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Francis R Carbone

Publications and source records attributed to Francis R Carbone.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cutting edge: conventional CD8 alpha+ dendritic cells are generally involved in priming CTL immunity to viruses.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in initiating immune responses. Despite this, there is little understanding how different DC subsets contribute to immunity to different pathogens. CD8alpha(+) DC have been shown to prime immunity to HSV. Whether this very limited capacity of a single DC subset priming CTL immunity is restricted to HSV infection or is a more general property of anti-viral immunity was examined. Here, we show that the CD8alpha(+) DCs are the principal DC subset that initiates CTL immunity to s.c. infection by influenza virus, HSV, and vaccinia virus. This same subset also dominated immunity after i.v. infection with all three viruses, suggesting a similar involvement in other routes of infection. These data highlight the general role played by CD8alpha(+) DCs in CTL priming to viral infection and raises the possibility that this DC subset is specialized for viral immunity.

Animals↗

Unexpectedly, induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes enhances the humoral response after DNA immunization.

Although there are many examples (eg, immune deviation) in which enhanced cellular responses correspond with lower humoral responses, here we demonstrate for the first time 2 models in which cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity is associated with an enhanced antibody response. First, C57BL/6 mice generate a stronger antibody response to ovalbumin DNA immunization than congenic bm1 mice. The latter differ from C57BL/6 mice in that the H-2Kb molecule is mutated so that the immunodominant CTL epitope of ovalbumin is no longer presented. Second, pre-existing CTLs (induced by ovalbumin peptide-priming) increased the antibody response to a second unrelated antigen (beta-galactosidase) co-immunized with ovalbumin. One possible mechanism is that CTLs may release antigen from DNA-transfected cells by killing or damaging them, and this freed antigen is then accessible to dendritic cells and B cells. Our finding of CTL-mediated antibody enhancement has important implications for tumor and viral immunobiology and vaccination.

Animals↗

Herpes simplex virus-specific CD8+ T cells can clear established lytic infections from skin and nerves and can partially limit the early spread of virus after cutaneous inoculation.

HSV infects skin or mucosal epithelium as well as entering the sensory nerves and ganglia. We have used TCR-transgenic T cells specific for the immunodominant class I-restricted determinant from HSV glycoprotein B (gB) combined with a flank zosteriform model of infection to examine the ability of CD8+ T cells to deal with infection. During the course of zosteriform disease, virus rapidly spreads from the primary inoculation site in the skin to sensory dorsal root ganglia and subsequently reappears in the distal flank. Virus begins to be cleared from all sites about 5 days after infection when gB-specific CD8+ T cells first appear within infected tissues. Although activated gB-specific effectors can partially limit virus egress from the skin, they do so only at the earliest times after infection and are ineffective at halting the progression of zosteriform disease once virus has left the inoculation site. In contrast, these same T cells can completely clear ongoing lytic replication if transferred into infected immunocompromised RAG-1-/- mice. Therefore, we propose that the role of CD8+ T cells during the normal course of disease is to clear replicating virus after infection is well established rather than limit the initial spread of HSV from the primary site of inoculation.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Transfer of antigen between migrating and lymph node-resident DCs in peripheral T-cell tolerance and immunity.

Dendritic cells (DCs) consist of a heterogeneous collection of subsets, many with unique phenotypic and functional characteristics. Although certain subsets migrate from peripheral non-lymphoid tissues, there is evidence that antigen presentation can extend to DCs that permanently reside within the lymph node. This Opinion describes this finding in the context of antigen transfer between migrating and lymphoid-resident DCs in cases of T-cell priming and tolerance induction.

Animals↗

Cross-presentation, dendritic cell subsets, and the generation of immunity to cellular antigens.

Cross-presentation involves the uptake and processing of exogenous antigens within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I pathway. This process is primarily performed by dendritic cells (DCs), which are not a single cell type but may be divided into several distinct subsets. Those expressing CD8alpha together with CD205, found primarily in the T-cell areas of the spleen and lymph nodes, are the major subset responsible for cross-presenting cellular antigens. This ability is likely to be important for the generation of cytotoxic T-cell immunity to a variety of antigens, particularly those associated with viral infection, tumorigenesis, and DNA vaccination. At present, it is unclear whether the CD8alpha-expressing DC subset captures antigen directly from target cells or obtains it indirectly from intermediary DCs that traffic from peripheral sites. In this review, we examine the molecular basis for cross-presentation, discuss the role of DC subsets, and examine the contribution of this process to immunity, with some emphasis on DNA vaccination.

Animals↗

Helper T cells, dendritic cells and CTL Immunity.

In this review, we examine the emerging view that all CTL responses depend on CD4 T-cell help for the generation of efficient memory. We further review the evidence that CD4 and CD8 T cells must recognize antigen on the same dendritic cell, and examine why this corecognition is required. Earlier studies have suggested that CD4 T cells must activate the dendritic cell via CD40 to license it for the capacity to prime CTL immunity. More recently, however, CD40 signalling of the CTL has been reported. Here, we argue that the main reason for corecognition of antigen on the dendritic cell may be related to the time taken to activate and release CD4 and CD8 T cells from their priming dendritic cell. CD4 T cells may only be capable of activating one dendritic cell during the period that CD8 T cells are primed. In this case, corecognition of this same dendritic cell would be essential.

