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The microsomal/peroxidase antigen: modulation of its expression in thyroid cells.

Evidence has accumulated in the last few years that the expression of the microsomal/peroxidase antigen (M/TPO-Ag) in thyroid cells is induced by TSH, through pathways which involve intracellular cAMP accumulation and protein synthesis. These data have been found true in any thyroid system studied so far, both in terms of immunologic and enzymatic activity of TPO. TSH and cAMP also increase the levels of the specific mRNA for TPO in thyroid cells from different species. Whether this phenomenon is due to a direct transcriptional regulation of the TPO gene, as shown in dog thyroid cells, or to posttranscriptional effects, as it would appear in FRTL-5 cells, remains to be clarified by future experiments. Thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb) of Graves' disease also stimulates the expression of M/TPO-Ag. This finding gives further support to the relevance of TSAb in the pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism and explains the well known observation that the "microsomal" antigen is particularly abundant in glands of Graves' patients. The modulation of M/TPO-Ag surface expression by TSH can explain the decrease of circulating anti-MAb observed during L-thyroxine therapy in hypothyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Other agents, such as methimazole and sodium iodide, which influence thyroid cell function, do not directly interfere with the expression of M/TPO-Ag. Cytokines, such as gamma-interferon, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 have been shown to inhibit the TSH-induced increase of TPO mRNA, but further investigations are required to elucidate the exact role of cytokines in the regulation of M/TPO-Ag expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tetanus antigen modulates the gene expression profile of aluminum phosphate adjuvant in spleen lymphocytes in vivo.

Adjuvants play an important role in stimulation of the immune response to antigens. Very little is known about the molecular mechanisms of this stimulation. Here we address this issue by studying gene expression profiles from spleen lymphocytes after in vivo immunization of mice with a clinically relevant vaccine, tetanus toxoid formulated with aluminum phosphate as adjuvant (TT(ADJ)), or the adjuvant alone (ADJ). The Th1/Th2 response to TT(ADJ) was obtained from a combination of up- and downstream markers to conventional cytokines, which were in good agreement with cytokine protein levels. A clustering algorithm revealed that ADJ elicited expression of 47 genes active in cytotoxic lymphocytes, inflammation, oncogenesis, stress, toxicity and cell cycle regulation. In TT(ADJ) these adjuvant-elicited genes were expressed at lower levels and a compensatory onset of protective and inhibitory genes was observed. We conclude that the antigen, to a larger extent than previously recognized, modulates the molecular mechanism of the aluminum phosphate adjuvant and that the identified genes may serve as predictive biomarkers in the development of new adjuvants and vaccines.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Purification and characterization of the Ro and La antigens. Modulation of their binding affinities to poly(U) by phosphorylation and the presence of ATP.

Both the La and the Ro antigen (the latter for the first time) were purified to apparent homogeneity. Ro was found to be a 94 (90)-kDa and La a 50-kDa polypeptide. Both antigens bind to RNA with a high preference for poly(U). The binding hierarchy is U much greater than G greater than A greater than C for La and U much greater than C greater than G greater than A for Ro. Only 15% of the total amount of La or 21% of that of Ro, present in the L5178y cell extract, is able to bind to poly(U), indicating the existence of RNA binding and nonbinding subclasses of La and Ro. The purified antigens were used for the isolation of monospecific antibodies. These antibodies were specific for their respective antigen and did not cross-react. Both the Ro and the La antigen are phosphorylated in vitro by the cytoplasmic protein kinase CII, whereas the nuclear protein kinases NI and NII are unable to phosphorylate the antigens. After phosphorylation or in the presence of ATP the binding affinity of both antigens to poly(U) strongly decreases. The phosphorylation reaction together with the immunoprecipitation by the monospecific antibodies represents a highly sensitive and specific assay which was used during purification and characterization of the Ro and La antigen.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol modulates antigen processing by macrophages.

delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure suppresses multiple immunological functions of macrophages. The ability of macrophages exposed to THC to process and present soluble protein antigens was investigated by the stimulation of antigen-specific helper T cell hybridomas to secrete interleukin-2. The T cell response to hen egg lysozyme was dramatically reduced after a 24-hr pretreatment of a macrophage hybridoma with THC. In contrast, THC exposure did not alter the capacity of the macrophage hybridoma to process chicken ovalbumin and augmented their presenting cell function for a pigeon cytochrome c response. These findings could not be attributed to differential effects of THC on either cell viability or expression of the antigen receptor-associated CD3 complex by the T cells. The level of T cell activation with peptides of lysozyme and cytochrome c, which do not require processing, was inhibited only at the highest concentrations of THC, suggesting that THC mainly affects antigen processing. Peritoneal macrophages exposed to THC during an antigen pulse and fixed with paraformaldehyde showed similar effects on the subsequent T cell responses to lysozyme and cytochrome c in the absence of THC, arguing against a possible influence of THC on the T cells. Therefore, THC differentially modulates the capacity of macrophages to process antigens that is necessary for the activation of CD4+ T cells.

