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Upon viral exposure, myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells produce 3 waves of distinct chemokines to recruit immune effectors.

Host response to viral infection involves distinct effectors of innate and adaptive immunity, whose mobilization needs to be coordinated to ensure protection. Here we show that influenza virus triggers, in human blood dendritic-cell (DC) subsets (ie, plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs), a coordinated chemokine (CK) secretion program with 3 successive waves. The first one, occurring at early time points (2 to 4 hours), includes CKs potentially attracting effector cells such as neutrophils, cytotoxic T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells (CXCL16, CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL3). The second one occurs within 8 to 12 hours and includes CKs attracting effector memory T cells (CXCL8, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11). The third wave, which occurs after 24 to 48 hours, when DCs have reached the lymphoid organs, includes CCL19, CCL22, and CXCL13, which attract naive T and B lymphocytes. Thus, human blood DC subsets carry a common program of CK production, which allows for a coordinated attraction of the different immune effectors in response to viral infection.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗

IL-2 production correlates with effector cell differentiation in HIV-specific CD8+ T cells.

BACKGROUND: Diminished IL-2 production and lack of effector differentiation have been reported for HIV-specific T cells. In this study, we examined the prevalence of these phenomena using 8-color cytokine flow cytometry, and tested the hypothesis that these two findings were causally related. We analyzed cytokine profiles and memory/effector phenotypes of HIV-specific and CMV-specific T cells using short-term in vitro stimulation with HIV or CMV peptide pools. Nineteen HIV-positive subjects with progressive disease and twenty healthy, HIV-negative subjects were examined. RESULTS: Among HIV-infected subjects, there were significantly fewer CD8+ IL-2+ T cells responding to HIV compared to CMV, with no significant difference in CD4+ IL-2+ T cells. The majority of CMV-specific T cells in both HIV-negative and HIV-positive subjects appeared to be terminally differentiated effector cells (CD8+ CD27- CD28- CD45RA+ or CD8+ CD27- CD28- CD45RA-). In HIV-positive subjects, the most common phenotype of HIV-specific T cells was intermediate in differentiation (CD8+ CD27+ CD28- CD45RA-). These differences were statistically significant, both as absolute cell frequencies and as percentages. There was a significant correlation between the absolute number of HIV-specific CD8+ IL-2+ T cells and HIV-specific CD8+ CD27- CD28- CD45RA+ terminal effector cells. CONCLUSION: IL-2 production from antigen-specific CD8+ T cells correlates with effector cell differentiation of those cells.

Journal Article↗

The roles of Rab27 and its effectors in the regulated secretory pathways.

Regulated secretory pathways are highly developed in multicellular organisms as a means of intercellular communication. Each of these pathways harbors unique store organelles, such as granules in endocrine and exocrine tissues and melanosomes in melanocytes. It has recently been shown that the monomeric GTPase Rab27 subfamily regulates the exocytosis of these cell-specific store organelles. Furthermore, genetic alterations of Rab27a cause Griscelli syndrome in humans that manifests as pigmentary dilution of the skin and the hair and variable immunodeficiency due to defects in the transport of melanosomes in melanocytes and lytic granules in cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. Rab27 acts through organelle-specific effector proteins, such as granuphilin in pancreatic beta cells and melanophilin in melanocytes. The Rab27 and effector complex then interacts with proteins that are essential for membrane transport and fusion, such as syntaxin 1a and Munc18-1 for granuphilin and myosin Va for melanophilin. Genome information suggests that other putative Rab27 effector proteins, tentatively termed as exophilins or Slp/Slac2, are predicted to exist because these proteins share the conserved N-terminal Rab27-binding domain and show Rab27-binding activity in vitro or when overexpressed in cell lines. These findings suggest that the Rab27 subfamily regulates various exocytotic pathways using multiple organelle-specific effector proteins.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Serum and acute phase protein modulation of the effector phase of lymphokine-activated killer cells.

