Janus kinase 3 (Jak3) is essential for common cytokine receptor gamma chain (gamma(c))-dependent signaling: comparative analysis of gamma(c), Jak3, and gamma(c) and Jak3 double-deficient mice

The common cytokine receptor gamma chain (gamma(c)) is an essential receptor component for IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15, and thereby gamma(c)-deficient mice exhibit impaired T cell and B cell development. The Janus family tyrosine kinase 3 (Jak3) is known to be associated with gamma(c), and the reported phenotypes of gamma(c)-deficient (gamma(c)(-)) and Jak3-deficient (Jak3(-)) mice are similar, indicating that Jak3 is an essential transducer of gamma(c)-dependent signals. Nevertheless, certain differences have been suggested related to the range of actions of gamma(c) and Jak3. To clarify whether gamma(c)-dependent cytokines can partially transduce their signals without Jak3, we compared lymphocyte development in gamma(c)(-), Jak3(-), and gamma(c) and Jak3 double-deficient (gamma(c)(-)Jak3(-)) mice in the same genetic background. With the exception that T and B cells in Jak3(-) mice express high levels of gamma(c), the defects in thymocyte and peripheral T cell and B cell development are indistinguishable among gamma(c)(-), Jak3(-) and gamma(c)(-)Jak3(-) mice. Interestingly, although Bcl-2 induction was previously suggested to be Jak3-independent, IL-7 cannot induce Bcl-2 expression in CD4 single-positive (SP) thymocytes in either gamma(c)(-) or Jak3(-) mice nor can IL-7 rescue CD4 SP thymocytes from dexamethasone-induced cell death in gamma(c)(-) or Jak3(-) mice. These results indicate that Jak3 is absolutely essential for gamma(c)-dependent T cell and B cell development, and for gamma(c)-dependent prevention of thymocyte apoptosis.     

Increased bcl-2 expression in lymphocytes and its association with hepatocellular damage in patients with autoimmune hepatitis

The proto-oncogene product bcl-2 is known to inhibit apoptotic cell death, and its dysregulation might play a critical role in the development of autoimmune disease. To elucidate the role of bcl-2 in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), its expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and in liver-infiltrating lymphocytes (LIL) was investigated. Increased bcl-2 expression in PBMC was found in AIH patients compared with that in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and in healthy controls. The level of bcl-2 expression significantly correlated with serum ALT level. Further analysis showed that CD4+ T cells are enriched in bcl-2-expressing PBMC. To characterize the Th1/Th2 profile of bcl-2-expressing CD4+ T cells, intracellular interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-4 were analysed. The results revealed that most of the bcl-2-expressing cells were found to be IFN-gamma-secreting Th1 cells. In three patients for whom their clinical courses could be followed, bcl-2 expression was decreased after the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids. However, the level of IFN-gamma + cells was not altered. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed that large amounts of bcl-2+ cells were observed in periportal area in the liver. In conclusion, bcl-2-expressing cells were shown to be increased in peripheral blood and liver in AIH and the bcl-2 product was expressed mainly in CD4+ Th1-type cells, suggesting that these cells might promote the cellular immune response and contribute to the development of hepatitis and hepatocellular damage in AIH.     

免疫耐受机制研究进展

免疫耐受是机体免疫系统在接触某种抗原后所产生的对该抗原特异性免疫无应答状态,是免疫应答的一种特殊形式,免疫应答的复杂性决定了免疫耐受诱导的复杂性和困难性.随着免疫学的发展,人们对免疫耐受产生机制有了较多的认识.本文对免疫耐受与细胞凋亡、调节性T细胞及树突状细胞的研究进展进行综述.     

Apoptosis of CD4+ T cells occurs in experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis (EAAU)

To investigate the spontaneous turning off mechanism of endogenous uveitis, EAAU was induced in Lewis rats. Immunohistochemical and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) stains revealed that CD4+ T cells were predominant in the uveal tissue of EAAU and that the apoptosis of these cells had occurred and progressed throughout the inflammatory period in EAAU eyes. The immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for Fas ligand (FasL) expression showed that the expression of Fas ligand was increased in the EAAU eyes compared with control eyes. These results suggest that the apoptosis of CD4+ T cells may play a key role in the spontaneous turning off mechanism of intra-ocular inflammation and that the induction of apoptosis may be mediated by the Fas-FasL system in EAAU.     

