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T H Hansen

Publications and source records attributed to T H Hansen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Localization of the mouse gene releasing sex-limited expression of Slp.

To probe genetic variation in the regulation of sexual dimorphism, we have characterized the mouse protein Slp, coded by the gene sex-limited protein (Slp). Slp expression in many strains is limited to males and is androgen-dependent. However, female expression is also observed in rare strains, due to nonlinked gene(s) termed regulator of sex-limitation (rsl). In this report we demonstrate that female expression of Slp results from homozygous recessive allele(s) at a single autosomal locus that maps to a 2.2-centimorgan interval on chromosome 13. This conclusion was supported by extensive genetic analyses including the use of polymorphic microsatellites to type numerous backcross progeny and a recombinant inbred series and to identify the congenic interval in three independently derived congenic strains. Four attractive candidate genes were identified by the localization of rsl. Interestingly, rsl was found not only to enable expression in females but to also increase expression in males. The findings suggest that the expression of Slp and perhaps other sexually dimorphic proteins is regulated by two pathways, one that is dependent upon rsl but not androgens and another that is rsl-independent but requires androgens.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

TAP associates with a unique class I conformation, whereas calnexin associates with multiple class I forms in mouse and man.

To define the rules governing de novo assembly of the trimeric class I complex, we have identified the class I folding/assembly intermediates associated with calnexin or TAP, using both human and mouse cell lines. To better characterize the class I H chain structure associated with TAP, mouse mAb that distinguish open (64-3-7+) vs folded (30-5-7+) Ld heavy (H) chains were used. We report here that open forms of Ld are uniquely and specifically associated with TAP and that the conformational change in the class I H chain coincident with peptide binding induces TAP release. Chimeric Ld/Q10 displayed TAP association, demonstrating that soluble class I molecules can bind TAP. As previously reported, beta 2m was found to be required for H chain association with TAP. Interestingly, beta 2m was associated with TAP in the human class I-negative cell line LCL 721.221, suggesting that beta 2m can bind to TAP before class I H chain. In contrast to TAP, which binds a specific class I conformation, calnexin was detected in association with multiple forms of both mouse and human class I. Most significantly, we show for the first time that beta 2m-assembled forms of human as well as mouse class I molecules interact with calnexin. Based on these findings, we propose a model for the sequential assembly of class I heterotrimers and their respective interactions with TAP and calnexin.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1995

Aglycosylated and phosphatidylinositol-anchored MHC class I molecules are associated with calnexin. Evidence implicating the class I-connecting peptide segment in calnexin association.

The endoplasmic reticulum resident protein calnexin interacts with several glycoproteins including class I MHC molecules. Calnexin is thought to retain free class I heavy chains and/or promote their folding and assembly with beta 2-microglobulin and peptide ligand. Whereas with other glycoproteins, Asn-linked glycans seem to be involved in calnexin association, with class I molecules the transmembrane region has been implicated. To critically define the structures on class I molecules that determine their interaction with calnexin, we have studied carbohydrate-deficient and transmembrane-variant class I molecules. Carbohydrate-deficient class I molecules were found to accumulate intracellularly in an open, non-beta 2-microglobulin-associated conformation. However, open as well as conformed class I molecules showed significant calnexin association whether they were aglycosylated or fully glycosylated. Thus, carbohydrate moieties may be necessary for efficient class I folding, but are not required for calnexin association. Calnexin was also found associated with a soluble class I molecule that has a truncated transmembrane segment, demonstrating that membrane attachment of class I is not required for interaction with calnexin. Finally, two isoforms of the class Ib molecule Q7b were compared. Unexpectedly, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Q7b isoform was found associated with calnexin, whereas the soluble Q7b isoform was not calnexin associated. These comparisons of Q7b isoforms implicate the class I-connecting peptide segment and not the transmembrane region as a site of interaction with calnexin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Peptide-induced rescue of serologic epitopes on class I MHC molecules.

