Presence of a metallothionein-like protein in the bovine pineal gland

Summary The high concentration of zinc in the bovine pineal gland prompted us to investigate the existence of a zinc-binding protein in this organ. In this study, we report that the subcellular distribution of zinc in the bovine pineal gland is nonuniform, with the crude nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal, and supernatant fractions having 0.264±0.038, 0.160±0.019, 0.130±0.016, and 0.287±0.010 g zinc/mg protein, respectively. Furthermore, gel filtration studies using Sephadex G-75 and a 105,000 g supernatant fraction revealed two zinc binding protein peaks that bind 1.7 and 3.7 g Zn⁺⁺/mg protein, respectively. Furthermore, purification of the protein peak with an elution volume (ve/vo) of 2.06 on anion exchange chromatography (DEAE-A 25) yielded a single protein peak which binds 10 g zinc/mg protein. The comparative high performance liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) profiles of the zinc-induced hepatic metallothionein isoform I (retention time=17.39 min) and of the bovine pineal metallothionein-like protein isoform I (retention time=17.49 min) are similar. Since zinc is a potent inhibitor of sulfhydryl-containing enzymes and receptor sites, we investigated the effects of zinc and found that it inhibited the binding of [³H]glutamate (IC 50=80 M) and of [³H]spiroperidol (IC 50=0.6 mM) to the pineal membranes. The results of these studies are interpreted to indicate that the bovine pineal gland possesses an active and dynamic zinc homeostatic mechanism, whose precise function(s) remain(s) to be delineated.     

Limited long-term naive CD4+ T cell reconstitution in patients experiencing viral load rebounds during HAART

Long-term (3.5 years) immune reconstitution in relation to viral load response was determined. Plasma HIV-1 RNA was suppressed in 40 patients (full responders) up to 42 months, and 17 patients achieved partial response. The measurements of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocyte subsets (CD45RA, CD45RACD62L, CD45RO, CD28, CD38) were carried out by flow cytometry. Full responders had a significant increase of CD4⁺ and all CD4⁺ T subsets both up to 6 and from 6 to 42 months, while the increase for partial responders was only up to 6 months. By 6 months, higher slopes were observed in full versus partial responders in the % of CD28 on CD4⁺ and the % of CD4⁺ memory subset and in both naïve and memory CD4⁺ subsets from 6 to 42 months. The percentage of CD8⁺ and its subsets was decreased significantly in full responders both up to 6 and from 6 to 42 months (except for an increase in the CD8⁺CD45RA⁺ CD62L⁺ cells), while in partial responders this decrease was only up to 6 months. Lower slopes were observed in full versus partial responders from 6 to 42 months in the percentages of CD8⁺, CD8⁺CD45RO⁺, CD8⁺CD28⁻, and CD8⁺CD38⁺ T cells. In conclusion, full responders have a stronger long-term naive CD4⁺ T cell subset reconstitution than partial responders. J. Med. Virol. 73:235–243, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Enhancement of immunogenicity of Jeg3 cells by ectopic expression of HLA-A*0201 and CD80

PROBLEM: The choriocarcinoma cell line Jeg3 suppresses immunity in vitro by secretion of soluble factors like leukemia inhibitory factor suppressing leukocyte activation. The cells lack expression of classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A and -B alleles but express some HLA-C, and non-classical HLA-G and -E. Upon binding to killing inhibitory receptor on natural killer (NK) cells, HLA-G prevents activation of cytolytic activity. We investigated whether Jeg3 cells are capable of immune stimulation after complementation with classical HLA and T cell costimulatory signal CD80. METHOD OF STUDY: Jeg3 cells were transduced to express HLA-A*0201 and/or CD80. Parental Jeg3 or transfectants Jeg3-A2, Jeg3-CD80 or Jeg3-CD80-A2 were used to stimulate allogeneic resting and activated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The different cell lines were loaded with a HLA-A2-restricted Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) recall antigen peptide epitope and antigen presenting ability was examined. T cell lines specific for Jeg3 and transfectants were generated from HLA-A2 matched and nonmatched donors and compared for expansion, phenotypes and cytolytic activity. RESULTS: While all Jeg3 cell lines induced only marginal proliferation of resting T cells, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T cells were stimulated by CD80 or CD80-A2 expressing Jeg3. Only the transfectant Jeg3-CD80-A2 was capable of specific T cell stimulation by EBV recall antigen presentation. T cell lines of HLA-A2 non-matched donors stimulated with the Jeg3 transfectants showed significant expansion only when HLA-A2 and the costimulus CD80 were present. T cells from HLA-A2 positive donors did not expand significantly or differentially. No NK cells grew under any condition. In Jeg3-CD80-A2 stimulated T cells lines CD8+ cells expanded preferentially. These T cells exerted cytolytic activity toward all Jeg3 cell lines. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that, in spite of immunosuppressive mechanisms, proliferative and cytolytic T cell responses are induced by Jeg3 cells when classical HLA- and/or costimulatory signals are present on the cells.     

