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O Lassila

Publications and source records attributed to O Lassila.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Evolutionarily conserved function of CD28 in alpha beta T cell activation.

The functional role of the chicken homologue of CD28 was studied. It is expressed on all thymocytes, and both V beta 1- and V beta 2-family expressing peripheral alpha beta T cells. Peripheral gamma delta T cells are CD28-negative. Monoclonal antibody against CD28 had a costimulatory effect on T cells stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), concanavalin A or MoAb against TCR. V beta 1 and V beta 2 expressing cells responded equally well to stimulation with anti-CD28 in combination with PMA. These responses were resistant to cyclosporin A, but inhibited by herbimycin A, suggesting that CD28 employs a signalling pathway at least partly distinct from that triggered by TCR/CD3. These data indicate a striking conservation of the costimulatory function of CD28 and emphasize the importance of this costimulatory pathway.

Animals↗

Association of anti-U1RNP- and anti-Scl-70-antibodies with neurological manifestations in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

Thirty-one patients with SSc were studied. Eleven patients had anti-Scl-70-, six had anti-U1RNP-, three had anticentromere antibodies, and one both anti-Scl-70- and anticentromere antibodies. Eleven patients (35%) had neurological findings (trigeminal neuropathy, polyneuropathy, in some with myopathy). Eight of these patients (73%) had either anti-U1RNP- or anti-Scl-70-antibodies in their serum. These findings suggest that neurological manifestations are not as uncommon in SSc as previously reported. There are probably subgroups of patients who are more prone to neurological manifestations of scleroderma (mostly patients with anti-U1RNP and possibly those with anti-Scl-70 antibodies).

Adult↗

Central role of CD4+ T cells in avian immune response.

Chicken alpha beta T cells express either CD4 or CD8 accessory molecules, whereas most of the gamma delta T cells do not. The functional significance of the alpha beta T cells is relatively well understood. The CD4+ alpha beta T cells function as coordinators of the immune response, and CD8+ alpha beta T cells are the effector cells in cytotoxic responses, killing infected target cells. In comparison, the role of gamma delta T cells is so far poorly known. In chicken, the gamma delta T cells comprise a large lymphocyte subset. They can be induced to proliferate by various stimuli, but the proliferative response is dependent on CD4+ alpha beta T cells. The CD4+ T cells are also essential for the generation of antibody responses by providing help for the B cells and can influence cytotoxic responses as well. Thus, the CD4+ alpha beta T cells have a central role in the avian immune system, and their activation is a prerequisite for responses by other types of cells, including gamma delta T cells.

Animals↗

[Superantigens].

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Humans↗

Androgen-induced expression of the peripheral blood gamma delta T cell population in the chicken.

Unlike alpha beta T cells, the physiologic significance of gamma delta T cells has remained elusive. In avian species they comprise a large circulating T cell subset. Here we report that in chicken around the time of sexual maturation (4 to 6 mo of age) a significant increase of the gamma delta T cells takes place in male but not in female chickens. The frequency of gamma delta T cells increases both in peripheral blood and spleen, but not in intestinal epithelium. This expansion is independent of MHC haplotype, being observed in various inbred and MHC-recombinant strains. Furthermore, administration of testosterone to young female chickens induces an equivalent increase in the frequency of gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood. These results indicate that sex, through androgens, has an effect on the gamma delta T cell numbers in a species, in which these cells form a major subset of peripheral lymphocytes.

Animals↗

Helper activity of CD4+ alpha beta T cells is required for the avian gamma delta T cell response.

