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Biomedical subjects

A Sette

Publications and source records attributed to A Sette.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Selective immunosuppression by administration of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-binding peptides. I. Evidence for in vivo MHC blockade preventing T cell activation.

Draining lymph node cells (LNC) from mice immunized with hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) display at their surface antigen-MHC complexes able to stimulate, in the absence of any further antigen addition, HEL peptide-specific, class II-restricted T cell hybridomas. Chloroquine addition to these LNC cultures fails to inhibit antigen presentation, indicating that antigenic complexes of class II molecules and HEL peptides are formed in vivo. MHC class II restriction of antigen presentation by LNC from HEL-primed mice was verified by the use of anti-class II monoclonal antibodies. Coinjection of HEL and the I-Ak-binding peptide HEL 112-129 in mice of H-2k haplotype inhibits the ability of LNC to stimulate I-Ak-restricted, HEL 46-61-specific T cell hybridomas. Similar results are obtained in mice coinjected with the HEL peptides 46-61 and 112-129. Inhibition of T hybridoma activation can also be observed using as antigen-presenting cells irradiated, T cell-depleted LNC from mice coinjected with HEL 46-61 and HEL 112-129, ruling out the possible role of either specific or nonspecific suppressor T cells. Inhibition of T cell proliferation is associated with MHC-specific inhibition of antigen presentation and with occupancy by the competitor of class II binding sites, as measured by activation of peptide-specific T cell hybridomas. These results demonstrate that administration of MHC class II binding peptide competitors selectively inhibits antigen presentation to class II-restricted T cells, indicating competitive blockade of class II molecules in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

MHC interaction and T cell recognition of carbohydrates and glycopeptides.

The T cell independence of complex polysaccharide Ag has suggested the possibility that carbohydrates may be incapable of T cell recognition because of a failure to interact with MHC restriction elements and/or a failure of MHC/carbohydrate complexes to interact with and be recognized by Ag-specific TCR. We have used two approaches to obtain information about T cell recognition of carbohydrate. First, we have determined the capacity of a series of oligosaccharides and glycolipids to bind a murine class II MHC molecule, IAd. No significant binding was observed with the 26 compounds tested, but the limitation to these studies was that there was a relatively limited collection of synthetic carbohydrate and glycolipid structures of limited complexity available for analysis. The second approach involved the study of the effect of glycosylation of a known peptide T cell epitope (OVA 323-339) on MHC binding of the peptide and on T cell recognition. Three patterns of effects were observed: 1) no effect on either binding or T cell recognition. This pattern was observed when the carbohydrate was located at residues removed from the core MHC-binding region. When the carbohydrate was located within the core MHC-binding regions, either 2) glycosylation destroyed both MHC binding and T cell recognition; or 3) glycosylation did not ablate MHC binding or T cell recognition. In this latter instance, there was evidence to indicate that the carbohydrate moiety was an important part of the antigenic determinant recognized by T cells.

Animals↗

Antigen analog-major histocompatibility complexes act as antagonists of the T cell receptor.

A novel mechanism for inhibition of T cell responses is described. Using the recognition of the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) 307-319 peptide in the context of DR1 class II major histocompatibility complex molecules, we have found that nonstimulatory analogs of the HA peptide preferentially inhibit HA-specific T cells in inhibition of antigen presentation assays. This antigen-specific effect could be generalized to another DR1-restricted peptide, Tetanus toxoid 830-843. Direct binding and cellular experiments indicated that the mechanism responsible was distinct from competition for binding to DR1 molecules. Likewise, negative signaling and induction of T cell tolerance could also be excluded as effector mechanisms. Thus, the most likely mechanism for this effect is engagement of antigen-specific T cell receptors by DR1-peptide analog complexes, which results in antigen-specific competitive blocking of T cell responses by virtue of their capacity to compete with DR1-antigen complexes for binding to the T cell receptor.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Effect of pH on MHC class II-peptide interactions.

The effect of pH on class II-peptide interactions has been analyzed using several mouse (IAd, IAk, IEd, IEk) and human (DR1, DR5, DR7) MHC specificities, and eight different class II-restricted determinants. In direct binding assays, acidic conditions led to increased binding capacity for many class II-peptide combinations. IE molecules seemed to bind optimally around pH 4.5, whereas IA molecules displayed binding optima in the 5.5 to 6.5 range. In contrast, the DR molecules studied were, in most cases, affected only marginally by pH changes in the 4.5 to 7.0 range. Despite these apparent isotype-specific trends, no general rule could be formulated, because even for the same class II molecules, the binding capacity could be increased for many peptides when the binding was performed under acidic conditions, was unaffected for some, and even decreased for others. The mechanisms responsible for this complex behavior were analyzed in more detail by kinetic and equilibrium analysis of three different class II-peptide combinations (IAd/OVA 323-339, IAk/HEL 46-61, and DR1/HA 307-319). It was found that acidic pH conditions could affect both on and off rates for class II-peptide complexes. Depending on the net balance of these effects, either increases, decreases, or no effect on overall affinities at equilibrium were detected. In the case of IAd/OVA 323-339, it was also found that acidic conditions influenced the binding capacity of class II molecules by increasing the fraction of sites available for peptide binding, presumably by favoring dissociation of endogenously bound, acid-sensitive peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peptide stability in drug development: a comparison of peptide reactivity in different biological media.

