CD137 (ILA/4-1BB), expressed by primary human monocytes, induces monocyte activation and apoptosis of B lymphocytes

Human CD137 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family and the homologue of murine 4-1BB. Recent studies have demonstrated that CD137 promotes accessory T cell activation, and regulates proliferation and survival of T lymphocytes. This study reports on the expression and function of CD137 in peripheral blood monocytes. While monocytes showed constitutive expression in 10 out of 18 healthy donors, CD137 was not expressed on resting T or B lymphocytes. Immobilized antibodies to CD137 markedly induced the production of IL-8 and TNF-alpha protein and mRNA, and led to inhibition of IL-10 expression by primary monocytes. Furthermore, cross-linking of CD137 on monocytes resulted in an increase of B lymphocyte apoptosis mediated by direct cell-cell contact of both cell populations. In conclusion, this study identified CD137 as a new receptor involved in monocyte activation by inducing a characteristic cytokine release profile. In addition, CD137 may play a role in monocyte-dependent control of B lymphocyte survival.     

The effects of CD40- and interleukin (IL-4)-activated CD23+ cells on the production of IL-10 by mononuclear cells in Graves' disease: the role of CD8+ cells

The possible roles of CD8+ cells in the abnormal T cell-dependent B-cell activation in Graves' disease were investigated by analysing lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and their production of soluble factors and cytokines such as IL-10 in patients with Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and normal controls. The PBMC were separated into CD8+ and CD8-depleted cells by magnetic separation columns, and cultured for 7 days with or without anti-CD40 monoclonal antibodies and IL-4. The culture supernatant was assayed for sCD23 and IL-10 using EIA, and the remaining cells were analysed by flow cytometry. Stimulation with anti-CD40 antibody together with IL-4 increased sCD23 levels and the number of CD23+ cells. The latter was further augmented by depletion of CD8+ cells. This combination of B cell stimulants increased production of IL-10 by PBMC from patients with Graves' disease. The CD40- and IL-4-activated production of IL-10 was decreased by CD8+ cell depletion. In contrast, constitutive production of IL-10 was increased after CD8+ cell depletion in a group of patients with low basal secretion levels (<35 ng/ml). It was, however, decreased in a group with higher basal production levels, but such a relationship was not found in the normal control group. Thus, T cell-dependent B-cell activation via a CD40 pathway activates CD23+ cells, leading to over-production of IL-10 and a shift of the Th1/Th2 balance to Th2 dominance, while CD8+ cells may suppress this activation to counteract the Th2 deviation in Graves' disease.     

Complement receptors type 1 (CR1, CD35) and 2 (CR2, CD21) cooperate in the binding of hydrolyzed complement factor 3 (C3i) to human B lymphocytes

The C3b-binding receptor, CR1/CD35, supports CR2/CD21-mediated activation of complement by human B lymphocytes, possibly by associating with CR2 to promote or stabilize the binding of hydrolyzed C3 (C3i), the primary component of the AP convertase, C3i-Bb. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined the uptake kinetics and binding equilibria for C3i dimer interaction with human blood cells in the absence and presence of CR1- and CR2-blocking mAb. C3i displayed dual uptake kinetics to B lymphocytes, comprising of rapid binding to CR1 and slower binding to CR2. The forward rate constants (k(1)) for CR1 and CR2, operating independently, differed ca. 9-fold (k(1)=193+/-9.4 and 22.2+/-6.0 x 10(3) M(-1)s(-1), respectively). Equilibrium binding of C3i to B lymphocytes was also complex, varying in strength by ca. 13-fold over the C3i concentration range examined. The maximum association constant (K(a, max)=109+/-27.2 x 10(7) l/mole) was ca. 9- and 6-fold greater, respectively, than those for CR1 or CR2 acting alone (K(a)=13.2+/-5.3 and 18.5+/-3.5 x 10(7) l/mole). The high avidity of the CR1-CR2 complex for C3i is consistent with its rates of C3i uptake and release being determined by CR1 and CR2, respectively.     

