A model B-cell superantigen and the immunobiology of B lymphocytes

Recent reports have shown that protein A of Staphylococcus aureus (SpA) is a specific toxin for B cells by virtue of specific binding interactions with conserved sites on the V(H) region of the B-cell antigen receptor. The structural basis for these Fab-binding interactions has recently been revealed in crystallographic analyses, which have demonstrated many similarities with the interactions of T-cell superantigens. Investigations of the in vivo response to SpA have illustrated how a B-cell superantigen can be used to provide a window for examining fundamental principles that underlie the immunobiology of B lymphocytes.     

SEB诱导的CD4+ T细胞无能、凋亡及MHC-I类分子表达下调

目的：探讨超抗原金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素（SEB）体外诱导外周T细胞免疫耐受的作用机制。方法：采用SEB体外刺激C57BL/6J（B6）小鼠的脾细胞后，以MTT比色法检测脾细胞的增殖，并用PI染色后以流式细胞术（FCM）分析不同时间段处于S期，G0-G1期的细胞及无能T细胞的凋亡，测定T细胞亚群及MHC-I（H-2K^b)表达的变化。用琼脂糖凝胶电泳，观察不同时间段凋亡T细胞的DNA特征。结果：部分去除CD8^ T细胞后。SEB可刺激B6小鼠脾细胞中CD4^ T细胞大量增殖，在SEB刺激后第3天，CD4^ T细胞中处于S期的比率最大，此后开始下降；而处于G0-G1期的CD4^ T细胞变化则相反，在初次刺激后第3天，增殖的CD4^ T细胞出现无能，FCM检测及用琼脂糖凝胶电泳检查DNAladder证实，在第7天，无能CD4^ T细胞出现凋亡，且凋亡细胞的比率逐渐增多，不因加入抗CD3抗体或CoN A而逆转，在SEB刺激后，CD4^ T细胞表面MHC-I类分子（H-2K^b)的表达，随细胞无能的出现而明显下调。结论：SEB诱导的T细胞免疫耐受，可能与CD4^ T细胞的无能，凋亡及细胞表面分子MHC-I的表达下调有关。     

超抗原SEB在同种异体细胞移植小鼠中诱导的免疫耐受及其特征

目的 探讨超抗原葡萄球菌肠毒素B（SEB）体内诱导的免疫耐受性及其特征。方法 采用MHC不同的两种小鼠进行淋巴细胞移植。用流式细胞术和混合淋巴细胞培养技术，检测受体鼠T细胞亚群的变化，供体鼠H－2K^d分子在受体鼠体内表达的阳性率与免疫应答性。结果 （1）注射SEB可选择性地降低CD4^ T细胞和CD4^ T/H-2K^b 细胞的百分率，而不影响CD8^ T细胞的数量。在SEB注射的21d，抑制作用最强，其对CD4^ T细胞和CD4^ T/H-2K^b 细胞的抑制率分别是6.24%和23.38%。（2）在进行异源性MHC淋巴细胞移植时注射SEB，于移植细胞后21d，受体小鼠肝脏淋巴细胞上开始表达供体小鼠H－2K^d分子，至移植后40d，表达率达到高峰7.90%。与此同时，受体鼠外周淋巴细胞对供体鼠淋巴细胞的免疫应答能力也明显降低。结论 SEB能诱导小鼠产生免疫耐受，免疫耐受的形成与受体鼠内CD4^ T细胞克隆的明显减少有关。     

Cytotoxic activity of V beta 8+ T cells in Crohn's disease: the role of bacterial superantigens.

