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PubMed1988

Thymic stroma-derived T cell growth factor: its role in the growth of immature thymocytes and T cell repertoire selection.

A newly established thymic stromal cell clone, MRL104.8a exhibited capacities to express Ia antigens and to support the growth of antigen-specific, interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent helper T cell (Th) clones without requirement of antigen and exogenous IL-2. Such growth was substituted by a factor produced into cultures by the MRL104.8a clone. This substance designated as thymic stroma-derived T cell growth factor (TSTGF) was demonstrated to be the protein that has an apparent molecular weight of about 25,000 and a pI of 6.0 and to be distinct from the previously described interleukins and cytokines. While the capacity of TSTGF to promote T cell proliferation was initially found by using various Th clones, further studies have demonstrated its capability of supporting the growth of immature (L3T4- Lyt-2-) thymocytes. TSTGF alone failed to function for the proliferation of double-negative thymocytes, whereas this novel growth factor was capable of inducing the proliferation of immature thymocytes by synergy with IL-1. Such growth promotion was further enhanced by the addition of IL-2 or IL-4 to cultures. The data were also presented that TSTGF could contribute to the clonal elimination in the thymus. The growth of a Th clone, 9-16, was supported on the TSTGF-producing and Ia-expressing MRL104.8a monolayer in the absence of the antigen against which this Th clone is directed. In contrast, the presence of the relevant antigen in the MRL104.8a culture elicited the lethal growth-inhibition of Th clone cells. Taken collectively, the results provide strong support for the proposition that TSTGF may play an essential role in the intrathymic T cell development in the context of T cell growth promotion and T cell repertoire selection.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Synergistic effect of colony-stimulating factors and IL-2 on prothymocyte proliferation linked to the maturation of macrophage/dendritic cells within L3T4-Lyt-2-Ia-Mac- cells.

Bone marrow-derived precursors colonize the thymus, where they constitute the minor L3T4-Lyt2- subset which can give rise to all thymocyte subpopulations. We show in the present paper that L3T4-Lyt2- population depleted of Ia+, Mac-1+ cells contain pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC). Addition of GM-CSF to the culture medium leads to the production of adherent and nonadherent cells of the macrophage-monocyte lineage. L3T4-Lyt2- cells poorly respond to IL-2 in vitro, but the addition of either rIL-3 or rGM-CSF allows the IL-2 response of L3T4-Lyt2- cells. This response is at least partly mediated by maturation of double-negative cells for L3T4 and Lyt-2 Ag into cells able to produce IL-1.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Functional analysis of T cell subsets from mice bearing the lpr gene.

The autosomal recessive lpr (lymphoproliferation) gene is responsible for a thymus-dependent massive lymphoproliferation associated with the development of lupus-like autoimmune disease. Phenotypic analysis of adult lpr/lpr lymph nodes has demonstrated accumulation of a dull Lyt-1+, Thy-1+ population that expresses neither Lyt-2 nor L3T4 antigens. With the use of a depletion method based on complement-mediated lysis with an anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibody (31 M) and a new anti-L3T4 monoclonal antibody (RL 172.4), we have purified the Lyt-2- L3T4- subset from lymph nodes or spleens of C57BL/6-lpr/lpr mice and determined whether they are immunologically functional in vitro. Production of neither interleukin 2 nor interferon-gamma was detected by the double-negative subset after stimulation with concanavalin A and/or phorbol myristate acetate. The frequencies of allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) precursors and lectin-induced antigen-nonspecific CTL precursors were diminished to almost undetectable levels, whereas the Lyt-2+ population from lpr/lpr mice had CTL-precursor frequencies comparable with that of +/+ mice. These results show that the major cell subset of adult lpr/lpr lymph nodes or spleens is composed of lymphocytes with markedly limited potential for lymphokine production or antigenic stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Differential expression of integrins on human thymocyte subpopulations.

