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J Poudrier

Publications and source records attributed to J Poudrier.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Dendritic cell-derived IL-12 promotes B cell induction of Th2 differentiation: a feedback regulation of Th1 development.

B cells convert what are normally conditions for Th1 differentiation into an environment suitable for Th2 development. This capacity is dependent on CD40 as B cells from CD40-/- mice do not elicit Th2 differentiation. To elucidate the basis of this effect, we surveyed cytokine RNA made by naive B cells after activation with anti-Ig and anti-CD40. Resting B cells make TGF-beta message only, however, 4 days after activation, RNA encoding IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha was found. The expression of these messages was accelerated by 2 days in the presence of IL-12. The relevance of these observations to T cell differentiation was investigated: addition of OVA peptide to splenic cells from DO.11.10 transgenic mice causes most T cells to make IFN-gamma. Coactivation of B cells in these cultures reduces the number of IFN-gamma-producing T cells and increases the number synthesizing IL-4. Abs to IL-6 and IL-10 block the IL-4 enhancement. Dissection of the component APC demonstrated that interaction of B cells with IL-12-producing dendritic cells is crucial for B cell-mediated IL-4 enhancement: Thus, B cells preactivated in the presence of dendritic cells from IL-12-/- mice show little IL-4-inducing activity when used to activate T cells. This immune regulation is initiated by IL-12 and therefore represents a feedback loop to temper its own dominant effect (IFN-gamma induction).

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

A soluble form of IL-13 receptor alpha 1 promotes IgG2a and IgG2b production by murine germinal center B cells.

A functional IL-13R involves at least two cell surface proteins, the IL-13R alpha 1 and IL-4R alpha. Using a soluble form of the murine IL-13R alpha 1 (sIL-13R), we reveal several novel features of this system. The sIL-13R promotes proliferation and augmentation of Ag-specific IgM, IgG2a, and IgG2b production by murine germinal center (GC) B cells in vitro. These effects were enhanced by CD40 signaling and were not inhibited by an anti-IL4R alpha mAb, a result suggesting other ligands. In GC cell cultures, sIL-13R also promoted IL-6 production, and interestingly, sIL-13R-induced IgG2a and IgG2b augmentation was absent in GC cells isolated from IL-6-deficient mice. Furthermore, the effects of the sIL-13R molecule were inhibited in the presence of an anti-IL-13 mAb, and preincubation of GC cells with IL-13 enhanced the sIL-13R-mediated effects. When sIL-13R was injected into mice, it served as an adjuvant-promoting production to varying degrees of IgM and IgG isotypes. We thus propose that IL-13R alpha 1 is a molecule involved in B cell differentiation, using a mechanism that may involve regulation of IL-6-responsive elements. Taken together, our data reveal previously unknown activities as well as suggest that the ligand for the sIL-13R might be a component of the IL-13R complex or a counterstructure yet to be defined.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Genotyping of a case of tyrosinaemia type I with normal level of succinylacetone in amniotic fluid.

Tyrosinaemia type I is caused by a deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase and mainly affects the liver. This disease is characterized by the presence of a high level of succinylacetone. This metabolite has been used for prenatal diagnosis from amniotic fluid samples. One case with a normal level of succinylacetone in amniotic fluid has recently been described (Grenier et al., 1996). Here, we report that this patient is a compound heterozygote for two known mutations: E364X and IVS6-1g-->t. The low level of succinylacetone cannot be explained by these mutations.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1998

Regulation of cytoplasmic, surface and soluble forms of CD40 ligand in mouse B cells.

CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) form one of most important receptor-ligand pairs that dock during T-B cell interactions as part of T-dependent antibody responses. It has been reported that among other cell types, B cells can express CD40L. Here we show that a large proportion of mouse B cells express CD40L in their cytoplasm, but not on the surface and that this is readily released as a soluble molecule. Thus, in their resting state up to 50% of mouse B cells express CD40L within their cytoplasm and both the proportion of cells expressing and the amount of CD40L is increased by signaling through immunoglobulin (Ig) or CD38. In contrast, T cell-derived signals such as CD40L (anti-CD40) or Th2-type cytokines cause a decrease in CD40L expression that is related to a release of a soluble form of the molecule from the cell. Supernatants from B cells activated with anti-Ig and anti-CD40 contain CD40L in a variety of forms (18 kDa, 33 kDa and 66 kDa) that are readily detectable by immunoprecipitation with CD40-Fc gamma fusion protein (CD40-Ig) followed by Western blotting with anti-CD40L antibody (MR1). The 33-kDa species is distinct from the 39-kDa membrane-bound molecule found in activated T cells or in resting B cells and appears to be a novel soluble form of CD40L. Inhibition of T cell-independent in vitro stimulation of B cells with CD40-Ig or anti-CD40L suggests that the B cell-derived soluble CD40L or CD40L expressed on the B cell surface can play a positive role in B cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

CD40 ligand signals optimize T helper cell cytokine production: role in Th2 development and induction of germinal centers.