Degradation kinetics for several peptides that bind to the major histocompatibility complex on antigen-presenting cells were determined in both human serum (HS; 25%) and synovial fluid (SF; 25%) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis to test whether therapeutic intervention of rheumatoid arthritis by direct intrasynovial injection is feasible (at least in terms of peptide stability). Controls consisted of enzymatically immature 10% fetal calf serum and peptidase-rich 5% liver homogenate (all diluted with RPMI-1040 tissue culture medium). Peptide half-lives ranged from approximately 4 to greater than 10,000 min, with most peptides showing half-lives of approximately 10-100 min. These studies show that, even though the populations of inflammatory and other cell types in SF and HS are different (and may, therefore, generate different peptidase profiles), the observed peptide stabilities in SF and HS are similar. This finding indicates that the effect of SF on peptide stability is similar to that of HS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chemistry of peptide interactions with MHC proteins.

X-ray crystallographic and peptide-MHC binding studies have begun to clarify the interaction between antigenic peptides and MHC proteins at the molecular level. At the same time, our understanding of the mechanisms of peptide-MHC interactions in physiologic cellular conditions has been significantly expanded by the isolation and characterization of naturally processed antigenic peptides.

Animals↗

Binding and internalization of the 163-171 fragment of human IL-1 beta.

The mechanisms of cell association of the human interleukin (IL-1 beta) immunostimulatory fragment 163-171 have been studied. The fragment was able to associate abundantly to both IL-1R- and IL-1R+ cells. Binding was strictly temperature dependent, was not saturable and could be inhibited by excess amounts of unlabelled 163-171 peptide but not by IL-1 beta, suggesting that the 163-171 fragment is not an IL-1R-binding domain of IL-1 beta. The fragment is readily internalized by cells by a cytochalasin-insensitive mechanism and it localizes mainly in the cytoplasm. It is concluded that the active domain 163-171 of IL-1 beta can be taken up by cells through a receptor-independent, temperature-dependent mechanisms and that its ability to activate cellular functions is based on IL-1R-independent intracellular pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

High affinity for class II molecules as a necessary but not sufficient characteristic of encephalitogenic determinants.

A direct binding assay specific for IAs molecules has been developed and its immunological relevance validated by examining, for a panel of nine different synthetic peptides, the correlation between their capacity to bind purified IAs and to inhibit IAs-restricted antigen presentation. The IAs assay thus developed has then been used to study the IAs binding affinity of a set of overlapping peptides spanning the entire myelin basic protein (MBP). It was found that the encephalitogenic MBP region corresponds to peptides with high MHC binding affinities. Other regions of the MBP that have not been described as being pathogenic in the context of IAs molecules have also been found to be high IAs binders, suggesting that variables other than MHC affinity are also involved in determining the pathogenic potential of self-derived determinants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Random association between the peptide repertoire of A2.1 class I and several different DR class II molecules.

The interaction between synthetic peptides and A2.1 class I MHC molecules has been investigated using an inhibition of Ag presentation assay and unbiased peptide sets derived of either viral or eucaryotic origin. For the various sets, strong binding (defined as significant inhibition at the 30 micrograms/ml level) was detected in 7 to 46% of the peptides tested, with an overall frequency of 26%. A set of self-peptides derived from human beta 2 microglobulin was also included in the study. In this case, strong binding was detected in 3 of 15 peptides (20%), thus formally demonstrating a lack of self-/non-self-discrimination at the level of class I molecules. When the whole A2.1-binding database of 105 peptides thus generated was examined by sequence analysis, a significant correlation was found with a recently proposed A2.1-binding motif, whereas no particular positive or negative association was detected between the capacity to bind A2.1 and three different class II alleles (DR1, DR5, and DR7). Finally, using this approach, several peptides capable of binding both A2.1 and multiple DR alleles have been identified, suggesting possible candidates for development of peptide vaccines eliciting both class I and class II restricted responses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Self peptide requirement for class II major histocompatibility complex allorecognition.

