Incomplete effector/memory differentiation of antigen-primed CD8+ T cells in gene gun DNA-vaccinated mice

DNA vaccination is an efficient way to induce CD8+ T cell memory, but it is still unclear to what extent such memory responses afford protection in vivo. To study this, we induced CD8+ memory responses directed towards defined viral epitopes, using DNA vaccines encoding immunodominant MHC class I-restricted epitopes of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus covalently linked to beta2-microglobulin. This vaccine construct primed for a stronger recall response than did a more conventional minigene construct. Despite this, vaccinated mice were only protected against systemic infection whereas protection against the consequences of peripheral challenge was limited. Phenotypic analysis revealed that DNA vaccine-primed CD8+ T cells in uninfected mice differed from virus-primed CD8+ T cells particularly regarding expression of very-late antigen (VLA)-4, an adhesion molecule important for targeting T cells to inflammatory sites. Thus, our DNA vaccine induces a long-lived memory CD8+ T cell population that provides efficient protection against high-dose systemic infection. However, viral replication in solid non-lymphoid organs is not curtailed sufficiently fast to prevent significant virus-induced inflammation. Our results suggest that this is due to qualitative limitations of the primed CD8+ T cells.     

Increased susceptibility to HIV-1 of peripheral blood lymphocytes in acute infection with Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an important pathogen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals that causes lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative disorders upon disease progression; however, interaction between the two viruses during acute infection is not well known. Expression of CCR5, a major coreceptor for HIV, was enhanced on CD4+ T cells from patients with acute EBV infection. Furthermore, susceptibility of those cells to R5-HIV-1, but not X4-HIV-1, was increased. EBV effects on CCR5 expression on or susceptibility to R5-HIV-1 of CD4+ T cells did not require coinfection of the same cell with the two viruses, because CD4+ T cells from patients with acute EBV infection were not infected with EBV. Considering that both HIV and EBV are transmitted by intimate contact, such possible interaction between the two viruses may have implications for viral transmission and the pathogenesis of HIV disease.     

CD28在多发性硬化患者CD8+淋巴细胞的表达

目的探讨CD28在多发性硬化(MS)患者CD8+淋巴细胞的表达水平.方法流式细胞仪测定16例复发期MS患者和20例对照组外周血淋巴细胞CD28+、CD8+CD28-和CD8+CD28+的百分率.结果复发期MS患者淋巴细胞CD8+CD28-百分率低于对照组,CD28+和CD8+CD28+的百分率与对照组无明显差异;甲基强的松龙治疗对CD28+、CD8+CD28-和CD8+CD28+的百分率无影响.结论参与MS的发病的CD8细胞是CD8+CD28-细胞.     

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the uterus: immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and molecular study

A case of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the uterus is reported, occurring in a 32-year-old woman. The tumor (8.0 cm in dimension) showed exophytic growth from the outer half of the myometrium. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of thick blood vessels and perivascular epithelioid cells. The neoplastic cells were strongly immunoreactive for HMB45 antigen, CD117 (c-kit), vimentin and the progesterone receptor, but completely negative for S-100 protein, smooth muscle actin, desmin, CD34, the estrogen receptor and p16. The Ki-67 labeling index was low (1.25%). Ultrastructurally, the neoplastic cells had numerous premelanosomes with some glycogen deposits. Single-stranded DNA conformational polymorphism of p53 and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction of p16 revealed negative results. Definite melanosomes on electron microscopic analysis and coexpression of HMB45 antigen and stem cell factor receptor (CD117) may provide the clue to understanding perivascular epithelioid cell tumor because angiomyolipoma also coexpresses HMB45 antigen and CD117.     

嵌合抗CD20抗体片段F(ab'')2的表达及活性

目的 :为了简化生产步骤 ,提高抗体蛋白的生物活性 ,探索在工程菌体内直接进行抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 的高效率分泌性表达。方法 :采用单因素考察法优化培养条件 ,使蛋白G柱和S2 0 0 HR分子筛柱分离纯化目的蛋白 ,用MTT法检测抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 抑制Daudi细胞体外生长的活性。结果 :发现用论文所选定的最适培养条件 ,抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 的产量有了明显提高 ,从1 9～ 2 .2mg L达到了 3 7～ 4 3mg L ,F(ab’) 2 在表达产物中所占的比例也从 9 7%～ 13 2 %提高到了 38 1%～ 4 6 8% ;使用S2 0 0 HR分子筛柱对蛋白G柱亲和纯化后的产物进一步分离纯化 ,可以使F(ab’) 2 的纯度达到 85 %以上 ;MTT法检测结果证明F(ab’) 2 抑制Daudi细胞生长的IC50 值为 14 6 μg ml,而Fab’为 39 5 μg ml。 结论 :实现了抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 在工程菌体内的高效率分泌性表达 ,而且所表达的抗CD2 0F(ab’) 2 比抗CD2 0Fab’具有更强的抑制Daudi细胞体外生长的能力     

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.     

Identification of a naturally processed cyclin D1 T-helper epitope by a novel combination of HLA class II targeting and differential mass spectrometry

T-helper (Th) cells play an important role in orchestrating the effector function of CTL in anti-tumor immunity. However, only a limited number of Th cell epitopes has been characterized. Here we describe a novel approach for identifying naturally processed and presented peptides derived from chosen antigens. This method combines a transfection step of antigen-presenting cells with a vector encoding a fusion protein between the Ii chain and the antigen of interest, elution of the HLA-bound peptides and identification of the antigen-derived peptides by mass spectrometric comparison to the non-transfected cells. In vitro-stimulated Th cells against the identified peptide of interest specifically recognize transfectants overexpressing the cognate antigen. Using this approach, we were able to identify the HLA-DR4-restricted Th cell epitope NPPSMVAAGSVVAAV derived from cyclin D1, which is frequently overexpressed in tumors. This method will help in identifying peptide candidates for vaccination studies for tumor immunotherapy.     

细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关抗原4融合蛋白抑制狼疮肾炎患者外周血单个核细胞B7分子表达及

目的探讨细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关抗原4融合蛋白(CTLA-4Ig)对活动期狼疮肾炎(LN)患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)细胞表面B7-1(CD80)和B7-2(CD86)表达的影响及其对抗双链DNA(dsDNA)抗体和免疫球蛋白产生的影响。方法将18例活动期LN患者的抗凝血标本随机分为LN的CTLA-4Ig处理组(LN-T组9例)和普通培养组(LN-NC组9例)。另以14例正常人的抗凝血标本为对照,随机分为正常人的CTLA-4Ig处理组(NC-T组7例)和普通培养组(NC-NC组7例)。用密度梯度离心法分离PBMC。处理组加入CTLA-4Ig(10ng/L)、普通培养组加入等量普通培养基37℃孵育72h后,采用流式细胞仪技术检测PBMC细胞表面B7-1和B7-2分子的表达;ELISA法检测孵育液中抗dsDNA抗体、IgG及IgM水平。结果活动期LN患者CTLA-4Ig处理组与普通培养组比较,PB-MC表面B7-2分子表达明显下降(P<0.01);B7-1分子表达无显著变化(P>0.05);孵育液中抗dsD-NA抗体、IgG及IgM的生成均明显减少(P<0.01)。而正常人的两组间各指标差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论CTLA-4Ig可抑制活动期LN患者的PBMC表面B7-2分子的表达,并可减少其抗dsDNA抗体、IgG及IgM的分泌。