The role of CD40 in the development of germinal centers (GC) is not simply to initiate the B cell response, as rudimentary GC can develop in CD40-/- mice that are injected with CD40-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion protein. This indicates that CD40 ligand (CD40L) transduces a signal to T cells that is important in the process. In this study we have used an in vitro model of GC development to investigate the role of CD40L, cytokines and other co-stimuli. The model involves the specific induction of an H-2E transgene in GC B cells (in Sma58 mice). We find that Th2 cytokines together with Ig and CD40 cross-linking are the most efficient means of induction of the GC phenotype. Although IL-4 plays some inductive role, it is not the sole active ingredient in the mix of cytokines made by Th2 cells. Our studies on primary T cells and T cell clones activated in the absence of CD40 on antigen-presenting cells or CD40L on T cells indicate that the CD40L co-stimulus does not directly bias the response to Th2 cells, as previously reported, but that it augments terminal effector T cell differentiation or the level of secretory activity. However, both in vitro and in vivo, the CD40L co-stimulus is crucially important for Th2 development as in its absence IL-4 production is suboptimal and does not compete with a larger, more rapid IFN-gamma response.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The distribution of IL-13 receptor alpha1 expression on B cells, T cells and monocytes and its regulation by IL-13 and IL-4.

To study the expression of IL-13 receptor alpha1 (IL-13Ralpha1), specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were generated. Surface expression of the IL-13Ralpha1 on B cells, monocytes and T cells was assessed by flow cytometry using these specific mAb. Among tonsillar B cells, the expression was the highest on the IgD+ CD38- B cell subpopulation which is believed to represent naive B cells. Expression was also detectable on a large fraction of the IgD-CD38- B cells but not on CD38+ B cells. Activation under conditions which promote B cell Ig class switching up-regulated the expression of the receptor. However, the same stimuli had an opposite effect for IL-13Ralpha1 expression levels on monocytes. While IL-13Ralpha1 mRNA was clearly detectable in T cell preparations, no surface expression was detected. However, permeabilization of the T cells showed a clear intracellular expression of the receptor. A soluble form of the receptor was immunoprecipitated from the supernatant of activated peripheral T cells, suggesting that T cell IL-13Ralpha1 might have functions unrelated to the capacity to form a type II IL-4/IL-13R with IL-4Ralpha.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Different clinical forms of hereditary tyrosinemia (type I) in patients with identical genotypes.

Hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HTI, McKusick 276700) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by deficient fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH, EC 3.7.1.2) activity. HTI is characterized by progressive liver dysfunction with nodular cirrhosis often leading to hepatocellular carcinoma. Two extremes of the clinical phenotype have been described: the "acute" (severe, early onset and death) and "chronic" (delayed onset and slow course) phenotype. Allelic heterogeneity and/or mutation reversion in hepatic cells have been proposed earlier to explain the clinical heterogeneity. Two probands (one "acute," one "chronic") from the French-Canadian isolate where HTI is prevalent were studied. Both were homozygous (germ line) for the severe splice mutation IVS12 + 5g --> a; both showed liver mosaicism for FAH immunoreactivity with evidence for mutation reversion to heterozygosity (IVS12 + 5g --> a/+) in FAH-stained nodules as shown by amplification of DNA extracted from microdissected nodules. Western blot analysis of proteins from a reverted FAH-expressing nodule showed 29 +/- 3% FAH immunoreactive material as compared to an average normal liver. This was consistent with the measured FAA hydrolytic activity (25%) in this large regenerating nodule. These findings show that genotypic heterogeneity is not a sufficient explanation for clinical heterogeneity and implicate epigenetic and other factors modifying the phenotype in HTI.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Observations on memory B-cell development.

We dissect in this article the roles of CD40 and its ligand in memory B-cell formation. Our data indicate that CD40 ligation does not directly lead to GC formation but it plays an indirect role related to maturation of helper T cells; signalling is bidirectional, to B cells, via CD40, upregulating cytokine receptor expression and to T cells, via CD40L, causing secretion of cytokines necessary for GC initiation. Later in the GC, CD40 selects mutated B cells for entry into the memory pool. This second T-cell-mediated CD40 ligation has consequences distinct from the first (rescue versus proliferation) that arise from rewiring of CD40 signal transduction pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Frequency of the IVS12 + 5G-->A splice mutation of the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase gene in carriers of hereditary tyrosinaemia in the French Canadian population of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean.

