Association between Increased Inducible Costimulator/Inducible Costimulator Ligand Expression with Bone Destruction in Apical Periodontitis

IntroductionThe aim was to assess the association of inducible costimulator (ICOS) and ICOS ligand with bone destruction in apical periodontitis (AP).MethodsSpecimens from patients presenting with AP were obtained during apicoectomy and subjected to histopathologic analysis and molecular assessment of ICOS/ICOS ligand. In addition, the experimental AP was induced by exposing the pulp of first mandibular molars of rats. Histologic and radiographic examinations were performed to validate the periapical lesions. The immunolocalization and messenger RNA expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The osteoclastic activities in periapical lesions, including the lesion size and the expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, were recorded and followed by correlation analysis with ICOS/ICOS ligand expression.ResultsIn excisional specimens from AP patients, a significantly increased expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand was found compared with the healthy control. In the experimental AP samples, the expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand was significantly elevated in inflamed periapical tissues (AP group) when compared with the healthy control. The number of ICOS⁺/ICOS ligand⁺ cells was highly correlated with the periapical lesion size (r = 0.892, P < .01 and r = 0.930, P < .01, respectively).ConclusionsThe increased expression of ICOS/ICOS ligand in periapical lesions was associated with the inflammatory infiltration and alveolar bone destruction of AP.     

慢性髓性白血病细胞来源的树突状细胞大容量诱导及其功能的实验研究

目的　探索大容量诱导慢性髓性白血病 (CML)细胞来源的树突状细胞 (DCs)的适宜方法 ;研究CML DCs刺激自体T淋巴细胞增殖并分泌γ 干扰素 (IFN γ)的能力。方法　用CS 30 0 0 plus血细胞分离机采集初诊CML病人的外周血单个核细胞 (PBMNCs) ;单采的CML PBMNCS转入组织培养袋 ,加入重组人粒 巨细胞集落刺激因子 (rhGM CSF)和重组人白介素 4 (rhIL 4 ) ,培养诱导 7d ;在诱导前后 ,用流式细胞仪分别检测细胞表面HLA DR、CD1a、CD80和CD86的表达水平 ;用3 H TdR掺入法检测CML DCs和CML PBMNCs刺激自体和异体T细胞增殖的能力 ;用ELISA法检测在自体混合淋巴细胞培养 (MLR)时T细胞分泌的IFN γ浓度。结果　用血细胞分离机收集的CML PBMNCs ,在组织培养袋内经细胞因子培养诱导 ,HLA DR、CD1a、CD80、CD86的表达均有明显上调 ,细胞形态也表现典型的DC特征 ;CML DCs能显著刺激自体和异体T细胞增殖 ,而CML PBM NCs仅能刺激异体T细胞的增殖 ,刺激自体T细胞增殖的能力很弱 ;刺激自体T细胞增殖时分泌的IFN γ浓度 ,CML DCs组为 (877± 2 14 )pg/mL ;CML BPMNCs组仅为 (14± 1.7) pg/mL。 结论　单采的CML PBMNCs转入组织培养袋 ,加入rhGM CSF和rhIL 4 ,可收获大容量的CML DCs;CML DCs在体外具有显著刺激自体T细胞增殖     

Enhancement of immunogenicity of Jeg3 cells by ectopic expression of HLA-A*0201 and CD80

PROBLEM: The choriocarcinoma cell line Jeg3 suppresses immunity in vitro by secretion of soluble factors like leukemia inhibitory factor suppressing leukocyte activation. The cells lack expression of classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A and -B alleles but express some HLA-C, and non-classical HLA-G and -E. Upon binding to killing inhibitory receptor on natural killer (NK) cells, HLA-G prevents activation of cytolytic activity. We investigated whether Jeg3 cells are capable of immune stimulation after complementation with classical HLA and T cell costimulatory signal CD80. METHOD OF STUDY: Jeg3 cells were transduced to express HLA-A*0201 and/or CD80. Parental Jeg3 or transfectants Jeg3-A2, Jeg3-CD80 or Jeg3-CD80-A2 were used to stimulate allogeneic resting and activated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The different cell lines were loaded with a HLA-A2-restricted Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) recall antigen peptide epitope and antigen presenting ability was examined. T cell lines specific for Jeg3 and transfectants were generated from HLA-A2 matched and nonmatched donors and compared for expansion, phenotypes and cytolytic activity. RESULTS: While all Jeg3 cell lines induced only marginal proliferation of resting T cells, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T cells were stimulated by CD80 or CD80-A2 expressing Jeg3. Only the transfectant Jeg3-CD80-A2 was capable of specific T cell stimulation by EBV recall antigen presentation. T cell lines of HLA-A2 non-matched donors stimulated with the Jeg3 transfectants showed significant expansion only when HLA-A2 and the costimulus CD80 were present. T cells from HLA-A2 positive donors did not expand significantly or differentially. No NK cells grew under any condition. In Jeg3-CD80-A2 stimulated T cells lines CD8+ cells expanded preferentially. These T cells exerted cytolytic activity toward all Jeg3 cell lines. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that, in spite of immunosuppressive mechanisms, proliferative and cytolytic T cell responses are induced by Jeg3 cells when classical HLA- and/or costimulatory signals are present on the cells.     

