Biomedical subjects

L H Glimcher

Publications and source records attributed to L H Glimcher.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Identification of an IL-4-inducible gene expressed in differentiating lymphocytes and male germ cells.

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a cytokine that is involved in the differentiation of B and T lymphocytes. In this report, we describe the identification of a novel gene, N.52, which was cloned from the murine pre-B cell line R8205 grown in the presence of IL-4 for 48 hr. Although N.52 expression is detectable at low levels in unstimulated R8205 cells, the level of N.52 dramatically increases after only 4 hr exposure to IL-4 and remains at a high level up to 48 hr. Although N.52 expression is low or absent in normal spleen B and T cells, its expression can be induced by the differentiation signals delivered by LPS in B cells and by Con A in T-cell hybrids. While N.52 mRNA is absent in all highly differentiated organs, it is detectable in stem cell harboring lymphoid tissues such as bone marrow, fetal liver, and thymus. Furthermore, N.52 mRNA is expressed at strikingly high levels in the testis, specifically in differentiating male germ cells. It is induced by differentiation signals triggered by the combination of cyclic AMP and retinoic acid in teratocarcinoma F9 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that N.52 is a developmentally regulated gene whose expression in cells of the immune and reproductive systems may be controlled by stimuli that induce differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression is upregulated in autoimmune murine lupus nephritis.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a cell-surface protein regulating interactions among immune cells. To determine whether altered expression of ICAM-1 occurs in autoimmune lupus nephritis, we studied ICAM-1 expression in kidneys of normal and autoimmune MRL-lpr and (NZBX NZW)F1 (NZB/W) mice. By immunoperoxidase staining, ICAM-1 is constitutively expressed at low levels in proximal tubules (PT), endothelium and interstitial cells in normal C3H/FeJ mice. In nephritic MRL-lpr and NZB/W kidneys, staining for ICAM-1 is increased in the PT, particularly in the brush border, and is prominent in the glomerular mesangium and the endothelium of large vessels. By Western blot analysis, ICAM-1 is not detected in the urine of normal BALB/c and C3H/FeJ or autoimmune MRL-lpr. By Northern blot analysis, nephritic MRL-lpr and NZB/W have a two- to fivefold increase in steady state levels of ICAM-1 transcripts in the kidney as compared with normal or prenephritic mice. This is paralleled by an increase in MHC class II transcripts. In cultured PT cells, ICAM-1 is expressed at basal levels in PT and is increased by the cytokines interferon-gamma, IL-1 alpha, and TNF-alpha. Thus cytokine-mediated upregulation of ICAM-1 in lupus nephritis may promote interaction of immune cells with renal tissue. The predominant apical expression of ICAM-1 opposite to the basolateral Ia expression suggests a novel role for this adhesion molecule in PT.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

A functional role for signal transduction via the cytoplasmic domains of MHC class II proteins.

B cell transfectants expressing MHC class II (Ia) molecules with truncated cytoplasmic domains are defective in both antigen presentation and in anti-Ia induced intracellular signaling. In this report we show that the Ag presentation defect in a truncated-Ia expressing transfectant can be overcome by providing the second messenger for the Ia-mediated signaling event. Preincubation with dibutyryl-cAMP restored the ability of the truncated Ia expressing-transfectant to stimulate IL-2 release by otherwise nonresponsive T hybrids. This provides direct functional evidence that signaling via the cytoplasmic domains of MHC class II proteins leads to the generation of accessory signals in the B cell that are important in T cell activation. The dibutyryl-cAMP induced signal must be on the same cell as the restricting element, does not bypass the requirement for occupancy of the T cell receptor with its normal ligand, and is lost upon fixation of the cells. Thus T cell-B cell interaction involves a two way communication in which both cells sense and respond to the formation of the antigen/MHC/TCR complex.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

T cell receptor gene segment usage in a panel of hen-egg white lysozyme specific, I-Ak-restricted T helper hybridomas.

We have studied the relationship between MHC-restricted, Ag-specific recognition and TCR structure in a panel of seven Th-hybridomas specific for the foreign protein Ag, hen egg-white lysozyme, and the I-Ak class II MHC molecule. The fine specificity of these Th cells had been determined previously by their reactivity to a panel of APC lines bearing mutant I-Ak molecules and to proteolytic fragments of HEL. TCR gene segment composition was determined by cDNA cloning and DNA sequencing. A heterogeneous, yet repetitive usage of gene segments was observed within the panel. The same V alpha C10-J alpha MD13 rearrangement was used in three of the hybridomas, two with identical Ag and MHC-restriction fine specificities. The prevalent usage of the V beta 14 gene segment and members of J beta 2 cluster was noted. Inasmuch as gene segment usage did not correlate with MHC-restriction or Ag fine specificity alone, these results favor an interactive Ag model of T-cell recognition, in which Ag and MHC are recognized as a bimolecular complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Antigen presentation abrogated in cells expressing truncated Ia molecules.

Oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce a premature stop codon in wildtype A beta k and A alpha k cDNA clones to create truncated A beta k and A alpha k molecules lacking the cytoplasmic domain. Transfected B lymphoma cells expressing an I-Ak molecule with a truncated beta-chain or with truncated alpha- and beta-chains showed profound defects in two Ia-related functions: Ia-restricted Ag presentation and intracytoplasmic signaling. The ability of these transfected cell lines to activate autoreactive T hybrids was markedly impaired whereas loss of Ag presentation to nominal Ag-specific T hybrids was more subtle. Ia-mediated transmembrane signaling as measured by PKC translocation from cytosol to nucleus after stimulation with anti-Ak antibody was greatly affected by truncation of the A beta and A alpha cytoplasmic domains. These results indicate an important role for the highly conserved cytoplasmic domain in Ia-mediated responses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1989

Differences in DNA sequence specificity among MHC class II X box binding proteins.

The class II (Ia) MHC Ag are integral membrane proteins whose expression is limited to specific cell types. A pair of consensus sequences, X and Y, is found upstream from all class II genes and deletion of each of these sequences eliminates expression of transfected genes. Cells that express Ia demonstrate a coordinate response to lymphokines and other stimuli. These conserved sequences might, therefore, play a role in tissue specificity or lymphokine inducibility of Ia gene expression. The X box sequence of the murine class II A alpha gene diverges much more substantially from the X consensus than does the Y box motif of this gene. We demonstrate that this X box motif is nonetheless recognized by sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, as is the more closely conserved Y box. Gel retardation assays and DNase I footprints were compared for a panel of Ia+ and Ia- cells as well as for cells stimulated with the Ia-inducing lymphokines IL-4 and IFN-gamma. The level, retardation pattern and region of DNA contact were comparable in all instances. Thus the availability of active DNA-binding X and Y box factors cannot alone account for the regulation of A alpha expression. To test whether the same set of proteins binds all class II MHC conserved motifs, oligonucleotide probe binding and cross-competition experiments with X box sequences from A alpha, E alpha, and E beta genes were performed. These studies demonstrated A alpha, E alpha, and E beta DNA-protein complexes with unique mobilities and specificities. In addition, all three X box oligonucleotide probes generated one faint complex with an affinity profile of E beta greater than E alpha much greater than A alpha. These three complexes comigrated and thus may represent a communal binding protein. The data are most consistent with the conclusion that multiple proteins bind class II MHC X boxes. For A alpha, the predominant complexes represent different specificities from the predominant E alpha and E beta X box binding proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

An intronic 10-base-pair deletion in a class II A beta gene affects RNA processing.

Several biologically important examples of posttranscriptionally regulated genes have recently been described (T. Gerster, D. Picard, and W. Schaffner, Cell 45:45-52, 1986; R. Reeves, T.S. Elton, M.S. Nissen, D. Lehn, and K.R. Johnson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:6531-6535, 1987; H.A. Young, L. Varesio, and P. Hwu, Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:2253-2256, 1986). Little is known, however, regarding sequences that mediate posttranscriptional RNA stability. Characterization in our laboratory of a mutant murine B lymphoma, M12.C3, revealed a posttranscriptional defect affecting the synthesis of a major histocompatibility complex class II gene (A beta d) whose product normally controls both the specificity and magnitude of the immune response. Molecular studies revealed that the mutation responsible for diminished A beta d gene expression was an intronic deletion of 10 base pairs (bp) located 99 bp 5' of the third exon. This deletion lies in a region not known to be critical for accurate and efficient splicing. Furthermore, sequence analysis of amplified A beta-specific cDNA demonstrated that the small number of A beta d transcripts produced in the mutant cells was correctly spliced. It appears that the mechanism by which this intronic 10-bp deletion acts to decrease RNA stability is unlikely to be at the level of RNA splicing.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

A lipopolysaccharide-induced DNA-binding protein for a class II gene in B cells is distinct from NF-kappa B.

