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Monitoring the integrity of self: biology of MHC-restriction of virus-immune T cells.

All available evidence indicates that the cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocyte (T cell), which is lytic for virus-infected target cells in vitro, is also the effector in cell-mediated immunity in vivo. Such T cell show two orders of specificity: for the virus in question, and for a particular self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) glycoprotein. Recirculating T cells amy thus be considered to survey the integrity of self, the self components involved being the cell-surface structures that are recognized as foreign during graft rejection. Virus-infected liver cells are apparently eliminated in much the same way as a transplanted organ. The necessary balance between self-tolerance (absence of autoreactivity) and self-monitoring effector T cell function seems to be established during the process of differentiation in thymus. The molecular nature of the underlying recognition events is, as yet, obscure.

Animals↗

T cells signaled by NF-kappa B- dendritic cells are sensitized not anergic to subsequent activation.

Paradoxically, while peripheral self-tolerance exists for constitutively presented somatic self Ag, self-peptide recognized in the context of MHC class II has been shown to sensitize T cells for subsequent activation. We have shown that MHC class II(+)CD86(+)CD40(-) DC, which can be generated from bone marrow in the presence of an NF-kappa B inhibitor, and which constitutively populate peripheral tissues and lymphoid organs in naive animals, can induce Ag-specific tolerance. In this study, we show that CD40(-) human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC), generated in the presence of an NF-kappa B inhibitor, signal phosphorylation of TCR zeta, but little proliferation or IFN-gamma in vitro. Proliferation is arrested in the G(1)/G(0) phase of the cell cycle. Surprisingly, responding T cells are neither anergic nor regulatory, but are sensitized for subsequent IFN-gamma production. The data indicate that signaling through NF-kappa B determines the capacity of DC to stimulate T cell proliferation. Functionally, NF-kappa B(-)CD40(-)class II(+) DC may either tolerize or sensitize T cells. Thus, while CD40(-) DC appear to "prime" or prepare T cells, the data imply that signals derived from other cells drive the generation either of Ag-specific regulatory or effector cells in vivo.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Central tolerance: good but imperfect.

T-cell development is a highly coordinated process that depends on interactions between thymocytes, thymic epithelium, and bone marrow (BM)-derived dendritic cells (DCs). Before entering the peripheral T-cell pool, thymocytes are subject to negative selection, a process that eliminates (or deletes) T cells with high affinity toward self-antigens and therefore promotes self-tolerance. These self-antigens include those that are broadly expressed ubiquitous antigens and those whose expression is restricted to a few tissues, tissue-specific antigens (TSAs). Expression of TSAs in the thymus is mostly a property of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and because these cells may be less capable than BM-derived DCs at mediating negative selection to ubiquitous antigens, we investigated the roles of both of these cell types in tolerance to TSAs. Here, we review our studies in which we found that mTECs were competent mediators of negative selection to a subset of TSA-reactive T cells, while thymic DCs extend the range of TSA-reactive T cells that undergo negative selection by capturing TSAs from mTECs. In addition, we recently investigated the efficiency of central tolerance to TSA during ontogeny, and we report that this process was less efficient in neonates than adult animals.

Age Factors↗

Antigen-specific CD4+ regulatory T cells in cancer: implications for immunotherapy.

Regulatory T cells play essential roles in inducing self-tolerance by suppressing immune responses against self such as autoantigens or non-self-antigens such as tumor and pathogenic antigens. Despite the importance of CD4(+) regulatory T cells in many immune-related diseases, their antigen specificity and suppressive mechanisms remain elusive. This review discusses the natural ligands and their potential roles of tumor-specific CD4(+) regulatory T cells in cancer therapy.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Effect of anti-carrier antibody on carrier-determined tolerance.

