Effect of Inflammation on Costimulation Blockade-Resistant Allograft Rejection

Previously, we reported that allogeneic skin grafts were rapidly rejected by CD28 and CD40 ligand double deficient mice mediated by CD8⁺ T cells. These results indicated that some elements in addition to CD28- and CD40-mediated costimulation provide stimulatory signals for the activation of donor-specific CD8⁺ T cells. In this report, we investigated the role of inflammation associated with transplantation on costimulation-independent priming of CD8⁺ T cell during graft rejection. B6 RAG1 KO mice were transplanted with BALB/c-skin and adoptively transferred with syngeneic CD8⁺ T cells the same day or 50 days after transplantation. When blockade of CD28- and CD40-mediated costimulation failed to prevent acute rejection of freshly transplanted skin grafts, it efficiently delayed rejection of well-healed skin grafts. These results showed that factors associated with transplantation have essential roles in inducing costimulation blockade-resistant allograft rejection. Costimulation blockade failed to prevent acute graft-infiltration of NK cells and increasing expression of intragraft IL-12 and IL-15. These factors may trigger the graft-infiltration and priming of CD8⁺ T cells to induce costimulation blockade-resistant allograft rejection.     

B7.2-Ig fusion proteins enhance IL-4-dependent differentiation of tumor-sensitized CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors

The B7/CD28 co-stimulatory pathway plays a critical role in T cell activation and differentiation. Our previous study demonstrated that administration of B7.2-Ig fusion proteins to tumor-bearing mice elicits IL-4-dependent, CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor regression. Here, we investigated whether B7.2-Ig stimulation of tumor-sensitized CD8+ CTL precursors during in vitro antigen re-sensitization actually results in their differentiation into mature CTLs and if so, whether such a process depends on IL-4 signals. Splenocytes from tumor-sensitized (tumor-bearing or tumor-immunized) mice exhibited low levels of anti-tumor CTL responses upon culturing alone, but induced strikingly enhanced CTL responses when stimulated in vitro with B7.2-Ig fusion proteins. Because CTLs were not generated from normal splenocytes even by B7.2-Ig stimulation, the expression of the B7.2-Ig effect required the in vivo tumor sensitization of CD8+ CTL precursors. Administration of anti-CD4 or anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) to mice before tumor sensitization resulted in almost complete inhibition of CTL responses generated in the subsequent culture containing B7.2-Ig. In contrast, anti-IL-4 did not influence in vivo tumor sensitization required for CTL induction. However, B7.2-Ig stimulation of tumor-sensitized splenocytes enhanced IL-4 production and neutralization of this IL-4 with anti-IL-4 potently down-regulated CTL responses. These results indicate that B7.2-Ig enhances IL-4-dependent differentiation of anti-tumor CD8+ CTL precursors that can be sensitized in vivo depending on collaboration with CD4+ T cells involving CD40L function.     

Cbl-b differentially regulates activation-induced apoptosis in T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells

We previously reported that ligation of CD3 induces antiapoptotic signals in T helper 2 (Th2) cells, and in contrast causes Th1 cells to undergo apoptosis. Here we show that Cbl-b is accountable for the unequal response, revealing a previously unknown cell-specific regulatory function for the molecule. Absence of Cbl-b resulted in resistance to activation-induced apoptosis in murine Th1 cells following CD3 ligation, akin to what is observed in Th2 cells containing Cbl-b. Concurrent with the apoptosis profile, CD3 ligation in the absence of Cbl-b induced raft mobilization and cytoskeletal rearrangement in Th1 cells. Despite their ability to signal from CD3, Th2 cells did not aggregate their rafts, providing an explanation for cell-specific activity of Cbl-b.     

The antigen-presenting environment in normal and human papillomavirus (HPV)-related premalignant cervical epithelium

The activation of HPV-specific T cells within the cervical microenvironment is likely to play an important part in the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The extent and the type of T cell activation will depend critically on the expression of MHC, costimulatory cell surface molecules and cytokines by keratinocytes and Langerhans cells within the cervical lesion. Expression of MHC class II (HLA-A-DR and -DQ), costimulatory/adhesion molecules (CD11a/18, CD50, CD54, CD58 and CD86) and cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-10) was therefore investigated by immunohistochemistry in normal squamous epithelium (n = 12), low-grade (n = 23) and high-grade (n = 18) squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. CIN progression was associated with de novo expression of HLA-DR and CD54, and increased expression of CD58 by keratinocytes. However, significantly, there was no expression of any adhesion/costimulation molecule by epithelial Langerhans cells in any cervical biopsy studied. Furthermore, TNF-alpha, a potent activator of Langerhans cells, was expressed constitutively by basal keratinocytes in normal cervix (12+/12). but expression of this cytokine was absent in a number of CIN samples (20+/23 for low-grade, 12+/18 for high-grade CIN). Conversely, the suppressive cytokine IL-10 was absent in normal epithelium (0+/12), but was up-regulated in a number of CIN lesions (12+/23 for low-grade; 8+/18 for high-grade CIN). The restricted expression of costimulation/adhesion molecules and the nature of the cytokine microenvironment within the epithelium may act to limit effective immune responses in some CIN lesions.     