To monitor conformational changes in MHC class I structure induced by interaction with peptide or beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m), we have taken a serologic approach. Previous studies by us and others have defined circumstances wherein specific peptides can decrease serologic recognition of class I molecules. However, such blocking of serologic epitopes has often been interpreted as steric hindrance by peptide side chains. In this paper, we describe peptide-induced gains in recognition by mAbs 30-5-7, 34-1-2, and B22/249. In experiments with mAb 30-5-7, impaired reactivity, which resulted from an Ld loop mutation, was specifically rescued by the binding of a beta-galactosidase-derived peptide to the Ld mutant. In studies with mAb 34-1-2, poor Ld detection was enhanced by mutations in Ld at beta 2-m interaction sites or by changes within the peptide-binding groove. To evaluate whether known peptides in the Ld groove could influence 34-1-2 recognition, we tested six peptide ligands, four of which increased the reactivity of 34-1-2 with the Ld-expressing cell to various degrees (up to 14-fold). It is of interest that Ld mutations at position 9 and 95/97 made significant differences in the ranking of the peptides in regard to their ability to increase recognition by 34-1-2 and B22/249. This finding suggests that mutations in the binding groove can alter peptide conformation and result in secondary changes in class I structure. On the basis of the cumulative serologic data, we propose that the class I molecule displays considerable fluidity, and is structurally influenced by both beta 2-m and peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Induction of peptide-specific CD8+ CTL clones in beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice.

We have examined the ability of beta 2-m- mice to produce CD4-8+ T cells by generating CD8+ CTLs to a defined ligand. We report here the first demonstration of peptide-specific, self-class I MHC-restricted CTLs from beta 2-m-deficient mice. We have used the KOD mouse, an H-2d beta 2-m- strain, to generate CTLs that recognize the class I MHC molecule Ld in association with one of two Ld-binding immunogenic peptides. Testing of these CTLs on a panel of Ld-binding peptides reveals a high degree of peptide specificity. Peptide-specific CTL bulk cultures from KOD mice differ from those generated in beta 2-m+ mice in that they possess altered affinities for their peptide ligands. In addition, we show that CTLs generated from beta 2-m- mice in the presence of beta 2-m+ stimulator cells and exogenous peptide are specific either for the exogenous peptide or for endogenous peptides that are present in association with Ld on the surface of beta 2-m+ cells, but are not present at detectable levels on beta 2-m- cells. These results demonstrate that positive selection of CD8+ CTLs can occur in vivo on the very low levels of class I MHC found in the KOD mouse. Furthermore, CTLs from the KOD mouse maintain a high degree of peptide specificity despite reduced levels of class I MHC.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Beta 2-microglobulin with an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal increases the surface expression of folded class I major histocompatibility complex molecules.

With beta 2-microglobulin- (beta 2m-) cell lines such as R1E/Db, the surface expression of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules is greatly impaired, and class I molecules that are on the surface are generally misfolded. To determine whether beta 2m must be continually present with the class I heavy chain for the class I molecule to reach the surface in a folded conformation, a sequence encoding an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal (KDEL) was attached onto the 3' end of a beta 2m cDNA. After this chimeric cDNA was transfected into R1E/Db cells, beta 2m-KDEL protein was detectable by an anti-beta 2m serum within the cells but not at the cell surface. Interestingly, R1E/Db cells transfected with beta 2m-KDEL were found to express a high level of conformationally correct Db molecules at the cell surface. This observation implies that beta 2m has a critical and temporal role in the de novo folding of the class I heavy chain. We propose that the critical time for beta 2m association is when the class I molecule is docked with the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and first interacts with peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Mouse H2 congenic intervals: analysis and use for mapping.

In this study we exploit the unique genetic resource of inbred mouse major histocompatibility complex (H2) congenic and recombinant strains to construct a high-resolution map of microsatellite loci in and around the H2 region, as well as an independent genetic map of other loci on mouse Chromosome (Chr) 17. Microsatellite loci were analyzed in 11 C57BL/10 (B10) strains to determine the size of the congenic interval in each. The length of the congenic interval found in each strain varied widely. Interestingly, the intervals were generally smaller than statistical expectations. However, the observed congenic intervals were still sufficiently long that these strains and probably wild-derived H2 congenics are an important source of genetic variability. The staggered ends of the various congenic intervals and the recombinants were used to construct the map. This map will be useful for physical cloning and to help localize novel genes. As evidence of the mapping application of congenic strains, locational information was derived about Trp53-ps and Stl.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Chronic pancreatitis and extrapancreatic cancer: a retrospective study among 181 patients with chronic pancreatitis.

