Identification of epitopes of fibronectin attachment protein (FAP-A) of Mycobacterium avium which stimulate strong T-cell responses in mice.

The T-cell response to fibronectin attachment protein (FAP-A) in BALB/c and B10.BR mice was examined. Both strains developed strong T-cell responses to FAP-A, directed to single, unique epitopes. T cells from mice infected with Mycobacterium avium responded to FAP-A, suggesting a possible role in a protective immune response.

Processing and presentation of an antigen of Mycobacterium avium require access to an acidified compartment with active proteases.

We have generated a murine T-cell hybridoma, 1C9, which recognizes an antigen expressed by a virulent clinical isolate of Mycobacterium avium. Both peritoneal exudate macrophages and bone marrow-derived macrophages infected in vitro with M. avium process and present the antigen to the T-cell hybridoma. Gel filtration chromatography of a sonicate of M. avium followed by T-cell Western blotting (immunoblotting) demonstrated that the antigen recognized by hybridoma 1C9 is approximately 50 kDa. In addition, treatment of macrophages with the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine or with inhibitors of acid proteases inhibits processing and presentation of the antigen. These results indicate that the antigen must encounter an acidic compartment with active proteases for processing and presentation to occur. Our results are discussed in the context of our current understanding of how mycobacterial antigens are processed and presented by infected macrophages to T cells.

Characterization of the fibronectin-attachment protein of Mycobacterium avium reveals a fibronectin-binding motif conserved among mycobacteria.

Mycobacterium avium is an intracellular pathogen and a major opportunistic infectious agent observed in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Evidence suggests that the initial portal of infection by M. avium is often the gastrointestinal tract. However, the mechanism by which the M. avium crosses the epithelial barrier is unclear. A possible mechanism is suggested by the ability of M. avium to bind fibronectin, an extracellular matrix protein that is a virulence factor for several extracellular pathogenic bacteria which bind to mucosal surfaces. To further characterize fibronectin binding by M. avium, we have cloned the M. avium fibronectin-attachment protein (FAP). The M. avium FAP (FAP-A) has an unusually large number of Pro and Ala residues (40% overall) and is 50% identical to FAP of both Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Using recombinant FAP-A and FAP-A peptides, we show that two non-continuous regions in FAP-A bind fibronectin. Peptides from these regions and homologous sequences from M. leprae FAP inhibit fibronectin binding by both M. avium and Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). These regions have no homology to eukaryotic fibronectin-binding proteins and are only distantly related to fibronectin-binding peptides of Gram-positive bacteria. Nevertheless, these fibronectin-binding regions are highly conserved among the mycobacterial FAPs, suggesting an essential function for this interaction in mycobacteria infection of their metazoan hosts.

Role of IL-6, IL-1, and CD28 signaling in responses of mouse CD4+ T cells to immobilized anti-TCR monoclonal antibody.

Purified CD4+ T cells require TCR engagement and Ag-nonspecific co-stimulatory signals to produce IL-2 and proliferate. A number of recent studies have demonstrated that the interaction of the B7 molecule expressed on APC with the T cell-associated CD28 molecule provides a potent co-stimulatory signal to both freshly isolated CD4+ T cells and cloned Th1 cells. Earlier reports have described the role of cytokines, in particular IL-6 and IL-1, as costimulatory molecules for T cell activation. We previously reported that IL-6 and IL-1 synergize to co-stimulate proliferation of purified mouse CD4+ T cells in conjunction with anti-TCR mAb. In this report we explore the interaction of IL-6, IL-1, and CD28 signaling in the activation of mouse CD4+ T cells, and demonstrate that the co-stimulatory requirements of the cells vary depending on the mode of TCR stimulation. CD28 signaling is not sufficient to co-stimulate responses of high buoyant density CD4+ T cells to anti-TCR-conjugated agarose beads; there is an additional requirement that can be supplied by exogenous IL-6 but not by IL-1. In contrast, in responses to anti-TCR mAb that is passively bound to the bottom of culture wells, CD28 stimulation is sufficient to co-stimulate proliferation, resulting in a very high level of IL-2 production; there is no additional requirement for exogenous IL-6 or IL-1. Possible explanations for the differential requirement for IL-6 in the two systems are discussed. Our results are consistent with the notion that CD28 signaling plays a central role in co-stimulating T cell responses. However, the results also suggest that, depending on the nature of the TCR stimulus, T cell activation may also require additional co-stimulatory signals provided by cytokines.

IL-6 and IL-1 synergize to stimulate IL-2 production and proliferation of peripheral T cells.

Purified T cells can be induced to proliferate and to produce the autocrine growth factor IL-2 with mAb to the TCR and costimulatory cytokines. In a previous report we demonstrated that human IL-6 stimulates IL-2 production and proliferation of purified T cells, in conjunction with the insolubilized anti-TCR V beta 8 mAb, F23.1. Here we show that when CD4+ T cells are rigorously purified to greater than 99% CD4+CD8-, they respond only weakly to F23.1 and IL-6. Instead, there is an additional requirement for IL-1, which dramatically synergizes with IL-6 to induce prolonged (greater than 7 days) proliferative responses and IL-2 production. Similar results were observed when the highly mitogenic anti-CD3 mAb 145-2C11 was substituted for F23.1. The proliferation induced by F23.1, IL-1, and IL-6 was substantially (greater than 80%) inhibited by a mAb to mouse IL-2, and was not inhibited by an anti-IL-4-mAb. In accordance with this finding, medium conditioned by the activated CD4+ cells contained large amounts of IL-2, which increased over a 7-day culture period. These results demonstrate that IL-6 and IL-1 stimulate T cell proliferation by inducing production of the autocrine growth factor IL-2. In addition, the two lymphokines must be present simultaneously for activation to occur. The possible roles of IL-6 and IL-1 in IL-2 gene regulation and in Ag-induced T cell activation are discussed.