Using a dinitrophenylated and biotinylated peptide antigen, we have developed an affinity chromatography procedure to purify complexes of a given peptide species and a given class II major histocompatibility complex antigen away from class II molecules occupied by other peptides. We show that hen egg lysozyme peptide-I-Ed complexes purified according to this procedure have a greatly enhanced capacity to activate hen egg lysozyme-specific T cells but have lost the capacity to activate three different alloreactive T-cell hybridomas. These data demonstrate that the class II molecule in and of itself is not sufficient to activate alloreactive T cells. Rather, the data suggest that recognition of specific complexes formed between allo-class II and particular autologous peptides may be required. Alternatively, alloreactive T cells may be recognizing "empty" major histocompatibility complex molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparison of structural requirements for interaction of the same peptide with I-Ek and I-Ed molecules in the activation of MHC class II-restricted T cells.

We have analyzed the interaction of the hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) peptide 107-116 with the MHC class II molecule I-Ek, using truncated and single residue substitution analogues to measure activation of I-Ek-restricted, 107-116-specific T cell hybridomas and competition for Ag presentation by I-Ek molecules. These results have been compared with previous findings on the interaction of the same peptide with the I-Ed molecule. Stimulation of T cell hybridomas by truncated peptides defines the sequence 108-116 as the minimum epitope necessary for activation of both I-Ek- and I-Ed-restricted T cell hybridomas. Substitution analysis pinpoints three residues (V109, A110, and K116) in the sequence 108-116 as being critical for binding to I-Ek molecules and demonstrates the involvement of most other residues in recognition by T cells. Results previously obtained for binding of HEL 107-116 to I-Ed molecules indicated that peptide residues R112, R114, and K116 were critical for interaction with I-Ed. Comparison of these results indicates a difference in the likely MHC contact residues between the HEL sequence 108-116 and I-Ed or I-Ek molecules, suggesting that the same HEL peptide assumes a different conformation in the binding site of these two MHC molecules. This in turn affects residues interacting with the specific T cell receptor. According to the hypothetical tridimensional structure predicted for class II molecules, the difference in MHC contact residues observed within the sequence 108-116 can be related to polymorphic amino acids in the binding site of I-Ek and I-Ed molecules. A search through published binding data for a common pattern in this and other I-Ek-binding peptides has permitted us to derive a possible motif for predicting peptide binding to I-Ek molecules. This putative motif was tested by determining binding to I-Ek of an unbiased panel of about 150 synthetic peptides. Binding data indeed demonstrate the presence of this motif in the majority of good binders to I-Ek molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Recognition by class II alloreactive T cells of processed determinants from human serum proteins.

Alloreactive T cells recognize a complex composed of an allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule and a peptide derived from the processing of nonpolymorphic proteins. A sizable fraction of MHC class II alloreactive T cells is shown to recognize peptides derived from constitutive processing of human serum proteins. One such epitope is a fragment of human serum albumin. This epitope bound selectively to the human class II molecule DRw11 and was constitutively present on antigen-presenting cells in vivo. These data indicate that, in the case of MHC class II, peptides involved in allorecognition may originate from exogenous proteins.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

Free ligand-induced dissociation of MHC-antigen complexes.

We have analyzed the stability of Ag-class II complexes on the surface of live APC. It was found that the disappearance of complexes formed by I-Ed and the hen egg lysozyme 107-116 peptide is twice as rapid on the surface of live, as compared to glutaraldehyde-fixed APC. Moreover, the addition of peptides with a high affinity for I-Ed could reduce the half-life of Ag-class II complexes on either live or fixed APC. The same effect was detectable using purified class II molecules adhered on plastic microtiter wells, and even in the case of complexes formed in vitro between radiolabeled Ag and purified class II molecules. This effect of accelerated dissociation appeared to be specific because only I-Ed binding peptides were able to accelerate the dissociation of the hen egg lysozyme 107-116/I-Ed complex either on the surface of cells or in purified form in solution, and high affinity I-Ed binders did not affect the half-life of purified OVA 323-339/I-Ad complexes. These results demonstrate that free ligand can influence the kinetics of dissociation of class II-peptide complexes, and therefore suggest that a mechanism other than the classical first order kinetics may be involved in this process.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

Truncation analysis of several DR binding epitopes.

