A Role for MHC Class II Antigen Processing in B Cell Development

For mature B cells, the encounter with foreign antigen results in the selective expansion of the cells and their differentiation into antibody secreting cells or memory B cells. The response of mature B cells to antigen requires not only antigen binding to and signaling through the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) but also the processing and presentation of the BCR bound antigen to helper T cells. Thus, in mature B cells, the ability to process and present antigen to helper T cells plays a critical role in determining the outcome of antigen encounter. In immature B cells, the binding of antigen results in negative selection of the B cell, inducing apoptosis, anergy or receptor editing. Negative selection of immature B cells requires antigen induced signaling through the BCR, analogous to the signaling function of the BCR in mature B cells. However, the role of class II antigen processing and presentation in immature B cells is less well understood. Current evidence indicates that the ability to process and present antigen bound to the BCR is a late acquisition of developing B cells, suggesting that during negative selection B cells may not present BCR bound antigen and interact with helper T cells However, the expression of class II molecules is an early acquisition of B cells and recent evidence indicates that the expression of class II molecules early in development is required for the generation of long lived mature B cells. Here we review our current understanding of the processing and presentation of antigen by mature B cells and the role for antigen processing and class II expression during B cell development.     

REDIRECTING T LYMPHOCYTE SPECIFICITY USING T CELL RECEPTOR GENES

Redirecting T cells by transferring T cell receptor (TCR) genes from tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-reactive T cell clones into human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) has therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases, including cancer. T cell specificity can be altered using retroviruses encoding TCR &#102 and TCR &#103 chain genes, or chimeric immunoglobulin (cIg) genes containing signaling domains of CD3 &#145 or Fc &#108 RI- &#110. This review evaluates recent studies using TCRs and cIgs to redirect T cell specificity and discusses some of the technical and biological hurdles that need to be addressed before these approaches can be successfully used to treat patients.     

Multitasking of Ig-α and Ig-β to Regulate B Cell Antigen Receptor Function

Since their discovery as signaling subunits of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), Ig-α and Ig-β are discussed to serve either a redundant or distinct function for B cell development, maintenance, and activation. Dependent upon the experimental system that has been used to address this issue, evidence could be provided to support both possibilities. Only recently has it become clear that Ig-α and Ig-β possess a unique signaling identity but that both together are required to orchestrate proper B cell function in vivo. Here we discuss some of the underlying mechanisms that may involve direct coupling to discrete subsets of BCR effector proteins, such as protein tyrosine kinases or the intracellular adaptor SLP-65/BLNK.     

Antigen-Antibody Complex as Therapeutic Vaccine for Viral Hepatitis B

In a previous study, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) complexed to human anti-HBs immunoglobulins (HBIG) in excess of HBsAg was used as therapeutic vaccine to treat chronic hepatitis B patients and promising results were obtained. To study the mechanisms of this approach, mice were immunized with HBsAg or IC (immunogenic complex, i.e. HBsAg complexed with mouse polyclonal anti-HBs). Studies indicate that IC induced enhanced immune responses by increasing uptake of HBsAg through Fc receptors on antigen presenting cells and modulated HBsAg processing and presentation. This modulation led to stimulation of T cell responses, and increased production of IL-2 and IFN-γ. Assay for antibody subclasses showed that higher ratio of IgG 2a was observed in the IC immunized group, which correlated with the production of lymphokine pattern. When alum was used as the adjuvant, though antibody response was enhanced, production of cytokines decreased. When DNA from a recombinant plasmid was added to IC as an adjuvant, the liter of anti-HBs was significantly higher than those in mice immunized only with the DNA or the IC. Since DNA immunization can induce both cellular and humoral immune responses, combined immunization using IC and DNA might serve as another type of therapeutic vaccine for viral hepatitis B.     

Nuclear Factor-κB: Fine-Tuning a Central Integrator of Diverse Biologic Stimuli

The nuclear factor (NF)-κ B family of proteins is a key regulator of inflammation, innate immunity, and cell survival and differentiation. Components of these pathways are potential targets of intervention for inflammation, infectious diseases, and cancer. However, therapeutic interventions that dampen the host response to infection and injury must also recognize the autoregulatory loops in the “resolution” phase of inflammation and infection. A more precise fine-tuning of these pathways leading to NF-κB activation will require dissecting temporally the different phases of activation and endogenous autoregulatory deactivation programs in diseases and redefining end-points after drug/inhibitor treatment to correlate changes in these stages.     

