Regulation of apoptosis and T cell activation by Fas-specific mAb

Fas was initially described as a molecule expressed on the surfaceof certain cell lines that could mediate programmed cell death(apoptosis) subsequent to ligatlon by specific mAb. To determinewhether mAb to other epitopes on the Fas molecule might mediateother functions, we generated a panel of mAb to the extracellularportion of human Fas. Significant lysis of Fas-expressing targetcells was only observed when the new mAb were first bound toa solid-phase support and not when the mAb were added in solution.However, several of these mAb inhibited the killing of targetcells induced by the prototypic Fas-specific mAb, CH-11. ThosemAb that inhibited apoptosis of target cells mediated by theCH-11 mAb also blocked lysis of target cells mediated by cellsexpressing Fas ligand. Finally, some of the Fas-specific mAbwere found to co-stimulate proliferation of peripheral bloodT cells in the presence of immobilized CD3 mAb. Thus, the dataindicate the existence of a complex set of interactions mediatedby Fas in both normal and transformed lymphoid cells that mayhave important implications regarding the role(s) of this moleculein regulation of immune responses.     

Qualitatively differential regulation of T cell activation and apoptosis by T cell receptor zeta chain ITAMs and their tyrosine residues

The issue of whether three ITAMs in the TCR zeta chain can transmit qualitatively distinct signals or redundantly amplify TCR-mediated activation signals was extensively investigated using stable hCD8-zeta Jurkat transfectants which contain stepwise deletions of each ITAM or mutations of tyrosine residues in each ITAM of TCR zeta chain. The influence of mutations of each tyrosine residue on reduction of the amount and species of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins recruited to zeta chain was quite distinctive, but they were roughly proportional to the number of functionally intact ITAMs. However, the first N-terminal ITAM had a signaling potential to trigger most intracellular signaling events for T cell activation and apoptosis similar to wild-type CD8-zeta, but this level was substantially reduced in the presence of the first and second N-terminal ITAM together. Mutations of tyrosine residues in first and second N-terminal ITAM significantly impaired most signaling events leading to T cell activation and activation-induced cell death, but phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was differentially impaired in each mutant. The mutation of the first tyrosine residue in C-terminal ITAM did not show any impairment in induction of surface antigens and cell death, but rather increased IL-2 secretion and MAPK phosphorylation. Therefore, in this study we demonstrated that the ITAMs and their tyrosine residues of TCR zeta chain can transmit qualitatively differential intracellular signals upon TCR stimulation through distinctive regulation of recruitment of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins to zeta chain and activation of various MAPKs.     

Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor impairs CD8+ T cell functionality by interfering with central activation elements

Besides mobilizing stem cells into the periphery, granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) has been shown to influence various types of innate and adaptive immune cells. For example, it impairs the effector function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). It is assumed that this effect is mediated indirectly by monocytes, regulatory T cells and immunomodulatory cytokines influenced by G‐CSF. In this study, isolated G‐CSF‐treated CD8⁺ T cells were stimulated antigen‐dependently with peptide–major histocompatibility complex (pMHC)‐coupled artificial antigen‐presenting cells (aAPCs) or stimulated antigen‐independently with anti‐CD3/CD28 stimulator beads. By measuring the changes in interferon (IFN)‐γ and granzyme B expression at the mRNA and protein level, we showed for the first time that G‐CSF has a direct effect on CD8⁺ CTLs, which was confirmed based on the reduced production of IFN‐γ and granzyme B by the cytotoxic T cell line TALL‐104 after G‐CSF treatment. By investigating further elements affected by G‐CSF in CTLs from stem cell donors and untreated controls, we found a decreased phosphorylation of extracellular‐regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, lymphocyte‐specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck) and CD3ζ after G‐CSF treatment. Additionally, miRNA‐155 and activation marker expression levels were reduced. In summary, our results show that G‐CSF directly influences the effector function of cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells and affects various elements of T cell activation.     

Impaired T cell proliferation, increased soluble death-inducing receptors and activation-induced T cell death in patients undergoing haemodialysis