An understanding of the role that immunomodulatory factors play in the effector phase of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity is essential for the development of biologic response modifiers for use in the treatment of advanced carcinoma. Fifteen head and neck cancer patients were studied. Single-donor killer cells activated by recombinant interleukin-2 (10 U/mL) and induced in either a complete medium or complete medium plus a 10% autologous serum solution were used. Effector phase solutions of 25% autologous serum were used in chromium 51 release assays to determine sera immunomodulation of LAK cell cytotoxicity. Both K562 and squamous carcinoma (MDA686-Ln) tumor cell lines were tested. Significant effector phase inhibition (EPI) of cytotoxicity occurred in 40% of studied patients. Seventy percent of patients with stage III or IV or recurrent disease exhibited EPI, whereas only 20% of patients with stage I or II disease and 30% of controls did so. EPI of cancer patient serum correlated directly with alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (MDA686-Ln targets) (r = 0.6, 0.7, and 0.6, respectively) (P < .02). Neither EPI against K562 targets nor EPI in control patients correlated with acute phase protein levels. These findings suggest that advances in in vivo immunomodulatory therapy will be dependent upon further elucidation of serologic inhibition of the effector phase of the LAK cell phenomenon. The relationship between LAK cell recognition and EPI requires further investigation.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Propanil exposure induces delayed but sustained abrogation of cell-mediated immunity through direct interference with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte effectors.

The postemergent herbicide propanil (PRN ; also known as 3,4-dichloropropionanilide) is used on rice and wheat crops and has well-known immunotoxic effects on various compartments of the immune system, including T-helper lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and macrophages. It is unclear, however, whether PRN also adversely affects cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) , the primary (1 degrees ) effectors of cell-mediated immunity. In this study we examined both the direct and indirect effects of PRN exposure on CTL activation and effector cell function to gauge its likely impact on cell-mediated immunity. Initial experiments addressed whether PRN alters the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) pathway for antigen processing and presentation by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) , thereby indirectly affecting effector function. These experiments demonstrated that PRN does not impair the activation of CTLs by PRN-treated APCs. Subsequent experiments addressed whether PRN treatment of CTLs directly inhibits their activation and revealed that 1 degrees alloreactive CTLs exposed to PRN are unimpaired in their proliferative response and only marginally inhibited in their lytic activity. Surprisingly, secondary stimulation of these alloreactive CTL effectors, however, even in the absence of further PRN exposure, resulted in complete abrogation of CTL lytic function and a delayed but significant long-term effect on CTL responsiveness. These findings may have important implications for the diagnosis and clinical management of anomalies of cell-mediated immunity resulting from environmental exposure to various herbicides and other pesticides.

Animals↗

The coordination of two-effector actions: spoon-feeding and intermanual prehension.

The aim of this study was to assess whether kinematic characteristics of unimanual (one-effector) prehension movements can also be found in tasks where the transport and grasp components are distributed across separate effectors. Expt 1 compared prehension with spoon-feeding and showed that a number of kinematic landmarks, such as time to peak aperture, were similar. An unexpected difference between the tasks was that the onsets of the transport and grasp components in the two-effector task were not always synchronized. To control for a number of differences between the tasks used in Expt 1, such as the role of haptic and visual information, Expt 2 compared unimanual with intermanual prehension, which involved passing an object from one hand to the other. The results were consistent with those found in Expt 1. In particular, time to peak aperture was similar over the different tasks, despite a lack of consistent coupling between the components at movement onset. We conclude that the one- and two-effector tasks pose largely the same task constraints and are coordinated in a similar way. Intermanual prehension tasks thus provide a useful experimental tool for manipulations that are difficult or impossible to perform with unimanual reaching and grasping.

Adolescent↗

Terminal reassortment drives the quantum evolution of type III effectors in bacterial pathogens.

Many bacterial pathogens employ a type III secretion system to deliver type III secreted effectors (T3SEs) into host cells, where they interact directly with host substrates to modulate defense pathways and promote disease. This interaction creates intense selective pressures on these secreted effectors, necessitating rapid evolution to overcome host surveillance systems and defenses. Using computational and evolutionary approaches, we have identified numerous mosaic and truncated T3SEs among animal and plant pathogens. We propose that these secreted virulence genes have evolved through a shuffling process we have called "terminal reassortment." In terminal reassortment, existing T3SE termini are mobilized within the genome, creating random genetic fusions that result in chimeric genes. Up to 32% of T3SE families in species with relatively large and well-characterized T3SE repertoires show evidence of terminal reassortment, as compared to only 7% of non-T3SE families. Terminal reassortment may permit the near instantaneous evolution of new T3SEs and appears responsible for major modifications to effector activity and function. Because this process plays a more significant role in the evolution of T3SEs than non-effectors, it provides insight into the evolutionary origins of T3SEs and may also help explain the rapid emergence of new infectious agents.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Human glomerulonephritis accompanied by active cellular infiltrates shows effector T cells in urine.

