The thymus as primary site for antigen-specific T suppressor cells in neonatally induced tolerance to bovine serum albumin

The ontogeny of antigen-specific T suppressor cells in thymus and spleen was analyzed in CBA/Ca mice which were rendered tolerant as neonates by subimmunogenic doses of bovine serum albumin (low-zone tolerance). Activity of T suppressor cells from those mice was assessed by an assay in which spleen cells from animals primed with fluorescein-conjugated human gamma globulin can be stimulated in vitro to produce IgG anti-fluorescein antibodies when cultured in the presence of fluorescein-conjugated bovine serum albumin. Carrier-specific T suppressor cells appear first in the thymus (day 10), and much later (day 30) in the spleen. The data are discussed in connection with the possible role of T suppressor cells during induction of tolerance in newborn mice.     

Leishmania mexicana promastigotes induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo that do not recognize infected macrophages

The question is addressed whether antigens of Leishmania, a parasite residing in the endosomal compartment of macrophages, can be presented in the context of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. We used E. coli β-galactosidase as a model antigen which can be expressed in high levels in L. mexicana promastigotes (L. mexicana-gal). Infection of BALB/c mice with L. mexicanagal induces β-galactosidase-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL), which can be isolated using a β-galactosidase-expressing mastocytoma line as an antigen-presenting cell. These CTL recognize epitopes of β-galactosidase in the context of H-2K^d; however, they do not recognize L. mexicanagal-infected macrophages even after killing of the intracellular amastigotes by drug treatment or macrophage activation by lymphokines, although class I-peptide interaction and the presentation of endogenously produced antigens is normal. It is concluded that parasite antigens can induce a CTL response in vivo but that these CTL cannot recognize infected macrophages because the relevant epitopes cannot gain access to class I molecules. The effect of priming in vivo may be explained by the well-known but ill-understood phenomenon of cross-priming.     

Regulation of secretion of IL-4 and IgG1 isotype by melatonin-stimulated ovalbumin-specific T cells

In the present study, we describe the potential role of melatonin, a pineal hormone, in regulating the activation of the antigen-specific T cell response. Melatonin encouraged the proliferation of Th cells and improved their ability to secrete IL-4, but down-regulated the levels of IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Melatonin, however, could not exert any influence on the T cells of unprimed mice. On studying the regulation of subclass of IgG isotype, melatonin specifically enhanced the secretion of antigen-specific IgG1 antibodies and decreased the yield of IgG2a isotype. The results suggest that melatonin possibly acts by selectively activating a Th2-like immune response.     

三磷酸肌醇在IL—2诱导的T细胞增殖分化中的信息传递作用

用不同浓度的IL-2刺激静息T淋巴细胞,其细胞内IP_3无明显改变,但ConA刺激则使IP_3增加45%。在IL-2依赖性T细胞,IL-2R表达率达83%,IL-2刺激时IP_3的变化依浓度不同而异,10u—50u/ml的IL-2使IP_3增高,以50u/ml最为显著,增加60%,但100u/ml IL-2及ConA不改变胞内IP_3的浓度。IL-2R封闭后的T淋巴细胞在IL-2刺激时IP_3的增加明显减弱。这些结果提示:IP_3作为细胞内的第二信使介导了IL-2诱导的T细胞的增殖反应,这种作用与IL-2的剂量及IL-2R表达有密切的关系。     

Use of liposomes to studycAMP transport by lymphocyte membranes

Institute of Immunology, Ministry of Health of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. D. Ado.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 109, No. 3, pp. 246–248, March, 1990.     

Preferential expansion of Ly-1 B and CD4 CD8 T cells in the polyclonal lymphocyte responses to murine T.cruzi infection

Acute murine infection with T.cruzi results in polyclonal lymphocyteresponses manifested by blast transformation of a large fractionof B, CD4+, and CD8+ cells. We describe here the finding ofsignificant increases in the splenic representation of minorpopulations, Ly-1+ B cells and CD4-CD8- T cells. These lymphocytepopulations might play an important role in the host response,as shown by T.cruzi infection of hosts that had been lethallyirradiated and reconstituted with autologous bone marrow. Underthese conditions, the splenic polyclonal PFC responses are nearlyabrogated, and not restored by the transfer of syngeneic peritonealcells which, however, reconstitute T15 idiotype production inthe same hosts. Control levels of PFC responses, however, arereconstituted by transfer of syngeneic splenic T cells. Sincebone marrow-reconstituted animals contain normal numbers ofCD4+ and CD8+ T cells which are actually activated by infection,these results suggest the participation of other T cell populationsin the host response to infection, as also suggested by themarked increases in T cell receptor and messages detectedin the spleen of infected animals. The implications of thesefindings in immunopathology of Chagas' disease are discussed.     

Changes of Lymphocyte Subsets in Normal Pregnant and Postpartum Women: Postpartum Increase of NK/K (Leu 7) Cells

ABSTRACT: Changes in lymphocyte subsets in whole blood of normal pregnant and postpartum women were examined by flow cytometry with an automated leukocyte differential system. From the first trimester and throughout pregnancy, the absolute counts of T(CD3) and B(CD20) and T-cell subsets (CD4, CD8) decreased with a decrease in the absolute lymphocyte count, although the proportions of these cells remained unchanged except for a decrease in the percentage of T helper-inducer (CD4) cells in the first trimester. On the contrary, the percentage of NK/K (Leu 7) cells, but not of NK/K (CD16) cells, increased in the first trimester and then both gradually decreased in the second and third trimesters. In the postpartum period, the percentages and absolute counts of T(CD3) and NK/K (Leu 7) cells, but not of other cells, increased transiently. These changes of lymphocyte subsets may indicate suppression of immunological activity during pregnancy and its “increase” in the postpartum period.     

Appearance of extrachromosomal circular DNAs during in vivo and in vitro ageing of mammalian cells

Appearance of extrachromosomal circular DNAs with in vivo and in vitro cellular ageing was examined by using a new technique of mica-press-adsorption for electron microscopy. The size distribution and the copy number of circular DNA complexes varied, depending on the cellular age. Extrachromosomal circular DNA complexes of variable length of more than 0.5 microns or 1.5 kilobase (kb) appeared during in vivo ageing of rat lymphocytes and in vitro ageing of cultured human lung fibroblasts. A restricted size class of circular forms of less than 0.5 microns in contour length was amplified in human skin fibroblasts from aged normal or Werner's syndrome subjects. These circular DNA molecules are suggested to be products of DNA rearrangements or gene amplification occurring in the chromosome.