Haemodialysis is a widespread option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Long-term success of dialysis is, however, limited by a high rate of serious bacterial and viral infections. We compared T cell functions in ESRD patients undergoing haemodialysis (n = 20), or were not dialysed and received conventional medical treatment (n = 20). Healthy volunteers (n = 15) served as controls. The T cell phenotype was examined by immunofluorescence using fluorochrome-labelled monoclonal antibodies and FACS analysis. The concentration of soluble CD95/Fas and of tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor type 1 (sTNFR1) in the sera was quantified by ELISA. Activation-induced programmed T cell death was triggered by anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies and measured by 7-AAD staining. All immunological tests were performed at least 1 month after dialysis initiation. T cell proliferation in response to phytohaemagglutinin or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies was moderately diminished in non-dialysed patients and markedly reduced in haemodialysis patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). In a mixed lymphocyte culture the proliferative response of T cells from dialysed patients was significantly diminished (P < 0.001). T cells of both non-dialysed and dialysed patients have augmented CD95/Fas and CD45RO expression, increased sCD95/Fas and sTNFR1 release and spontaneously undergo apoptosis. Culture of T cells from haemodialysis patients with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies increased the proportion of CD4(+) T cells committing activation-induced cell death by a mean 7.5-fold compared to T-helper cells from non-dialysed patients (P < 0.001). Renal failure and initiation of haemodialysis results in a reduced proliferative T cell response, an aberrant state of T cell activation and heightened susceptibility of CD4(+) T cells to activation-induced cell death.     

Virus-induced polyclonal T cell activation is followed by apoptosis: partitioning of CD8+ T cells based on {alpha}4 integrin expression

Systemic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)is accompanied by marked splenomegaly, primarily reflectingthe accumulation of CD8⁺ T cells with an activated phenotypee.g. VLA-4^hi). Analysis of DNA content using 7-aminoactinomycin-Drevealed that as many as 30% of CD8⁺ T cells are cycling aroundday 6 post-infection and that virtually all cycling cells expressa high level of VLA-4. In accord with the relatively stableCD4⁺ cell number, only few cycling CD4⁺ cells were observed.Following virus control, splenic lymphocyte numbers decreasedgradually and during this period many apoptotic cells were detectedin the white pulp using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediateddUTP-biotin nick end labeling. Flow cytometric analysis of DNAcontent revealed a high frequency of cells with subnormal levelsof DNA in the CD8⁺VLA-4^hi subset, whereas the frequency waslow for other lymphocyte subsets studied (CD4⁺, CD8⁺VLA-4¹⁰and B cells). In addition, numbers of CD8⁺VLA-4^hi cells constitute{small tilde}30% of splenocytes at the peak of the responseand undergo preferential decrease during normalization of splenocytenumbers. Together these findings indicate that LCMV-inducedactivation of T cells is followed by apoptosis of many of theactivated cells. Those CD8⁺VLA-4^hi cells which do persist inLCMV Immune mice are more sensitive to treatment with the cell-cycle-specificdrug hydroxyurea than are phenotypically naive T cells. Ourresults therefore indicate that LCMV infection induces polyclonalactivation of CD8 ⁺ cells which is followed by apoptosis ofmost of the triggered cells while a smaller subset persistsas a primed population which include cycling cells.     

Combined immunodeficiency phenotype associated with inappropriate spontaneous and activation-induced apoptosis

Programmed death of T cells has been proposed as one of the mechanisms by which HIV induces a decline in the number and functions of T cells in advanced AIDS. In this study we report on a patient affected by a congenital form of combined immunodeficiency presenting as a profound T cell activation deficiency. Subsequently, a gradual loss of T cells occurred, eventually resulting in a classical form of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). In this patient a sizeable fraction of apoptotic cells was documented in the first phase of the disease by either propidium iodide staining or DNA fragmentation analysis. The presence of anergic T cells of maternal origin and engrafted in the child was excluded by analysis of DNA polymorphic regions. At 4 years of age the patient died of disseminated interstitial pneumopathy, while still awaiting an HLA-matched bone marrow transplantation. On the occasion of a new pregnancy in the mother, the prenatal immunological evaluation of the female fetus revealed a T⁻ B⁺ SCID phenotype. This is the first observation of a primary immunodeficiency associated with inappropriate apoptosis.     

IL-4 influences the differentiation and the susceptibility to activation-induced cell death of human naive CD8+ T cells

It is now well established that the cytokine environment influences the activation, differentiation, proliferation and death of T lymphocytes during the primary response to antigen. Using an in vitro model, we investigated the influence of IL-4, added at the onset of TCR stimulation, on phenotypic and functional markers of naive CD8+ T cell activation including the up-regulation of activation markers, proliferation as well as the susceptibility to activation-induced cell death (AICD). We report that IL-4, unlike IL-2 added at the onset of repeated TCR stimulation of naive CD8+ T cells prevents AICD, in part due to its ability to maintain the level of the survival-related protein Bcl-2. Moreover, TCR-triggered activation of naive CD8+ T cells in the presence of IL-4 leads to the development of a CD8+ T cell subset that proliferates normally, but which fails to exhibit characteristic activation parameters such as the up-regulation of CD25 and Granzyme B. Taken together, these results demonstrate that exposure to IL-4 during primary activation influences CD8+ T cell differentiation by inducing the development of a sub-population of AICD-resistant, proliferation-competent cells that do not show some of the typical features of CD8+ T cell activation.     