Leukocyturia is associated with postinfectious glomerulonephritis (GN), interstitial nephritis, and renal allograft rejection. In addition, prominent infiltration of T cells and macrophages is commonly observed in the renal tissues of patients with GN, accompanied by cellular crescent formation and/or interstitial cell infiltration. Because these infiltrating T cells were thought to participate in the development of the diseases and to appear in the urinary space while functioning as effector cells in the renal inflammatory lesion, the study focused on the characterization of T cells that appeared in urine. Freshly voided urine cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine their phenotype and by reverse transcriptase-PCR to detect cytokine mRNA. In urine from patients with different forms of GN, including IgA nephropathy, Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated GN, T cells appeared together with macrophages. The urine T cells were mainly CD45RA(-), CD45RO(+), and CD62L (L-selectin)(-), which are the phenotypic features of effector T cells. In agreement with this finding, T cells infiltrating glomeruli, crescents, and tubulointerstitial lesions were also effector type. Moreover, these urine cells expressed mRNA of the T helper lymphocyte 1 cytokines, interleukin-2, and/or interferon-gamma. These findings suggest that the appearance of effector T cells in urine may reflect the cellular immune reaction that occurs in the kidneys of patients with GN accompanied by active cell infiltration.

Adolescent↗

The RITE assay: identifying effectors that target the transcription machinery using phage display technology.

We describe an approach using phage display to identify effectors (activators and repressors) of transcription based on the particular component of the general transcription machinery that they target. We refer to this approach as the reverse identification of transcriptional effectors (RITE) assay. A library of phages containing cDNA-encoded peptides displayed on their surfaces is screened using as the target a specific region of one of the general transcription factors (e.g., the C terminus of hTAFII135). The amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA of an interacting phage is determined and analyzed in a database homology search to identify known or novel factors that may interact with the target protein. Candidate effectors from the homology search are synthesized from recombinant clones and tested for their abilities to bind to the target protein and to functionally modulate transcription in vivo when co-expressed with the transcriptional target protein. Because the RITE assay is a direct measure of the interactions between general transcription proteins and their effectors, it has an advantage over the well-known yeast two-hybrid system, which is not amenable to identifying transcription factor interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distinct compartmentalization of CD4+ T-cell effector function versus proliferative capacity during pulmonary cryptococcosis.

The activation and expansion of T cells and their acquisition of effector function are key steps in the development of the adaptive immune response. Most infections are predominantly outside of the lymphoid tissues, and it is unclear at what point developmentally and anatomically T cells acquire effector function in vivo. In these studies, we compared the activation and polarization of T cells during murine pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection in the secondary lymphoid tissues and at the site of primary infection. Few CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells expressed an activated phenotype (CD44(hi,) CD25(+), CD69(+), CD62L(lo), CD45RB(lo)) at the sites of clonal expansion (lymph nodes, spleen, and blood). In contrast, a high percentage of T cells expressed activation markers at the site of primary infection, the lungs. Additionally, the polarization of CD4(+) T cells to interferon-gamma-producing effector cells occurred at the site of infection, the lungs. CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from secondary lymphoid organs responded to TCR restimulation by proliferating, whereas T cells from the lungs proliferated poorly. This report demonstrates for the first time that T-cell activation and effector function in secondary lymphoid tissues during fungal infection is characteristically different from that at the site of primary infection.

Animals↗

An intelligent end-effector for a rehabilitation robot.

A UMI RTX robot, modified with limited end-effector sensors and a restricted but effective vision system, is currently used in a developmental education setting for severely physically disabled children. The low physical and cognitive abilities of the children involved in the project require a semi-autonomous robot with environmental sensing capability to operate in a task oriented mode. A variety of low-cost sensors including proximity, distance, force and slip sensors, have been investigated for integration in end-effectors for the RTX robot. The sensors employed on a modified end-effector are detailed and experimental results are presented. A design for an end-effector with integrated sensors is discussed. The integration of the sensor information into a high-level, task-oriented programming language is detailed and examples of high-level control sequences using sensor inputs are presented. Finally, the development of intelligent gripping strategies based on sensor information is discussed.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Two T lymphocyte populations as effector cells fro IgG dependent cytotoxicity.