吉西他滨对CD34+CD38-髓系白血病干细胞的增殖抑制和凋亡诱导作用

 目的：探讨与阿糖胞苷(Ara-C)结构相似的新型脱氧胞苷相似物和核苷还原酶抑制剂--吉西他滨(gemeitabine,GEM)对CD34+CD38-KG1a髓系白血病干细胞(LSCs)增殖抑制和诱导凋亡的影响。方法：流式细胞术检测急性髓系白血病KG1a细胞表面CD34和CD38的表达; 24 h和持续用药软琼脂克隆形成实验观察不同浓度GEM对KG1a细胞增殖的影响,流式细胞术检测不同浓度GEM对KG1a细胞周期的影响,Annexin V/PI双染法检测不同浓度GEM对KG1a细胞凋亡的影响。结果：急性髓系白血病KG1a细胞中CD34+ CD38-占(98.02±0.72)%。0.05 mg/L、0.1 mg/L和0.5 mg/L的GEM分别作用KG1a细胞24 h、48 h和72 h后, 0.5 mg/L GEM作用KG1a细胞24 h后,G0/G1期细胞高于盐水对照组 (P<0.05),而0.05 mg/L 和0.1 mg/L GEM作用KG1a细胞24 h后,G0/G1期细胞与盐水对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。0.05 mg/L、0.1 mg/L和0.5 mg/L GEM作用KG1a细胞24 h后,软琼脂培养第14 d和21d后, 0.1 mg/L和0.5 mg/L组形成的克隆数,低于盐水对照组 (P<0.05), 0.05 mg/L GEM组14 d、21 d的克隆数与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。0.05 mg/L、0.1 mg/L、0.5 mg/L GEM和Ara-C持续作用组,软琼脂培养14 d和21d均未见集落生长,与对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。0.05 mg/L、0.1 mg/L GEM作用KG1a细胞后其凋亡率与盐水对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05）,而0.5 mg/L GEM作用24 h后KG1a细胞凋亡率显著高于盐水对照组（P<0.05）。结论：GEM能抑制CD34+CD38-髓系白血病干细胞增殖和克隆形成,并将CD34+CD38-KG1a细胞阻滞在G0/G1期和诱导其凋亡。     

神经细胞黏附分子通过非Wnt依赖的β-catenin途径促进小鼠黑色素瘤细胞增殖

 目的：研究神经细胞黏附分子（neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM）对小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F0细胞增殖的影响及其分子机制。方法：采用RNA干扰在B16-F0细胞中基因沉默NCAM,通过MTT和软琼脂克隆形成实验考察细胞增殖能力的变化;通过小鼠皮下肿瘤移植实验考察体内黑色素瘤生长的变化;使用免疫印迹筛选出受NCAM影响的信号分子,在此基础上使用RNA干扰和高表达实验确定介导NCAM调控增殖的主要信号分子。结果：NCAM基因沉默后B16-F0细胞的增殖能力和克隆形成能力明显降低,细胞在小鼠皮下形成的黑色素瘤的生长也明显受到抑制。其中,β-catenin介导了NCAM对于B16-F0细胞增殖的调控,但NCAM对于β-catenin的调控不依赖于经典的Wnt通路。结论：NCAM通过Wnt非依赖性的β-catenin通路促进小鼠黑色素瘤细胞的增殖。     

丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠对胰腺癌BX-PC-3细胞系增殖与细胞周期调控因子表达的影响