Integrins represent a candidate group of cell surface receptors that may control the homing and population of the thymus by T-cell precursors and the subsequent migration of developing thymocytes through the thymic architecture. We have used multiparameter flow cytometric methods to characterize the expression of several members of the integrin family (alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 4 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, alpha 6 beta 1, and alpha L beta 2) on thymocyte subpopulations and have correlated integrin expression with other well-defined thymocyte differentiation markers. alpha 4 beta 1 was expressed by all thymocytes, but expression was highest on CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) cells, high on CD+CD8+ double-positive (DP) cells, and lowest on mature single-positive (SP) cells, alpha 3 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, and alpha 6 beta 1 were present on 13%, 63%, and 26% of thymocytes, respectively, with maximal levels of expression on DN and SP cells, and low levels of expression on DP cells. Simultaneous analysis of alpha 4 beta 1, alpha 5 beta 1, and CD3 expression suggested a pathway of T-cell differentiation in the thymus in which the majority of the DN cells were alpha 4 beta 1hi alpha 5 beta 1hi, the DP cells alpha 4 beta 1hi alpha 5 beta 1lo/-, and the most mature SP cells were alpha 4 beta 1int. The stage-specific expression of integrins strongly implies their functional involvement during T-cell maturation in the thymus.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1994

In vivo CD4+ lymph node T cells from lpr mice generate CD4-CD8-B220+TCR-beta low cells.

Double-negative CD4-CD8-T cells (DNT) have been shown to be the major population of T cells responsible for the massive lymphadenopathy associated with the early onset of the lupus-like syndrome in mice bearing the lpr gene. Previously, we demonstrated that these cells do not proliferate in the peripheral lymphoid organs that they invade; furthermore, we showed that a wide range of CD4 Ag expression was observed on lymph node CD4+ T cells. In this study, we used an in vivo transfer system to analyze the progeny of CD4+ T cells from B6-lpr/lpr mice. Purified CD4+ T cells injected into B6 nude mice are able to generate DNT cells; furthermore, phenotypic and functional characterizations of the DNT cells generated in vivo show that they share the same properties as DNT cells from B6-lpr/lpr mice. We also show that, after in vitro bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, only CD4+ cells cycle. From these studies, we conclude that the lymphoproliferation occurs at the CD4+ stage and that down-regulation of this Ag probably is followed by arrest of the cell cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Human CD4-CD8- alpha beta + T-cell receptor T cells recognize different mycobacteria strains in the context of CD1b.

Double-negative alpha beta+ T-cell receptor (TCR) human T cells have been reported to recognize antigen in the context of the HLA class I-like (Ib) CD1 complex. In particular, the CD1b molecule has been shown to act as the element of genetic restriction for antigens derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The stenotopic nature of these major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib molecules raised the question of whether the antigenic moiety recognized by CD4-CD8- alpha beta+ TCR T cells was shared by different mycobacteria. We demonstrate here that a CD4-CD8- alpha beta+ TCR T-cell line and three clones raised against M. tuberculosis proliferated following stimulation with soluble extracts from organisms of the M. tuberculosis complex, M. leprae and 10 out of 16 tested isolates of M. avium complex; however, four species of weakly or non-pathogenic mycobacteria were not stimulatory. Furthermore, the M. tuberculosis soluble extract (MTSE)-derived, recognized antigenic moiety proved to be proteinase K resistant and to have a molecular weight greater than 5000 MW, thus it differed from the reported antigenic moiety, recognized by CD4-CD8- gamma delta+ TCR cells. Our results suggest that a common antigenic moiety, presented by CD1b molecules to CD4-CD8- alpha beta+ TCR T cells, is shared by many mycobacterial species. Therefore they raise interest in the question of whether CD4-CD8- alpha beta+ TCR T cells, elicited by M. tuberculosis, may play a role in the natural history of other mycobacterial infections.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of p56lck and p59fyn protein expression in thymocyte subsets, peripheral T cells, NK cells, and lymphoid cell lines.