The characteristics and proportions of human lymphocyte populations capable of lysing IgG coated target cells were studied. Monolayer of target erythrocytes coated with rabbit IgG were employed to detect and isolate the lytic effector lymphocytes. Normal peripheral blood effector lymphocytes were shown to express IgG receptors, and a total of four cell types possesing different surface markers were identified. An average of 68% (range 51-80%) of the effector lymphocytes had T lymphocytes antigen and were capable of SRBC rosette formation, and 32% of the lymphocytes lacked T lymphocyte markers. Two populations of these T lymphocytes were identified: one possesses SRBC and IgG receptors, and the other possesses SRBC, IgG and complement receptors. The proportion of the former was estimated as 53.2% and the latter as 14.8% of the total effector cell population. Two other cell types were distinguished among the non-T lymphocytes. One type of lymphocytes bear IgG receptors (21.6%) and the other has both IgG and complement receptors (10.4%). The cytolytic capacity of the two T lymphocyte subpopulations is suggested to be an important reaction of the immune reactive T lymphocytes during the immune response.

Adolescent↗

Serotonin modulated Ca++ dependent K+ channels in alloimmune effector cell lytic function.

Potassium channel activity has been implicated in the lytic function of cloned murine effector T lymphocytes (5) and human NK cells (12) as well as in the initiation of the injury process in tumor cells (23). In the present studies, the effects of various K+ channel blockers on the cytolytic function of in vivo derived alloimmune lymphocytes towards P815 tumor cells were evaluated. The classical K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), the naturally occurring monoamine serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its agonist, quipazine, as well as the Ca++ dependent K+ channel blocker quinidine were chosen for investigation based on their known ion channel gating properties. These agents, when present in the assay medium, inhibited in a dose dependent manner the lysis of P815 tumor cells as measured by specific 51Cr release. Preincubation of effector lymphocytes with the various K+ channel blockers resulted in greater inhibition of lysis than did the preincubation of target cells. The 5-HT agonist quipazine was of particular interest in that it inhibited the lytic process with equal effectiveness when continuously present in the assay medium or when the effector cells alone were preincubated. Quinidine was used to investigate whether Ca++ dependent K+ channels were the predominant ion channel involved in the lytic process. When present during the lytic assay, quinidine was similar to quipazine in terms of their dose range at which they inhibited the lytic process. These results indicate that 5-HT sensitive Ca++ dependent K+ channels are likely to be involved in the delivery of lytic signal(s) by immune effector lymphocytes and suggests that neuroendocrine products may modulate the functional activity of in vivo derived lymphocytes.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Right-left prevalence effect with horizontal and vertical effectors.

We investigated the right-left prevalence effect in spatial compatibility tasks by assessing subjects' performance on a two-dimensional task in which both the horizontal and vertical spatial dimensions were task relevant. Two experiments were performed, in which stimulus-response mappings were one-dimensional (Experiment 1) and two-dimensional (Experiment 2). The subjects responded by using either horizontal or vertical effectors to stimuli appearing in four possible locations. With the one-dimensional mapping, the spatial compatibility effect was present only in the dimension relevant to the mapping. With the two-dimensional mapping, the horizontal compatibility effect was always present, whereas the vertical compatibility effect was present only when vertical effectors were used. This pattern of results indicates that horizontal coding takes place with either horizontal or vertical effectors, whereas vertical coding takes place only when vertical effectors are used.

Humans↗

Threshold signaling of human Th0 cells in activation and anergy: modulation of effector function by altered TCR ligand.

Molecular interactions between TCR and its natural ligand, in the presence of costimulatory signals, elicit T cell effector functions, whereas subtle changes in the structure of antigenic peptides may induce only selected T cell effector function including anergy. In this study, we have investigated the immunological activity of an altered TCR ligand (p 2, 28-40A34,36) derived from the immunodominant T cell epitope of the group 2 allergen of house dust mite, in which residues at positions 34 and 36 were substituted by alanine. Elevated IFN-gamma synthesis was induced by equimolar concentrations of the analogue compared with native peptide (p 2, 28-40) and was paralleled by increased down-regulation of cell surface CD3. IL-5 and IL-10 production exhibit the same sensitivity to both peptides, implying that the induction of T cell effector functions are not all proportional to TCR occupancy. Both native peptide and the analogue bound to MHC class II (DRB1*1101) molecules with similar affinities. Furthermore, p 2, 28-40A34,36 induced T cell anergy at lower concentrations than native peptide. During the induction of anergy, TGF-beta production was comparable for both peptides, whereas IL-10 secretion was markedly increased but more so in response to p 2, 28-40A34,36. Membrane expression of costimulatory ligands CD80 and CD86 was similar for native peptide and p 2, 28-40A34,36 and increased in activation, whereas only CD86 was elevated during anergy. The modulation of T cell effector function with altered TCR ligands may have practical applications in reprogramming allergic inflammatory responses through the induction of T cell anergy and/or the promotion of Th1 cytokines.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Exclusive Th2 primary effector function in spleens but mixed Th1/Th2 function in lymph nodes of murine neonates.