Animals↗

Epidermal viral immunity induced by CD8alpha+ dendritic cells but not by Langerhans cells.

The classical paradigm for dendritic cell function derives from the study of Langerhans cells, which predominate within skin epidermis. After an encounter with foreign agents, Langerhans cells are thought to migrate to draining lymph nodes, where they initiate T cell priming. Contrary to this, we show here that infection of murine epidermis by herpes simplex virus did not result in the priming of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by Langerhans cells. Rather, the priming response required a distinct CD8alpha+ dendritic cell subset. Thus, the traditional view of Langerhans cells in epidermal immunity needs to be revisited to accommodate a requirement for other dendritic cells in this response.

Animals↗

Cutting edge: conventional CD8 alpha+ dendritic cells are preferentially involved in CTL priming after footpad infection with herpes simplex virus-1.

CTL play a major role in immunity to HSV type 1, but little is known about the priming process. In this study, we have examined the class I-restricted presentation of an immunodominant determinant from HSV-1 glycoprotein B after footpad infection. We have found that the only cell types capable of presenting this determinant in draining popliteal lymph nodes within the first 3 days after infection are the CD11c(+)CD8alpha(+)CD45RA(-) dendritic cells. Given that such class I-restricted presentation is essential for CTL priming, this implies that these conventional CD8alpha(+) dendritic cells are the key subset involved in CTL immunity to this virus.

Animals↗

Virus infection expands a biased subset of T cells that bind tetrameric class I peptide complexes.

We have used a TCR beta-chain transgenic mouse to examine the relationship between the ability of a T cell to bind soluble class I-peptide complexes and its response to antigenic stimulation in vivo. T cells from gBT-I.3beta TCR beta-chain transgenic mice preferentially carried TCR alpha-chains bearing the same Valpha2 V region as found in the parent receptor specific for an immunodominant HSV-1 gB-peptide. Furthermore, CD8(+) T cells from these mice bound K(b)-gB tetrameric complexes with relatively high frequency, and most of these cells contained a Valpha2 TCR alpha-chain. Detailed sequence analysis of the tetramer-binding peripheral T cells showed that this was a heterogenous population expressing TCR with only partial sequence similarity to the parent receptor, which took the form of preferential inclusion of the parental Jalpha16 element. Infection with HSV-1, however, selected a subset of tetramer-positive T cells. This was based on the emergence of a co-dominant Jalpha usage and selection of a restricted CDR3alpha length. Therefore, the ability to bind soluble MHC-peptide complexes does not always correlate with the ability of a T cell to respond to its cognate antigen after in vivo stimulation.

Adoptive Transfer↗

The role of dendritic cell subsets in immunity to viruses.

Dendritic cells orchestrate the adaptive immune response. As well as presenting MHC-restricted antigen for T-cell activation, they provide all the co-receptor signals required for full T-cell priming. As a consequence, they play a central role in the immune response to infections caused by many pathogenic agents, including viruses. In recent times, it has become apparent that dendritic cells represent a particularly heterogeneous population with individual subsets playing specialized roles in response to infection.

Animals↗

Hide and seek: the immunology of HSV persistence.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been thought to persist as a latent infection by completely extinguishing antigen expression. In this issue of Immunity, Khanna et al. challenge this view by showing that CTL specific for antigens normally associated with active viral replication are crucial participants in regulating virus latency.

Animals↗

The early expression of glycoprotein B from herpes simplex virus can be detected by antigen-specific CD8+ T cells.

The immune response to cutaneous herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection begins with remarkable rapidity. Activation of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) begins within hours of infection, even though the response within the draining lymph nodes peaks nearly 5 days later. HSV gene products are classified into three main groups, alpha, beta, and gamma, based on their kinetics and requirements for expression. In C57BL/6 mice, the immunodominant epitope from HSV is derived from glycoprotein B (gB(498-505)). While gB is considered a gamma or "late" gene product, previous reports have indicated that some level of gene expression may occur soon after infection. Using brefeldin A as a specific inhibitor of viral antigen presentation to major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CTL, we have formally addressed the timing of gB peptide expression in an immunologically relevant manner following infection. Presentation of gB peptide detected by T-cell activation was first observed within 2 h of infection. Comparison with another viral epitope expressed early during infection, HSV-1 ribonucleotide reductase, demonstrated that gB is presented with the same kinetics as this classical early-gene product. Moreover, this rapidity of gB expression was further illustrated via rapid priming of naïve transgenic CD8(+) T cells in vivo after HSV-1 infection of mice. These results establish that gB is expressed rapidly following HSV-1 infection, at levels capable of effectively stimulating CD8(+) T cells.

Adoptive Transfer↗

The CD8alpha(+) dendritic cell is responsible for inducing peripheral self-tolerance to tissue-associated antigens.