These experiments were originally designed to determine whether an anti-carrier antibody, e.g., anti-allotype could break hapten-specific tolerance in vivo. Tolerance to 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) was induced in C57BL/6J mice using DNP-BALB/c IgG2a conjugate. When anti-allotype serum was injected in C57BL/6J mice one day after a single injection of DNP-IgG2a the mice were not tolerant. In contrast, when tolerance was induced by four weekly injections of tolerogen, the anti-allotype serum had no effect on the tolerant state. This effect was specific for tolerance-inducing carrier. Anti-carrier antibody injected in C57BL/6J mice one day after DNP-IgG2a produced a small but significant anti-DNP response without administration of the immunogen, whereas the tolerogen (DNP-IgG2a) by itself was not immunogenic. Similarly, despite multiple injections of DNP-IgG2a bearing the foreign allotype, only one out of 7 C57BL/6J mice showed a weak anti-carrier response. In contrast, a marked anti-carrier (IgG2a) response was obtained when the anti-allotype antibody was passively administered in C57BL/6J mice. In conclusion, these experiments suggest that tolerance to an antigenic determinant may be broken by an antibody directed not to this determinant, but to another on the same molecule. The significance of this finding in relationship to the mechanism of the carrier-determined tolerance and the breakdown of self-tolerance is discussed.

Animals↗

Modulation of graft-versus-host disease: role of regulatory T lymphocytes.

Graft-versus-host (GVH) disease (GVHD) continues to be a major life-threatening complication after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Considerable progress has been made elucidating the pathophysiology of acute GVHD. Mature donor T cells transferred along with the marrow graft directly recognize antigenic differences on antigen-presenting cells of the host. Once activated, donor antihost-specific T cells can mediate tissue destruction. Interestingly, the failure to clonally delete autoreactive T cells in the thymus can also lead to an autoimmune syndrome mimicking the pathology of GVHD. Negative selection in the thymus may be compromised either by damage to the thymic epithelium (because of a direct attack by donor antihost alloreactive T cells) or by the use of immunosuppressive drugs that inhibit clonal deletion. An important component underlying GVHD mediated by either alloreactive or autoreactive T cells is the absence of a competent peripheral regulatory system. Studies in animal model systems clearly indicate that regulatory T cells play a vital role in down-regulating GVHD and are critically important for the establishment of active dominant tolerance to both allo- and self-major histocompatibility complex antigens. Although multiple populations of cells appear to participate in this process, CD4(+) regulatory T cells that innately express CD25(+) appear to orchestrate the regulatory control of the immune response. Evidence for regulatory T cells in clinical bone marrow transplantation, however, remains rudimentary. The recent identification that CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells preferentially express the Foxp3 nuclear transcription factor and the development of molecular reagents to isolate antigen-specific T cells have provided unique opportunities to explore immunoregulatory mechanisms after clinical marrow transplantation. Recent studies in recipients of clinical bone marrow transplantation suggest that antigen-specific CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells play a vital role in the regulatory control of GVH reactions mediated by both alloreactive and autoreactive lymphocytes. These regulatory T cells also appear to facilitate the establishment of donor antihost and donor antidonor (self) tolerance.

Animals↗

Biochemistry and autoimmune response to the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), 2-oxo-glutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDC), and the branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCOADC) constitute the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase family of multienzyme complexes. These complexes, which are larger than ribosomes and which consist of multiple copies of E1, E2, and E3 subunits together with regulatory kinases and phosphatases and, in the case of PDC, an E3-binding protein (protein X), each play an important role in oxidative metabolism in mitochondria. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is associated with a high incidence of autoantibodies directed at mitochondrial autoantigens (the antimito-chondrial antibodies), identified as the E2 components of PDC, OGDC, and BCOADC, together with protein X and the E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits of PDC. The dominant B-cell autoepitope in PBC has been identified as the inner lipoic acid binding domain of PDC-E2, with the lipoic acid co-factor, which plays a critical role in E2 enzymatic activity, playing a role in autoantibody binding to antigen. Autoreactive CD4+ T cells specific for human PDC-E2 are also present in both the peripheral blood and liver mononuclear cell infiltrates of PBC patients. The mechanism of break-down of B-cell and T-cell self-tolerance to these ubiquitous mitochondrial antigens in such an organ-specific manner remains unclear. The apparent importance of autoreactive responses to these self-antigens does, however, raise the possibility that antigen-specific immunotherapy may offer a novel route to therapy in PBC.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

A substantial level of donor hematopoietic chimerism is required to protect donor-specific islet grafts in diabetic NOD mice.