The relationship between chronic pancreatitis (CP) and extrapancreatic cancer has been debated in the recent years. In prospective studies, it has been found that pancreatic cancer develops in 0-5% of patients with chronic pancreatitis. Many papers describe an increased relative risk for developing extrapancreatic cancer in patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis. In this study including 181 patients with CP, we found 14 patients with extrapancreatic cancer (three of these had two different types of cancer). No patient had pancreatic cancer. It was found that the respiratory airways and upper gastrointestinal tract were the dominating locations (five and four cases, respectively), but also genital and hemolymphopoietic cancers were represented (four and two cases, respectively). Two patients had metastatic cancer with unknown primary tumor. The patients with cancer tended to be older than those without cancer. The patients with CP had a 2.43 times greater risk of developing cancer than the general Danish population (age and sex standardized comparison). The relatively large number of cancers in the upper gastrointestinal tract and respiratory airways suggest that tobacco and alcohol may be responsible, as these organs have the highest exposure to these compounds, which are well known carcinogens.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of class I MHC folding intermediates and their disparate interactions with peptide and beta 2-microglobulin.

Newly synthesized class I heavy chains achieve domain structure using disulfide bonds, assemble with beta-2 microglobulin (beta 2m), and bind peptide ligand to complete the trimeric complex. Although each of these initial events is thought to be critical for class I folding, their sequential order and effect on class I structure are unknown. Using mAb specific for distinct conformations of H-2Ld and Lq, we have defined folding intermediates of class I molecules. We show here that non-peptide-associated forms of Ld or Lq, detected by mAb 64-3-7 and designated L alt, lack numerous conformational epitopes surrounding their ligand binding sites. These results support the notion that L alt molecules have an open conformation. Interestingly, a significant proportion of L alt molecules were detected in association with beta 2m and these L alt/beta 2m heterodimers were preferentially folded by peptide in cell lysates. These findings indicate that class I heavy chain/beta 2m association can precede ligand binding and that peptide is probably the limiting factor for completion of the Ld/beta 2m/peptide trimeric complex in vivo. The characteristics of L alt molecules were investigated further by ascertaining the disulfide bond status of these molecules and their association with beta 2m and peptide. Treatment of cells with dithiothreitol (DTT), a membrane-permeable reducing agent, demonstrated that L alt molecules constitute a heterogeneous population including reduced, partially reduced and native class I molecules. Furthermore, partially reduced Ld alt molecules, in a cell line expressing a mutant Ld molecule lacking the alpha 2 domain disulfide bond, accumulated intracellularly, were not beta 2m-associated and displayed marginal peptide-induced folding in vitro. In accordance with this latter finding, peptide was found to preferentially convert fully disulfide-bonded forms of Ld alt to conformed Ld. Thus, we propose that intrachain disulfide bond formation precedes the association of class I heavy chain with beta 2m and peptide, and that disulfide bond formation is required for efficient assembly, ligand binding and folding of the class I heavy chain.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Exogenous peptide ligand influences the expression and half-life of free HLA class I heavy chains ubiquitously detected at the cell surface.

A pool of free HLA class I chains has been detected at the plasma membrane of all cells concomitantly expressing folded and assembled class I molecules. To determine the origin of these free HLA heavy chains, we have examined the biosynthesis of a single HLA class I molecule, HLA-B27, expressed by a murine cell line (L-B27). In L-B27 cells, as previously shown in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines, a precursor/product relationship exists, early in biosynthesis, between free (HC10-reactive) and beta-2-microglobulin (beta 2m)-associated (W6/32-reactive) class I heavy chains as demonstrated by pulse/chase experiments. At later stages in class I biosynthesis, both HC10- and W6/32-reactive heavy chains display complex oligosaccharides and accumulate at the cell surface. HC10- and W6/32-reactive molecules are both very stable at the cell surface, with half-lifes (t1/2) of > 7 h and approximately 4 h, respectively. Interestingly, cell surface expression and turnover of HC10- and W6/32-reactive molecules were affected by the addition of peptide ligands to the culture media. Culturing cells in the presence of HLA-B27 ligands resulted in the increased expression of W6/32-reactive molecules and the decreased expression of HC10-reactive molecules. Moreover, addition of exogenous peptide extended the t1/2 of W6/32-reactive molecules to > 7 h and reduced that of HC10-reactive molecules to 4 h. These results indicate that surface HC10-reactive molecules result largely from W6/32-reactive molecules following peptide and beta 2m dissociation. Therefore, HC10-reactive species are not only the precursors but also the end products in class I biosynthesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Bcl-2 is upregulated at the CD4+ CD8+ stage during positive selection and promotes thymocyte differentiation at several control points.

In vivo thymocyte maturation models were used to investigate the differentiation role of Bcl-2. In alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR) class II-restricted transgenic mice, Bcl-2 was upregulated at the CD4+ CD8+ stage during positive selection. The lckpr-bcl2 transgene was bred onto MHC classes I-I- and II-I-, MHC-I-, and alpha/beta TCR backgrounds to determine whether Bcl-2 promoted thymocyte maturation in the absence of coreceptor-MHC interaction. Bcl-2 rescued CD8+ thymocytes in class I-I- and alpha/beta TCR in mice; however, they were not exported to the periphery. Bcl-2 had no effect on CD4 lineage maturation in class II-I- mice. No single-positive thymocytes accumulate in MHC-I- mice despite overexpressed Bcl-2. Thus, Bcl-2 enables selection of certain TCRs on class II molecules and their differentiation along the CD8 pathway; however, Bcl-2 did not substitute for positive selection. In RAG-1-I- mice, Bcl-2 promoted differentiation to the CD4+ CD8+ stage. Bcl-2 can promote thymocyte maturation at several control points.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Definition of TCR recognition sites on Ld-tum- complexes.

The P911 variant of the P815 mastocytoma was shown by Lurquin et al. (Cell 58:293, 1989) to elicit rapid tumor rejection in a syngeneic host. This rejection was mediated by Ld-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) for which targets could be sensitized by the synthetic peptide designated tum- (P91A-.12-24). In a previous study, T cell clones specific for Ld-tum- complexes displayed very restricted TCR usage and a characteristic TCR motif in the V alpha CDR3 region, predicted to interact with peptide. However, in contrast to the majority of Ld peptide ligands that are nonamers, the tum- peptide is a 13-mer and its sequence does not fit the Ld binding motif. Thus, to define shorter versions of the tum- 13-mer and residues involved in TCR recognition, nonamer derivatives were synthesized and compared in several different binding and functional assays. From these comparisons, the peptide TQNHRALDL was found to be the optimal nonamer. CTL recognition of Ala-substituted analogues of this peptide indicated that the His and Arg residues at positions 4 and 5 are important for TCR contact. We propose that these basic residues of the tum- peptide interact with the previously defined acidic residues in the CDR3 region of several TCR known to recognize Ld-tum- complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

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Aged↗
PubMed1993

Model for the in vivo assembly of nascent Ld class I molecules and for the expression of unfolded Ld molecules at the cell surface.

To characterize the process of class I assembly and maturation, we have studied the Ld molecule of the mouse. Previous studies have shown that a significant proportion of intracellular and surface Ld molecules can be detected in an alternative conformation designated Ldalt1. Nascent Ldalt molecules are non-peptide ligand associated and are weakly associated with beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m). Unexpectedly, when monoclonal antibodies were added directly to the lysis buffer, significant amounts of Ldalt/beta 2m heterodimer were detected, suggesting that beta 2m association is not necessarily sufficient to induce Ld conformation. By contrast, addition of peptide to cell lysates rapidly induced the folding of beta 2m-associated Ldalt to conformed Ld. Furthermore, the time course and dynamics of this conversion correlated precisely with peptide binding to Ld. The precursor-product relationship of Ldalt and conformed Ld was also visualized in vivo by pulse-chase analysis of BALB/c splenocytes. To investigate the factors that regulate intracellular transport of class I molecules, expression of Ld was studied in the peptide transport-deficient cell line, RMA.S-Ld, and in beta 2m-/- splenocytes. In contrast to wild-type cell lines, both Ldalt and conformed Ld are poorly expressed at the cell surface of RMA.S-Ld and beta 2m-/- splenocytes. Therefore, surface expression of Ldalt is dependent upon the concomitant expression of conformed Ld molecules. To determine whether surface Ldalt molecules can result from melting of conformed Ld molecules, surface Ld molecules were loaded with several different known Ld peptide ligands. Complexes of Ld with different ligands were found to have dramatically disparate surface half-lives. Importantly, the Ld peptide complexes that turned over the most rapidly resulted in the most gain in surface Ldalt, implying that peptide dissociation can induce the accumulation of nonconformed Ld heavy chains at the cell surface.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Binding of peptides lacking consensus anchor residue alters H-2Ld serologic recognition.

CTL recognize class I MHC/peptide complexes on the surface of target cells. Crystallographic and serologic data have indicated that peptide ligands can influence the conformation of class I molecules and hence T cell recognition. How the binding of peptides with disparate sequence motifs affects the conformation of distinct regions within a class I molecule remains unknown. A series of site-directed mutants of the murine class I molecule H-2Ld was studied to address this question. These mutants were generated by in vitro mutagenesis and used to map the serologic epitopes recognized by a panel of Ld-reactive mAb. The influence of six different ligands on serologic recognition by these mAb was then examined. Of 12 mAb tested, only one, B22/249, was found to be significantly influenced by the bound peptide. Peptide discrimination by B22/249 was observed at the cell surface and in immunoprecipitates of Ld after incubation with two of the six ligands. The two peptides that caused suboptimal B22/249 recognition of Ld/peptide lack a proline at position 2, which is present in the other four peptides and has previously been defined as an anchor residue for Ld ligands. The epitope on Ld detected by mAb B22/249 includes residues 63 to 70 on the alpha 1 domain helix. Two of these residues are in pocket B, which computer modeling predicts to be in contact with the second residue of Ld-binding peptides. Therefore, these data imply that a mAb to a class I molecule can distinguish peptides with different motifs, possibly reflecting peptide-dependent conformational changes in the class I molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Specific prolongation of allograft survival by a T-cell-receptor-derived peptide.

Allograft rejection results from the specific recognition by host CD8+ T cells of allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the tissue graft. The specificity of this cellular response is determined by the molecular interaction of the T-cell receptor (TCR) on host T cells with the MHC molecule and its bound ligand on the grafted tissue. To better understand the precise manner by which the TCR interacts with the MHC-peptide complex and how to therapeutically intervene, we have studied the allogeneic response to the mouse class I MHC molecule Ld. In this report, the therapeutic potential of a synthetic peptide derived from the TCR V beta 8 variable region that predominates in responses to Ld was tested. This V beta 8-derived peptide was found to dramatically and specifically block the in vivo and in vitro allogeneic response to Ld. Furthermore, this specific blocking is not dependent upon the presence of V beta 8+ effector cells nor does the V beta 8 peptide bind to the Ld ligand binding cleft. We propose that this peptide functions as an antagonist, competing with the native TCR for recognition of the Ld molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes generated in the presence of viral-derived peptides show exquisite peptide and MHC specificity.

The nature of alloreactivity to MHC molecules has been enigmatic, primarily because of the observation that allogeneic responses are considerably stronger than syngeneic responses. To better determine the specificity potential of allogeneic responses, we have generated alloreactive CTL specific for exogenous, viral-derived peptide ligands. This approach allowed us to critically evaluate both the peptide- and MHC-specificity of these alloreactive T cells. Exploiting the accessibility of the H-2Ld class I molecule for exogenous peptide ligands, alloreactive CTL were generated that are specific for either murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) or lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) peptides bound by Ld alloantigens. Peptide specificity was initially observed in bulk cultures of alloreactive CTL only when tested on peptide-sensitized T2.Ld target cells that have defective presentation of endogenous peptides. Subsequent cloning of bulk alloreactive CTL lines generated to MCMV yielded CTL clones that had exquisitely specific MCMV peptide recognition requirement. All of the MCMV/Ld alloreactive CTL clones were also exquisitely MHC-specific in that none of the CTL clones lysed targets expressing MCMV/Lq complexes, even though Lq differs from Ld by only six amino acid residues and Lq also binds the MCMV peptide. This observation clearly demonstrates that alloreactive CTL are capable of the same degree of specificity for target cell recognition as are syngeneic CTL in MHC-restricted responses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