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V Cerundolo

Publications and source records attributed to V Cerundolo.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Short peptides assist the folding of free class I heavy chains in solution.

Previous experiments have shown that short peptides coresponding to naturally processed epitopes of viral antigens can induce a conformational change in the class I heavy chain (HC) to which they bind in the fully assembled molecule. Here, we present evidence that the mechanism for this conformational change may involve binding of peptide to a partially unfolded form of free HC, followed by its subsequent folding. These results may be important for understanding the way in which class I molecules are assembled in vivo, and how certain epitopes are selected for presentation to T cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Antitumour efficacy of lymphokine-activated killer cells loaded with ricin against experimentally induced lung metastases.

Adoptive transfer of tumour-specific T lymphocytes loaded with ricin into tumour-bearing mice exerts a transient therapeutic effect against locally induced tumours [Cerundolo et al. (1987) Br J Cancer 55: 413]. As transferred cells preferentially locate in the lung, we studied the therapeutic effect of ricin-loaded, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells on lung metastases induced by M4 or B16-F1 (F1) tumour cell injection. In vitro studies demonstrated that ricin-treated LAK cells were about 100-fold more efficient than untreated LAK cells in inhibiting growth of the ricin-sensitive M4 tumour cell line. This effect was most likely due to the released ricin, as treated and untreated LAK cells inhibited the relatively toxin-resistant F1 cell line to the same extent. Ricin treatment did not alter the tissue distribution of intravenously (i.v.) injected LAK cells, which selectively localized in the lung early after inoculation, whether or not metastases were present. Adoptive transfer experiments showed that ricin-treated LAK cells were significantly more efficient than untreated LAK cells in inhibiting M4- but not F1-induced lung metastases. These results indicate that LAK cells are able to deliver a therapeutic concentration of antineoplastic compounds directly to the lung.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Peptide-induced conformational change of the class I heavy chain.

There is evidence that peptide ligands take part in the assembly of class I molecules. In particular, addition of peptides to extracts of the mutant cells RMA-S and .174/T2, in which stable assembly of class I does not occur, results in a conformational change in the class I heavy chain and stable association of the heavy chain with beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m). Thus specific peptides may stabilize or induce a conformational change in the class I heavy chain that results in a rise in the binding affinity of the heavy chain for beta 2m (Fig. 1a). Here we show that peptides have two cooperative roles in class I assembly. Specific short peptides (9-10 amino acids) can induce folding of the heavy chain in the absence of beta 2m. Both short (nine amino acids) and longer sequences (15 amino acids) can stabilize performed low-affinity complexes of heavy chain and beta 2m. To alter the conformation of free heavy chains, the peptides must be exactly the correct size, and they are found to correspond to the sequences isolated from infected cells. This property may therefore be the basis for selection of epitopes presented in vivo.

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed1991

CD8 independence and specificity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes restricted by HLA-Aw68.1.

The crystal structure of the HLA-Aw68.1 antigen binding site revealed a negatively charged pocket centred on aspartic acid 74 (Garrett et al. 1989). Access to this '74 pocket' is blocked in HLA-Aw68.2 and HLA-Aw69 by two substitutions at positions 97 and 116. This key feature suggests that the Aw68.1-peptide-specific interactions may involve salt bridges between oppositely charged residues. In this paper, the influenza epitope recognized by virus-specific HLA-Aw68.1-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been defined in vitro with a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 89-101 of the nucleoprotein (NP). Amino acid substitutions of the peptide NP 89-101 showed that the arginine at position 99 is an anchor point of the peptide within the Aw68.1 antigen binding site. Consistent with this we find that neither HLA-Aw68.2 nor HLA-Aw69 positive cells can present peptide NP 89-101 to Aw68.1-restricted CTL. Our results therefore suggest a model in which presentation of NP 89-101 by HLA-Aw68.1 is dependent upon interaction of the positively charged arginine residue at position 99 of the peptide, with the negatively charged aspartic acid in the '74 pocket' of HLA-Aw68.1. We also show that influenza-virus-specific HLA-Aw68.1-restricted CTL are CD8 independent. This result is consistent with the low affinity of HLA-Aw68.1 for CD8 (Salter et al. 1989) and reveals a unique example of CD8-independent priming of CTL by natural infection with a common pathogen in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

A quantitative assay of peptide-dependent class I assembly.