BACKGROUND: Mixed chimerism can induce tolerance to alloantigens and restore self-tolerance to autoantigens, thereby permitting islet transplantation. However, the minimal level of donor chimerism that is required to prevent islet allograft rejection and recurrence of autoimmune diabetes has not been established. METHODS: We investigated whether allogeneic Balb/c donor chimerism can be induced in C57BL/6 mice, in prediabetic NOD mice, and in diabetic NOD mice after transplantation of a modest dose of bone marrow by using purine nucleoside analogue, fludarabine phosphate and cyclophosphamide conditioning therapy, followed by short-term anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody and rapamycin posttransplant treatment. We also investigated whether the induced donor chimerism is sufficient to prevent the onset of diabetes in prediabetic NOD mice and protect donor islet grafts in diabetic NOD mice. RESULTS: Allogeneic donor chimerism could be induced under the authors' approach that is nonmyeloablative and radiation-free. Diabetes onset was prevented in chimeric prediabetic NOD mice. The induction of mixed chimerism protected donor-specific islet grafts in diabetic NOD mice. At 60 days after islet transplantation, all donor Balb/c islet grafts survived in diabetic NOD mice whose level of donor-derived lymphocytes was higher than 30% at the time of islet transplantation (n=8). In contrast, Balb/c islet grafts were rejected in five of seven diabetic NOD mice whose level was lower than 30%. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that a donor lymphocyte chimerism (>30%) at the time of islet transplantation is required to protect donor-specific islet grafts, and indicate that a strictly non-irradiation-based protocol can be used to achieve this goal.

Animals↗

Cutting edge: dominance by an MHC-independent inhibitory receptor compromises NK killing of complex targets.

Inhibitory receptors that recognize MHC class I molecules regulate NK cell responses and self-tolerance. Recent evidence indicates that self-ligands not present in the MHC locus also can modulate NK function. In this study, we show that an inhibitory receptor that recognizes an MHC-independent ligand is over expressed in SHIP(-/-) mice at all stages of NK development and differentiation. Overexpression of this receptor compromises key cytolytic NK functions, including killing of allogeneic, tumor, and viral targets. These results further demonstrate the critical role that SHIP plays in regulation of the NK receptor repertoire and show that regulation of MHC-independent inhibitory receptors is crucial for NK recognition and cytolysis of complex targets.

Animals↗

In vitro vasorelaxant and in vivo cardiovascular effects of S-nitrosothiols: comparison to and cross tolerance with standard nitrovasodilators.

The in vitro vasorelaxant and in vivo cardiovascular effects of synthetic S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) were compared to standard nitrovasodilators. S-Nitroso-glutathione (GSNO), S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (NACysNO), S-nitroso-galactopyranose (GPSNO), S-nitroso-thioglycerol (TGSNO) and S-nitroso-homocysteine (HCysNO) relaxed phenylephrine (PE) contracted rabbit aorta at 50% effective concentrations (EC50s) of 3-46 nM. While nitroglycerin (GTN) exhibited in vitro tolerance after preincubation, the RSNOs were considerably less cross tolerant to GTN. In conscious dogs, GSNO, NACysNO and GPSNO (1-20 mcg/kg/min i.v.) paralleled nitroprusside (SNP) in reducing mean arterial and central venous pressure (MAP; CVP) with mild tachycardia. GSNO, NACysNO and SNP were more hypotensive and more resistant to isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) cross tolerance than GTN. NACysNO showed mild self tolerance with low infusion (2.5 mcg/kg/min x 4h x 3 days) and blunted GTN's hypotension. These studies demonstrate that GSNO and NACysNO are SNP-like vasodilators in conscious dogs, which exhibit less cross tolerance to ISDN than GTN. Further, RSNOs relax vascular smooth muscle seemingly independent of nitric oxide (NO) liberation, and nitrate tolerance may involve reduced RSNO formation or NO release rather than desensitized guanylate cyclase (GC).

Animals↗

Resistance of fetal PVG rats to induction of allograft tolerance.