Preferential elimination of CD28+ T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the relation with activation-induced apoptosis

CD28 on T cells provides a potent costimulatory signal for T cell activation. Down-regulation of CD28 on peripheral T cells has been reported in certain clinical conditions, but full studies on the mechanism and biological significance have not been performed. Our extensive phenotype analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from SLE patients revealed that the absolute number of CD28⁺ T cells of both CD4 and CD8 phenotypes was selectively decreased, while that of CD28⁻ T cells was maintained. CD28⁺ T cells from SLE patients exhibited mostly normal proliferative responses to both CD28-dependent and -independent stimulations. In contrast, CD28⁻ T cells were hyporesponsive to anti-CD3 stimulation in both SLE and normal controls. These results implied that the selective decrease of CD28⁺ T cells in SLE does not result from a hyporesponsiveness of CD28⁺ T cells. To investigate the reason for the selective loss of CD28⁺ T cells, we determined the appearance of apoptotic cells in culture with or without anti-CD3 stimulation. Apoptotic cells defined by merocyanine (MC)540 were gradually increased from 12 h to 24 h. Anti-CD3-induced apoptosis of CD28⁺ T cells was significantly accelerated in SLE, whereas apoptosis of CD28⁻ T cells was hardly detected in both SLE and normal controls. Comparative analysis between CD28⁺ and CD28⁻ T cells on CD95 (Fas) and Bcl-2 expression, which are related to activation-induced cell death (AICD), did not show a major difference, although CTLA4, which has been demonstrated to transmit an apoptosis-inducing signal, was expressed only on CD28⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that CD28-mediated costimulation influences T cell susceptibility to AICD and may be involved in T cell lymphopenia in SLE.     

Elevated serum decoy receptor 3 with enhanced T cell activation in systemic lupus erythematosus

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3/TR6) is a decoy receptor for the Fas ligand (FasL) and can inhibit FasL-induced apoptosis. It has been reported recently that DcR3 can induce T cell activation via co-stimulation of T cells, suggesting that DcR3 may be involved in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases. This study aims to analyse the serum DcR3 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to investigate the role of DcR3 in the pathogenesis of SLE. Significantly elevated serum DcR3 was observed in SLE patients, and the mean serum DcR3 level was significantly higher for those with active disease [SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) >/= 10] compared with that in patients with inactive disease (SLEDAI < 10). In addition to reducing activation-induced cell death in activated T cells via neutralization of the FasL, soluble DcR3-Fc enhanced T cell proliferation and increased interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma production via co-stimulation of T cells. Moreover, enhanced T cell reactivity to DcR3-induced co-stimulation was demonstrated in lymphocytes from patients with SLE, suggesting the elevated serum DcR3 may associate with enhanced T cell activation in vivo. These findings are the first to demonstrate that serum DcR3 concentrations are increased in SLE patients, and this may imply a possible role of DcR3 in the pathogenesis of SLE via enhanced T cell hyperreactivity and reduced apoptosis in activated T cells.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression and activity in human carotid atherosclerotic lesions

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 is a recently identified homologue of ACE. As ACE2 inactivates the pro-atherogenic angiotensin II, we hypothesize that ACE2 may play a protective role in atherogenesis. The spatiotemporal localization of ACE2 mRNA and protein in human vasculature and a possible association with atherogenesis were investigated using molecular histology (in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry). Also, the ACE : ACE2 balance was investigated using enzymatic assays. ACE2 mRNA was expressed in early and advanced human carotid atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, ACE2 protein was present in human veins, non-diseased mammary arteries and atherosclerotic carotid arteries and expressed in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Quantitative analysis of immunoreactivity showed that total vessel wall expression of ACE and ACE2 was similar during all stages of atherosclerosis. The observed ACE2 protein was enzymatically active and activity was lower in the stable advanced atherosclerotic lesions, compared to early and ruptured atherosclerotic lesions. These results suggest a differential regulation of ACE2 activity during the progression of atherosclerosis and suggest that this novel molecule of the renin-angiotensin system may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.     

免疫突触与T细胞活化

淋巴细胞活化是适应性免疫应答的关键因素,免疫突触的形成是T细胞识别抗原、增殖和活化的关键步骤,是机体细胞免疫应答和体液免疫应答的重要组成部分.干预免疫突触形成,可望用于预防治疗与免疫相关的疾病.     