Recent studies have shown that neonatal mice are competent to develop mature, Ag-specific Th1 function in situ. However, under many conditions, Th2 responses dominate in the neonate, while Th1 responses are more prevalent in adults. To compare further the immune responses of neonates and adults, we used the enzyme-linked immunospot method to measure the frequencies of primary Th1/Th2 effectors generated in situ in the spleens and lymph nodes. As assessed by the detection of IFN-gamma- or IL-4-producing cells, adults developed mixed Th1/Th2 responses in both organs. Neonatal lymph nodes contained mature frequencies of IFN-gamma- and IL-4-producing cells. In striking contrast, while mature frequencies of Th2 cells developed in neonatal spleens, virtually no IFN-gamma-secreting cells were detected. Exclusive Th2 function was observed in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 neonates, strains in which the Th2 and Th1 lineages, respectively, are favored in adults. Although Th1 effectors were virtually undetectable, the addition of rIL-12 boosted the frequency of IFN-gamma-secreting cells to adult levels. Therefore, Th1 effectors apparently developed in situ, but Th1 effector function either was not promoted or was inhibited upon subsequent exposure to the Ag in culture. Together, these results indicate that the quality of a primary Th response in neonates is strongly dependent on the site of initial Ag exposure; responses initiated in the lymph nodes are mixed Th1/Th2, whereas responses occurring in the spleen are heavily Th2 biased.

Animals↗

CD30 signals integrate expression of cytotoxic effector molecules, lymphocyte trafficking signals, and signals for proliferation and apoptosis.

Although CD30 has long been recognized as an important marker on many lymphomas of diverse origin and as activation molecule on B cells and T cells, its primary function has remained obscure. We now report that CD30 signals may serve to inhibit effector cell activity by integrating gene expression changes of several pathways important for cytotoxic NK and T cell effector function. In the large granular lymphoma line YT, CD30 signals down-regulate the expression of cytotoxic effector molecules, Fas ligand, perforin, granzyme B, and abrogate cytotoxicity. c-myc, a regulator of proliferation and an upstream regulator of Fas ligand expression, is completely suppressed by CD30. Furthermore, CD30 signals strongly induce CCR7, suggesting a role for CD30 signals in the homing of lymphocytes to lymph nodes. The up-regulation of Fas, death receptor 3, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand by CD30 indicates an increase in susceptibility to apoptotic signals whereas up-regulation of TNFR-associated factor 1 and cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 2 protect cells from certain types of apoptosis. Using gene microarrays, 750 gene products were induced and 90 gene products were suppressed >2-fold by CD30 signals. Signals emanating from CD30 use both TNFR-associated factor 2-dependent and -independent pathways. The integration of CD30 signals in a lymphoma line suggests that CD30 can down-modulate lymphocyte effector function and proliferation while directing the cells to lymph nodes and increasing their susceptibility to certain apoptotic signals. These studies may provide a molecular mechanism for the recently observed CD30-mediated suppression of CTL activity in vivo in a diabetes model.

Apoptosis↗

Heterogeneity of the memory CD4 T cell response: persisting effectors and resting memory T cells.

Defining the cellular composition of the memory T cell pool has been complicated by an inability to distinguish effector and memory T cells. We present here an activation profile assay, using anti-CD3 and antigenic stimuli, that clearly distinguishes effector and memory CD4 T cells and defines subsets of long-lived memory CD4 T cells based on CD62 ligand (CD62L) expression. The CD62L(low) memory subset functionally resembles effector cells, exhibiting hyper-responsiveness to antigenic and anti-CD3 mediated stimuli, high proliferative capacity, and rapid activation kinetics. The CD62L(high) memory subset functionally resembles resting memory cells, exhibiting hyporesponsiveness to anti-CD3 stimuli, lower proliferative capacity, and slower activation kinetics. Our results indicate that the memory CD4 T cell pool is heterogeneous, consisting of persisting effectors and resting memory T cells.

Adoptive Transfer↗