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C A Janeway

Publications and source records attributed to C A Janeway.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Cross-linking and conformational change in T-cell receptors: role in activation and in repertoire selection.

TCRs undergo a series of interactions with ligands during development. We have characterized the interaction of a TCR with its ligand and the attendant co-receptor and co-ligand structures. This characterization has led to the model in which the TCR not only binds to class II MHC, but also binds to CD4 co-receptors and co-ligands such as Mls. We have shown that both cross-linking and conformational change in the TCR are required for optimal T-cell activation. Finally, we have used the observation that a particular self-peptide found abundantly associated with class II MHC in the periphery is essentially lacking from thymic cortical epithelium to argue that positive selection for self-MHC recognition may occur by a novel process in the thymic cortex. A TCR recognizing class II MHC with low affinity could either be multiply cross-linked in the absence of conformational change, which here would be driven by a unique peptide, or could be conformationally changed without cross-linking due to the rarity of the individual high-affinity peptide on thymic cortical epithelial cells. Either proposal leads to a partial signal one delivered via the TCR, which we refer to as signal one-half. This signal one-half would induce the cell to repress its other co-receptor molecule and to undergo maturation events such as up-regulation in TCR expression. Such cells are then rigorously screened for activating interactions with autologous structures, such as Mls. The threshold for clonal deletion is set very low to avoid autoreactivity. By this combination of signaling events, a mature TCR repertoire is generated that has the functional characteristics observed in immune systems.

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Prevention of diabetes in NOD mice by injection of autoreactive T-lymphocytes.

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse develops a high incidence of autoimmune diabetes and is believed to be a good model for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in humans. We isolated T-lymphocyte lines from islets of newly diabetic NOD mice, some of which are autoreactive to NOD spleen cells. Because autoreactive T-lymphocytes have been implicated in immune suppression, we injected NOD mice with an autoreactive T-lymphocyte line. The injected mice had a marked decrease in incidence of IDDM compared with control mice. Moreover, their islets showed no insulitis at 1 yr of age. We conclude that autoreactive T-lymphocytes can prevent the development of IDDM in NOD mice. This result suggests that 1) islets contain both effector cells capable of damaging pancreatic beta-cells and cells able to regulate this autoimmune response, and 2) development of IDDM depends on the balance between these opposing forces.

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The priming of helper T cells.

Before helper T cells and B cells can interact to produce specific antibody, the antigen-specific helper T cell precursors must be primed. Priming is a fairly abrupt event which occurs in vivo about 5 days after immunization. Priming involves several steps: Antigen uptake, processing, and cell surface expression bound to class II MHC molecules by an antigen presenting cell, recirculation and antigen-specific trapping of helper T cell precursors in lymphoid tissue, and T cell proliferation and differentiation. Helper T cells express CD4, but not all CD4 T cells are helper cells. The signals required for clonal expansion of helper T cells differ from those required by other CD4 T cells. The critical antigen-presenting cell for helper T cell priming appears to be a macrophage, and the critical second signal for helper T cell growth is the macrophage product interleukin-1.

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Asymmetry in the recognition of antigen: self class II MHC and non-self class II MHC molecules by the same T-cell receptor.

One of the most puzzling observations in immunology is the very high frequency of T cells reactive to non-self MHC molecules. Earlier studies from our laboratory suggested that the same receptor on a cloned T-cell line recognized both self-class II MHC: antigen complexes and non-self class II MHC, the latter at a significantly lower affinity. This suggested that alloreactivity resulted from low affinity cross-reactions of the T-cell receptor to a ligand presented at high multiplicity. The present studies address the question of whether these two ligands are recognized symmetrically by this receptor, and of whether different subsites in the receptor recognize both classes of ligands equally. In the present studies, we have greatly extended our analysis of T-cell receptor recognition of antigen: self class II MHC and non-self class II MHC. Using Fab fragments of monoclonal anti-T-cell receptor antibodies as monovalent competitive antagonists of T-cell activation, the response of cloned H-2k T-cell line D10 to conalbumin: I-Ak and to the allogeneic ligands I-Ab,v,p,q was analyzed with monoclonal antibodies directed at 3 clonotypic epitopes and one on V beta. These studies confirmed our earlier finding that D10 activation by antigen: self class II MHC is more difficult to inhibit with clonotypic Fab fragments binding to three distinct clonotypic epitopes than are responses to non-self MHC. More importantly, the Fab fragment of anti-V beta monoclonal antibodies preferentially inhibit activation by antigen: self class II MHC, and do so more efficiently than expected, based on the numbers of molecules of Fab bound.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes are a distinct set of gamma delta T cells.

