Toll pathway-dependent blockade of CD4+CD25+ T cell-mediated suppression by dendritic cells

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) control activation of adaptive immune responses by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). However, initiation of adaptive immune responses is also controlled by regulatory T cells (TR cells), which act to prevent activation of autoreactive T cells. Here we describe a second mechanism of immune induction by TLRs, which is independent of effects on costimulation. Microbial induction of the Toll pathway blocked the suppressive effect of CD4+CD25+ TR cells, allowing activation of pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses. This block of suppressor activity was dependent in part on interleukin-6, which was induced by TLRs upon recognition of microbial products.     

CTLA-4 control over Foxp3+ regulatory T cell function

Naturally occurring Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintaining immunological self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Here, we show that a specific deficiency of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) in Tregs results in spontaneous development of systemic lymphoproliferation, fatal T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, and hyperproduction of immunoglobulin E in mice, and it also produces potent tumor immunity. Treg-specific CTLA-4 deficiency impairs in vivo and in vitro suppressive function of Tregs-in particular, Treg-mediated down-regulation of CD80 and CD86 expression on dendritic cells. Thus, natural Tregs may critically require CTLA-4 to suppress immune responses by affecting the potency of antigen-presenting cells to activate other T cells.     

Toll-like receptor 8-mediated reversal of CD4+ regulatory T cell function

CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells have a profound ability to suppress host immune responses, yet little is understood about how these cells are regulated. We describe a mechanism linking Toll-like receptor (TLR) 8 signaling to the control of Treg cell function, in which synthetic and natural ligands for human TLR8 can reverse Treg cell function. This effect was independent of dendritic cells but required functional TLR8-MyD88-IRAK4 signaling in Treg cells. Adoptive transfer of TLR8 ligand-stimulated Treg cells into tumor-bearing mice enhanced anti-tumor immunity. These results suggest that TLR8 signaling could play a critical role in controlling immune responses to cancer and other diseases.     

Structure of murine CTLA-4 and its role in modulating T cell responsiveness

The effective regulation of T cell responses is dependent on opposing signals transmitted through two related cell-surface receptors, CD28 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). Dimerization of CTLA-4 is required for the formation of high-avidity complexes with B7 ligands and for transmission of signals that attenuate T cell activation. We determined the crystal structure of the extracellular portion of CTLA-4 to 2.0 angstrom resolution. CTLA-4 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and displays a strand topology similar to Valpha domains, with an unusual mode of dimerization that places the B7 binding sites distal to the dimerization interface. This organization allows each CTLA-4 dimer to bind two bivalent B7 molecules and suggests that a periodic arrangement of these components within the immunological synapse may contribute to the regulation of T cell responsiveness.     

Reversal of the TCR stop signal by CTLA-4

The coreceptor cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is pivotal in regulating the threshold of signals during T cell activation, although the underlying mechanism is still not fully understood. Using in vitro migration assays and in vivo two-photon laser scanning microscopy, we showed that CTLA-4 increases T cell motility and overrides the T cell receptor (TCR)-induced stop signal required for stable conjugate formation between T cells and antigen-presenting cells. This event led to reduced contact periods between T cells and antigen-presenting cells that in turn decreased cytokine production and proliferation. These results suggest a fundamentally different model of reverse stop signaling, by which CTLA-4 modulates the threshold for T cell activation and protects against autoimmunity.     

Split anergy in a CD8+ T cell: receptor-dependent cytolysis in the absence of interleukin-2 production

Engagement of the antigen-specific receptor (TCR) of CD4+ T lymphocytes without a second (costimulatory) signal prevents the subsequent production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by these cells. Because IL-2 is a key immunoregulatory lymphokine and is also produced by a subset of CD8+ T cells that are able to kill target cells, the effect of engaging the TCR of one such clone in the absence of costimulatory signals was examined. The capacity for TCR-dependent IL-2 production was lost, indicating comparable costimulator-dependent signaling requirements for IL-2 production in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. However, TCR-mediated cytotoxicity was not impaired, implying that costimulation is required for only certain TCR-dependent effector functions.     