Class II (Ia) major histocompatibility complex molecules are cell surface proteins normally expressed by a limited subset of cells of the immune system. These molecules regulate the activation of T cells and are required for the presentation of antigens and the initiation of immune responses. The expression of Ia in B cells is determined by both the developmental stage of the B cell and by certain external stimuli. It has been demonstrated previously that treatment of B cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in increased surface expression of Ia protein. However, we have confirmed that LPS treatment results in a significant decrease in mRNA encoding the Ia proteins which persists for at least 18 h. Within the upstream regulatory region of A alpha k, an NF-kappa B-like binding site is present. We have identified an LPS-induced DNA-binding protein in extracts from athymic mice whose spleens consist predominantly of B cells. Binding activity is present in low levels in unstimulated spleen cells and is increased by LPS treatment. This protein binds to two sites in a regulatory region of the Ia A alpha k gene, one of which contains the NF-kappa B-like binding site. DNA fragments containing these sites cross-compete for protein binding. Analysis by DNase I footprinting identified a target binding sequence, named the LPS-responsive element. Although this target sequence contains an NF-kappa B-like binding site, competition with a mutant oligonucleotide demonstrated that bases critical for NF-kappa B binding are not required for binding of the LPS-inducible protein. Therefore, we hypothesized that this inducible protein represents a new mediator of LPS action, distinct from NF-kappa B, and may be one mechanism to account for the decrease in mRNA encoding the Ia proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Enhanced MHC class II expression in renal proximal tubules precedes loss of renal function in MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis.

Enhanced MHC class II (Ia) antigen expression is a common feature of autoimmunity. The authors investigated the occurrence of renal Ia expression in MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice with lupus nephritis. By immunoperoxidase staining, normal C3H/FeJ and the congenic strain MRL/MpJ-+/+ express Ia in mononuclear cells in the interstitium only, whereas MRL/lpr with nephritis have abundant Ia expression in proximal tubules (PT), mainly towards the basolateral membrane, and in the characteristic perivascular infiltrates. To a lesser extent, enhanced Ia expression is also observed in the interstitium and in the glomerular mesangium. By Northern blot analysis, the increase in Ia surface determinants correlates with an increased steady-state level of class II mRNA for both I-A and I-E. Ia expression on PT starts focally at around 2-months of age, often in proximity to vascular infiltrates, and precedes overt glomerulo-nephritis and proteinuria. Enhanced class II expression is not restricted to the kidney. MRL/lpr have also increased interstitial class II antigen expression in liver, lung, and spleen compared with normal C3H/FeJ mice. Thus, MRL/lpr mice have enhanced systemic Ia expression, but Ia antigen expression is particularly prominent in PT and may play a key role in the initiation and progression of lupus nephritis.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

A DNA binding protein regulated by IL-4 and by differentiation in B cells.

The class II (Ia) major histocompatibility complex antigens are a family of integral membrane proteins whose expression is limited to certain cell types, predominantly B lymphocytes, macrophages, and thymic epithelial cells. In B cells, Ia expression is both developmentally regulated and responsive to external stimuli. The differentiation of early B stem cells to mature B lymphocytes is accompanied by the appearance of cell surface Ia antigens; the transition to plasma cells results in loss of class II gene expression. In Ia-expressing B cells, the T cell-derived lymphokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) increases such expression by an as yet undefined mechanism. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene expression was cis-activated by a region of the Ia A alpha k gene in a B lymphoma line, but not in a myeloma line. A nuclear protein that bound to two sites within this region, upstream from previously described transcription elements, was found in normal spleen cells. This binding activity was also found in spleen extracts from athymic mice, which lack T lymphocytes, and in Ia-positive B lymphocyte tumor cell lines, demonstrating that it is a B cell protein. Further analysis showed the activity to be undetectable in an Ia-negative pre-B cell line and in three plasmacytoma cell lines that are Ia negative. IL-4 treatment of normal and athymic mouse spleen cells greatly increased the binding of this nuclear protein to these two sites, concomitant with increased MHC class II gene transcription. Thus, B cells contain a sequence-specific DNA-binding activity whose level is influenced both by IL-4 and by differentiation signals.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1988

Distinct cloned class II MHC DNA binding proteins recognize the X box transcription element.

The class II (Ia) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens are a family of integral membrane proteins whose expression is limited to certain cell types. A pair of consensus sequences, X and Y, is found upstream of all class II genes, and deletion of each of these sequences eliminates expression of transfected genes. Furthermore, the absence of a specific X box binding protein in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency disease whose cells lack class II suggests an important role for these proteins in class II regulation. Here, the cloning of two lambda gt11 complementary DNAs encoding DNA binding proteins (murine X box binding proteins lambda mXBP and lambda mXBP-2) is reported. Both phage-encoded fusion proteins bind specifically to the X box of the A alpha, but not to E alpha or E beta class II genes. These two independent isolates do not cross-hybridize. The lambda mXBP complementary DNA hybridizes to two RNA species, 6.2 and 3.0 kilobases in mouse, that are expressed in both Ia positive and Ia negative cells. By means of DNA blot analysis with the lambda mXBP complementary DNA insert and probes generated from each end of this complementary DNA insert, lambda mXBP was found to arise from a multigene family. These data illustrate the high degree of complexity in the transcriptional control of this coordinately regulated gene family.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Corticosteroid induction of Ig+Ia- B cells in vitro is mediated via interaction with the glucocorticoid cytoplasmic receptor.

Flow microfluorometry was used to examine the effect of dexamethasone on the expression of surface Ia (sIa) on resting and activated murine B cells. Although dexamethasone resulted in a 50% reduction in sIa expression 12 h after injection, it was significantly less suppressive when injected together with B cell activators. In vitro dexamethasone, but not other related steroid hormones, induced a population of cells that were sIg+sIa-. A 20% reduction in the expression of sIa was noted by 4 h of culture with 10 nM dexamethasone, but maximal inhibition of 70% was not reached until 12 h of culture, and this degree of suppression persisted as long as dexamethasone remained in culture. When the dexamethasone was washed out after 8 h of culture, the maximal reduction was still noted at 12 h, but by 24 h there was re-expression of sIa toward base line levels, indicating it did not induce irreversible lethal alterations in the B cell. The inhibition of sIa expression correlated with a specific reduction in the quantity of messenger RNA for sIa as measured by Northern blot analysis, indicating that this is mediated at least in part by suppression of the steady state levels of Ia mRNA. The corticosteroid receptor antagonist RU486 was able to reverse the suppressive effects of dexamethasone on sIa expression, thus demonstrating that its effect is mediated specifically by binding to its intracellular receptor. Furthermore, when protein synthesis was inhibited during the short period of time that cells were preincubated with dexamethasone, minimal suppression of Ia expression was noted, suggesting that the dexamethasone may be stimulating a protein that has suppressive effects on MHC class II expression. The suppressive effects of dexamethasone in vitro were substantially reduced when B cells were simultaneously activated by stimuli that increase the expression of sIa. These data indicate that the suppressive effects of corticosteroids on immune response Ag are corticosteroid specific; are greater in resting than in activated B cells; are induced via the classical steroid mechanism of action, which is receptor mediated; and may result from the induction of an inhibitory protein that suppresses Ia mRNA.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Structural mutation affecting intracellular transport and cell surface expression of murine class II molecules.

We have selected Ia variants from the Ia+ (H-2d) M12.4.1 B cell lymphoma that are negative on the cell surface for one or both Ia isotypes. The molecular analysis of two such independently selected cell lines, M12.A2 and M12.C3, is reported here. This analysis revealed that the genes encoding Ad beta (M12.A2) and Ed beta (M12.C3) contained identical single-nucleotide transitions that resulted in the substitution of Ser (mutant) for Asn (wild-type) at residue 82/83 of the extracellular NH2-terminal (membrane distal) beta 1 domain. This conservative substitution caused a cytoplasmic accumulation of I-A or I-E molecules in the respective cell line although predicted secondary-structure analysis suggests a minimal effect on protein conformation. Thus, the mutation appears to have either created a negative signal that stops transport or eliminated a positive signal that is required for transport and targeting to the cell surface.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Cytoplasmic domain affects membrane expression and function of an Ia molecule.

The association of foreign antigen with Ia molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells is necessary for the interaction with the clonally distributed antigen receptor on T cells and is therefore critical in the initiation and regulation of immune responses. Ia polypeptides (alpha and beta) are composed of two extracellular domains, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain. Although exon-shuffling experiments have demonstrated that antigen associates with the NH2-terminal alpha 1 and beta 1 domains, the roles that the other domains play in Ia function are still poorly understood. The B-hybridoma cell line 2B1 was selected in a series of positive and negative immunoselection steps for a mutation in the Ek alpha polypeptide. It was found to fortuitously contain a mutation in the Ak alpha polypeptide as well. Sequence analysis of the Ak alpha gene showed that a single base transition (C----T) resulted in a stop codon at amino acid residue 222. This caused the loss of 12 amino acids from the cytoplasmic domain of the mature polypeptide. This mutation results in a decreased level of Ak alpha polypeptide expression on the cell surface (50% of wild-type levels), an increased half-life of Ak alpha polypeptide in the cell, and a specific limited defect in antigen presentation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

A tissue-specific DNase I-hypersensitive site in a class II A alpha gene is under trans-regulatory control.