Artificially induced immunological tolerance is often envisaged as experimental mimicry of events which occur naturally during the acquisition of self tolerance. Thus, it has been inferred that similar circumstances will facilitate the induction of both types of unresponsiveness. Since tolerance to most self determinants appears to have been established by the time of birth and allograft tolerance can be experimentally induced more readily, if not exclusively, in very young animals, it is commonly assumed that susceptibility to induction of tolerance to foreign antigens will continue to increase as progressively younger animals are tested. The experiments reported in this study extend the range of circumstances under which younger animals may be found to be less susceptible, or even completely resistant, to tolerance induction. While neonatal PVG rats were highly susceptible to the induction of tolerance to (PVG x DA)F1 hybrid determinants, fetal PVG rats were only partially susceptible at 19 days and were completely resistant at 17 and 18 days of gestation. Furthermore, only 39% of neonatal PVG rats that had been inoculated with F1 hybrid bone marrow cells at 18 days of gestation could be rendered tolerant by procedures which were effective in 100% of previously untreated neonates. These observations were interpreted to indicate that a certain stage of maturity must be attained before fetal rats become susceptible to tolerance induction. Asymmetry in susceptibility to tolerance induction in response to the inoculation of F1 hybrid bone marrow cells was observed when PVG and DA fetuses, but not neonates, were compared. This difference in the response of the two strains recalls the divergence in immune reactivity of offspring, previously reported when PVG and DA embryos were transferred to surrogate mothers of the other strain. It is also in agreement with earlier reports of substantial differences in the ease of tolerance induction between different strain combinations. The asymmetry between PVG and DA rats in the present experiments is speculatively attributed to differences in rates of immunological maturation of the two strains.

Animals↗

Control of autoimmunity by naturally arising regulatory CD4+ T cells.

Naturally acquired immunological self-tolerance is not entirely accounted for by clonal deletion, anergy, and ignorance. It is now well established that the T cell-repertoire of healthy individuals harbors self-reactive lymphocytes with a potential to cause autoimmune disease and these lymphocytes are under dominant control by a unique subpopulation of CD4+ T cells now called regulatory T cells. Efforts to delineate these Treg cells naturally present in normal individuals have revealed that they are enriched in the CD25+ CD4+ population. The identification of the CD25 molecule as a useful marker for naturally arising CD4+ regulatory T cells has made it possible to investigate many key aspects of their immunobiology, including their antigen specificities and the cellular/molecular pathways involved in their development and their mechanisms of action. Furthermore, reduction or dysfunction of the CD25+ CD4+ regulatory T cell population can be responsible for certain autoimmune diseases in humans.

Animals↗

Immunological tolerance to many self epitopes may be unnecessary.

The demonstration of the existence of antigenic mimicry suggests that immunological tolerance to self antigens may be an insufficient basis for distinguishing self from non-self. However, some data suggest that even in the absence of tolerance most self epitopes would not immunize the host and that tolerance to all self epitopes may, therefore, not be necessary for the prevention of autoimmune disease.

Animals↗

Immunological study of IFNbeta-1a-treated and untreated multiple sclerosis patients: clarifying IFNbeta mechanisms and establishing specific dendritic cell immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: A comparative immunological evaluation of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receiving IFNbeta treatment and patients who are not receiving treatment may help clarify IFNbeta neurological mechanisms and lead the way to an effective dendritic cell (DC) immunotherapy. This type of study helps clarify the pathological function of T cells and DCs within the TH1/TH2/TH3 network as well as the specific interactions between TH1/TH2/TH3 cytokines implicated in MS pathological mechanisms and determine the best way of reestablishing the TH1/TH2/TH3 network equilibrium. METHODS: We studied network interactions between TH1/TH2/TH3 cytokine levels in serum and supernatants of whole blood and CD14+ monocyte-derived DCs in the remission phase of the disease and in correlation to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). RESULTS: We found that TH1 dysregulation results in a disruption of the maturation and activation of dendritic and T cells, and a lack of T-regulating cells for the induction of self-tolerance; IFNbeta mechanisms restore regulation by reestablishing the network balance but fail to resolve the disease completely due to in vivo IL12p70 network interactions leading to the deletion of self-aggressive cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a specific DC immunotherapy could cure rather than treat MS. The best point to reestablish the normal physiological cycle is at the immature DC stage which can be done in vitro with treated peripheral blood CD14+ cells and used in vivo to stimulate the expansion of specific regulatory T cells.

Adult↗

Th2 and Th1 autoreactive anti-class II cell lines in the rat suppress or induce autoimmunity.