We have developed a quantitative assay for the measurement of class I assembly induced by peptide. We have applied this assay to H-2Db, Kb and HLA-A2.1 with a panel of 49 overlapping peptides derived from HIV-1 gag protein. We find that the effects of peptide on assembly form a continuous distribution. By defining positives as those that increase the concentration of folded heavy chains more than three standard deviations from the control we show that 7/48 bind A2.1, 11/49 bind Db and 7/47 bind Kb. The assembly assay contrasts with solid-phase assays in being more discriminating (fewer peptides binding any given class I molecule), and showing less overlap in the patterns of peptides bound by the three class I molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The binding affinity and dissociation rates of peptides for class I major histocompatibility complex molecules.

Peptides of various lengths derived from the influenza nucleoprotein (NP) bind to H-2Db class I molecules with affinities at 4 degrees C between approximately 3 x 10(5)- approximately 3 x 10(7) M-1. The peptide with the highest affinity corresponds to the sequence of nine amino acids (NP366-374) recently isolated from cells infected with influenza. This peptide forms stable complexes with half-lives greater than 110 h at 4 degrees C, 39 h at 22 degrees C and 3 h at 37 degrees C. Small increases in length of the peptide greatly reduce the stability of the complex (t1/2 approximately 1-10 h at 4 degrees C). These results may explain the homogeneous length of peptides isolated from class I molecules formed in vivo, and suggest that class I and II may differ in their dependence on the length of peptides for the formation of stable complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Antigen presentation and the association of class-I molecules.

We have identified two mutant cell lines which are not able to present epitopes of influenza virus synthesized in the cytoplasm but can present the same epitope when exposed to it as a peptide in the extracellular medium. The cell lines also have a defect in class-I assembly, with reduced expression of assembled alpha chain: beta 2M heterodimers at their cell surface. This led to the suggestion that the two traits were the result of the same mutation and that stable assembly of class-I molecules is dependent on peptide binding. Consistent with this idea was the finding that exposure to specific peptides in the extracellular fluid promotes stable association of class-I heavy chains with beta 2M and restores expression of class-I at the cell surface. We have gone on to show that stable assembly of class-I molecules can be supported in detergent extracts of the mutant cells when specific peptides are added. Peptides stabilized a conformational change in the class-I heavy chain and association with beta 2M by binding to the complexes. This effect is apparent at peptide concentrations around 100-fold lower than required in "peptide feeding" experiments with whole cells. We have also demonstrated that the conformational change induced in heavy chain is influenced by the concentration of beta 2M, and consequently have been able to demonstrate the formation of empty class-I molecules.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Adoptive immunotherapy of experimental tumors using cytotoxic lymphocytes to carry and deliver toxins.

Adoptive transfer of specifically sensitized lymphoid cells constitutes a potential tool for specific cancer immunotherapy, however, the requirement of syngeneic or autologous specifically reactive cells has limited its use in the treatment of human cancer. In several mouse tumor models, large amounts of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells associated with high doses of interleukin 2 (IL-2) are able to mediate the regression of established pulmonary and hepatic metastases. Since LAK cells are more easily generated than specifically sensitized lymphocytes and show broad tumor specificity, this approach has been applied in humans to treat cancer, but the acute toxicity associated with the high doses of IL-2 administered represents an important drawback to its clinical use. The observation that lymphocytes can internalize ricin, a toxic plant protein, and then release it in an active form, capable of destroying other cells, led us to investigate the possibility of using antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) or LAK cells as carriers of toxic substances to the tumor site. In our experimental models we observed that tumor-specific CTL or LAK cells can be used to deliver ricin into the tumor mass and cause temporary tumor growth inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Assembly of MHC class I molecules analyzed in vitro.