猪CD127流式单克隆抗体的研制

[目的]研制出猪CD127(调节因子IL-7受体α链)流式单克隆抗体,为研究分析猪淋巴细胞亚群,尤其是猪Treg细胞亚群提供流式细胞分析抗体,也为进一步探究猪抗病性状与免疫机制间的关系打下基础.[方法]克隆猪CD127基因片段,通过原核载体诱导表达出相应的融合蛋白,以纯化后的融合蛋白免疫Balb/c小鼠,然后取其脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞融合,综合ELISA和流式细胞仪检测筛选出亚克隆抗体,并采用Western blotting验证所得亚克隆抗体能否与猪淋巴细胞上的CD127特异性结合.[结果]猪CD127基因cDNA全长1999 bp,第49~1428 bp为开放阅读框(ORF),编码459个氨基酸,其中前21位氨基酸为信号肽,成熟肽N端第1~219位氨基酸为胞外蛋白,第220~242位氨基酸为跨膜蛋白,第243~459位氨基酸为胞内蛋白.以pET28a和pET32a原核载体诱导表达CD127胞外片段可获得大小介于34~43 kD的融合蛋白,经Ni亲和层析柱纯化后用于免疫Balb/c小鼠,6只免疫小鼠血清中的多克隆抗体均能对猪淋巴细胞中的CD3阳性细胞(CD3+)进行共标记,其中以M2和M4两只免疫小鼠抗血清对CD3+的共标记效果较优,分群清晰;但流式细胞仪检测发现,仅2.3%的CD3+能与M2混合池培养基上清液中的分泌抗体共标记,而67.0%的CD3+能与M4混合池培养基上清液中的分泌抗体共标记,且分群清晰.从M4混合池中筛选出6株效价稳定的亚克隆细胞株(1E2、1D8、2F3、2F8、3C6和4E1),且以1D8、2F3、2F8和3C6亚克隆抗体标记的CD3+较多,其培养基上清液中的分泌抗体在猪胸腺和肌肉样品中均能检测出大小约50 kD的单一目的条带.[结论]制备获得的猪CD127流式单克隆抗体可与T淋巴细胞表面的IL-7受体特异性结合,同时在流式细胞仪检测过程中可用于猪Treg细胞亚群检测.     

小鼠黑色素瘤功能异常CD8~+T细胞基因调控网络构建与分析

疾病是全球范围内危害畜禽健康的主要问题,解析免疫系统调控相关基因成为当前抗病分子育种的研究热点。为研究小鼠黑色素瘤模型功能异常CD8~+T细胞对免疫抗体处理的应答机制,通过基因调控网络方法筛选功能异常CD8~+T细胞在Ig G和PD1抗体处理的特定基因、转录因子和细胞表面受体。结果发现对照组、PD1抗体与Ig G抗体处理组分别有28、17、33个特定表达基因。与对照组相比,Ig G和PD1处理组有2个转录因子Zfx、Zfhx3关闭表达,PD1处理组细胞表面受体Raet1b表达。Raet1b基因的表达可能使小鼠黑色素瘤功能异常CD8~+T细胞恢复功能,结果为抗病育种的相关基因研究提供理论基础。     

Activators of protein kinase C induce dissociation of CD4, but not CD8, from p56lck

The CD4 and CD8 T cell receptor accessory molecules can both be isolated from T lymphocytes in association with p56lck, a membrane-associated, cytoplasmic tyrosine protein kinase that is expressed exclusively in lymphoid cells. The enzymatic activity of p56lck may therefore be regulated by CD4 and CD8 and be important in antigen-induced T cell activation. Exposure of human T cells and some mouse T cells to the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of protein kinase C, caused the dissociation of p56lck and CD4. Activation of protein kinase C may therefore interrupt regulation of p56lck by CD4 and alter the ability of p56lck to interact with polypeptide substrates. In contrast, exposure of cells to TPA did not cause dissociation of p56lck and CD8. Regulation of p56lck by CD4 may therefore differ from regulation by CD8.     