Apoptin基因/壳聚糖纳米粒的制备及其对U937细胞凋亡的诱导作用

目的以羧甲基壳聚糖为基质材料,制备apoptin基因缓释微球,探讨其对U937细胞凋亡的作用。方法采用复凝聚法制备apoptin/壳聚糖微球,分别用光镜观察微球形态、内切酶研究其稳定性、DNA电泳阻滞分析apoptin/壳聚糖最佳比例、PCR测定apoptin基因作为复制摸板能力、用MTT法检测其抗肿瘤活性。结果壳聚糖与apoptin基因可形成稳定的微球,其直径在200～300之间,成球性较好,apoptin/壳聚糖微球P/N最佳质量比为5.5:1。微球能够有效防止DNA酶的降解作用,apoptin/微球载体中的基因仍具有DNA复制摸板功能,并能有效地转染U937细胞,转染48h可诱导U937细胞发生凋亡,从而抑制瘤细胞生长。结论apoptin基因与羧甲基壳聚糖可形成稳定的缓释微球,并能有效地转染肿瘤细胞,诱导肿瘤细胞发生凋亡。     

Negative selection by endogenous antigen and superantigen occurs at multiple thymic sites

The site of negative selection in the thymus has been inferredfrom a range of different experiments. Analysis of thymic deletionof Vß5⁺, V_ß11⁺ or Vß17a⁺ cellsH-2E transgenic mice led to the theory that negative selectionoccurs predominantly in the medulla (specifically, through presentationby medullary dendritic cells). Other experiments investigatedwhether transgenic TCR are deleted at the double-positive (DP)or single-positive stage following encounter with peptide ligand:by flow cytometric analysis deletion is generally found to occurat the DP thymocyte stage and as these cells are found predominantlyin the cortex, it has been inferred that this is the key siteof negative selection. The visualization of apoptotic thymocytesin situ has recently been reported for specific examples ofnegative selection. Using a panel of TCR transgenic lines inwhich negative selection occurs at different stages of thymocytedevelopment, we have used TUNEL staining to analyse the anatomicalsites of thymocyte apoptosis. For the first time we have beenable to compare directly the sites of deletion induced by theendogenous cognate peptides or by endogenous superantigen. Weshow that generalization from the medullary deletion of V_ß5⁺,V_ß11⁺ or V_ß17a⁺ cells by the endogenoussuperantigens Mtv 8 and 9 and from limited examples of corticaldeletion by exogenous peptide administered to TCR transgenicmice is over-simplified. Apoptotic thymocytes in mice lackingMtv superantigens are indeed localized in the cortex. However,when deletion is induced by cognate self peptide, apoptosiscan occur in the cortex, the medulla or at the junction betweenthe two.     

Molecular and biochemical mechanisms ofPasteurella haemolyticaleukotoxin-induced cell death

Pasteurella haemolyticaleukotoxin (LKT) is a member of the RTX family of pore-forming toxins that kill bovine immune cells. Several studies have suggested that RTX toxins kill target cells by the induction of apoptosis. In the present study, BL3 bovine leukaemia cells were exposed to LKT and assessed by molecular and flow cytometric techniques that measure different aspects of apoptotic cell death. The intoxicated cells demonstrated morphological, light scatter and Hoechst 33258 staining characteristics consistent with cells undergoing apoptosis. The cells also exhibited internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, both indicators of apoptosis. LKT-treated cells bound annexin-V-FITC indicating that phosphatidylserine groups were translocated from the inner to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. The effect of LKT on cells was dose dependent and inhibitable by incubation with anti-LKT monoclonal antibody. Finally, an early step for induction of apoptosis appears to be the binding of LKT to a β2 integrin since pre-incubating cells with anti-β2 integrin antibodies inhibited LKT-induced apoptosis. This study provides new insights into understanding the pathogenesis of bovine pasteurellosis and could lead to the development of both preventative and therapeutic strategies for disease management.     