We have studied the in vitro activation of chicken gamma delta T cells. Both splenic alpha beta and gamma delta T cells obtained from complete Freund's adjuvant-primed chickens proliferated in vitro when stimulated with mycobacterial sonicate or purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When CD4+ cells or alpha beta T cell receptor (TcR)-positive cells were removed, both the proliferation and the blast formation of gamma delta T cells in response to mycobacterial antigens were abrogated. The response was restored if supernatant from concanavalin A (Con A)-activated lymphocyte cultures (CAS) as a source of helper factors was added together with the specific antigen purified protein derivative. The CD4- or alpha beta TcR-depleted cells still proliferated in response to Con A, although a decrease of the response was observed. To analyze the gamma delta T cell response more specifically we stimulated peripheral blood cells with immobilized monoclonal antibodies against T cell receptor. Anti-gamma delta TcR antibody alone did not induce significant proliferation. When CAS was added together with the anti-gamma delta TcR monoclonal antibody, a strong proliferation of gamma delta T cells was observed. In contrast, both V beta 1- and V beta 2-expressing alpha beta T cells proliferated in vitro in response to stimulation with the relevant anti-TcR monoclonal antibody alone. Depletion of either V beta 1+ or V beta 2+ T cell subset alone had no negative effect on the proliferation or blast formation of gamma delta T cells stimulated with mycobacterial antigens. Taken together our results suggest that CD4+ alpha beta T cells (both V beta 1- and V beta 2-expressing) play a role in the activation and response of chicken gamma delta T cells.

Animals↗

Familial scleroderma: HLA antigens and autoantibodies.

We report clinical and serological findings as well as the results of extended (HLA-A, B, C, DR and complotype) haplotype determinations of a family with two cases of systemic scleroderma and one case of primary biliary cirrhosis and incomplete CREST syndrome in a sibship of eight. In addition, one of these eight siblings has showed immunological findings of autoimmune disease for years but has not developed clinical symptoms. This family was studied by Soppi et al. in 1982; one member of the family has since then developed primary biliary cirrhosis and incomplete CREST type scleroderma. All family members with scleroderma or related disease as well as their sister with immunological abnormalities share the A2; B8; DR3 haplotype. Also some members of the family share the same haplotype but have remained healthy. This haplotype seems to be a predisposing factor but additional genetic or environmental factors are probably necessary for expression of autoimmune disease.

Adult↗

Involvement of the avian mu heavy chain in recolonization of the bursa of Fabricius.

In the chicken, the B cells develop in a specialized organ, the bursa of Fabricius. Earlier it was shown that neonatal bursal cells treated with polyclonal anti-chicken immunoglobulin antibodies are not able to recolonize the bursa when transferred into cyclophosphamide-treated chicks. In this study, 4-day-old bursal cells were treated with different polyclonal and monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin antibodies and transferred into 4-day-old cyclophosphamide-treated chickens. Two monoclonal anti-chicken IgM antibodies, CVI-59.7 and 21-2B2, recognizing distinct epitopes of the mu heavy chain, were inhibitory. Incubation of cells with 21-2B2 antibody caused about 90% inhibition of bursal recolonization. After incubation with CVI-59.7 antibody the inhibition was 50%. The high inhibition by 21-2B2 antibody was also seen when F(ab')2 fragments of the antibody were used. These results suggest that the entry of the cells needed for bursal recolonization is inhibited almost totally by 21-2B2 antibody, or that this antibody blocks further proliferation of the cells in bursal follicles. In conclusion, we have shown that a mu heavy chain epitope is intimately involved in the recolonization of bursal follicles, and distinct epitopes of the mu heavy chain are not equally important in this process.

Animals↗

Characterization of the putative avian CD2 homologue.

We describe two mouse mAb recognizing the putative chicken homologue of mammalian CD2 Ag and provide evidence for both structural and functional conservation between the avian and mammalian CD2 molecules. The antibodies were T cell-specific and immunoprecipitated a single diffuse band of Mr 40,000 from lysates of surface-labeled chicken thymocytes and peripheral T cells. Removal of N-linked carbohydrate with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F revealed the core protein size of Mr 25,000. A rabbit antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide (CD2-300), composed of 18 amino acid residues of the conserved cytoplasmic domain of human, mouse, and rat CD2, precipitated an Ag similar to chicken CD2. Sequential precipitation with CD2-300 antiserum indicated the conservation of an avian and mammalian CD2 epitope. CD2 expression on thymocytes starts at day 11 of embryonic development, and, during subsequent development, thymic gamma delta cells are all CD2+, whereas most peripheral gamma delta-T cells lack CD2. Functional conservation between the chicken and mammalian CD2 molecules was demonstrated by the induction of DNA synthesis in chicken thymocytes and peripheral T cells with the combination of anti-CD2 mAb and PMA.

Animals↗

Bursectomy of chicken embryos at 60 hours of incubation leads to an oligoclonal B cell compartment and restricted Ig diversity.