凋亡细胞体外抑制T细胞活化

目的：研究凋亡细胞对Ｔ细胞活化的影响。方法：以ＣｏｎＡ刺激小鼠脾细胞增殖体系为研究对象,观察凋亡细胞预处理后对ＣｏｎＡ刺激的脾细胞ＣＤ６９表达的影响。结果：凋亡细胞可以抑制Ｔ细胞活化,而活细胞或坏死细胞却不能。同时抑制效果与凋亡种类诱导方式无关,而与凋亡细胞数量密切相关。结论：研究证明了凋亡细胞可以主动抑制Ｔ细胞活化,这一发现拓宽了目前对凋亡的认识,表明凋亡细胞主动调节免疫反应在一些生命的基本现象     

Induction of apoptosis and modulation of activation and effector function in T cells by immunosuppressive drugs

Immunosuppressive drugs (ISD) are used for the prevention and treatment of graft rejection, graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and autoimmune disorders. The precise mechanisms by which ISD interfere with T cell activation and effector function or delete antigen-specific T cells are defined only partially. We analysed commonly used ISD such as dexamethasone (DEX), mycophenolic acid (MPA), FK506, cyclosporin A (CsA), rapamycin (RAP), methotrexate (MTX) and cyclophosphamide (CP) for apoptosis-induction and modulation of activation and effector function in human peripheral T cells, cytotoxic T cell lines (CTL) and Jurkat T cells. Of all drugs tested only CP and MTX prevented antigen-specific proliferation of T cells and decreased cytotoxicity of alloantigen specific CTL lines by direct induction of apoptosis. MTX and CP also slightly increased activation-induced cell death (AICD) and CD95-sensitivity. In contrast, all other drugs tested did not induce T cell apoptosis, increase CD95-sensitivity or AICD. CsA and FK506 even prevented AICD by down-modulation of CD95L. DEX, MPA, CsA, FK506 and RAP inhibited activation of naive T cells, but were not able to block proliferation of activated T cells nor decrease cytotoxic capacity of CTL lines. These results show that ISD can be classified according to their action on apoptosis-induction and inhibition of proliferation and would favour a rational combination therapy to delete existing reactive T cells and prevent further T cell activation.     

非小细胞肺癌合并肺部感染患者组织中血管紧张素转换酶2的表达及机制

目的:探讨血管紧张素转换酶2(ACE2)在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)合并肺部感染的表达及作用.方法:2017年12月至2019年12月来宁夏医科大学总医院就诊的NSCLC患者纳入此次研究.患者分为NSCLC组(病理诊断为NSCLC,临床和影像学诊断不合并肺部感染)和合并感染组(病理诊断为NSCLC,临床和影像学诊断合并...     

Cellular cholesterol enrichment impairs T cell activation and chemotaxis

Human aging is associated with an increase in immune cell cholesterol levels, independent of circulating cholesterol levels. The effects of such an increase in membrane cholesterol on lipid raft-associated immune cell function have not been investigated. We sought to examine the effects of in vitro cholesterol loading on two known lipid raft-associated pathways of T cells, namely T cell activation and chemokine stimulation. Using beta-cyclodextrin (BCD) as a vehicle, we were able to rapidly load cholesterol onto human T cell lines and primary peripheral blood T cells without inducing significant cell toxicity. Loading of cholesterol to four-fold that of normal levels induced significant inhibition of intracellular calcium mobilization by both alphaCD3 and SDF-1alpha. Cholesterol-loaded peripheral T cells were completely unresponsive to alphaCD3/alphaCD28 stimulation, demonstrating no increase in IL-2, GM1 expression or cell size. T cell polarization of lipid rafts to alphaCD3/alphaCD28 beads was also impaired. In addition, cholesterol loading potently inhibited SDF-1alpha-induced chemotaxis. We propose that excess membrane cholesterol could potentially disrupt raft-related cell functions downstream of receptor triggering and that the loss of cholesterol regulation of aging immune cells could contribute to immune cell senescence.     

Age-related defects in CD4+ T cell activation reversed by glycoprotein endopeptidase

CD4(+) T cells from old mice show defects in the activation process including deficiency in the formation of immunosynapses with antigen-presenting cells. We show that CD4(+) T cells from old mice express unusually high levels of glycosylated forms of the bulky T cell glycoprotein CD43, particularly on a subset of functionally anergic cells expressing P-glycoprotein. T cells from old donors also show a decline in the association of CD43 with cytoskeletal matrix and in the proportion of T cells that can exclude CD43 from the synapse. O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase, which removes the external domain of CD43 and other O-sialoglycoproteins from the aged naive CD4(+) T cells of TCR-transgenic mice, restores early agonist-independent stages and later agonist-dependent stages of synapse formation as well as expression of the activation markers CD69 and CD25 to the levels found in the young mice. These data support a model in which O-glycosylated forms of T cell surface molecules, including CD43, are largely responsible for age-related defects in TCR signaling and function.