sets of antigens (e.g. from a single pathogen) to maintain cytokine bias, but allows other independent responses, each with their own set of autonomous clusters.     

Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells inhibit IgE responses and interleukin-4 production by CD4+ T cells

There is a growing body of evidence which suggests that CD8⁺ T cells play an important part in regulating the IgE response to non-replicating antigens. In this study we have systematically investigated their role in the regulation of IgE and of CD4⁺ T cell responses to ovalbumin (OVA) by CD8⁺ T cell depletion in vivo. Following intraperitoneal immunization with alum-precipitated OVA, OVA-specific T cell responses were detected in the spleen and depletion of CD8⁺ T cells in vitro significantly enhanced the proliferative response to OVA. Depletion of CD8⁺ T cells in vivo 7 days after immunization failed to enhance IgE production, while depletion of CD8⁺ T cells on days 12–18 greatly enhanced the IgE response, which rose to 26 μ/ml following a second injection of anti-CD8 on day 35 and remained in excess of 1 μ/ml over 300 days afterwards. Reconstitution on day 21 of rats CD8-depleted on day 12 with purified CD8⁺ T cells from animals immunized on day 12 completely inhib ited the IgE response. This effect was antigen specific; CD8⁺ T cells from OVA-primed animals had little effect on the IgE response of bovine serum albumin immunized rats. In vivo, CD8⁺ T cell depletion decreased interferon (IFN)-γ production but enhanced interleukin (IL)-4 production by OVA-stimulated splenic CD4⁺ T cells. Furthermore, CD8⁺ T cell depletion and addition of anti-IFN-γ antibody enhanced IgE production in vitro in an IL-4-supplemented mixed lymphocyte reaction. These data clearly show that antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells inhibit IgE in the immune response to non-replicating antigens. The data indicate two possible mechanisms: first, CD8⁺ T cells have direct inhibitory effects on switching to IgE in B cells and second, they inhibit OVA-specific IL-4 production but enhance IFN-γ production by CD4⁺ T cells.     

Naturally Occurring Self-Reactive CD4^＋CD25^＋ Regulatory T Cells： Universal Immune Code

Naturally occurring thymus-arisen CD4^＋CD25^＋ regulatory T （Treg） cells are considered to play a central role in self-tolerance. Precise signals that promote the development of Treg cells remain elusive, but considerable evidence suggests that costimulatory molecules, cytokines, the nature of the TCR and the niche or the context in which the T cell encounters antigen in the thymus play important roles. Analysis of TCR from Treg cells has demonstrated that a large proportion of this population has a higher avidity to self-antigen in comparison with TCR from CD4^＋CD25^＋ cells and that peripheral antigen is required for their development, maintenance, or expansion. Treg cells have been shown to undergo expansion in the periphery, likely regulated by the presence of self-antigen. Many studies have shown that the involvement of Treg cells in the tolerance induction is antigen-specific, even with MHC-mismatched, in transplantation/graft versus host disease （GVHD）, autoimmunity, cancer, and pregnancy. Theses studies concluded a vital role for self-reactive Treg cells in maintenance of the body integrity. Based on those studies, we hypothesize that self-reactive Treg cells are shared among all healthy individuals and recognize same self-antigens and their TCR encodes for few dominant antigens of each organ which defines the healthy self. These dominant self antigens can be regarded as ＂universal immune code＂. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology.     

CD38+ CD45RBlow CD4+ T cells: a population of T cells with immune regulatory activities in vitro

An antibody reactive with CD38 revealed both phenotypic and functional heterogeneity amongst CD45RB^low cells. Functional analysis of the CD38⁺ and CD38⁻ fractions showed that the latter contained T cells which responded to recall antigens and produced high levels of cytokine in response to polyclonal stimulation. In contrast, the CD38⁺ population failed to proliferate or to produce detectable levels of cytokines. Despite appearing unresponsive, the CD38⁺ population significantly inhibited anti-CD3-induced proliferation and cytokine secretion by the reciprocal CD38⁻ population. Immune suppression required stimulation through the TCR and was dependent on a physical interaction between regulatory and responding CD4⁺ populations. It did not involve killing of the responding T cells or secretion of IL-10 or TGF-β. Despite some similarities there is no direct correlation between the in vitro suppression characteristic of the CD38⁺ CD45RB^low subset and in vivo suppression which has been shown to be mediated by unseparated CD45RB^low CD4⁺ T cells. However, these results demonstrate that two functionally distinct subsets of T cells reside within the antigen-exposed or CD45RB^low CD4⁺ T cell population and are thus generated in vivo: (1) conventional memory T cells which proliferate and secrete cytokines in response to activation and (2) a population of regulatory T cells which inhibit T cell activation in vitro. Antibodies reactive with CD38 may provide a useful tool with which to study the role of these T cell subsets in the induction and regulation of the immune response.     

Protection against nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae is mediated by antigen-specific CD4+ T cells

CD4(+) T-cell-dependent acquired immunity confers antibody-independent protection against pneumococcal colonization. Since this mechanism is poorly understood for extracellular bacteria, we assessed the antigen specificity of the induction and recall of this immune response by using BALB/c DO11.10Rag(-/-) mice, which lack mature B and T cells except for CD4(+) T cells specific for the OVA(323-339) peptide derived from ovalbumin. Serotype 6B Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 603S and unencapsulated strain Rx1Delta lytA were modified to express OVA(323-339) as a fusion protein with surface protein A (PspA) (strains 603OVA(1) and Rx1Delta lytAOVA(1)) or with PspA, neuraminidase A, and pneumolysin (Rx1Delta lytAOVA(3)). Whole-cell vaccines (WCV) were made of ethanol-killed cells of Rx1Delta lytA plus cholera toxin (CT) adjuvant, of Rx1Delta lytAOVA(1) + CT (WCV-OVA(1)), and of Rx1Delta lytAOVA(3) + CT (WCV-OVA(3)). Mice intranasally immunized with WCV-OVA(1), but not with WCV or CT alone, were protected against intranasal challenge with 603OVA(1). There was no protection against strain 603S in mice immunized with WCV-OVA(1). These results indicate antigen specificity of both immune induction and the recall response. Effector action was not restricted to antigen-bearing bacteria since colonization by 603S was reduced in animals immunized with vaccines made of OVA-expressing strains when ovalbumin or killed Rx1Delta lytAOVA(3) antigen was administered around the time of challenge. CD4(+) T-cell-mediated protection against pneumococcal colonization can be induced in an antigen-specific fashion and requires specific antigen for effective bacterial clearance, but this activity may extend beyond antigen-expressing bacteria. These results are consistent with the recruitment and/or activation of phagocytic or other nonspecific effectors by antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells.