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Biomedical subjects

M F Mescher

Publications and source records attributed to M F Mescher.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cytoskeletal function in CD8- and T cell receptor-mediated interaction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes with class I protein.

Cloned allospecific cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) adhere to purified class I alloantigen immobilized on plastic and degranulate in response to it. Binding and degranulation are inhibited by drugs that impair cytoskeletal function. Cytochalasins D and E, which interfere with microfilament function, and colchicine, which disrupts microtubules, were used and gave qualitatively similar results. Concentrations of these drugs that inhibited degranulation in response to alloantigen did not inhibit response to immobilized anti-T cell receptor (TCR) antibody. Neither did they inhibit response when alloantigen was co-immobilized with an antibody against class I on the CTL to promote adhesion between the CTL and antigen-bearing surface. Thus, neither transmembrane signal generation via the TCR nor degranulation per se were prevented. Instead, the drugs act to prevent the initial adhesion to alloantigen. CTL binding to alloantigen depends in part on CD8-class I interaction, and adhesion via CD8 is "activated" by crosslinking the TCR with soluble anti-TCR antibody. This adhesion, too, is shown to be cytoskeleton dependent.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Exogenous beta 2-microglobulin is required for antigenic peptide binding to isolated class I major histocompatibility complex molecules.

Binding of antigenic peptides to purified class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, as measured by antigen-specific cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) degranulation, was found to occur in the presence of serum but not in its absence. The role of soluble beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m), a normal component of serum, in class I-peptide complex formation was therefore examined. Sera depleted of beta 2m did not support effective peptide binding to class I, but binding was restored in the presence of low concentrations of purified human beta 2m. Sequential incubation of immobilized class I with human beta 2m first, followed by peptide, resulted in antigenic complex formation, while reversing the order of pulsing could not. Similar results were obtained in experiments examining H-2Db, Kb and Kd with appropriate peptides and CTL. These results demonstrate that mature class I proteins are not able to directly bind peptide, but that interaction with exogenous beta 2m results in a structure that will subsequently bind peptide. Binding of exogenous beta 2m appears to result in "empty" class I molecules, possibly by exchange for endogenous beta 2m, with a concomitant loss of endogenous peptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Activation of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in T cells by H-2 alloantigen but not MLS determinants.

Murine minor lymphocyte-stimulating (Mls) determinants are cell surface antigens that stimulate strong primary T cell responses; the responding T cells display restricted T cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene usage. Interaction of T cells with mitogens or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens activated the polyphosphoinositide (PI) signaling pathway, but this pathway was not triggered by Mls recognition. However, interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion and proliferation to all three stimuli were comparable. Thus, although recognition of both allo-H-2 and Mls determinants is thought to be mediated by the TCR, these antigens appear to elicit biochemically distinct signal transduction pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Activated CD8 binding to class I protein mediated by the T-cell receptor results in signalling.

The CD8 glycoprotein of T cells bind nonpolymorphic regions of class I major histocompatibility complex proteins on target cells and these interactions promote antigen recognition and signalling by the T-cell receptor. Studies using artificial membranes indicated that effective CD8/class I interaction is critical for response by alloantigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes when class I protein is the only ligand on the antigen-bearing surface. But significant CD8-mediated binding of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to non-antigenic class I protein could not be detected in the absence of the alloantigen. These apparently contradictory findings indicate that CD8 binding to class I protein might be activated through the T-cell receptor and the results reported here demonstrate that this is the case. Treatment of cytotoxic T lymphocytes with soluble anti-T-cell receptor antibody activates adhesion of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes to class I, but not class II proteins. The specificity of this binding implies that it is mediated by CD8 and blocking by anti-CD8 antibodies confirmed this. Furthermore, binding of CD8 to class I protein resulted in generation of an additional signal(s) necessary to initiate response at low T-cell receptor occupancy levels.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1990

Antigen recognition by T cells. Quantitative effects of augmentation by antibodies providing accessory interactions.

Although engagement of the TCR via antibody can be sufficient to trigger T cells, responses to Ag-bearing cells require additional "accessory" interactions in many cases. A method has been developed which allows preparation of surfaces bearing both purified class I alloantigen and coimmobilized antibodies. With this approach, it is possible to mimic such "accessory" interactions and to examine their quantitative effects on triggering via TCR-Ag interaction. Experiments are described which use this approach to examine triggering of degranulation by cloned, allogeneic CTL lines. Coimmobilization of antibodies specific for any of a variety of CTL surface proteins, including CD8, class I MHC proteins, CD45 (T200) and Thy-1, had the effect of decreasing the critical threshold density of Ag necessary to trigger responses, and decreasing by an order of magnitude the density required to stimulate a half-maximal response. Furthermore, in comparison with the 30-min lag seen with Ag alone, response was initiated immediately when an antibody specific for a CTL surface component was present. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that any CTL surface molecule having sufficient affinity for a component of the target surface can contribute to activation via the Ag-specific TCR; and at low Ag density could determine whether any response occurs.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Short term exposure to cis unsaturated free fatty acids inhibits degranulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Degranulation of CTL stimulated by alloantigen-bearing target cells is shown to be inhibited by short term exposure to low concentrations of long chain cis unsaturated free fatty acids (FFA), whereas saturated FFA have no effect. The Ag-specific (TCR mediated) stimulation of cloned murine CTL was monitored by changes in intracellular calcium concentrations [( Ca2+]i) using the fluorescence indicator acetoxymethylester of fura-2 and by degranulation as measured by the release of BLT-esterase. Treatment of the CTL cells with any of the physiologically important FFA; oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3), or arachidonic (20:4) acid, at concentrations between 1 and 10 microM inhibits the target cell-mediated rise in [Ca2+]i which occurs within seconds of stimulation and the release of BLT-esterase, which occurs over a period of 1 to 3 h. These inhibitory effects are observed within seconds to minutes of FFA addition. Inhibition can be reversed by treating cells with fatty acid free BSA and, in agreement with our previous studies, indicates that the effects of FFA are due to physical perturbations of cellular components. To determine the locus of this perturbation, the effect of FFA on the lipid order of CTL plasma membrane was determined using fluorescence polarization of the membrane impermeable probe trimethylammoniumdiphenylhexatriene. Cis unsaturated FFA were found to disorder the lipid acyl chains and the degree of disorder was found to increase with the degree of cis unsaturation. These results, together with the previous studies, suggest that inhibition results from a physical perturbation of plasma membrane lipid order. Moreover, because degranulation requires elevated levels of [Ca2+]i, it is likely that inhibition of degranulation results from a FFA-induced decrease in Ca2+ permeability through the membrane.

Calcium↗
PubMed1989

Cytolytic T-lymphocyte response to isolated class I H-2 proteins and influenza peptides.

T cells recognize antigenic peptides in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Peptide binding to class II MHC proteins, and T-cell recognition of these complexes at the functional level has been demonstrated. Although considerable evidence suggests that class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize class I-peptide complexes, this has not yet been directly demonstrated. Chen and Parham have recently detected a low level of direct binding of radiolabelled influenza peptides to class I HLA proteins, but the relevance of this binding to T-cell recognition remains uncertain. We report here that purified class I proteins pulsed with influenza peptides can trigger antigen-specific, TCR-mediated degranulation by CTL. Effective pulsing depends on both peptide concentration and time, and can occur within 60 minutes. These results provide strong support for the formation of an antigenic complex that is recognized by CTL in which peptide antigens are bound to isolated class I proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Molecular interactions required for triggering alloantigen-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes.

Affinity-purified class I proteins in detergent solution can be directly immobilized on plastic by a simple dilution procedure. The immobilized Ag retains its native structure and will trigger specific, TCR-mediated degranulation of cloned CTL. Stimulation of the response is dependent on the surface density of Ag, and displays a critical threshold density below which response does not occur. Individual clones differ with respect to the threshold density required for activation, but these differences are not large. With one exception, the cloned lines examined respond to Ag densities comparable to that found on normal allogeneic cells, and critical threshold densities varied over about a fourfold range. Coimmobilization of alloantigen and nonantigenic class I protein of a different specificity has the effect of decreasing the threshold density of alloantigen required for response to occur. This augmentation is specific for class I, coimmobilized class II protein does not affect responses, and is very likely mediated by Lyt-2 (CD8) interaction with nonpolymorphic determinants on the class I protein. Thus, class I alloantigen is the necessary and sufficient ligand for activation of most allogeneic CTL clones, and both TCR and Lyt-2 interactions contribute to the response. The results described here for effector CTL are compared with those previously found in examining the ligand requirements for activation of precursor CTL.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Solid-phase binding of class I and II MHC proteins: immunoassay and T cell recognition.

Detergent-solubilized, affinity-purified class I and II MHC antigens can be immobilized on plastic by a simple detergent dilution procedure. The bound antigens retain allogeneic serological determinants and can be precisely quantitated by ELISA. The ability to quantitate immobilized antigen greatly facilitates purification by affinity chromatography. It is shown that differential elution can be used to highly enrich H-2Kd and Dd antigens from a single monoclonal antibody column which binds both. Binding of membrane proteins (class I, class II and plasma membrane protein) to plastic could be distinguished from binding of non-membrane proteins (bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulin) in competition studies and by comparison of their susceptibilities to inhibition by detergent. These contrasting properties suggested that MHC proteins may bind via their exposed hydrophobic regions and thus be oriented on the plastic surface. This was supported by the demonstration that immobilized class I is effectively recognized by alloantigen-specific cloned CTL to trigger the antigen-dependent degranulation response. Direct immobilization of MHC antigens, and probably other membrane proteins, provides an effective approach to the study of T cell recognition and triggering by physiological ligands.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

T cell receptor-mediated signaling occurs in the absence of inositol phosphate production.

Murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can lyse certain target cells in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+ (Ostergaard, H. L., Kane, K. P., Mescher, M. F., and Clark, W. R. (1987) Nature 330, 71-72). We have examined the effect of extracellular Ca2+ on the inositol phosphate response to antigen by CTL. In Ca2+-containing medium relevant antigen-bearing target cells and the mitogen concanavalin A induce a rapid accumulation of inositol phosphates in CTL. In the presence of 4 mM EGTA the antigen- and mitogen-stimulated increases in inositol mono-, bis-, and tris-phosphates cannot be detected, even with 10 mM LiCl added. Abrogation of the inositol phosphate response occurs whether CTL are preincubated in EGTA or EGTA is added with the stimulus. The results indicate that the killing of certain target cells by murine CTL may be independent of the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol pathway. Furthermore, since Ca2+-independent cytolysis remains antigen-specific, the data strongly support the existence of additional T cell receptor-mediated second messenger pathway(s) in CTL.

Calcium↗
PubMed1988

T cell recognition of nonpolymorphic determinants on H-2 class I molecules.

Recognition of polymorphic determinants on class I or class II MHC Ag is required for T lymphocyte responses. Using cell-size artificial membranes (pseudocytes) bearing H-2 class I Ag it is demonstrated that T cells can, in addition, recognize nonpolymorphic determinants on class I proteins. Pseudocytes bearing class I alloantigen stimulate in vitro generation of secondary allogeneic CTL responses. At a suboptimal alloantigen surface density, incorporation of class I molecules identical to those of the responder cells (self-H-2) or from third-party cells resulted in dramatically enhanced responses, whereas incorporation of class II proteins had no effect. The receptor that mediates recognition of conserved class I determinants has not been identified, but results of antibody blocking studies are consistent with the Lyt-2/3 complex of CTL having this role. Thus, class I proteins on Ag-bearing cells can have two distinct roles in T cell activation, one involving recognition of polymorphic determinants by the Ag-specific receptor and the other involving recognition of conserved determinants.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Class I alloantigen is sufficient for cytolytic T lymphocyte binding and transmembrane signaling.

Based largely on antibody blocking studies, a number of surface "accessory" molecules on effector cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been implicated as having a role in mediating CTL binding and lysis of target cells, possibly via binding to ligands on the target cell surface. Despite this, cloned allogeneic CTL were able to specifically bind cell-size, artificial membranes (pseudocytes) bearing only class I alloantigen. This binding triggered CTL degranulation, as measured by serine esterase release. Thus, class I alloantigen alone is both a necessary and sufficient ligand for specific binding and effective transmembrane signaling to occur.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cytotoxic T cell activation by class I protein on cell-size artificial membranes: antigen density and Lyt-2/3 function.

The role of antigen surface density, and its relationship to the function of the Lyt-2/3 complex, in recognition and triggering of allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) precursors has been studied by using a novel type of Class I protein-bearing artificial membrane. The cell-size membranes, termed pseudocytes (artificial cells), can be handled like cells but have a well-defined and easily quantitated surface composition. Class I antigen on these membranes stimulated generation of secondary in vitro allogeneic CTL responses as effectively as allogeneic spleen cells, provided that lymphokines were added to the cultures. Antigen density on the pseudocyte surfaces could be varied over a wide range and quantitated by papain cleavage and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Recognition and triggering of precursor CTL was found to be dramatically dependent on the surface density of antigen and displayed a marked threshold density requirement, below which little or no response occurred. Examination of the effects of anti-Lyt-2 antibody on responses to pseudocytes provided direct evidence for a reciprocal relationship between antigen density and susceptibility to antibody blockade. The results strongly suggest that antigen density is likely to have important biological consequences in control of immune responses. They also show that if Lyt-2/3 functions by interaction with a ligand, then that ligand is the Class I protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Cell-sized, supported artificial membranes (pseudocytes): response of precursor cytotoxic T lymphocytes to class I MHC proteins.

Novel cell-sized, supported artificial membranes bearing class I antigens have been prepared by a simple dialysis procedure and then used to study the requirements for antigen recognition by precursor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The membranes were made by mixing lipid, H-2 antigen, and C18 alkylated 5 microns silica beads in deoxycholate, and dialyzing to remove the detergent. The H-2 antigen-bearing, cell-sized beads, termed pseudocytes (artificial cells), were able to simulate generation of secondary CTL responses with the same specificity as alloantigen-bearing spleen cells. Comparative analyses demonstrated that the size of an antigen-bearing structure, and thus its potential for multivalent interaction, was a critical determinant of effectiveness of antigen recognition, and showed that H-2 antigen was recognized as effectively on cell-sized beads as on allogeneic spleen cells. Generation of a response to antigen on the cell-sized beads was completely dependent on addition of lymphokines to the cultures. Thus, unlike liposomes, H-2 antigen on beads was not available to accessory cells for stimulation of Ia-dependent production of lymphokines by T helper cells. These results, as well as direct observations by microscopy, strongly indicate that antigen is recognized on the surface of the beads. Despite effective stimulation of secondary CTL responses, antigen on beads was completely inactive in stimulating a primary CTL response by naive spleen cells. The results of mixing experiments by using beads and alloantigen-bearing cells or plasma membrane vesicles indicate that the lack of a primary response may result from a requirement for a soluble factor(s) that is not needed for generation of secondary responses. The unique advantages of cell-size supported membranes for studying antigen recognition by T cells are discussed. The beads can be handled and used like antigen-bearing cells in functional assays, while possessing well-defined, readily varied, and easily quantitated composition.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The requirements for antigen multivalency in class I antigen recognition and triggering of primed precursor cytolytic T lymphocytes.