Chickens that have been surgically bursectomized at 60 h of embryonic development usually generate Ig producing B cells; however, the bursectomized chickens are incapable of specific antibody responses, even after repeated immunization. In the present work, we analyzed the molecular basis of this immunodeficiency. In the bursectomized chickens, DNA sequencing revealed a repertoire of Ig L and H chains with a low number of different V-J and V-D-J joints, indicating an oligoclonal B cell compartment. In addition, the L and H chains belonging to each B cell clone had similar gene conversion events in the V region. In situ hybridization to Harderian gland tissue sections showed, that B cells of the bursectomized chickens were, however, capable of terminal plasma cell maturation. Thus, in chickens that were lacking the bursal microenvironment, 1) only a few B cell precursors differentiated into mature Ig-producing B cells, 2) low rate of gene conversion resulted in restricted Ig diversity. Regarding the chicken B cell differentiation, the present data support a model that the induction of B cell differentiation is a bursa-independent event, whereas the bursa of Fabricius has a crucial role in the amplification and diversification of the embryonic B cell repertoire.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tissue distribution and appearance in ontogeny of alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR2) in chicken.

We have performed immunoperoxidase staining on cryostat tissue sections and immunofluorescence analysis on cell suspensions to identify cells expressing the alpha/beta T cell antigen receptor during ontogeny and adult life in chickens. We used the mouse monoclonal antibody, TCR2, which was previously shown to recognize the alpha/beta TCR in chickens. TCR2+ cells were observed in thymic cortex and medulla and in T-dependent areas of spleen, intestine, and cecal tonsils of young adult chickens. Some TCR2+ cells were found in the cortex of bursal follicles and in liver. The first TCR2+ cells appear in thymus on Day 13 of the embryonic life and it is only after hatching that TCR2+ cells begin to migrate to the periphery.

Age Factors↗

In vitro organ culture of embryonic bursa of Fabricius.

An in vitro method for organ culture of embryonic bursa of Fabricius is presented. It is shown that bursa cells proliferate in in vitro culture as evidenced by [3H]-thymidine incorporation. We assessed the expression of B-cell alloantigen (Bu-la and Bu-lb), class I (B-F) and class II (B-L) antigens of chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and surface immunoglobulin (sIg) on cultured bursa cells using specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Cells from 13-day and 14-day embryonic bursae incubated in organ culture for 1 to 2 weeks developed characteristic patterns of surface phenotype observed in adult chicken except for B-F antigen, whose expression was much lower than in vivo. These results indicate that the maturation of bursa cells in organ culture follows the in vivo development, except for the expression of MHC class I antigens. Furthermore, we demonstrate the in vitro repopulation of bursae from cyclophosphamide(cy)-treated chickens by cells from Bu-l antigen disparate normal bursae.

Animals↗

Rearrangement of immunoglobulin light chain genes in the chicken occurs prior to colonization of the embryonic bursa of Fabricius.

We have applied polymerase-chain-reaction-directed immunoglobulin gene analysis to study the embryonic differentiation of chicken B cells. Immunoglobulin light chain DNA segments in the rearranged configuration were amplified from cells of the intraembryonic mesenchyme as early as day 7 of incubation. We showed by sequencing that the rearranged variable region genes in these early B-cell progenitors were not different from the germ-line V lambda 1 gene (the single functional light chain variable region gene in chickens). In the bursal B lymphocytes, on the other hand, clear gene conversion events were first observed at day 15 of embryonic development. The present data indicate that rearrangement of light chain genes in the chicken occurs independently of the bursa of Fabricius and that diversification of the variable region begins only later, when the surface immunoglobulin-positive B cells are proliferating in the bursal follicles.

Animals↗

Bu-1 antigen expression as a marker for B cell precursors in chicken embryos.