Peptide regions crucial for binding to four different DR alleles (DR1, DR2, DR5, and DR52a) have been localized in five unrelated DR binding peptides (dynorphin 1-13, sperm whale myoglobin 132-153, influenza hemagglutinin 307-319, pigeon cytochrome c 88-104, and tetanus toxoid 830-843) by testing panels of truncated analogs for DR binding. It was found that in most cases, different DR alleles recognize almost identical, albeit distinct, core regions, suggesting that different DR alleles may recognize similar structures on their peptide ligands. Furthermore, it was found that these core regions, notwithstanding their derivation from unrelated sequences, share a common structural pattern. When the sequences of several other unrelated determinants were scrutinized, the structural motif identified was present in some, but absent in other good DR binders, suggesting that good DR binding capacity of peptide molecules may be compatible with more than one single sequence pattern.

Alleles↗

Tolerance to a self peptide from the third hypervariable region of the Es beta chain. Implications for molecular mimicry models of autoimmune disease.

As a first step in the analysis of a molecular mimicry model of rheumatoid arthritis, we addressed the question of whether tolerance to self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules includes tolerance to peptides from the third hypervariable region of their beta chain. We studied T cell responses to a peptide from the third hypervariable region of the Es beta chain, Es beta peptide (PEFLEQRRAAVDTYC), in different mouse strains after footpad priming with peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant. Strains of mice of the k or d haplotype (B10D2; H-2d, B10BR; H-2k) mounted a vigorous T cell response to the Es beta peptide. In mice expressing the Es beta chain either on the cell surface (B10S9R) or in the cytoplasm as free unassociated chain (B10S), no response could be detected. Binding studies using purified MHC class II molecules and competition for antigen presentation showed that the Es beta peptide binds Ak, Ad and As but not Ek. Thus, the nonresponder status of B10S and B10S9R mice appears to reflect self tolerance. Tolerance was also suggested by the observation that responder x nonresponder F1 crosses such as (B10D2 x B10S9R) and (B10BR x B10S9R) did not respond to Es beta peptide. Interestingly, mice derived from the (B10BR x B10S) cross responded to the Es beta peptide, suggesting that the immune system may not always tolerate peptides from the third hypervariable region of self-MHC class II molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Major histocompatibility complex binding peptides: a target for therapeutic development.

Peptides that bind with high affinity to major histocompatibility complex molecules could represent useful tools in treating class II-associated autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Although the concept has been validated in experiments with both purified receptor systems in vitro and cellular systems in vivo, many challenging problems need to be resolved before efficacious therapeutic agents are obtained.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

Response of CFU-GM to increasing doses of rhGM-CSF in patients with aplastic anemia.

The aim of this study was to test whether large amounts of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) are capable of promoting the growth of hemopoietic progenitors from patients with marrow failure. For this purpose 0.1, 100, 1000, 10,000 and 20,000 ng/ml of rhGM-CSF were added to 10(5) light-density (adherent cell-depleted) bone marrow cells from 9 normal controls and from 52 patients with aplastic anemia, 25 cases of which were transfusion-dependent (Tx-D) aplastic anemia (AA) and 27 of which were transfusion-independent (Tx-I) aplastic anemia (AA). A dose-dependent increase of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) was observed in healthy donors, from 81 to 247 colonies at 0.1 and 1000 ng/ml of rhGM-CSF, with a plateau thereafter. Tx-I AA patients showed the best increase of CFU-GM in response to colony-stimulating factor, from 0.1 to 32.7 mean colonies at 0.1 and 20,000 ng/ml of rhGM-CSF, and the increment was greater when compared to controls. The ratio of CFU-GM grown from these patients and controls was 1:810 at 0.1 ng/ml of rhGM-CSF and 1:7.9 at 20,000 ng/ml. Eleven patients were studied at diagnosis; there was no in vitro response to rhGM-CSF (0 and 1.8 mean colonies/10(5) cells at 0.1 and 10,000 ng/ml). Overall, Tx-D AA patients showed minimal increments of CFU-GM growth at very high doses of rhGM-CSF. Two suggestions come from this study: 1) maturation of CFU-GM from recovering AA patients appears to require larger doses of GM-CSF than normal controls, and 2) very high doses of rhGM-CSF have little or no effect on CFU-GM growth in AA patients. This may be relevant for clinical studies designed to improve hemopoiesis in patients with marrow failure.

Adult↗

MHC-antigen-T cell interactions: an overview.

We describe the establishment and validation, both at the biochemical and biological levels, of direct assays to measure the interactions between synthetic peptides and purified HLA class II molecules. The results of several independent approaches to define the structural requirements for the interaction of peptide-class II molecules are also described. Such approaches include random screening, sequence analysis, and site-directed mutagenesis. Finally, in vivo data illustrating the possibility that the competition at the level of the interactions between autoantigenic peptides and class II molecules could be a useful tool in the treatment of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases are presented.

Autoimmune Diseases↗