血红素加氧酶1延长异种心脏移植存活的机制研究

探讨血红素加氧酶1(heme oxygenase-1,HO-1)在器官移植中抗急性血管排斥反应的作用。通过建立豚鼠到SD大鼠异位心脏移植模型,用血红素(hemin)分别诱导供者和受者,上调HO-1基因表达;用眼镜蛇毒因子、环孢素A抑制超急性排斥反应;观测供者心脏存活时间,并分别检测心脏组织HO-1表达、受者血清异种抗体IgM的变化及异种抗体IgM和C3在血管内膜的沉积;采用TUNEL方法检测心脏组织细胞凋亡;RT-PCR方法测定组织CD40L mRNA表达水平。结果显示:上调HO-1表达能明显延长心脏移植存活时间,抑制异种抗体IgM表达和在血管内膜的沉积,减少心肌细胞的凋亡并且抑制CD40L mRNA的表达。该结论表明HO-1通过介导CD40-CD40L共刺激途径抑制大鼠异种心脏移植后急性血管排斥反应,延长心脏移植存活时间。     

Interaction of B7RP-1 with ICOS Negatively Regulates Antigen Presentation by B Cells

Stimulation of T cells through the T cell receptor is insufficient for optimal T cell activation. A second activation signal is necessary, being usually provided by the costimulatory molecule CD28. Recently, additional costimulatory pathways have been identified, including inducible costimulator (ICOS) and its ligand B7RP-1. We have examined the role of the B7RP-1/ICOS costimulatory pathway on antigen presentation by B cells, using the I-A^k and I-E^k-positive CH27 B cell line and several different T cell lines. We found that CH27 expressed B7RP-1 and PD-L1 whereas the T cell lines expressed ICOS and PD-1. In the presence of HEL, the T cell hybridomas C10 and 3A9 released IL-2, which is indicative of antigen-specific T cell activation by the CH27 cells. Unexpectedly, blocking antibodies for B7RP-1 and ICOS enhanced the IL-2 response in both T cells. As expected, an increase in the production of IL-2 was seen when blocking antibodies for PD-1 were used. Blocking with antibodies for I-A^k, CD28, B7.1, and B7.2 lead to a decrease in IL-2 production. Additionally we tested a Th1 and a Th2 T cell clone. Blockade of B7RP-1/ICOS lead to an increased IFN- response in Th1 cells (A.E7) and an increased IL-4 response in Th2 cells (D10.G4.1). Intracellular staining also showed an increase in cytokine production when the B7RP-1/ICOS pathway was blocked. In conclusion, the B7RP-1/ICOS pathway is negatively regulating T cell activation by B cells and may play a role similar to that of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway.     

一株新的鼠抗人2IgB7-H3功能性单克隆抗体的研制及其生物学特性的鉴定

研制功能性鼠抗人2IgB7-H3单克隆抗体。以人2IgB7-H3基因转染细胞L929/2IgB7-H3为免疫原,常规免疫6~8周龄的雌性BALB/c小鼠;利用B淋巴杂交瘤技术,将免疫小鼠脾脏细胞和骨髓瘤细胞株SP2/0融合,L929/2IgB7-H3细胞为抗原筛选阳性细胞;经间接免疫荧光标记法对杂交瘤细胞进行反复筛选和多次克隆化培养;采用快速定性试纸法鉴定单抗Ig亚类;利用竞争抑制性实验分析该单抗识别的抗原表位;采用MTT法分析该单抗在体外阻断DC对T细胞的促增殖效应。结果:获得了1株持续稳定分泌鼠抗人2IgB7-H3单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株(命名为7D7),该单抗可特异识别L929/2IgB7-H3分子和介导有效的共刺激信号。该单抗的成功获得和其生物学特性的初步鉴定,为进一步研究B7-H3两个异构体在DC细胞及肿瘤细胞上的作用机制奠定了物质基础。     