Recent evidence suggests that peptide ligands take part in the assembly of class I molecules in living cells. We now describe a simple system for studying class I assembly in vitro. Detergent extracts of the mutant cells RMA-S and .174, in which class I assembly does not occur spontaneously, will support assembly in vitro when specific peptides are added. Peptides stabilize a conformational change in the class I heavy chain and association with beta 2-microglobulin, at concentrations approximately 100-fold lower than required in "peptide feeding" experiments with whole cells. We show that peptides bind class I molecules during assembly and demonstrate that the conformational change induced in the heavy chain is influenced by the concentrations of both peptide and beta 2-microglobulin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Presentation of viral antigen controlled by a gene in the major histocompatibility complex.

We describe a mutant human cell line (LBL 721.174) that has lost a function required for presentation of intracellular viral antigens with class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), but retains the capacity to present defined epitopes as extracellular peptides. The cell also has a defect in the assembly and expression of class I MHC molecules, which we show can be restored by exposure of the cells to a peptide epitope. This phenotype suggests a defect in the association of intracellular antigen with class I molecules similar to that described for the murine mutant RMA-S (ref. 5), but in the present case the genetic defect can be mapped within the MHC locus on human chromosome 6.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMed1989

Interaction of lymphokine-activated killer cells with susceptible targets does not induce second messenger generation and cytolytic granule exocytosis.

CTL activation by specific targets leads to a rapid rise of inositol phosphates (InsPs) and of cytoplasmic-free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). While these events are considered necessary to trigger granule secretion, Ca2+-independent cytolytic mechanisms have been recently proposed in addition or as an alternative to the classical Ca2+-dependent exocytosis model. We observed that lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, obtained after stimulation with supraoptimal concentrations of IL-2 in short- or long-term cultures, kill susceptible targets in the absence of a [Ca2+]i rise and InsP3 formation. Moreover, LAK cell-mediated lysis was not associated with an increase in cytotoxic granule exocytosis, as evaluated by BLT-esterase release into the culture supernatant. Furthermore, using an antigen-specific CTL clone, which acquires LAK-like activity when cultured in medium containing high IL-2 doses, second messenger generation and cytolytic granule content secretion were not detected during lysis of unrelated target cells, while killing of specific targets triggered both these processes. These findings suggest that two lytic pathways may coexist in the same effector cells: a second messenger-dependent pathway involving degranulation, which is activated after TCR interaction with specific targets, and another pathway, independent of any known second messenger generation, responsible for unrelated target cell lysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Resistance of lymphokine-activated T lymphocytes to cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

We observed that lymphokine-activated T lymphocytes, obtained in short- and long-term cultures following stimulation with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), are resistant to cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In particular, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells do not undergo self-lysis or lysis by alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), in line with recent reports concerning CTL clones. Similar findings were further confirmed in a lectin-dependent cell cytotoxicity assay. LAK cell lysis resistance was not due to an inability to recognize itself, since inactivated LAK cells used as cold competitors inhibited tumor cell lysis in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the addition on Day 0 of irradiated LAK cells or alloreactive CTL, as well as a CTL clone having LAK-like activity to rIL-2-stimulated cultures abrogated or strongly reduced LAK cell generation. Therefore, LAK cell precursors were most likely susceptible to the lytic activity of differentiated cytotoxic cells, as no inhibition was detected when cell to cell contact was prevented by using a diffusible chamber culture system. These findings, on the whole, suggest that the emergence of the lysis-resistant phenotype is most likely the result of a selective process occurring in vitro that leads to the elimination of lysis-susceptible lymphocytes present in culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Calcium and inositolphosphates in the activation of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Reports from a number of laboratories have shown that mAbs against the T3-Ti receptor complex cause an increase in cytosolic-free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) and the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositolbisphosphate (PIP2) in CTLs. In the present report we show that activation of CTLs by their specific targets causes: (a) release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores; (b) transient formation of inositol trisphosphate (InsP3); and (c) an increased permeability to Ca2+ of CTL plasma membrane. Killing of unrelated targets could be induced by cocentrifugation of the unrelated targets with CTLs in the presence of A23187 or PMA. We conclude that: (a) activation of CTLs by specific antigens triggers the generation of the same intracellular mediators generated by stimulation of lymphocytes with anti-T3-Ti receptor antibodies and/or with polyclonal mitogens; and (b) intracellular signals that mediate the delivery of the lethal hit by CTLs are indistinguishable from those that induce cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Functional activity in vivo of effector T cell populations. III. Protection against Moloney murine sarcoma virus (M-MSV)-induced tumors in T cell deficient mice by the adoptive transfer of a M-MSV-specific cytolytic T lymphocyte clone.