Potential role of B7-1 and CD28 molecules in immunosuppression in leprosy

In order to understand the mechanism of unresponsiveness towards Mycobacterium leprae antigens in leprosy, we evaluated the role of M. leprae sonicate antigens in regulating the expression of the costimulatory molecules B7-1, CD28, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), LFA-1α, LFA-1β and Mac-1 on the lymphocytes of both leprosy patients and healthy subjects. It was observed that the expression of B7-1 and CD28 was significantly decreased but the levels of ICAM-1 and LFA-1α were increased in patients with untreated borderline leprosy (BL)/lepromatous leprosy (LL) disease. No remarkable change was noticed in the case of borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy or treated BL/LL patients. Further, a striking finding was that lymphocytes from healthy subjects cultured with a particularly high dose of M. leprae sonicate antigens down-regulated the expression of B7-1 and CD28 molecules, but up-regulated the display of ICAM-1 and LFA-1α. Furthermore, proliferation induced by M. leprae sonicate was inhibited only by anti-B7-1 antibody. Mycobacterium leprae antigen-induced suppression of the proliferation of lymphocytes of healthy volunteers and LL patients was reversed by culturing the lymphocytes with purified protein derivative (PPD). It may be concluded from the findings in this study that down regulation of B7-1 and CD28 in BL/LL leprosy patients may be responsible for a defective T cell signalling by the B7-1/CD28 pathway caused by M. leprae antigens. This may lead to clonal inactivation of M. leprae-reactive T cells, consequently the bacilli grow without restriction in macrophages.     

Bladder cancer immunogenicity: expression of CD80 and CD86 is insufficient to allow primary CD4+ T cell activation in vitro

Transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the urinary bladder are known to express proteins which can yield potentially immunogenic peptide epitopes for expression in the context of cell surface class I or class II MHC antigens. However, additional costimulatory ligands must also be expressed before such a cell might directly induce full activation and proliferation of resting, antigen-specific T lymphocytes. Intravesical therapy might be used to manipulate T cell costimulation in order to promote specific rejection of TCC cells. This in vitro study examined the potential of such a strategy by transfection of the prototypical TCC line J82 with the important costimulatory molecules CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2). Untransfected J82 cells expressed class I and II MHC antigens, a range of cell adhesion molecules, though did not induce T cell proliferation in a robust, allogeneic co-culture system. Transfected J82 cells expressed CD80 or CD86 at levels comparable to an antigen-presenting B cell line. Furthermore, functional surface expression of CD80 and CD86 was demonstrated in a mitogen-dependent assay of costimulation. However, neither CD80+ nor CD86+ transfectant J82 cells could induce significant proliferation of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. Further analysis showed that bystander J82 cells could inhibit independent T cell activation in an effect dependent on direct cell contact. This inhibitory effect was associated with increased cell death in the responding lymphocyte population and is concordant with surface expression of CD95L by the J82 cell line.     

hB7-1重组腺病毒感染的肿瘤细胞的生物学特性

目的 在完成hB7-1 cDNA克隆并成功构建包含hB7-1基因的重组腺病毒rAdexl-B7－1的基础上,对经rAdexl-B7－1感染的B16细胞的体外生物学特性进行了研究。方法 以FACS、电镜等方法观察病毒感染前后B16细胞的变化。结果 ①重组腺病毒经KEK293细胞扩增、CsCl纯化后滴度可达10^10ＰＦＵ／ml,且２０ＭＯＩ的病毒可使９５％以上的Ｂ１６细胞被感染。②细胞动力学研究显示,rAdexl-B7-1对Ｂ１６的生长及集落形成能力无影响。③ＦＡＣＳ结果表明,rAdexl-B7-1细胞的增殖周期无影响。④扫描电镜及透射电镜结果表明,经rAdexl-B7-1感染的Ｂ１６细胞在表面形态及超微结构上出现变化。结论 重组腺病毒rAdexl-B7-1对Ｂ１６细胞的生长动力学无影响,对形态学有轻微影响。     

影响淋巴细胞共刺激作用的体外实验研究

目的　观察CD3单抗、CD2 8单抗、PHA和低剂量辐射对淋巴细胞增殖的影响 ,探讨影响T淋巴细胞信号转导的因素。方法　分别以CD3单抗、CD2 8单抗、PHA和低剂量辐射作为作用因素 ,用3H TdR掺入法观察在这些因素作用下 ,淋巴细胞增殖反应情况。结果　CD3单抗和CD2 8单抗联合刺激、PHA和低剂量辐射单独或联合处理 ,均可使淋巴细胞明显增殖。但CD3单抗和CD2 8单抗单独刺激 ,淋巴细胞增殖不明显。结论　CD3单抗和CD2 8单抗联合作用可使淋巴细胞有效增殖 ,PHA和低剂量辐射具有相似作用 ,对细胞免疫调节有重要意义     

McAb共刺激PBLs淋巴细胞在培养体系中的状态及超微结构的 …

通过用抗ＣＤ３,ＣＤ２８＋ＣＤ８０ ＭｃＡｂ激活健康人的ＰＢＬｓ,并以ＰＨＡ,ＩＬ－２,ＰＢＬｓ为对照组;对各组不同时间段的淋巴细胞超微结构进行观察。结果提示：ＣＤ３及ＣＤ２８＋ＣＤ８０刺激淋巴细胞增殖外,也能使淋巴细胞活化,细胞表现为胞体增大,细胞器增多,具有粗大的绒毛和突出伪足,并可见单核细胞吞噬活跃。