AA肉鸡生长过程中血液CD3+、CD4+和CD8+T淋巴细胞亚群的变化规律

为了进一步了解AA肉鸡血液T淋巴细胞及其CD4 、CD8 亚群所占比例的变化规律及对免疫系统中的重要作用,使用流式细胞仪对1、3、5、7、14、21、28、35、42、的日龄AA肉鸡血液CD3 T淋巴细胞和CD4 、CD8 T细胞亚群比例进行检测.结果表明,1～5日龄CD3 T淋巴细胞含量逐渐升高,7日龄突然下降,14～21日龄急速升高,并达到最高峰后急速下降至28日龄,35～49日龄时相对趋于平稳状态;CD4 T细胞含量1～3日龄明显低于其余日龄,3～5日龄急速上升,7～14日龄增加缓慢,21日龄时达到最高峰后急速下降至28日龄,35～49日龄时基本趋于平稳状态;CD8 T细胞含量1～5日龄缓慢上升,5～7日龄急速下降后,再急速上升到14日龄,14～28日龄再下降,此后直至49日龄均在此水平上处于平稳状态.CD4 /CD8 比例:1～7日龄缓慢增加,7～14日龄比例急速下降至最低,14～21日龄时比例增加到最高峰后急速下降至28日龄,但比例数值高于前1～7日龄,28～49日龄比例趋于平稳状态.表明AA雏鸡在1～7日龄时其免疫功能逐渐提高,14日龄时细胞免疫功能明显减弱,这可能与CD8 T淋巴细胞含量高有关,21日龄时机体细胞免疫水平达最高状态,在28日龄后肉鸡细胞免疫功能基本保持稳定状态,但仍需要加强饲养管理.     

Blocking of HIV-1 infectivity by a soluble, secreted form of the CD4 antigen

The initial event in the infection of human T lymphocytes, macrophages, and other cells by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is the attachment of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 to its cellular receptor, CD4. As a step toward designing antagonists of this binding event, soluble, secreted forms of CD4 were produced by transfection of mammalian cells with vectors encoding versions of CD4 lacking its transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The soluble CD4 so produced binds gp120 with an affinity and specificity comparable to intact CD4 and is capable of neutralizing the infectivity of HIV-1. These studies reveal that the high-affinity CD4-gp120 interaction does not require other cell or viral components and may establish a novel basis for therapeutic intervention in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).     

SLE患者CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞及Foxp3基因表达的研究

目的:研究系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者外周血CD 4 CD 25 调节性T细胞及Foxp3基因的表达水平,了解它们在SLE发病机制中的作用。方法:分别收集25例SLE患者(SLE组)及健康人(对照组)外周抗凝静脉血,分离纯化T淋巴细胞。PE标记抗CD 4单抗,F ITC标记的抗CD 25单抗,作双色流式细胞术,分析SLE患者外周血CD 4 CD 25 调节性T细胞百分率,RT-PCR检测T细胞Foxp3 mRNA表达。结果:SLE组外周血CD 4 T、CD 4 CD 25 T细胞百分率及T细胞Foxp3 mRNA水平均低于对照组(P<0.01),并且CD 4 CD 25 T细胞百分率与Foxp3mRNA水平呈依赖关系(P<0.01)。结论:SLE患者外周血存在细胞免疫功能失调,CD 4 CD 25 调节性T细胞数量减少和Foxp3mRNA表达下调可能与SLE的免疫学发病机制有关。     

Use of CD134 as a primary receptor by the feline immunodeficiency virus

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) induces a disease similar to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in cats, yet in contrast to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), CD4 is not the viral receptor. We identified a primary receptor for FIV as CD134 (OX40), a T cell activation antigen and costimulatory molecule. CD134 expression promotes viral binding and renders cells permissive for viral entry, productive infection, and syncytium formation. Infection is CXCR4-dependent, analogous to infection with X4 strains of HIV. Thus, despite the evolutionary divergence of the feline and human lentiviruses, both viruses use receptors that target the virus to a subset of cells that are pivotal to the acquired immune response.     

Assistance of microbial glycolipid antigen processing by CD1e

Complexes between CD1 molecules and self or microbial glycolipids represent important immunogenic ligands for specific subsets of T cells. However, the function of one of the CD1 family members, CD1e, has yet to be determined. Here, we show that the mycobacterial antigens hexamannosylated phosphatidyl-myo-inositols (PIM6) stimulate CD1b-restricted T cells only after partial digestion of the oligomannose moiety by lysosomal alpha-mannosidase and that soluble CD1e is required for this processing. Furthermore, recombinant CD1e was able to bind glycolipids and assist in the digestion of PIM6. We propose that, through this form of glycolipid editing, CD1e helps expand the repertoire of glycolipidic T cell antigens to optimize antimicrobial immune responses.     