Lymphocytes are most reliably subdivided on the basis of their receptors for antigen at the cell surface. Three subtypes of lymphocytes are well defined: B cells that bear surface immunoglobulin and make antibody, CD4+T cells with CD3 alpha beta receptors specific for antigen associated with class II major histocompatibility complex molecules, and CD8+T cells with CD3 alpha beta receptors specific for antigen associated with class I MHC molecules. These T cells are responsible for known forms of cell-mediated immunity. The discovery of a third rearranging T-cell specific gene called gamma (refs 1 and 2) has revealed the presence of a new class of T cells bearing a new receptor type, CD3 gamma delta (refs 3-7). To date, neither the function nor the specificity of cells bearing this receptor has been determined. Because gamma delta T cells are the main lymphocyte of epidermis, it was proposed that such cells could be important in surveillance of all epithelia. We have isolated intraepithelial lymphocytes from murine small intestine, and shown that they predominantly or exclusively express CD3 gamma delta receptors. Unlike the epidermal lymphocytes, these cells also express CD8, and they use a different V lambda gene to form their receptor. This strongly suggests that gamma delta T cells home in a very specific manner to epithelia, where they presumably mediate their function.

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Immunoregulatory role of Ig isotypes. I. Induction of contrasuppressor T cells for contact sensitivity responses by antibodies of the IgM, IgG1, and IgG3 isotypes.

A profound state of specific tolerance for the contact sensitivity reaction can be produced by i.v. exposure to hapten on the surface of syngeneic macrophages. When the same haptenated cells are incubated with specific antibody to form cell-bound Ag-antibody complexes, i.v. injection induces immunity rather than tolerance. We observe that such cell-bound Ag-antibody complexes induce not only effector cells for contact sensitivity but also hapten-specific contrasuppressor T (Tcs) cells, which are capable of rendering effector cells resistant to the inhibitory effects of Ts cells. Whereas the induction of the effector cells of contact sensitivity by cell-bound complexes required I region compatibility between the injected cells and the recipient, the induction of Tcs cells showed no genetic restriction. On the other hand, induction of contrasuppression required intact Fc on the complexed antibody, inasmuch as F(ab')2 fragments of specific antibody did not induce immunity. In addition, Tcs cells could also be induced by Ag-antibody complexes on opsonized TNP-mouse RBC treated with anti-TNP antibody. Immunity induced by cell-bound Ag-antibody complexes was observed only when antibodies of the IgM, IgG3, or IgG1 isotypes are used to generate the complexes. Further studies demonstrated that the Tcs cells induced in this way displayed the phenotype of Tcs cells described in other systems (Lyt-1+,2- I-J+, Vicia villosa lectin-adherent) and released a hapten-specific contrasuppressor factor. These studies indicate that Tcs cells can be induced independently of other T cells (such as the effector cells of contact sensitivity) and are likely to be responsible for some of the immunoregulatory effects of cell-bound Ag-antibody complexes. The role of antibody isotype in the induction of Tcs cells is discussed.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Immunoregulatory role of Ig isotypes. II. Activation of cells that block induction of contact sensitivity responses by antibodies of IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes.

The influence that the isotype of Ag-specific antibody has on the induction of contact hypersensitivity (CS) has been investigated. Injection (i.v.) of mice with haptenated peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) pretreated with anti-hapten mAb of the IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes results in the activation of Ag-specific afferent acting Ts cells (Ts-aff). These suppressor cells are not generated when animals are injected with anti-hapten antibodies of other isotypes. The Ts-aff cells function to inhibit the generation of CS responses when injected into naive animals. Suppression is due to the induction of both Lyt-1+,2- I-J+ and Lyt-1-,2+ I-J+ T cells, both of which adhere to the lectin Vicia villosa. Attachment of both TNP and 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyloxazolone haptens to the same PEC, followed by treatment with an IgG2a anti-TNP antibody, generates Ts-aff cells specific for both 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyloxazolone and TNP. The MHC haplotype of the PEC is irrelevant, as allogeneic PEC will also induce Ts-aff cells when injected by using an identical protocol. Ts-aff cells cannot be generated in B cell-depleted mice, nor does the Ts-aff cells generated in normal mice suppress CS responses in B cell-depleted mice. These results show that Ag-antibody complexes bound on the surface of a PEC can induce potent afferent suppression in vivo. A possible general role for antibody isotypes in directing regulatory activities is discussed.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Receptor-directed focusing of lymphokine release by helper T cells.