Genetically polymorphic cell surface antigen, Bu-1, is expressed on B cells as well as on a subset of macrophages. Bu-1+ cells are also present in embryonic spleen and bone marrow, and these could represent prebursal precursors for B cells and Bu-1+ macrophages. To test the repopulation capacity of these cells we sorted 14-day embryonic spleen cells from Bu-1a-homozygous donors into Bu-1a+ and Bu-1a- fractions and transferred them into age-matched irradiated Bu-1b-homozygous recipients. Four to six weeks after hatching, the recipients were analyzed for Bu-1 chimerism. The results demonstrate that B cell precursors are exclusively present in the Bu-1+ population of 14-day embryonic spleen, whereas the Bu-1+ macrophage subpopulation can be repopulated by either the Bu-1+ or the Bu-1- fraction of these embryonic cells. Bone marrow cells from young chickens could also repopulate the Bu-1+ macrophage subset but not the B cell compartment, thus confirming previous data that postnatal bone marrow does not contain B cell precursors. These results demonstrate that all B cell precursors in the 14-day embryonic spleen carry the Bu-1 antigen, and suggest that there is no lineage relationship between the Bu-1+ cells and macrophages.

Animals↗

Emigration of B cells from chicken bursa of Fabricius.

The extent of emigration of cells from the bursa of Fabricius to the periphery was estimated. Per anum application of fluorescein isothiocyanate to label bursal cells in situ was used. Migrant cells can be visualized on frozen sections or cell suspensions of peripheral organs by their fluorescence. The data show that at 2-3 weeks after hatching about 5% of bursal cells leave the bursa per day. Since the bursal cells divide rapidly, this indicates that the vast majority (95%) of bursal cells die in situ. Cells that leave the bursa are surface IgM positive and go first to peripheral blood and later into B cell areas of spleen, thymus and cecal tonsils. The results are also discussed on the basis of their implication for the generation of antibody diversity in the chicken bursa.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin diversification in bursal duct-ligated chickens.

The role of external antigen contact on immunoglobulin (Ig) diversification occurring in chicken bursal cells was evaluated. The entry of environmental antigens into the lumen of the bursa of Fabricius was prevented by ligating the bursal duct prior to hatching (BDL: bursal duct ligation). We used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to compare the heterogeneity of Ig molecules from bursa cells of normal and BDL chickens. We have found that Ig diversity obtained from BDL chickens' bursae in two-dimensional gel analysis was similar to that of control birds. Furthermore, by using two monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies to study intrabursal Ig diversification we have shown that frequencies of the Cld-1 and Cld-2 idiotypes were also unaltered following bursal ligation. We conclude that primary B cell diversification in the bursa is independent of the external antigen flow from the bursal lumen.

Age Factors↗

A role for Lys-His-Gly-NH2 in avian and murine B cell development.

Lys-His-Gly-NH2 has been claimed to selectively induce B cell precursors to differentiate into mature B lymphocytes. In the present study, the effects of this tripeptide and a control compound having the reverse sequence (Gly-His-Lys-NH2) on growth and differentiation of chicken and mouse B cell precursors were investigated. When chicken bone marrow (BM) cells from 15-day-old embryos were treated for 18 hr with either of the tripeptides, the frequency of Bu-1 antigen-bearing cells increased. Moreover, when embryonic bursa cells were stimulated in vitro with phorbol myristate acetate, which induces them to proliferate and undergo terminal differentiation into immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting cells, these compounds caused a 10-fold increase in the number of Ig-secreting cells but did not increase cell proliferation. They had no effect on neonatal or adult bursa cells. Embryonic bursa cells were cultured in the presence of either of the tripeptides and metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine. When immunoprecipitated Ig was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, no differences in mu heavy or lambda light chain diversity patterns could be detected, indicating that neither of these compounds enhances Ig diversification. The effect of these tripeptides on murine B cell precursors was assayed in cultures of BM cells depleted of mature B cells by 5-fluorouracil. When precursor cells were incubated without adherent BM stromal cells, they did not respond to the tripeptides. However, after incubation of precursors with adherent stromal BM cells for 2 days, followed by treatment with either of the two tripeptides, differentiation into lipopolysaccharide-reactive mature B cells took place. Incubation of precursors with adherent stromal BM cells in the absence of tripeptides was not sufficient to allow the precursors to complete differentiation. In addition, both tripeptides acted synergistically with interleukin 1 or interleukin 3. In conclusion, these tripeptides seem to enhance precursor B cell differentiation in a lineage-nonspecific manner rather than to function as lineage-specific differentiation hormones.

Animals↗