新生鼠脑损伤后松果体细胞的一氧化氮合酶与细胞凋亡关系的初步研究

为了探讨新生鼠发生缺氧缺血性脑损伤时松果体细胞的诱生型一氧化氮合酶 ( i NOS)表达与松果体细胞凋亡及形态学改变的关系 ,用 7日龄新生 Wistar大鼠 ,结扎左侧颈总动脉 ,术后 2 h吸入 8%浓度氧 2 h,建立新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病模型( HIBD)。分别于建模后 0 h、2 4h、48h处死动物 ,剥取松果体 ,观察松果体细胞的 i NOS表达及细胞凋亡 ,电镜观察松果体形态学改变。结果表明 :( 1)新生鼠脑损伤后松果体的 i NOS在 0 h、2 4h含量与对照组相比明显升高 ;( 2 )脑损伤后松果体凋亡细胞早期明显增多 ,尤以 0 h、2 4h为主 ;( 3)电镜观察 :脑损伤后松果体的形态学也以 0 h、2 4h改变为明显 ,出现线粒体明显肿胀、粗面内质网极度扩张、细胞变性。提示 :( 1)新生鼠缺氧缺血性脑损伤后 0 h、2 4h松果体细胞的 i NOS表达增加 ,以后逐渐下降 ,48h表达减少。 ( 2 ) TUNEL法原位检测细胞凋亡与 i NOS表达同步改变 ,i NOS表达对细胞凋亡有促进作用。 ( 3) i NOS表达和细胞凋亡参与了新生鼠缺氧缺血性脑损伤后松果体细胞形态学改变     

IL-15 enhances the function and inhibits CD95/Fas-induced apoptosis of human CD4+ and CD8+ effector-memory T cells

Although the effect of IL-15 has been described on murine cells in vitro and in vivo, its effect on human memory CD8(+) T cells is not well characterized. We show here that IL-15 preferentially enhances the activation and effector function of human effector-memory CD45RA(-)CD62L(-) and CD45RA(+)CD62L(-) CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in both healthy and HIV-infected individuals. We find that IL-15 increases 2- to 5-fold both the activation and secretion of the effector cytokines IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by anti-CD3-stimulated purified CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy and HIV-infected individuals. Furthermore, IL-15 potently inhibits CD95/Fas-induced apoptosis of the effector-memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from HIV-infected individuals. These findings suggest that in addition to being a growth and survival factor for memory CD8(+) T cells, IL-15 is also a potent activator of human effector-memory CD8(+) T cells both in healthy and in HIV-infected individuals.     

Caspase-3/CPP32 immunoreactivity and its correlation with frequency of apoptotic bodies in human prostatic carcinomas and benign nodular hyperplasias

AIMS: Apoptosis is mediated by apoptosis-specific genes, certain oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Caspase-3, a group of cystein proteases, is involved in the induction of apoptosis and has been considered to correlate with apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether caspase-3 is expressed in prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and correlated with the apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the apoptotic index and caspase-3 immunoreactivity in 40 cases of benign nodular hyperplasia (BPH) and 40 cases of prostate carcinoma (PCA) by in-situ labelling and immunohistochemistry. The mean number of apoptotic bodies in cases with BPH was not significantly different from cases with PCA I (Gleason score 2-4), but samples from patients with PCA II (Gleason score 5-7) and PCA III (Gleason score 8-10) showed a significantly higher apoptotic number than cases with BPH. Positive staining for caspase-3 was seen in 42.5% (17/40) of the BPH, and 27.5% (11/40) of the PCA: PCA I was 41.7% (5/12), PCA II 14.3% (2/14) and PCA III was 28.6% (4/14). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the number of apoptotic bodies was not correlated with the caspase-3 expression and there was no relationship between caspase-3 expression and Gleason score. However, the number of apoptotic bodies was significantly higher in cases with intermediate (Gleason score 5-7) and high-grade (Gleason score 8-10) PCAs than cases with BPH and low-grade PCAs (Gleason score 2-4).