The functional activity of Moloney murine sarcoma virus (M-MSV)-specific T lymphocytes in vivo was assayed by the i.v. injection of virus-specific T lymphocytes into T cell-deficient "B mice". Virus-specific T lymphocytes generated in mixed lymphocyte tumor cell cultures were transferred i.v. into syngeneic "B mice" injected simultaneously at a distant site with the virus. These experiments indicated that a low dose (1 X 10(6) cultured cells) of infused lymphocytes can afford protection. To define the T lymphocyte subpopulation which was active, Lyt-2+ lymphocytes were selected by "panning" on plastic petri dishes coated with anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibody, and Lyt-2- lymphocytes selected by treatment with anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibody and complement. The results indicated that a Lyt-2+ lymphocyte-enriched population was more efficient in conferring protection against M-MSV-induced tumors. To investigate if cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) alone had a protective effect, a M-MSV-specific CTL clone was transferred in the same model system. The results demonstrated that a M-MSV-specific CTL clone prevented M-MSV-induced tumor growth and also induced the destruction of syngeneic Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV)-induced MBL-2 leukemic cells in the peritoneal cavity. However, the cell dose required to obtain protection using a CTL clone was higher than that which was effective when mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture cells were used. To assess the ability of the transferred cells to home and to repopulate the lymphoid organs of the "B mice", the frequency of virus-specific CTL precursors in the spleen was evaluated by limiting dilution analysis. The results indicated that lymphocytes from mixed lymphocyte tumor cell cultures can be recovered from the spleens of "B mice" injected i.v. 25 days earlier. On the contrary, following the transfer of an active CTL clone, a very low frequency (less than 1/200,000 cells) of virus-specific CTL precursors was present in the spleens of recipient animals. The same M-MSV-specific CTL clone did not yield protection against M-MSV-induced tumors or MBL-2 leukemic cells when injected i.v. into M-MuLV tolerant mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Temporary inhibition of Moloney-murine sarcoma virus (M-MSV) induced-tumours by adoptive transfer of ricin-treated T-lymphocytes.

The potential use of tumour-specific T-lymphocytes loaded with ricin in cell targeting experiments was investigated. Moloney-murine sarcoma virus (M-MSV)-specific T-lymphocytes, obtained in mass mixed leucocyte-tumour cell culture (MLTC) and a M-MSV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clone, were incubated with 125I-labelled ricin in order to evaluate toxin uptake and release. The internalized ricin (4.5 X 10(-17) mol and 6.5 X 10(-17) mol per 10(2) MLTC and CTL clone cells, respectively) was released rapidly during the first 30 min following treatment, and at a constant but slower rate over the next few hours. The cytotoxic activity of ricin-treated cells evaluated against antigen-related target cells, in a short term incubation 51Cr release assay, was unaffected during the first 30 min after treatment but decreased with time over the next few hours. However, the growth of antigen related as well as of unrelated tumour cells was strongly inhibited by the addition of ricin-treated cells to the culture system, thus indicating that released ricin is toxic for untreated target cells. The in vivo localization pattern of ricin-treated radiolabelled MLTC cells was found to be comparable with that of untreated cells 1 h after i.v. injection into syngeneic sublethally irradiated mice. After 6 h, however, more radiolabel was recovered from the liver of mice receiving ricin-treated MLTC cells. Ricin-treated M-MSV-specific T-lymphocytes were injected i.v. into tumour bearing sublethally irradiated mice. A temporary tumour growth inhibition (up to 6 days) was achieved following transfer of low doses of ricin-treated MLTC or CTL clone cells (1 X 10(6) and 0.5 X 10(6), respectively). In contrast, in M-MSV injected control mice, receiving only free toxin (from 5 to 20 ng) or untreated tumour-specific effector cell tumours grew progressively. The therapeutic effect was apparently specific since the injection of ricin-treated alloreactive T-lymphocytes did not influence tumour growth. These results suggest that M-MSV-specific T-lymphocytes loaded with ricin can deliver toxin to the target tumour mass and have a transient therapeutic effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Reversibility of lymphokine-induced NK-like activity in virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clones.