Hereditary tyrosinaemia type I (HTI), an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism, is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase. The highest incidence of HTI is observed in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region (SLSJ) (Québec, Canada), where 1 out of 22 individuals is thought to be a carrier. A splice mutation (IVS12 + 5G-->A) has recently been identified in this particular region. Here, we have determined the frequency of this mutation in a population of obligate carriers from the SLSJ region by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization and a method using a restriction enzyme digestion. Over 95 per cent of the HTI carriers were found to have the IVS12 + 5G-->A splice mutation. Screening for this mutation based on the two methods reported here is thus a reliable and rapid way of detecting carriers of hereditary tyrosinaemia type I in that region at high risk.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1996

Tyrosine and its catabolites: from disease to cancer.

Hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HT I, McKusick 276,700) is a metabolic disease with a pattern of autosomal recessive inheritance. The disease is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme involved in the last step in the degradation of the amino acid tyrosine, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH). The result of this block is the accumulation of catabolites some of which have been proposed to be highly toxic due to their alkylating potential. In humans, hereditary tyrosinemia is often associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in young patients. The reasons for the high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma are unknown but it has been suggested that it may be caused by accumulated metabolites such as fumarylacetoacetate (FAA) and maleylacetoacetate (MAA). The various mutational defects in the FAH gene are reviewed. The use of two mouse models of this disease to study the molecular basis of the pathologies associated with HT I are discussed. Finally, some preliminary data on the mutagenic potential of FAA and MAA in a gene reversal assay are presented.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMed1995

Th1 and Th2 help for B cells: differential capacity for induction of autonomous responsiveness to IL-2.

Sustained interaction with Th1 cells has been shown to induce IL-2 responsiveness by murine B cells. This is equivalently dependent on CD40, CD54/ICAM-1 and MHC II ligation, and co-cross-linking of CD54 and MHC II in the presence of IL-5 up-regulates a functional IL-2R on B cells. We now show that IL-5 (125 U/ml) synergizes with Th1 cells to induce B cell responses to IL-2, that are maintained following T-cell removal, e.g. autonomous. Th1 help in the absence of IL-5 resulted in weak or undetectable responses following T cell removal. The mechanism of IL-5 synergy involved persistence of IL-2R beta expression following T cell removal, as opposed to enhancement of IL-2R induction or function. The level of contact-induced IL-2R expression on B cells was not itself modified by IL-5. The effects of IL-5 did not overcome the requirement for T contact signals and treatment of B cells with soluble anti-Ig did not circumvent the need for IL-5 for autonomous IL-2 responses. Consistent with the above, interaction with an IL-5-producing Th2 clone induced strong autonomous B cell responses to IL-2. Qualitative differences of Th2 help over that of Th1 may thus be attributable to their differential ability to induce autonomous B cell responsiveness to cytokines. This may be representative of events in which maintenance of cell cycle is important, as is the case in germinal centers.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

CD54/intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and major histocompatibility complex II signaling induces B cells to express interleukin 2 receptors and complements help provided through CD40 ligation.

We have examined signaling roles for CD54 intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II as contact ligands during T help for B cell activation. We used a T helper 1 (Th1)-dependent helper system that was previously shown to be contact as well as interleukin 2 (IL-2) dependent to demonstrate the relative roles of CD54, MHC II, and CD40 signaling in the events leading to the induction of B cell proliferation and responsiveness to IL-2. Paraformaldehyde-fixed activated Th1-induced expression of IL-2R alpha, IL-2R beta, and B7, and upregulated MHC II and CD54 on B cells. Anti-CD54 and MHC II mAbs as well as a CD8 alpha-CD40 ligand (L) soluble construct inhibited both the T-dependent induction of Ig secretion, and B cell phenotypic changes. We then compared the effects of activated Th1 cells with that of cross-linking these molecules. Cross-linking of CD54 and MHC II resulted in the upregulated expression of MHC II and of CD54 and B7, respectively, analogous to the effect of fixed activated Th1 cells. B7 expression was further enhanced by co-cross-linking CD54 and MHC II. Cross-linking of CD40 achieved comparable effects. Strikingly, cross-linking ligation of CD54 and MHC II in the presence of IL-5 induced expression of a functional IL-2R on small resting B cells. By contrast CD40 ligation, which induced B cell proliferation, did not induce IL-2 responsiveness. These data show that CD40 ligation is necessary but may not be sufficient for B cell differentiation and identify CD54 and MHC II as contact ligands that can complement CD40 signaling in the generation of T-dependent B cell responses to IL-2.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Co-stimulation by anti-immunoglobulin is required for B cell activation by CD40Llow T cells.