Animals↗

The SV40 T antigen modulates CBP histone acetyltransferase activity.

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) play a key role in transcription control, cell proliferation and differentiation by modulating chromatin structure; however, little is known about their own regulation. Here we show that expression of the viral oncoprotein SV40 T antigen increases histone acetylation and global cellular HAT activities. In addition, it enhances CREB-binding protein HAT activity and modulates its transcriptional activity. Finally, we show that inhibition of cellular histone deacetylases by trichostatin A increases the SV40 infectivity rate. These findings highlight the importance of histone acetylation in the regulation of the cell cycle by oncoviral proteins.

Acetylation↗

Monoclonal antibodies that bind to the My23 human myeloid cell surface molecule: epitope analysis and antigen modulation studies.

It has previously been shown that the AML-2-23 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) reacts with a glycoprotein on differentiated myeloid cells. The antigen, My23, is released from these cells in culture and is also detectable in normal human plasma. We have now raised a panel of MoAbs against the soluble form of the antigen which reacts with monocytes and calcitriol-treated U937 and HL-60 myeloid cell lines, but not with lymphocytes or undifferentiated U937 and HL-60 cells. As with the AML-2-23 MoAb, the anti-My23 MoAbs immunoprecipitated a 50,000-55,000 protein from calcitriol treated HL-60 cells. Besides binding to cell surface My23, all eight MoAbs as well as the 63D3 MoAb reacted with crude and purified forms of soluble My23. A novel ELISA epitope analysis assay was developed to identify four distinct antigenic determinants on My23. Thus, the soluble and cell surface forms of My23 share several antigenic determinants and are biochemically very similar. Pooled anti-My23 caused selective patching, capping and clearing of My23 from the cell surface. My23 was not associated with cell surface, HLA-DR, HLA-A,B,C, beta 2-microglobulin or the Fc receptors for IgG or IgA. These anti-My23 MoAbs should be of importance in antigen functional studies and in clinical treatment protocols for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. Furthermore, we have shown that a soluble myeloid differentiation antigen can serve as an effective immunogen for the preparation of MoAbs against important cell surface molecules thus obviating many problems inherent in the use of whole cells or detergent lysate-derived immunoprecipitates as immunogens.

Animals↗

Natural variation of the expression of HLA and endogenous antigen modulates CTL recognition in an in vitro melanoma model.

Increasing attention has been devoted to elucidating the mechanism of lost or decreased expression of MHC or melanoma-associated antigens (MAAs), which may lead to tumor escape from immune recognition. Loss of expression of HLA class I or MAA has, as an undisputed consequence, loss of recognition by HLA class I-restricted cytotoxic T cells (CTLs). However, the relevance of down-regulation remains in question in terms of frequency of occurrence. Moreover the functional significance of epitope down-regulation, defining the relationship between MHC/epitope density and CTL interactions, is a matter of controversy, particularly with regard to whether the noted variability of expression of MHC/epitope occurs within a range likely to affect target recognition by CTLs. In this study, bulk metastatic melanoma cell lines originated from 25 HLA-A*0201 patients were analyzed for expression of HLA-A2 and MAAs. HLA-A2 expression was heterogeneous and correlated with lysis by CTLs. Sensitivity to lysis was also independently affected by the amount of ligand available for binding at concentrations of 0.001 to 1 mM. Natural expression of MAA was variable, independent from the expression of HLA-A*0201, and a significant co-factor determining recognition of melanoma targets. Thus, the naturally occurring variation in the expression of MAA and/or HLA documented by our in vitro results modulates recognition of melanoma targets and may (i) partially explain CTL-target interactions in vitro and (ii) elucidate potential mechanisms for progressive escape of tumor cells from immune recognition in vivo.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Lipid vesicle-entrapped influenza A antigen modulates the influenza A-specific human antibody response in immune reconstituted SCID-human mice.

This study was designed to investigate the capacity of purified influenza antigen in the presence and absence of adjuvant to induce human antibody responses in human-PBL-SCID mice. Non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NISV) were used as adjuvant as they have been shown to promote the development of Th1 responses in mouse studies. Human peripheral blood lymphocyte-SCID mice were inoculated with either purified influenza antigen (A/Texas, H3N2) or influenza antigen entrapped in NISV. Both vaccinated groups produced significantly higher plasma levels of influenza-specific human IgG when individually compared with non-vaccinated controls. However, similar comparisons revealed that specific IgM levels were significantly higher only in the group challenged with purified antigen. Further analysis of IgG subclasses also demonstrated an adjuvant-dependent dichotomy in the responses of the vaccine groups when compared with non-vaccinated controls. Thus, only influenza-specific IgG1 antibodies (associated with Th1 responses in humans) were significantly increased above control levels using antigen with adjuvant, while both this subclass and antigen-specific IgG4 (Th2 associated) were significantly increased with antigen alone. These results illustrate the suitability of this model for use in human vaccination studies and demonstrates that influenza antigen applied with NISV selectively promotes only Th1 responses, unlike free antigen which also promotes Th2 responses in vivo.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Schistosoma mansoni PIII antigen modulates in vitro granuloma formation by regulating CD28, CTLA-4, and CD86 expression in humans.