In vitro generation of a secondary cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to Class I alloantigen requires two signals: recognition of the Class I antigen by precursor CTL (Signal 1), and subsequent interaction with lymphokine(s) (Signal 2). Previous work using subcellular antigen stimulation has demonstrated that the required lymphokine(s) is produced as a result of adherent cell uptake, processing, and Ia-restricted presentation of alloantigen to helper T cells. This pathway could be bypassed by addition to the cultures of supernatant from Con A-stimulated rat spleen cells. When an optimal level of lymphokine(s) is provided by addition of Con A supernatant, the magnitude of the CTL response obtained is dependent on the effectiveness of alloantigen recognition and triggering of the primed precursor CTL (pCTL). By using this approach, we examined the cellular and molecular requirements for generation of Signal 1. Previous results had indicated that pCTL were able to directly recognize subcellular antigen, and that cellular presentation of the antigen to pCTL was not required. Further evidence for this was provided by the finding that pulsing of the responder population for short times with liposomes containing purified H-2Kk resulted in effective stimulation of the response. Exposure of cells to antigen for 1 to 2 hr at 4 degrees C generated responses of comparable magnitude to those obtained when antigen was continuously present in the cultures. Experiments were also done to directly examine the ability of alloantigen-pulsed splenic adherent cells (SAC) to deliver Signal 1. Although the antigen-pulsed SAC were very effective in presenting to helper T cells to result in factor production, they were found to be very ineffective in providing Signal 1 to the pCTL. Having obtained strong evidence for triggering of pCTL occurring via direct recognition of the subcellular alloantigen, we then examined the role of antigen multivalency in recognition and triggering. Purified H-2Kk was prepared in a variety of forms of differing multivalency, ranging from monovalent papain cleavage product to large, highly multivalent liposomes and plasma membranes. The magnitude of the CTL responses obtained was found to be critically dependent on the multivalency of the antigen preparation. Examination of the antigen dose-response curves and maximal responses obtained suggests that valency of the antigen may be important both in determining the avidity of interaction between the pCTL and the antigen-bearing structure, and in determining the extent to which localized receptor cross-linking occurs on the cell surface to result in triggering.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Inhibition of lymphoid cell growth by a lipid-like component of macrophage hybridoma cells.

Previous studies have shown that plasma membranes of murine lymphocytes and lymphoid tumor cells can reversibly inhibit the growth of both normal and transformed lymphocytes. The inhibitor can be extracted with organic solvents and has properties consistent with it being a lipid or lipid-like component of the membrane. This report identifies a series of cloned macrophage hybridoma cell lines, obtained by fusion of splenic adherent cells and the P388D1 line, which have very high levels of lipid-like growth-inhibitory molecules. Furthermore, a survey of seven cloned lines indicated that the macrophages fell into two distinct groups with regard to their level of growth-inhibitory activity. Group 1 lines had little or no inhibitory activity when cells were examined for their effect on a B lymphocyte proliferative response. Organic extracts from these macrophages had inhibitory activity (on a per cell basis) comparable to that seen with extracts of the P388D1 parental cell line and lymphoid tumor cells. In contrast, relatively low numbers of Group 2 macrophages could profoundly inhibit B macrophage proliferation. The growth-inhibitory activity was quantitatively recovered in organic extracts of the macrophages. Although the precise nature of the lipid moiety remains undefined, the data argue against the involvement of oxidized cholesterol. These findings indicate that lipid-like inhibitors of cell growth are present and functional in these macrophage cell lines. In addition, the results demonstrate that the inhibitory activity found in plasma membranes and liposomes is present and active in the membranes of intact cells, which is in contrast to the possibility that the inhibitor is an artifact generated during subcellular fractionation. Thus, the inhibitor is likely to have a physiologic role in growth control and in macrophage-mediated immunoregulation, probably acting via a mechanism involving cell-cell contact.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Agorins: major structural proteins of the plasma membrane skeleton of P815 tumor cells.

Plasma membranes of P815 mastocytoma cells contain a set of proteins that remain selectively insoluble upon extraction of the membranes with Triton X-100, and appear to form a membrane skeletal matrix independent of the filamentous cytoskeletal systems. EGTA treatment of the matrix was found to release approximately 25% of the protein as polypeptides of 70, 69, 38, and 36 kD, all of which appear to be peripheral components associated with the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane via divalent cation-dependent interactions. About 75% of the total matrix protein was recovered in the EGTA-insoluble fraction. Actin accounted for approximately 5% of the total protein in the EGTA-insoluble fraction. The rest was accounted for by two novel proteins of 20 and 40 kD which, despite their relatively low molecular weights, do not enter SDS PAGE gels. Together these proteins account for approximately 15% of the total plasma membrane protein, and are thus present in much higher amounts than any other characterized protein of nucleated cell plasma membranes. Based on the extensive associations of these proteins to form very large detergent-insoluble structures, we propose that they may be named agorin I, the 20-kD protein, and agorin II, the 40-kD protein, from the Greek agora meaning assembly. The amount and properties of these proteins and the appearance of the EGTA-insoluble material in thin-section electron micrographs indicate that the agorins are the major structural elements of the membrane matrix, and thus of the putative membrane skeleton.

Animals↗