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-mediated destruction of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coated CD4+ T lymphocytes by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) effector cells

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is defined in clinical terms by the development of Kaposi's sarcoma and/or severe opportunistic infections in persons without predisposing conditions. A hallmark of the syndrome has been a decrease in the number of CD4⁺ T helper cells. The reduction in the frequency of the CD4⁺ lymphocytes has been postulated to be primarily the result of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tropism and cytophathogenicity for the T-cell subset. Yet only a small percentage of cells is actually infected with HIV. Recently, we provided evidence indicating that AIDS patients' natural killer cells can mediate normal levels of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) despite exhibiting a defect in natural killer (NK) effector function (J Immunol 139:55, 1987). This finding prompted us to investigate whether AIDS patients' effector cells could mediate ADCC against circulating CD4⁺ T cells infected with or expressing HIV antigen. The findings reported herein demonstrate that AIDS effector cells can mediate lysis of CEM (CD4⁺ T-cell line) coated with HIV protein in the presence of HIV-specific antibody. Lysis was specific, as non-HIV-coated CEM or the addition of HIV-negative serum resulted in no lysis. We then examined HIV-coated peripheral blood-derived CD4⁺ T lymphocytes as targets in ADCC. We demonstrate that in the presence of HIV-specific antibody, HIV-coated CD4⁺ T lymphocytes serve as targets for ADCC by AIDS effector cells. The lytic activity obtained with AIDS effector cells was comparable to that obtained with normal effector cells. These results demonstrate that AIDS effector cells can mediate ADCC against HIV-coated CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and suggest that ADCC may play a rolein vivo in the pathogenesis of AIDS.     

Content of acid and alkaline phosphatases in lymphocytes of peripheral blood and hematopoietic organs of intact rats and mice

The content of acid and alkaline phosphatases was studied in the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen, lymph node) of intact noninbred rats. The mean percentage of cells containing the enzymes was determined. Their organ and species characteristics are described.Central Research Laboratory and Department of Pathophysiology, Tomsk Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR I. V. Toroptsev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 158–159, February, 1978.     

Altered splenic B cell subset development in mice lacking phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85alpha

The signaling enzyme phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is activated following B cell receptor (BCR) engagement and by many other receptors on B lymphocytes. Mice lacking p85alpha, the predominant PI3K regulatory isoform, exhibit defects in B cell development and activation that are grossly similar to those found in mice lacking Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) and other critical signaling molecules. However, a detailed analysis of splenic B cell subsets in p85alpha-deficient mice has not been reported. Here we show that these mice are deficient in four major B cell subsets: transitional-1, transitional-2, follicular and marginal zone. These defects are distinct from those observed in Xid mice that express a mutant Btk unable to interact with PI3K lipid products. Moreover, mice with both genetic lesions exhibit even greater impairment in B cell development. Finally, we show that transgenic expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in p85alpha-deficient mice restores the transitional B cell subsets but not the marginal zone subset, and produces a follicular population with an aberrant phenotype. These findings establish a role for PI3K-p85alpha in differentiation of both follicular and marginal zone B cells, and suggest that these functions are required not solely for the propagation of anti-apoptotic signals.     

C3d binding to the circumsporozoite protein carboxy-terminus deviates immunity against malaria

The immunogenicity of recombinant protein or anti-viral DNA vaccines can be significantly improved by the addition of tandem copies of the complement fragment C3d. We sought to determine if the efficacy of a circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based DNA vaccine delivered to mouse skin by gene gun was improved by using this strategy. Instead, we found that C3d suppressed the protective immunity against Plasmodium berghei malaria infection and deviated immunity, most notably by suppressing the induction of antibodies specific for the CSP C-terminal flanking sequence and by suppressing the induction of CSP-specific IL-4-producing spleen cells. We further showed that C3d bound to the C-terminal flanking sequence of the CSP, which may explain the immune deviation observed in CS/C3d chimeric antigen. We have thus identified C3d-mediated epitope masking and shifting of both the humoral and cellular immune responses as a potential novel escape mechanism, which plasmodia may use to divert the induction of protective immunity.     

IL-10-driven immunoglobulin production by B lymphocytes from IgA-deficient individuals correlates to infection proneness

In search for a possible explanation of the phenotypic heterogeneity in IgA deficiency, we studied the function of B cells from IgA-deficient (IgAd) individuals. Two groups of IgAd individuals, one frequently infected and one clinically apparently healthy, as well as normal controls, were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and B cells from IgAd individuals and controls were cultured with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain and with anti-CD40 MoAb presented on the CD32-transfected fibroblast cell line in the presence of IL-10. In this experimental system PBMC and B cells from the infection-prone IgAd individuals produced only minute amounts of IgA. In contrast, PBMC and B cells from healthy IgAd subjects secreted significantly more IgA1 and IgA2 in comparison with infection-prone IgAd patients (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the abnormalities of B cell differentiation in IgAd could be of heterogeneous origin. Thus, whereas in healthy IgAd subjects IgA production may be efficiently up-regulated in vitro by addition of IL-10 to CD40-activated B cell culture, the corresponding B cell differentiation does not occur in infection-prone IgAd patients. These observations provide a conceptual framework for phenotypic heterogeneity in IgAd subjects.