We investigated the in vitro responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from intestinal chronic schistosomiasis patients to PIII, a multivalent antigen prepared from Schistosoma mansoni adult worm. PIII decreased cellular proliferation and granulomatous reaction. Moreover, induced the reduction of IFN-gamma levels and increased IL-10 production. To better understand the mechanism through which the observed suppression occurs, the present study focused on the phenotypic pattern displayed by PBMC treated with PIII in an in vitro granuloma assay. Expression of the surface markers CD28, CTLA-4 and CD86 by lymphocytes and monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results demonstrated a significant decrease of CD28+CD4+ and CD28+CD8+ T-cell percentage stimulated by PIII compared to its non-infected counterparts. This suppressive effect was related to a significant increase in the percentage of T-cells expressing CTLA-4. PIII also promoted a significant increase in the percentage of cells expressing CD86. Indeed, our results demonstrated that PIII was capable of modulating in vitro granuloma reaction, and this event was related to the balance of IL-10, IFN-gamma and CD28, CTLA-4, CD86 bringing new insight to the immunoregulation of granulomatous hypersensitivity in human schistosomiasis.

Animals↗

Fas antigen modulates ultraviolet B-induced apoptosis of SVHK cells: sequential activation of caspases 8, 3, and 1 in the apoptotic process.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induces various apoptosis-related proteins, including Fas antigen (Fas) in keratinocytes. Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation produces "sunburn cells," a specific type of apoptosis. Previously, we reported that IFN-gamma augments Fas-dependent apoptosis of SV40-transformed human keratinocytes (SVHK cells). Caspases are a new class of cysteine proteinases that play an important role in apoptosis. We investigated the mechanism of UVB-induced apoptosis by examining activation of the caspase cascade. UVB irradiation of SVHK cells increased the activities of caspases 1, 3, and 8, which were detected at 3 h, and peak activities occurred at 6 h. Pretreatment of SVHK cells with IFN-gamma significantly increased the activity of caspases 1, 3, and 8. UVB-induced caspase 8 stimulation was significantly suppressed only by caspase 8 inhibitor, while inhibitors of caspases 1, 3, and 8 significantly suppressed UVB-induced caspase 1 stimulation. Caspase 3 and 8 inhibitors, but not caspase 1 inhibitor, significantly suppressed UVB-induced caspase 3 activity, suggesting sequential activation of caspases 8, 3, and 1 in UVB-irradiated SVHK cells. Cross-linking and immunoprecipitation analyses showed multimerization of Fas antigen following UVB irradiation of SVHK cells. Pretreatment of SVHK cells with IFN-gamma significantly augmented UVB-induced apoptosis that was accompanied by increased Fas expression. The susceptibility to UVB-induced apoptosis was also increased in Fas-transfected SVHK cells (F2 cells). Neutralizing anti-Fas antibody significantly suppressed caspase activation and Fas-dependent apoptosis of SVHK cells and F2 cells. In contrast, UVB-induced caspase activation and apoptosis were not inhibited by neutralizing anti-Fas antibody in both cell lines. Our results suggest that UVB directly activates Fas and subsequent caspase cascade resulting in apoptosis of SVHK cells. Furthermore, the expression level of Fas antigen in keratinocytes influenced their susceptibility to UVB-induced apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

Human retinoblastoma: in vitro differentiation and immunoglobulin superfamily antigen modulation by retinoic acid.

Suspension and attachment cultures of Y79 human retinoblastoma cells were treated with all-trans retinoic acid (RA) for up to 10 days to assess its effect on growth and cell-surface expression of immunoglobulin superfamily antigens MHC class I and class II, ICAM-1, NCAM and Thy1. RA up to 10 microM induced growth inhibition, and marked morphological differentiation with extension of prominent processes resembling neurites was seen in attachment cultures. However, above 10 microM RA produced extensive cell death. We also observed increased cell-surface expression of MHC class I, ICAM-1, NCAM and Thy1 on Y79 cells treated with 10 microM over 10 days; constitutive MHC class II expression was not apparent, nor did RA treatment appear to induce Y79 cells to express MHC class immunoreactivity. The up-modulation of cell-adhesion molecules (NCAM, ICAM-1 and Thy1) and immune recognition molecules (NCAM, ICAM-1 and MHC class I), associated with reduced growth and tumour cell differentiation, suggests that RA may have a potential role in regulating the growth and development of retinoblastoma tumours.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