In Crohn's disease, disease-related stimuli could alter the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire. To examine the possibility that changes in function may occur in T cell subsets without obvious changes in expression of TCR, we analysed the TCR repertoire of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in Crohn's disease peripheral blood. Furthermore, we examined the effect of bacterial superantigens, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and E (SEE) on the cytotoxic function of T cell subsets bearing different TCR V genes using MoAbs specific for CD3 and TCR V gene products in a redirected cytotoxicity assay. There was no difference between patients and controls in the cytotoxicity measured in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with anti-CD3 or with six of seven anti-TCR V gene MoAbs. However, the cytotoxicity of V beta 8 T cells was decreased in Crohn's disease patients. This was not due to a decrease in total or CD8+ T cells expressing V beta 8. Furthermore, in normal subjects, PBMC stimulation with SEE and SEB selectively expanded and increased the cytotoxicity of V beta 8 and V beta 12 T cells, respectively. In Crohn's disease, although SEB stimulation increased the number and cytolytic function of the V beta 12 subset, SEE stimulation failed to increase cytolytic activity of V beta 8+ T cells in spite of the expansion of V beta 8+ T cells. These results suggest that the changes in cytotoxic function observed in V beta 8 T cells in Crohn's patients may reflect previous exposure to a V beta 8-selective superantigen.     

MHC Class II-Dependent Peptide Antigen Versus Superantigen Presentation to T Cells

T lymphocytes expressing the CD4 coreceptor can be activated by two classes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-bound ligands. The elaboration of a conventional T-cell mediated immune response involves recognition of an antigenic peptide bound to the MHC class II molecules by a T-cell receptor (TCR) specific to that particular antigen. Conversely, superantigens (SAgs) also bind to MHC class II molecules and activate T cells, leading to a completely different functional outcome; indeed, SAg-responsive T cells die through apoptosis following stimulation. Superantigens are proteins that are secreted by various bacteria. They interact with the TCR using molecular determinants that are distinct from the residues involved in the recognition of nominal antigenic peptides. Despite the similarities between the recognition of the two classes of ligands by the TCR, considerable structural difference is observed. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on the presentation of SAgs to T cells and compare the different aspects of the SAg response with the recognition of antigenic peptide/MHC complexes.     

Involvement of apoptosis antigen Fas in clonal deletion of human thymocytes

Apoptosis appears to play a major role in the differentiationand selection of T and B lymphocytes, but the mechanisms ofclonal deletion of T cells in thymus are not well understood.We have prepared an anti-human Fas IgM mAb with associated apoptosis-inducingactivity in Fas antigen-positive target cells including humanT cells. We analyzed the expression of apoptosis antigen Fason human thymocytes by cytofluorometry showing low, but significantamounts of Fas antigen on double-negative and double-positiveundifferentiated thymocytes. On the contrary, most of the differentiatedthymocytes (single-positive or CD3-brightest) expressed undetectablelevels of Fas antigen. About 1-2% of thymocytes expressed highamounts of Fas antigen, and these cells, which were CD3-bright,were CD4-bright and CD8-low at the stage of late double-positivelineage. Immunohlstologlcal analysis shows these Fas-brightcells on the edge of the medulla. Stimulation through the TCRcomplex was shown to induce the expression of Fas antigen onthymocytes at the late double-positive stage and prolonged stimulationthrough the TCR complex rendered the Fas-bright thymocytes sensitiveto apoptosis-induclng activity of anti-Fas. To show the involvementof the Fas system in the negative selectlon/clonal deletionof thymocytes, we organ-cultured human thymus in the presenceof the superantigen, staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB), andnew antagonistic anti-Fas mAb, which can inhibit the apoptosis-induclngactivity of the original anti-Fas mAb. The SEB-reactJve TCRcomplex on thymocytes was at first down-regulated by SEB, thenthe SEB-reactlve clone was deleted by apoptosis, which was inhibitedby an antagonistic anti-Fas mAb. Thus, Fas antigen is shownto be involved in the negative selection/clonal deletion ofsuperantlgen-reactive thymocytes.     