It is now currently thought that Th1 autoreactive cells may induce organ specific autoimmune disease and in these situations Th2 cells are considered as regulatory cells. However, in other situations Th2 cells may be pathogenic. Thus, some chemicals (HgCl2, gold salts or D-penicillamine) may induce Th2-mediated systemic autoimmune disorders in susceptible Brown-Norway (BN) rats. In contrast, HgCl2 induces non antigen specific immunosuppression in Lewis (LEW) rats and protects this strain against organ-specific autoimmune diseases such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Anti-self MHC class II T cells have been detected in both susceptible and resistant strains upon exposure with these chemicals. Autoreactive T cell lines that recognize self MHC class II molecules have been derived from gold salt-injected BN rats (BNAu lines) and from HgCl2-injected LEW rats (LEWHg lines). BNAu T cell lines produced IL-4 and transferred antibody-mediated autoimmunity in BN rats deprived of CD8+ cells. In contrast, HgCl2 protects susceptible rats from Th1-mediated autoimmunity, (autoimmune uveoretinitis). LEWHg lines produced IL-2, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta and were able to protect LEW rats against cell-mediated autoimmunity (EAE) and (LEW x BN)F1 hybrids from antibody-mediated, HgCl2-induced autoimmunity. Several points will be discussed: the specificity of these autoreactive T cells, the mechanisms by which chemicals may induce these cells and the mechanisms by which the immune system maintains or reestablishes self tolerance in rats exposed to these agents.

Animals↗

Regulatory T cells prevent catastrophic autoimmunity throughout the lifespan of mice.

Mice lacking the transcription factor Foxp3 (Foxp3(-)) lack regulatory T (T(reg)) cells and develop fatal autoimmune pathology. In Foxp3(-) mice, many activated effector T cells express self-reactive T cell receptors that are expressed in T(reg) cells in wild-type mice. Thus, in wild-type mice, most self-reactive thymocytes escaping negative selection are diverted into the T(reg) lineage, and whether T(reg) cells are critical in self-tolerance in wild-type mice remains unknown. Here, acute in vivo ablation of T(reg) cells demonstrated a vital function for T(reg) cells in neonatal and adult mice. We suggest that self-reactive T cells are continuously suppressed by T(reg) cells and that when suppression is relieved, self-reactive T cells become activated and facilitate accelerated maturation of dendritic cells.

Aging↗

B cell receptor-independent stimuli trigger immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch recombination and production of IgG autoantibodies by anergic self-reactive B cells.

In both humans and animals, immunoglobulin (Ig)G autoantibodies are less frequent but more pathogenic than IgM autoantibodies, suggesting that controls over Ig isotype switching are required to reinforce B cell self-tolerance. We have used gene targeting to produce mice in which hen egg lysozyme (HEL)-specific B cells can switch to all Ig isotypes (SWHEL mice). When crossed with soluble HEL transgenic (Tg) mice, self-reactive SWHEL B cells became anergic. However, in contrast to anergic B cells from the original nonswitching anti-HEL x soluble HEL double Tg model, self-reactive SWHEL B cells also displayed an immature phenotype, reduced lifespan, and exclusion from the splenic follicle. These differences were not related to their ability to Ig class switch, but instead to competition with non-HEL-binding B cells generated by VH gene replacement in SWHEL mice. When activated in vitro with B cell receptor (BCR)-independent stimuli such as anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody plus interleukin 4 or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), anergic SWHEL double Tg B cells proliferated and produced IgG anti-HEL antibodies as efficiently as naive HEL-binding B cells from SWHEL Ig Tg mice. These results demonstrate that no intrinsic constraints to isotype switching exist in anergic self-reactive B cells. Instead, production of IgG autoantibodies is prevented by separate controls that reduce the likelihood of anergic B cells encountering BCR-independent stimuli. That bacteria-derived LPS could circumvent these controls may explain the well-known association between autoantibody-mediated diseases and episodes of systemic infection.

Animals↗

The control of T cell activation vs. tolerance.

B7 costimulators and the T cell growth factor IL-2 are important stimuli for the activation of T lymphocytes and the development of effective immune responses. Recent studies show that the same signals promote the development of regulatory T cells or the apoptotic death of activated T cells, and thus, function to terminate immune responses and maintain self-tolerance. The balance between the different outcomes of the same signals may be determined by the magnitude of these signals and the presence or absence of concomitant stimuli, such as those generated during innate immune responses to microbes.

Animals↗