Class II major histocompatibility complex molecules are integral membrane glycoproteins whose distribution is limited to certain tissues. To identify the molecular basis for such specificity, the chromatin configuration of the class II A alpha gene was examined in intact nuclei from various cell types. We show that there are three DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the A alpha gene. One of these sites, located near the promoter region, is specific to cells that normally express class II molecules at some stage of differentiation. Furthermore, this tissue-specific site appears to be under trans-regulatory control.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Differential induction of class II gene expression in murine pre-B-cell lines by B-cell stimulatory factor-1 and by antibodies to B-cell surface antigens.

We have previously reported that BSF-1 and an alloantibody to the B-cell differentiation antigen Lyb2 induce class II gene expression in two Ia negative pre-B-cell lines. Two questions were asked in these studies. The first question is whether the different stimuli which we and others have shown to induce class II expression in B-cells act via the same signal transduction mechanisms. The second question is whether the traditionally accepted pathway of B-cell differentiation, as defined by immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangement, is applicable to other events that occur during B-cell differentiation. In this report, we have therefore examined a large panel of pre-B-cell lines at different stages of Ig gene rearrangement in an attempt to 1) identify the stage in B-cell development where class II gene expression occurs and where it becomes inducible by BSF-1 or anti-Lyb2, and 2) compare the signal transduction mechanisms used by these ligands. The majority of pre-B-cell lines tested did not express BSF-1 receptors and were consequently noninducible for class II by BSF-1; such cell lines were, however, inducible for class II expression by anti-Lyb2 and, in addition, by antibodies to the B220 membrane glycoprotein. The induction of class II molecules by BSF-1 and by anti-Lyb2 and anti-B220 differed in several respects: 1) Induction by anti-Lyb2 and anti-B220 did not require the presence of BSF-1 receptors; 2) BSF-1 selectively induced class II antigen expression while anti-Lyb2 and anti-B220 induced the expression of other surface markers as well; and 3) PGE2 inhibited BSF-1 but not antibody-mediated class II induction. Finally, the presence of receptors for BSF-1 and the baseline expression of cell surface Ia was shown to be unlinked to Ig gene rearrangement and expression in this series of pre-B-cell lines. The independent regulation of Ia and Ig genes observed here may reflect a branching rather than a linear pathway for B-cell differentiation. The differentiation of pre-B-cells to mature Ig-secreting cells should probably not be defined solely by rearrangement of Ig genes, since this is likely to represent an oversimplified view of B-cell differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Alteration of a non-polymorphic residue in a class II E beta gene eliminates an antibody-defined epitope without affecting T cell recognition.

The interaction between the clonally selected T cell receptor, antigen, and Ia molecule is poorly understood at the molecular level. A cell line bearing an altered E beta k molecule has been examined to provide more information about the relationship between Ia structure and function. The cell line, 2B1, was derived from the TA3 B cell hybridoma through a series of negative and positive immunoselection steps. The 2B1 mutant lacked the binding site recognized by the 17.3.3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) but presented antigen normally to all I-Ek-restricted T cell hybridomas and clones examined. Sequence analysis of the mutant E beta k gene showed a single base transition (G----A) that resulted in an arginine to a histidine substitution at amino acid 49 of the beta 1 domain. This mutation demonstrates that residue 49 is not involved in antigen presentation to T cells but can be involved in B cell recognition (mAb binding).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

Murine class II (Ia) molecules associate with human invariant chain.

Polymorphic class II (Ia) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products associate intracytoplasmically with a third nonpolymorphic class II molecule, the invariant chain (Ii), which is encoded by gene(s) unlinked to the MHC. Although the role of the Ii chain in the expression of cell surface Ia molecules is unclear, it has been suggested that the Ii chain helps in the assembly and intracellular transport of class II antigens. In this study, we demonstrate that the murine polymorphic class II antigens of an interspecies mouse-human hybrid, which has segregated the murine invariant chain gene, associates with the human invariant chain gene intracytoplasmically. The murine Ia antigens are expressed on the cell surface and can function as restriction elements in antigen presentation to T cells. The biochemical analysis demonstrates that the regions of the Ii gene that are critical to its interaction with Ia molecules are conserved between species.

Animals↗