 目的：观察丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠对胰腺癌细胞系BX-PC-3细胞增殖和细胞周期调控因子cyclin A、cyclin D2蛋白表达的影响。方法：分别用不同剂量的丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠作用于胰腺癌细胞系BX-PC-3,应用MTT比色法检测培养48 h的细胞存活率, 应用流式细胞术测定培养48 h细胞周期的变化,Western blotting检测周期蛋白cyclin A和cyclin D2 的表达情况。结果：丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠能明显抑制BX-PC-3细胞增殖,且具有明显的剂量依赖性;流式细胞术显示一定浓度药物作用细胞,可将细胞周期阻滞于G0/G1期;Western blotting检测发现药物能显著下调周期蛋白cyclin A和cyclin D2的表达水平。结论：丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠能显著抑制人胰腺癌BX-PC-3细胞增殖,下调周期相关因子cyclin A和cyclin D2蛋白表达水平,这可能是丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠抑制胰腺癌细胞生长增殖的作用机制。     

RXR激动剂通过抑制PKC激活对抗高糖诱导的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖

 目的:探讨视黄醇类X受体 (RXR)激动剂对高糖诱导的大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞(RASMCs)增殖的影响及其作用机制。方法:体外组织块干涸法培养RASMCs,以25 mmol/L葡萄糖干预,模拟糖尿病患者体内环境,通过WST-1法检测细胞增殖活性,BrdU插入法测定细胞DNA合成,流式细胞术检测细胞周期进程。用免疫印迹杂交方法检测细胞周期蛋白依赖激酶2(CDK2)、细胞周期蛋白依赖激酶抑制物p27Kip1的蛋白表达及蛋白激酶C (PKC)的磷酸化水平。结果:(1) 在高糖环境(葡萄糖终浓度为25 mmol/L)下,RASMCs的增殖活性、DNA合成速率及其在细胞周期S期的分布比例均显著增加;(2) 高糖显著增加RASMCs内CDK2蛋白的表达,但明显降低p27Kip1的蛋白表达水平;(3) RXR天然配体9-顺式维甲酸(9-cis-RA)可显著抑制高糖诱导的RASMCs增殖活性增强、DNA合成加速及RASMCs在细胞周期S期分布比例的增加幅度,且具有浓度依赖性;10-7mol/L浓度的SR11237(RXR特异性配体)与等浓度的9-cis-RA具有相似的抑制效应;(4) 9-cis-RA 和SR11237均可显著抑制高糖诱导的CDK2蛋白表达水平的增加幅度,同时上调高糖环境下p27Kip1蛋白的表达;(5) PKC抑制剂(PKC inhibitor peptide, 20 μmol/L)显著抑制高糖环境下RASMCs的增殖活性和CDK2蛋白的表达,但明显增加高糖条件下p27Kip1蛋白的表达;(6) 9-cis-RA 和SR11237可抑制高糖诱导的PKC蛋白磷酸化。结论: PKC的活化参与了高糖诱导下RASMCs的增殖过程。RXR激动剂通过抑制PKC活化对抗高糖诱导的血管平滑肌细胞增殖。     

Isolation and expansion of thymus-derived regulatory T cells for use in pediatric heart transplant patients

Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are a subset of T cells generated in the thymus with intrinsic immunosuppressive properties. Phase I clinical trials have shown safety and feasibility of Treg infusion to promote immune tolerance and new studies are ongoing to evaluate their efficacy. During heart transplantation, thymic tissue is routinely discarded providing an attractive source of Tregs. In this study, we developed a GMP-compatible protocol for expanding sorted thymus-derived CD3⁺CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^– (Tregs) as well as CD3⁺CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^–CD45RA⁺ (RA⁺Tregs) cells. We aimed to understand whether thymic RA⁺Tregs can be isolated and expanded offering an advantage in terms of stability as it has been previously shown for circulating adult CD45RA⁺ Tregs. We show that both Tregs and RA⁺Tregs could be expanded in large numbers and the presence of rapamycin is essential to inhibit the growth of IFN-γ producing cells. High levels of FOXP3, CTLA4, and CD25 expression, demethylation of the FOXP3 promoter, and high suppressive ability were found with no differences between Tregs and RA⁺Tregs. After freezing and thawing, all Treg preparations maintained their suppressive ability, stability, as well as CD25 and FOXP3 expression. The number of thymic Tregs that could be isolated with our protocol, their fold expansion, and functional characteristics allow the clinical application of this cell population to promote tolerance in pediatric heart transplant patients.