Superantigen activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected subjects: role of costimulatory molecules and antigen-presenting cells (APC)

T cell receptor (TCR) triggering via superantigens induces decreased proliferative responses and increased apoptosis in T cells from HIV-infected patients compared with controls. Our aim was to delineate the role of intrinsic T cell defects, of APC dysfunction and of cytokines and costimulatory signal dysregulation in the deficient responses of CD4⁺and CD8⁺ T cells from HIV⁺ subjects to the superantigen Staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA). Proliferation and IL-2Rα up-regulation on SEA-stimulated CD4⁺and CD8⁺T cells in whole blood were reduced in HIV⁺ subjects with CD4 counts < 500, compared with controls. Neither addition of IL-2, IL-12 or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) nor neutralization of endogenous IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), TNF-β or transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) could restore the decreased activation by SEA. Possible intrinsic T cell defects were studied by presenting SEA on HLA-DR-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, co-expressing LFA3 and/or CD80, to purified T cells. In this system CD8⁺T cells from most HIV⁺ patients were hyporesponsive with regard to IL-2 production, IL-2Rα up-regulation and proliferation, whereas clearly reduced responses were only shown in CD4⁺T cells from AIDS patients. Similarly, apoptosis was increased in CD8⁺T cells from all patients, but only in CD4⁺T cells from AIDS patients. During HIV infection, the responses to TCR triggering through SEA are deficient in both T cell subsets. The intrinsic defect appears earlier during disease progression in purified CD8⁺T than in CD4⁺T cells, it occurs in conjunction with both CD2 and CD28 costimulation, and it is correlated with increased levels of apoptosis.     

Accessory cell function of a human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 for bacterial superantigens

The expression and up-regulation of cell adhesion molecules on a human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29, and the peripheral blood T lymphocyte proliferation responses to bacterial superantigens presented by this cell line were investigated, compared with peripheral blood monocytes. In HT-29 cells, there was constitutive expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-3 (LFA-3) at a low level, but no constitutive expression of HLA-DR, LFA-1, B7-1 and B7-2 molecules. After stimulation with the supernatants of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells for 48 h, there was significant up-regulation of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 molecules (both >90% positive). However, this stimulation had no effect on the expression of LFA-1, B7-1, B7-2 and LFA-3 molecules. In the presence of all tested superantigens SEB, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, and streptococcal pyogenic exotoxin A, stimulated HT-29 cells caused significant T cell proliferation. When monocytes were used as antigen-presenting cells (APC), the MoAbs against HLA-DR, B7-2 and LFA-3 showed a significant inhibition of SEB-induced T cell proliferation. Anti-ICAM-1 MoAb had no effect on this response. On the other hand, when stimulated HT-29 cells were used as APC, the MoAbs against HLA-DR and ICAM-1 significantly inhibited SEB-induced T cell proliferation. In contrast to monocytes, anti-B7-2 and anti-LFA-3 had no effect on this response. SEB could not induce HT-29 cells to produce IL-8 directly; however, SEB significantly induced the stimulated HT-29 cells to produce IL-8 in the presence of T cells. Thus these data demonstrate that the products of superantigen-stimulated T cell activation can increase the expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 molecules on HT-29 cells significantly. Stimulated HT-29 cells can serve as APC to bacterial superantigens. This response is an HLA-DR- and ICAM-1-dependent, but B7-2- and LFA-3-independent process, which was different from professional APC monocytes.     

超抗原SED在大肠杆菌中的表达

目的 构建稳定的SED原核表达系统。方法 采用PCR技术扩增葡萄球菌D型肠毒素（SED）超抗原的成熟蛋白编码区DNA序列，构建SED DNA与6个组氨酸基因融合的表达载体pTrcHis-SED，转入E.coli DH5α，IPTG诱导后，用SDS－PAGE和免疫印迹检测融合蛋白的表达情况。目的蛋白用Ni-NTA金属亲和层析法进行纯化，SDS－PAGE和毛细管电泳检测蛋白纯度。结果 成功构建了原核表达载体pTrcHis-SED。分子量约为28000u的6His-SED融合蛋白可在E.coli DH5α中稳定表达。Ni-NTA金属亲和层析后得到纯度较高（＞95％）的SED融合蛋白，且具有免疫学活性。结论 本研究为SED免疫识别研究奠定了实验基础。