The expression of the src-family kinases, p56lck and p59fyn, is critical for thymocyte development and TCR-mediated signal transduction, and may be important for signaling through other lymphoid receptors as well. Overexpression studies have demonstrated that the levels of p56lck and p59fyn expression can affect T cell development and signaling through the TCR. Therefore, it is likely that their exact expression levels play an important role in modulating signaling in thymocytes, mature T cells, and other lymphocytes. Here, we used quantitative immunoblotting to measure p56lck and p59fyn protein expression levels in thymocyte subsets, peripheral T cells, NK cells, and lymphoid cell lines. p59fyn expression levels were similar to p56lck in most cells that were examined demonstrating that p59fyn is abundantly expressed in T cells. In addition, we found that p56lck protein expression is equivalent in CD4 and CD8 double-negative, double-positive, and single-positive thymocytes. In contrast, p59fyn expression levels were significantly lower in double-positive thymocytes than in the other thymocyte subpopulations. Finally, we demonstrate that p56lck and p59fyn expression varies greatly in a number of cell lines used to study T cell activation and that IL-2 treatment can dynamically regulate p56lck and p59fyn expression in some cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Relationships between intermediate TCR cells and NK1.1+ T cells in various immune organs. NK1.1+ T cells are present within a population of intermediate TCR cells.

Experiments to date have revealed a population of T cells that carry intermediate (int) levels of TCR (or CD3) and express IL-2R beta-chain (IL-2R beta) in mouse liver. Such int TCR cells also reside in other immune organs, although in low numbers. On the other hand, NK1.1+ T cells with int TCR do reside in the thymus and other peripheral organs. To determine the relationship of two types of cells, we characterized int CD3 cells and NK1.1+ T cells throughout the organs in terms of the phenotype, V beta repertoire, and morphology. Although both IL-2R beta+ T cells and NK1.1+ T cells are classified as int CD3 cells, NK1.1+ T cells are present within int CD3 cells. The majority of int CD3 cells in the liver and thymus were NK1.1+, whereas the minority of such cells in the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow were NK1.1+. Among int CD3 cells, double-negative (DN) CD4-8- cells and/or CD4+ were abundant in NK1.1+ subset, whereas CD8+ cells were generally abundant in NK1.1- subset. Self-reactive V beta+ clones estimated by the M1s system were distributed to both NK1.1+ and NK1.1- subsets. High CD3 cells in the thymus and other organs contained neither DN cells nor forbidden clones. Int CD3 cells had the morphology of granular or agranular lymphocytes carrying perforin. Among int CD3 cells, NK1.1+ subset had a higher level of perforin-positive cells than NK1.1- subset. These results clearly demonstrate the relationship between int TCR cells and NK1.1+ T cells in various organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Sequential analysis of hematopoietic reconstitution achieved by transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells.

We confirmed that murine hematopoietic stem cells express the c-kit molecule but not lymphohematopoietic lineage markers. These lineage marker-negative c-kit-positive (Lin- c-kit+) cells were further divided according to the uptake of rhodamine-123 (Rh-123). Approximately 1,000 Lin- c-kit+ rhodamine-123dull cells, which contained 4.0 +/- 1.3 and 12.5 +/- 1.9 day 8 and day 12 spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S), respectively, rescued the 100% of lethally irradiated mice. One third of these cells formed colonies in the presence of interleukin-3 plus erythropoietin. The time course of the hematopoietic reconstitution of this primitive hematopoietic stem cell fraction was investigated by using Ly-5 congenic mice. Although myeloid cells and B lymphocytes were detected in the peripheral blood 2 to 3 weeks after transplantation, T lymphocytes were not detected until 4 weeks after transplantation. It is generally assumed that myeloid cells and B lymphocytes grow in the bone marrow and that T lymphocytes must pass through the thymus. For the first 2 to 3 weeks after transplantation, donor-type T lymphocytes were not dominant in the thymus, and most donor type cells were CD4/CD8 double-negative or double-positive (including CD4low and CD8low). Four weeks after transplantation, donor-type T lymphocytes were dominant and the ratio of CD4/CD8 cells had recovered to the normal pattern. However, significant numbers of T lymphocytes were detected in the peripheral blood at this stage. Sequential analysis of hematopoietic reconstitution from primitive stem cells demonstrates that myeloid and B-lymphoid lineages occurred earlier than that of the T-lymphoid lineages.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of intermediate T-cell receptor cells expanding in the liver, thymus and other organs in autoimmune lpr mice: parallel analysis with their normal counterparts.

Autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr (lpr) mice were previously demonstrated to have an abnormal proliferation of intermediate T-cell receptor (TCR) cells of extrathymic origin in the liver. Despite this situation, thymectomy in lpr mice resulted in amelioration of autoimmune disease. To understand the underlying mechanism, we investigated associated T-cell differentiation in the thymus and other organs of these mice. When the disease was evoked, T cells with extrathymic properties, i.e. intermediate TCR-alpha beta cells expressing double-negative (DN) CD4-8- phenotype and interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor beta-chain, became prominent not only in the liver, but also in the thymus. Such thymic T cells mainly resided in the medulla. A small-scale localization of such T cells was seen in the thymic medulla even in normal control mice. There was a heterogeneity among intermediate TCR cells in terms of the composition of DN cells and the expression of CD2 and B220 antigens, depending on the organs and the sites in the same organ. Intermediate TCR cells in the liver, thymus and autoimmune target organs (e.g. kidney) contained a high proportion of the active form (CD2+B220-), while intermediate TCR cells accumulating in peripheral organs, the spleen and lymph nodes, were mainly of the inactive form (CD2-B220+). The active form had an ability to proliferate in response to IL-2 and SEB, whereas the inactive form did not. The present results suggest that the proliferation of intermediate TCR cells occur at multiple sites; this may explain the effect of thymectomy, namely, the retarded onset of disease, in lpr mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Polyclonal human T-cell activation by silicate in vitro.

Silica (SiO2) or related substances such as silicone ([-R2Si-O-]n), which is used in plastic surgery, or asbestos (e.g. chrysotile; 3MgO.2SiO2.H2O) have 'adjuvant effects'. In a study of scleroderma patients in Germany more than 78% had experienced exposure to silicate dust. T-cell receptor (TcR) V beta gene analysis on CD4- CD8- double-negative alpha beta T cells from scleroderma patients, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), showed that certain V beta genes, V beta 5, V beta 7 and V beta 17, were predominantly expressed in the cells. We found that certain V beta repertoires, V beta 5.3 and V beta 6.7, were predominantly expressed on fractionated T cells with a high Ca2+ level that had been stimulated by chrysotile in vitro. The intracellular Ca2+ level in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) increased after incubation with silica or chrysotile. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) release from PMBC also rose significantly with chrysotile stimulation, but no change was observed when major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II DP/DR positive cells were depleted. Therefore, our results support the possibility that silicate acts as a superantigen.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Murine recombinant interleukin-3 induces recovery of T and B cells in irradiated mice.