Impaired Induction of the Apoptosis-Protective Protein Bcl-xL in Activated PBMC from Asymptomatic HIV-Infected Individuals

Progression to AIDS in asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals is characterized by a gradual but progressive loss of CD4⁺ T cells. While the mechanisms underlying this decline are currently unknown, recent evidence suggests that these cells are abnormally sensitive to apoptosis in response to activation signals. Recent work has implicated downregulation of Bcl-2 with the increased spontaneous apoptosis in lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients. We have evaluated the roles of the apoptosis-protective proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-x in stimulated PBMC from asymptomatic HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals. We found that Bcl-2 was constitutively expressed in PBMC from both HIV-infected and uninfected samples. However, Bcl-x induction was delayed and responses were decreased in stimulated HIV-infected samples. Additionally, single-cell intracellular staining of Bcl-x revealed a significant inverse correlation between PWM-induced Bcl-x expression and apoptosis (r = –0.695, P = 0.005). This was confirmed at the single-cell level in direct experiments when stimulated cells were sorted based on Bcl-x induction and then measured for apoptosis. Furthermore, low Bcl-x expression was not due to reduced lymphocyte activation following PWM stimulation. Our data indicate that the induction of Bcl-x is markedly impaired in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients and that stimuli which induce inadequate expression of Bcl-x are associated with increased levels of apoptosis in these cells.     

γ射线诱导人肝癌细胞表达B7-1共刺激分子的研究

目的　研究电离辐射与肿瘤细胞B7- 1分子表达之间的关系 ,探讨肿瘤细胞辐照后免疫原性增强的机制。方法　采用间接免疫荧光 -流式细胞仪分析技术 ,研究在用不同剂量γ射线照射SMMC - 772肝癌细胞后、培养不同时间内SMMC - 772细胞B7- 1共刺激分子的表达水平。并用3H -TdR释放法测定照射和未照射肿瘤细胞与淋巴细胞共反应后的细胞毒活性。结果　未照射和经 10、2 0、30Gy照射的人肝癌细胞不表达B7- 1分子。经 40、5 0、6 0Gy剂量照射后 ,SMMC - 772肝癌细胞表达B7- 1分子 ,最高达 6 6 .8± 1.3% ,与对照组比有非常显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。表达时间的高峰在照射后培养 72h时 ,最低在照射后培养 2 4h时 (P <0 .0 5 )。细胞毒活性测定结果表明 ,表达B7- 1分子的SMMC - 72肝癌细胞与淋巴细胞共反应后 ,细胞毒活性明显高于未照射组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　γ射线可诱导肝癌细胞表达B7- 1分子 ,从而增强肿瘤细胞的免疫性     

Therapeutic peptidomimetic strategies for autoimmune diseases: costimulation blockade*

Abstract: Cognate interactions between immune effector cells and antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) govern immune responses. Specific signals occur between the T‐cell receptor peptide and APCs and nonspecific signals between pairs of costimulatory molecules. Costimulation signals are required for full T‐cell activation and are assumed to regulate T‐cell responses as well as other aspects of the immune system. As new discoveries are made, it is becoming clear how important these costimulation interactions are for immune responses. Costimulation requirements for T‐cell regulation have been extensively studied as a way to control many autoimmune diseases and downregulate inflammatory reactions. The CD28:B7 and the CD40:CD40L families of molecules are considered to be critical costimulatory molecules and have been studied extensively. Blocking the interaction between these molecules results in a state of immune unresponsiveness termed ‘anergy’. Several different strategies for blockade of these interactions are explored including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), Fab fragments, chimeric, and/or fusion proteins. We developed novel, immune‐specific approaches that interfere with these interactions. Using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis mediated by central nervous system (CNS)‐specific T‐cells, we developed a multi‐targeted approach that utilizes peptides for blockade of costimulatory molecules. We designed blocking peptide mimics that retain the functional binding area of the parent protein while reducing the overall size and are thus capable of blocking signal transduction. In this paper, we review the role of costimulatory molecules in autoimmune diseases, two of the most well‐studied costimulatory pathways (CD28/CTLA‐4:B7 and CD40:CD40L), and the advantages of peptidomimetic approaches. We present data showing the ability of peptide mimics of costimulatory molecules to suppress autoimmune disease and propose a mechanism for disease suppression.