We previously described a mechanism for the maintenance of peripheral self-tolerance. This involves the cross-presentation of tissue-associated antigens by a bone marrow-derived cell type that stimulates the proliferation and ultimate deletion of self-reactive CD8 T cells. This process has been referred to as cross-tolerance. Here, we characterize the elusive cell type responsible for inducing cross-tolerance as a CD8alpha(+) dendritic cell (DC). To achieve this aim, transgenic mice were generated expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) linked to CTL epitopes for ovalbumin and glycoprotein B (gB) of herpes simplex virus under the rat insulin promoter (RIP). Although tracking of YFP was inconclusive, the use of a highly sensitive gB-specific hybridoma that produced beta-galactosidase on encounter with antigen, enabled detection of antigen presentation by cells isolated from the pancreatic lymph node. This showed that a CD11c(+)CD8alpha(+) cell was responsible for cross-tolerance, the same DC subset as previously implicated in cross-priming. These data indicate that CD8alpha(+) DCs play a critical role in both tolerance and immunity to cell-associated antigens, providing a potential mechanism by which cytotoxic T lymphocyte can be immunized to viral antigens while maintaining tolerance to self.

Animals↗

Peripheral deletion of autoreactive CD8 T cells by cross presentation of self-antigen occurs by a Bcl-2-inhibitable pathway mediated by Bim.

By transgenic expression of ovalbumin (OVA) as a model self antigen in the beta cells of the pancreas, we have shown that self tolerance can be maintained by the cross-presentation of this antigen on dendritic cells in the draining lymph nodes. Such cross-presentation causes initial activation of OVA-specific CD8 T cells, which proliferate but are ultimately deleted; a process referred to as cross-tolerance. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of cross-tolerance. Deletion of CD8 T cells was prevented by overexpression of Bcl-2, indicating that cross-tolerance was mediated by a Bcl-2 inhibitable pathway. Recently, Bim, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member whose function can be inhibited by Bcl-2, was found to play a critical role in the deletion of autoreactive thymocytes, leading us to examine its role in cross-tolerance. Bim-deficient T cells were not deleted in response to cross-presented self-antigen, strongly implicating Bim as the pro-apoptotic mediator of cross-tolerance.

Animals↗

CD36 is differentially expressed by CD8+ splenic dendritic cells but is not required for cross-presentation in vivo.

Cross-presentation allows the processing of Ags from donor cells into the MHC class I presentation pathway of dendritic cells (DCs). This is important for the generation of cytotoxic T cell immunity and for induction of self tolerance. Apoptotic cells are reported to be efficient targets for cross-presentation, and in vitro studies using human DCs have implicated CD36 in their capture. In support of a role for CD36 in cross-presentation, we show that this molecule is differentially expressed by CD8(+) splenic DCs, which previously have been identified as responsible for cross-presentation in the mouse. Three different cross-presentation models were examined for their dependence on CD36. These included cross-priming to OVA-coated spleen cells and cross-tolerance to OVA transgenically expressed in the pancreatic islet beta cells under constitutive conditions or during beta cell destruction. In these models, CD36 knockout DCs were equivalent to wild-type DCs in their capacity to cross-present either foreign or self Ags, indicating that CD36 is not essential for cross-presentation of cellular Ags in vivo.

Animals↗

The cross-priming APC requires a Rel-dependent signal to induce CTL.

Induction of OVA-specific CTL by cross-priming requires help from CD4 T cells, which use CD154 to signal CD40 on the APC. To further dissect the molecular pathways involved in cross-priming, we examined the role of Rel, an NF-kappaB family member. c-rel(-/-) mice failed to generate OVA-specific CTL by cross-priming, but could induce CTL to HSV-1. Using chimeric mice, Rel expression was shown to be required by the APC, but not by the T cells. Notably, the deficiency in Rel could be overcome by triggering CD40, implying that the APC required Rel before receipt of the CD40 signal. These data suggest that the cross-priming APC must receive two signals before it can stimulate CTL. The first signal is Rel dependent and is required before activation of CD4 helper T cells, which then deliver the second signal using CD154 to trigger CD40.

Animals↗

Rapid cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation occurs in the draining lymph nodes after cutaneous herpes simplex virus infection as a result of early antigen presentation and not the presence of virus.

Localized cutaneous herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection leads to arming and initial expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the draining popliteal lymph nodes (PLNs) followed by migration and further proliferation in the spleen. To accurately characterize the sequence of events involved in the activation and generation of anti-HSV CTLs, we used T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice specific for the immunodominant epitope from HSV glycoprotein B (gB(498-505)). We describe the detection of the initiation of antigen presentation in the draining lymph nodes by 4-6 h after infection with HSV-1. Analysis of CD69 up-regulation revealed activation of gB-specific CD8(+) T cells by 6-8 h after infection. Furthermore, we show that T cell proliferation begins no sooner than 24 h after activation and is marked by the concurrent appearance of CTL activity in the PLNs. These events are not dependent on the presence of virus in the draining lymph nodes, and suggest a requirement for recruitment of professional antigen-presenting cells to the site of T cell activation. Consequently, we have defined the initiation of the CD8(+) T cell-mediated response to cutaneous HSV-1 infection, demonstrating that the immune response to localized viral infection depends only on the appearance of cells presenting virus-derived antigen and commences with remarkable swiftness.

Animals↗