A role for CD40 expression on CD8+ T cells in the generation of CD8+ T cell memory

The delivery of CD4 help to CD8+ T cell responses requires interactions between CD40 and CD40 ligand and is thought to occur through antigen-presenting cell (APC) activation. Here we show that generation of memory CD8+ T cells displaying an enhanced capacity for cell division and cytokine secretion required CD4 help but not CD40 expression by the APCs. Activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressed CD40; and in the absence of this protein, CD8+ T cells were unable to differentiate into memory cells or receive CD4 help. These results suggest that, like B cells, CD8+ T cells receive CD4 help directly through CD40 and that this interaction is fundamental for CD8+ T cell memory generation.     

Inhibition of T cell receptor expression and function in immature CD4+CD8+ cells by CD4

Most immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes express only a small number of T cell receptor (TCR) molecules on their surface, and the TCR molecules they do express are only marginally capable of transducing intracellular signals. TCR expression and function was not intrinsically low in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, but was found to be actively inhibited by CD4-mediated signals. Indeed, release of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes from CD4-mediated signals resulted in significant increases in both TCR expression and signaling function. These results suggest that, in CD4+CD8+ cells developing in the thymus, increased TCR expression and function requires release from CD4-mediated inhibition.     

Epitopes of the CD4 antigen and HIV infection

The CD4 (or T4) surface antigen of human T lymphocytes is an important part of the receptor for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). After binding to the receptor, the HIV may enter the T cell and induce the formation of syncytia. In an attempt to identify the receptor site more closely, monoclonal antibodies (Mab's) to CD4 were tested for their ability to block HIV infection in a syncytium formation assay, and the CD4 epitopes so identified were mapped by antibody cross-blocking. The antibodies that showed strong inhibition of HIV fell into two main families while a third group of Mab's blocked syncytia formation weakly or not at all. Several different isolates of HIV as well as the laboratory strain CBL1 grown in CEM cells were used to induce the syncytia. The data indicate that only some epitopes of CD4 are important for virus binding and imply that the virus-binding site for CD4 is conserved in different isolates of HIV with substantially divergent env gene sequences. Preliminary studies of patients suggest that polymorphism of these epitopes does not play a role in determining susceptibility to infection.     

Recognition of a ubiquitous self antigen by prostate cancer-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes

Substantial evidence exists that many tumors can be specifically recognized by CD8+ T lymphocytes. The definition of antigens targeted by these cells is paramount for the development of effective immunotherapeutic strategies for treating human cancers. In a screen for endogenous tumor-associated T cell responses in a primary mouse model of prostatic adenocarcinoma, we identified a naturally arising CD8+ T cell response that is reactive to a peptide derived from histone H4. Despite the ubiquitous nature of histones, T cell recognition of histone H4 peptide was specifically associated with the presence of prostate cancer in these mice. Thus, the repertoire of antigens recognized by tumor-infiltrating T cells is broader than previously thought and includes peptides derived from ubiquitous self antigens that are normally sequestered from immune detection.     

In situ imaging of the endogenous CD8 T cell response to infection

Mounting a protective immune response is critically dependent on the orchestrated movement of cells within lymphoid organs. We report here the visualization, using major histocompatability complex class I tetramers, of the CD8-positive (CD8) T cell response in the spleens of mice to Listeria monocytogenes infection. A multistage pathway was revealed that included initial activation at the borders of the B and T cell zones followed by cluster formation with antigenpresenting cells leading to CD8 T cell exit to the red pulp via bridging channels. Strikingly, many memory CD8 T cells localized to the B cell zones and, when challenged, underwent rapid migration to the T cell zones where proliferation occurred, followed by egress via bridging channels in parallel with the primary response. Thus, the ability to track endogenous immune responses has uncovered both distinct and overlapping mechanisms and anatomical locations driving primary and secondary immune responses.