Injection of murine recombinant interleukin-3 (IL-3) into (C57BL/10 x DBA/2)F1 mice, sublethally irradiated with 300 cGy and killed 14 days later, induced in the thymus recovery of the cell number and mitotic responsiveness to concanavalin A (Con A), as well as an increase in number of double-negative CD4-CD8-, double-positive CD4+ CD8+, and single-positive CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ cells. Also in the spleen, the cell count and mitotic responsiveness to Con A and lipopolysaccharide were increased to normal levels by IL-3 treatment. If the assays were performed 21 or 28 days after irradiation, IL-3 treatment was able to restore thymus and spleen cell counts as well as T- and B-cell mitotic responsiveness, even when mice were exposed to 400 or 500 cGy, respectively. These results altogether indicate that IL-3 induces differentiation and growth of thymocytes and recovery of T- and B-cell functions in mice exposed to sublethal irradiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Identification of CD4- CD8- alpha beta T cells in the subarachnoid space of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. A possible route by which effector cells invade the lesions.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in Lewis rats to elucidate the origin of effector T cells and the route by which they invade lesions. Since mouse studies have suggested that some autoimmune diseases are induced by extrathymic T cells in the liver, we focused our attention on the properties of mononuclear cells (MNC) isolated from the liver and other organs in rats with EAE. A small but significant proportion of LFA-1+ alpha beta T cells was identified in the liver as early as day 7 after immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP). Such LFA-1+ alpha beta T cells were also abundant among MNC attached to the spinal cord (i.e. subarachnoid space), and MNC infiltrated the spinal cord in rats with EAE (day 12). In electron microscopy, MNC attached to the spinal cord were found to be quite unique in terms of their large cell size with well-developed microvilli. More importantly, they were comprised of a considerably large proportion of double-negative CD4- CD8- T cells as well as single-positive CD4+ T cells. However, the cells which infiltrated the spinal cord were mainly CD4+. The present results raise the possibility that the subarachnoid space might be a major site for the expansion of extrathymic T cells in rats with EAE, and that only a limited population of CD4+ T cells invade the spinal cord directly through the outer layer and elicit EAE.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Detailed characterization of gamma delta T cells within the organs in mice: classification into three groups.

gamma delta T cells are known to localize preferentially in the epithelial regions and the hepatic sinusoids, and exhibit highly restricted V gene usage depending on their location. In the present study, gamma delta T cells in mice were further characterized in terms of their expression of the interleukin-2 receptor beta-chain (IL-2R beta), CD4 and CD8, and CD8 alpha and beta. This experiment was arranged to investigate whether gamma delta T cells have different properties depending on the organs and how gamma delta T cells are different from extrathymic alpha beta T cells, i.e. alpha beta T cells in the liver and intraepithelial lymphocytes in the intestine, in terms of the above phenotypes. Three-colour immunofluorescence tests using monoclonal antibodies revealed that gamma delta T cells can be classified into three groups: gamma delta T cells of the liver type are all IL-2R beta+, are comprised of double-negative (DN) CD8-CD4- and single-positive CD8+ (no CD4+) cells, and express CD8 alpha+ beta-; gamma delta T cells of the thymus type are a mixture of IL-2R beta+ and IL-2R beta-, are mainly DN, and express CD8 alpha+ beta+ if they carry CD8 antigens; and gamma delta T cells of the intestine type are also IL-2R beta+ or IL-2R beta-, are all CD8+, and express CD8 alpha+ beta-. gamma delta T cells in the spleen of normal mice are of the thymus type, while gamma delta T cells in the spleen of athymic nude mice seem to be of the liver type. All these properties of gamma delta T cells resemble those of extrathymic alpha beta T cells rather than regular alpha beta T cells of thymic origin. The present results reveal that gamma delta T cells and other extrathymic alpha beta T cells have many properties in common as primitive lymphocytes in phylogenetic development.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor augmentation of T-cell receptor-dependent and T-cell receptor-independent thymocyte proliferation.

The effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are not confined to cells of the myeloid lineage. GM-CSF has been shown to have effects on mature T cells and both mature and immature T-cell lines. We therefore examined the GM-CSF responsiveness of murine thymocytes to investigate whether GM-CSF also affected normal immature T lymphocytes. The studies presented here indicate that GM-CSF augments accessory cell (AC)-dependent T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated proliferation of unseparated thymocyte populations. To identify the GM-CSF responsive cell type, thymic AC and T cells were examined for GM-CSF responsiveness. We found that GM-CSF augmentation of TCR-induced thymocyte proliferation appears to be mediated via augmentation of AC function, and not via direct effects on mature single-positive (SP) thymocytes. Enriched double-negative (DN) thymocytes were also tested for GM-CSF responsiveness. GM-CSF induced the proliferation of adult and fetal DN thymocytes in an AC-independent and TCR-independent single-cell assay. Thus, in contrast to the SP thymocytes, a DN thymocyte population was directly responsive to GM-CSF. GM-CSF therefore may play a direct role in the expansion of DN thymocytes and an indirect role in the expansion of SP thymocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Unique phenotype and distinct TCR V beta repertoire in human peripheral blood alpha beta TCR+, CD4-, and CD8- double negative T cells.

TCR-alpha beta+ CD4- CD8- double-negative (DN) T cells represent a small, poorly defined T cell subset in human peripheral blood that has been postulated to be potentially autoreactive. To define some of the characteristics of this subset of T cells, DN cells and CD4+ and CD8+ single-positive (SP) cells were purified from the peripheral blood of six unrelated individuals by a combination of positive selection and depletion using mAb conjugated to immunomagnetic beads. Purified DN cells were found to be enriched in cells expressing HLA-DR and the NK cell marker, CD56, when compared to the SP population. Furthermore, in contrast to SP cells that express the adhesion marker CD44, DN cells were found to express very little, if any, CD44. When the V beta TCR repertoires of DN and SP (CD4+ and CD8+) cells, determined by quantitative (q) PCR, were compared all three populations were found to be considerably different. Furthermore, several V beta segments (V beta 11 and V beta 19) were consistently expressed at higher levels on DN cells than on SP cells. The TCR repertoires of both DN and SP cells were frequently characterized by dominance of one or more V beta segments that could in some instances be shown to be restricted to the CD45RO+ ("memory") population. However, differences in TCR repertoire between DN and SP cells were observed even when CD45RO+ cells were removed before qPCR analysis. These studies suggest that the TCR repertoires of DN and SP cells are determined by different selection mechanisms and that DN and SP cells are directed against different Ag.

CD4 Antigens↗
PubMed1993

Efficient gene transfer into primary murine lymphocytes obviating the need for drug selection.

The efficient introduction of exogenous genes into primary lymphocytes is potentially important both for somatic cell gene therapy and for studying lymphocyte biology. We describe the use of retroviral vectors to efficiently introduce exogenous genes into primary, mature murine lymph node T and B cells, and primary, immature murine CD4- CD8- double-negative (DN) thymocytes. Efficient infection of primary cells was achieved by cocultivation of target cells with lethally irradiated helper cells that produce high titers of retroviral vectors containing either the neomycin phosphotransferase II (neo) gene, or both the neo and the human adenosine deaminase (ADA) genes, in the presence of lymphokines and/or mitogens. Two days postinfection, without neomycin selection, one to five copies of the exogenous genes per cell were detected by Southern blot analysis. Expression of the exogenous human ADA protein was detected at levels comparable to the endogenous murine ADA protein in the mature T and B lymphocytes, and was somewhat lower for the immature DN thymocytes.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1993

Induction of activation-driven death (apoptosis) in activated but not resting peripheral blood T cells.

Signaling via the CD3/TCR complex induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in immature thymocytes and transformed T lymphocytes (hybridomas or leukemic cells). Accumulating evidence indicates, however, that apoptosis can be triggered also in mature peripheral T cells. Here we show that a significant fraction of cells of a given IL-2-dependent TCR-alpha beta + clone or polyclonal short term line is killed when cultured for 20 h in the presence of PHA, anti-CD3 (OKT3), or anti-TCR (BMA031) mAb. Apoptosis can be triggered by these stimuli in CD4+, CD8+, and CD4-CD8- (double-negative) TCR-alpha beta+ clones. Activation-driven cell death (as quantified by propidium iodide staining and FACS analysis) is associated with fragmentation of DNA into oligonucleosomal bands of approximately 200 bp. Although freshly isolated peripheral blood T cells are largely resistant to apoptosis, the sensitivity to anti-CD3/TCR mAb or PHA-triggered cell death gradually increases upon activation and IL-2-dependent culture of T cells, and reaches a plateau level after 15 to 20 days. These data indicate that stimuli that activate resting T cells initiate death by apoptosis in activated T cells. The implications of these results for the regulation of cellular immune responses and the establishment of peripheral tolerance will be discussed.

Apoptosis↗