The interaction between helper T cells and B cells, leading to the production of antibody to thymus-dependent antigens, was the first cell interaction clearly defined in the immune system; it remains both paradigmatic and controversial. Two requirements of this interaction, that the helper cell (TH) and the B cell must recognize antigenic determinants that are physically linked, and that the TH and the B cell must share genes encoding major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, led to the concept that TH-B interaction required an intimate physical association of the two cell types. But in vitro studies have shown that TH can be replaced by soluble, antigen-nonspecific factors, capable of activating any B cell to secrete antibody. We have previously proposed that the requirements for TH-B contact might result from TH cells releasing their lymphokines in a polar fashion directed at that portion of the cell membrane where T-cell receptor cross-linking is actually occurring. Using an artificial monolayer of a cloned helper T-cell line, we show that lymphokines are released preferentially over the area of receptor cross-linking under conditions of limited TH-cell activation. Thus, it appears that one important aspect of the specificity of TH-B cell interactions is the receptor-directed polar release of helper lymphokines.

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The biologic activity of anti-T cell receptor V region monoclonal antibodies is determined by the epitope recognized.

We have used 10 independently isolated mAb reactive with the Ag R on a cloned Th cell line to map three distinct epitopes and three subepitopes on the R. One of these epitopes is clearly on the V beta 8 region, as it is defined by the antibodies KJ-16 and F23.1, known to react with the V beta 8 family of variable regions, and a functional rearranged V beta 8 gene has been cloned from this cell line. Antibodies directed at a second epitope, believed to be on V alpha because it is unaffected by anti-V beta antibodies, are completely inhibited from binding by monoclonal anti-CD3 epsilon-chain antibodies. Because the cloned Th cell line used, D10.G4.1, responds to soluble monoclonal anti-TCR antibodies, it has been possible to compare the binding of anti-R antibodies with their ability to activate this cloned T cell line. We find that for antibodies all specific for the same or a closely related epitope, activation is proportional to binding, by using antibodies that differ by greater than 100-fold in avidity for the R. By contrast, antibodies directed at different epitopes on the R differ markedly in their ability to activate the D10.G4.1 cell line. We have tested whether these differences reflect differences in the orientation of cross-linking the TCR or possible conformational changes induced in the R by the antibodies, and our data support the latter hypothesis as an explanation for the differences in activation potency between antibodies.

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Cell surface expression and alloantigenic function of a human class I MHC heavy chain gene (HLA-B7) in transgenic mice.

We have introduced the gene encoding the heavy chain of the human MHC class I Ag HLA-B7 into transgenic mice. The gene was shown to be expressed at both the RNA and protein level. Cell surface HLA-B7 was detected on whole spleen cells by immunoprecipitation and on purified T cells by flow cytometry (FACS). Normal mice immunized with H-2-syngeneic B7-transgenic spleen cells generated CTL capable of killing transgenic cells and B7-expressing human JY cells. Anti-HLA mAb blocked the killing of JY cells. These results indicate that the human class I Ag HLA-B7 can be expressed at the surface of transgenic spleen cells in the absence of human beta 2-microglobulin, and that a significant fraction exists in a form recognizable by nontransgenic CTL as a major histocompatibility Ag unrestricted by H-2.

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Low doses of interleukin 2 induce bystander cell lysis by antigen-specific CD4+ inflammatory T cell clones in short-term assay.

The effect of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the cytolytic activity of a CD4+ class II major histocompatibility complex-ovalbumin (OVA)-specific murine clone called 5.8.6 was examined. Low doses of IL2 (0.1-1.0 U/ml) induce clone 5.8.6 to kill in an antigen-independent fashion in short-term 51Cr-release and 3H-release assays (6-12 h). Targets killed by 5.8.6 cells include P815, YAC-1 and B lymphoma cells. IFN-gamma, alone or in combination with IL2, has no effect. 5.8.6 and similar inflammatory CD4+ T cell clones have been shown to lyse bystander target cells in the presence of a specific stimulator target. We propose that killing of bystander targets by clone 5.6.8 is due to nonspecific cytolytic activity induced by the clone's own IL2 secreted in response to recognition of the specific target.

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