A limiting dilution microculture system, supplemented with a source of interleukin-2 (IL-2), was employed to evaluate the frequency of Moloney-murine leukaemia/sarcoma virus (M-MuLV/M-MSV)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursors (CTL-p) which also exhibited NK-like activity. Spleen cells, obtained from M-MuLV/M-MSV regressor mice, were restimulated in bulk secondary mixed leucocyte-tumour cell cultures (MLTC), and subsequently plated in a culture medium supplemented with two different supernatants (SN) produced following PMA-stimulation of the same EL-4 thymoma cell line. SN 20, obtained from the cell line maintained in vitro, contained IL-2 and only negligible amounts (less than 3 U/ml) of interferon (IFN), while SN 19, obtained after passage of the ascitic form of EL-4 thymoma in syngeneic mice, contained both IL-2 and IFN in high titres. The frequency of CTL-p specific for MBL-2 lymphoma cells was high and comparable in cultures supplemented with both SN (1/2 X 84 cells and 1/2 X 40 cells, respectively), while the frequency of CTL-p directed against NK-susceptible YAC-1 target cells was low in SN 20 (1/90 cells) and high in SN 19 (1/5 X 40 cells). An analysis of individual microcultures established at low cell dose (1 cell/well) indicated that specific and NK-like activity could be ascribed to the same precursor cells. Furthermore, using different long-term CTL clones, we observed that, after passage in SN 20, double-reactive clones gradually lose the capacity to lyse NK-susceptible targets, while most of MBL-2 specific clones acquired NK-like activity following a few passages in SN 19. Therefore, the induction of NK-like activity is reversible and may be modulated by soluble factors present in supernatant in which CTL clones are maintained. Double-reactive clones were unable to lyse NK-resistant allogeneic tumour cells or normal syngeneic blast cells. A few clones cross-reacting with H-2d alloantigens also exhibited NK-like activity when maintained in SN 19. The different pattern of CTL clone activity was associated with a morphological change in the clones themselves: the acquisition of double activity was accompanied by an increase in cell size and the appearance of numerous cytoplasmic granules. All CTL clones were phenotypically Thy-1+ and Lyt-2+ on indirect immunofluorescence and complement-dependent cytotoxicity investigation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Reduction in precursors of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and of cells with natural killer-like activity in spleens of cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

The effect of cyclophosphamide (CY) on precursors of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), specific for Moloney-murine leukemia virus (M-MuL V)- induced antigens, and on the precursors of cells having natural killer (NK)-like activity was studied by means of limiting dilution assay. Pre-treatment with a single CY dose of 100 mg/kg induced a marked reduction not only in the total spleen cell number but also in the frequencies of M-MuL V-specific CTL, and NK-like cell precursors. Maximal effect was obtained 2 days after CY injection, and a gradual recovery in both total spleen cell number and cytotoxic activity was achieved by day 12. These results confirm that CY exerts a strong but transient immunodepressive effect.

Animals↗