During cognate B:T interactions, B cells encounter antigen (Ag) through surface immuno-globulin (sIg) and present antigenic peptides to T helper (Th) cells. However, most in vitro systems used to study contact events involved in the delivery of T help for B cells circumvent the requirement for T cell Ag specificity by using anti-CD3/T cell receptor (TcR) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to activate T cells. To study the role of sIg engagement in the responsiveness of B cells to T help, we pre-treated small resting B cells with soluble anti-kappa mAb prior to contact with an activated Th1 clone. By reducing the concentration of anti-TcR mAb we obtained low levels of CD40 ligand (CD40Llow) on Th cells, comparable to those expressed by lymph node T cells activated in vitro (ex vivo T cells). In contrast to untreated B cells, which did not respond to CD40Llow Th, anti-Ig-treated B cells responded strongly. Low buoyant density B cells also responded to CD40Llow Th cells. There was no B cell response to resting Th cells. mAb against CD54/intercellular adhesion molecule-1 or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II completely inhibited B cell responses to CD40Llow Th1 cells, equivalent to the effects of blocking CD40 interactions. This contrasts with mAb blocking responses to CD40Lhigh Th, where CD40 effects predominate. Our data show that sIg engagement is necessary for the induction of B cell response to CD40Llow Th cells. Anti-CD3-activated ex vivo T cells that were also CD40Llow did not provide help to small resting B cells, but did induce responses from sIg-stimulated B cells. Thus, our data support a requirement for sIg signaling in physiological B cell activation, and further confirm previous work showing CD40 ligation to be necessary but not sufficient for delivery of T help to B cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The acquisition of cytokine responsiveness by murine B cells: a role for antigen and IL-5 in the induction of IL-2 receptors.

The mechanism whereby small resting (high buoyant density) murine B cells are induced to express interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) and to respond to IL-2 was addressed by staining with anti-IL-2R alpha and -IL-2R beta monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and using receptor-specific cDNA probes. Resting B cells expressed undetectable levels of both IL-2R alpha and beta chains on their surface and did not respond to IL-2, even at supra-physiological concentrations. Sepharose-coupled, but not streptavidin-cross-linked, plastic-adsorbed or soluble, anti-mu up-regulated the expression of IL-2R alpha and beta chains and mRNA to levels comparable to those seen in activated T cells. Anti-mu-stimulated B cells responded to IL-2 by incorporation of [3H]thymidine and high rate immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion. Both IL-5 (at optimal concentration) and suboptimal lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 20 ng/ml) induced surface expression of IL-2R alpha. The level of expression induced by IL-5 was equivalent to that on anti-Ig-activated B cells. Neither stimulus induced detectable expression of IL-2R beta, and neither induced B cells to respond to IL-2. IL-2R alpha expression was strongly enhanced, and low levels of IL-2R beta staining and mRNA were induced by the combination of LPS plus IL-5. LPS+IL-5-treated B cells responded to IL-2 by Ig secretion. This indicates that B cells regulate their responsiveness to IL-2 similarly to T cells, via the combined level of expression of IL-2R beta and IL-2R alpha. The synergy between IL-5 and LPS for B-cell responses shows a requirement for complementary stimuli such as would be provided by cytokines, and either cellular interaction or antigen recognition in regulation of B-cell responsiveness to IL-2.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Accessory function of human thymic dendritic cells in Con A-induced proliferation of autologous thymocyte subsets.

Human thymic dendritic cells (DC) have previously been shown to be intimately associated with thymocytes in situ and in culture. We report that thymic DC express LFA-3 and ICAM-1 adhesion molecules and may spontaneously associate with autologous thymocytes within mitogen-independent clusters. Moreover, the accessory activity of isolated human thymic DC was investigated in Con A-stimulation assays. By proliferation experiments, measured as [3H]TdR incorporation, we demonstrated that irradiated thymic DC strongly increase the mitogen-induced activation of autologous PBL as well as of unfractionated thymocytes. More interestingly, in coculture assays performed with purified thymocyte subsets, we have found that thymic DC greatly enhance the Con A proliferation of CD1- CD3bright thymocytes whereas the accessory activity toward the CD1+ CD3- thymocytes was very weak. Inhibition experiments demonstrated that the DC accessory activity is inhibited by anti-DR-related and anti-IL-2R mAb. However, blocking assays with anti-CD11b, anti-CD11c, anti-LFA-3, and anti-ICAM1 mAb showed that the accessory function obtained is similar to that with untreated cultures. We conclude that isolated human thymic DC may present potent DR- and IL-2-dependent accessory activity mainly directed toward the CD1- CD3bright thymocyte subpopulation, suggesting that thymic DC may be involved in the in vivo proliferation of mature thymocytes.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