Chromatin interactions in differentiating keratinocytes reveal novel atopic dermatitis– and psoriasis-associated genes

1. Download : Download high-res image (202KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Profilin-mediated food-induced allergic reactions are associated with oral epithelial remodeling

1. Download high-res image (218KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

A model for antigen-induced T cell unresponsiveness based on autophosphorylative protein tyrosine kinase activity

Helper T cell signaling is initiated by the aggregation of TCRwith the induction of tyrosine kinase activity as one of theearliest consequences. Here, a theoretical model for antigen-inducedunresponsiveness is presented that relies on a cascade of tyrosinephosphorylation- dephoshorylation cycles. A mechanism is describedfor both desensitization in the presence of antigen and persistentlowering of cell responsiveness after stimulus removal. An importantcomponent of the model, leading to bistability, is the presenceof autophosphorylating protein tyrosine kinases in the earlysteps of TCR signaling. One of its predictions is that, followingstimulation, the net phosphorylative activity of these receptor-associatedtyrosine kinases will remain above background level after removalof the antigen. It is proposed that this residual tyrosine kinaseactivity is linked to a deficient signal transduction capacityof the TCR system that leads to a state of prolonged unresponsiveness.In addition, the present analysis defines the notion of a signalingthreshold for hyporesponsiveness induction, associated witha durable switch and amplification of the net tyrosine kinaseactivity. This approach emphasizes the role of tyrosine kinasesin the down-regulation of cellular competence.     

Sarcomeric determinants of striated muscle relaxation kinetics

Ca²⁺ is the primary regulator of force generation by cross-bridges in striated muscle activation and relaxation. Relaxation is as necessary as contraction and, while the kinetics of Ca²⁺-induced force development have been investigated extensively, those of force relaxation have been both studied and understood less well. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying relaxation kinetics is of special importance for understanding diastolic function and dysfunction of the heart. A number of experimental models, from whole muscle organs and intact muscle fibres down to single myofibrils, have been used to explore the cascade of kinetic events leading to mechanical relaxation. By using isolated myofibrils and fast solution switching techniques we can distinguish the sarcomeric mechanisms of relaxation from those of myoplasmic Ca²⁺ removal. There is strong evidence that cross-bridge mechanics and kinetics are major determinants of the time course of striated muscle relaxation whilst thin filament inactivation kinetics and cooperative activation of thin filament by cycling, force-generating cross-bridges do not significantly limit the relaxation rate. Results in myofibrils can be explained well by a simple two-state model of the cross-bridge cycle in which the apparent rate of the force generating transition is modulated by fast, Ca²⁺-dependent equilibration between off- and on-states of actin. Inter-sarcomere dynamics during the final rapid phase of full force relaxation are responsible for deviations from this simple model.     

T cell activation correlates with an increased proportion of antigen among the materials acquired from target cells

We have investigated the density of peptides required to elicit different biological responses in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), including trogocytosis (i.e., the phenomenon whereby the lymphocytes actively capture fragments of plasma membrane from those cells with which they establish an immune synapse). We have used two separate mouse models of CTL recognising defined peptides presented by MHC class I molecules. In both systems, triggering of cytotoxicity and capture of membrane components reached saturation with low densities of ligand. On the other hand, down-modulation of cell-surface levels of TCR, induction of IFN-gamma production and detection of peptide captured required much higher ligand densities. Interestingly, fratricide (i.e., killing between CTL sharing the same specificity), a mechanism proposed to account for CTL exhaustion, was detected only at antigen concentrations still well above that second threshold leading to full blown activation. Taken together, our results show that the different thresholds that govern the elicitation of different CTL functions correlate with different proportions of antigen among the target cell components being captured via trogocytosis.     

Fluorescence polarization assay by flow cytometry

Fluorescence polarization measurement on cell suspensions provides a highly sensitive means for detecting subtle changes in the cells, such as occur early after lymphocyte activation or on malignant transformation. We review here the principles of fluorescence polarization, its measurement by a commercially available flow cytometer and application of such assays especially in cellular immunology.     

再生障碍性贫血患者淋巴细胞表型变化

目的：研究再生障碍性贫血（AA）患者骨髓（BM）及外周血（PB）淋巴细胞及其活化相关分子的表达及临床意义。方法：采用单色和双色免疫荧光标记法，流式细胞仪分析AA患者的BM和PB中淋巴细胞膜分子的表达。结果：AA患者BM和BP中CD8^ 细胞增加，CD4／CD8比例下降，BM在CD25^ 细胞和HLA－DR^ 细胞增多，急性AA增加尤为显著（P＜0．01），BM中CD16^ 或CD56^ 细胞也明显增多（P＜0．05），双标记分析提示T细胞主要为CD8^ 细胞：急性AA患者CD8^ -CD25^ 细胞显著增多（P＜0．01），AA患者BM中淋巴细胞活化相关分子表达增多，尤其4－1BB^ ,CD95L^ 和CD40L＋细胞显著增多（P＜0．01），结论：AA患者BM中淋巴细胞活化相关膜分子增多，是AA免疫功能异常及最终导致造血功能衰竭的原因之一。