Irradiation up-regulates CD80 expression through induction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and CD40 ligand expression on B lymphoma cells.

Previously, we reported that 100 Gy X-ray irradiation followed by 24 hr incubation up-regulates CD80 expression in murine B lymphoma cells, A20-2J. In the present study, we analysed the underlying mechanisms of such up-regulation using A20-HL cells derived from A20-2J cells. Irradiation of A20-HL cells with 100 Gy enhanced CD80 expression. Incubation of untreated A20-HL cells with those 100 Gy irradiated induced up-regulation of CD80 expression. Irradiation of A20-HL cells also up-regulated the expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and CD40 ligand (CD40L), and the amount of immunoprecipitable TNF-alpha and CD40L in cell lysates. The addition of anti-TNF-alpha or anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the incubation of irradiated A20-HL cells partially inhibited up-regulation of CD80 expression, and the addition of both antibodies together almost completely inhibited the up-regulation, suggesting that irradiation up-regulated the CD80 expression through the induction of TNF-alpha and CD40L expression. Irradiation also increased the accumulation of CD80, TNF-alpha and CD40L mRNA. n-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), a nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB inhibitor, markedly decreased irradiation-induced accumulation of CD80 mRNA and CD80 expression. FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, and nifedipine, a calcium channel inhibitor, inhibited not only the expression of TNF-alpha and CD40L, but also the up-regulation of CD80 on irradiated A20-HL cells. These results strongly suggested that irradiation induced TNF-alpha and CD40L expression, which then up-regulated CD80 mRNA and CD80 expression through activation of NF-kappaB transcription factor in A20-HL cells.

Melphalan and other anticancer modalities up-regulate B7-1 gene expression in tumor cells.

In this study, we show that administration of low-dose melphalan (l -PAM, l -phenylalanine mustard) to mice bearing a large MOPC-315 plasmacytoma led to a rapid up-regulation of B7-1 (CD80), but not B7-2 (CD86), expression on the surface of MOPC-315 tumor cells. This l -PAM-induced preferential up-regulation of B7-1 surface expression was due, at least in part, to a direct effect of l -PAM on the tumor cells, as in vitro exposure of MOPC-315 tumor cells to l -PAM led to the preferential up-regulation of B7-1 surface expression. Moreover, in vitro exposure of MOPC-315 tumor cells to two other anticancer modalities, gamma-irradiation and mitomycin C, resulted in the preferential up-regulation of B7-1 surface expression. This effect was not restricted to MOPC-315 tumor cells, as preferential up-regulation of B7-1 surface expression was observed also following in vitro exposure of the P815 mastocytoma (that is negative for both B7-1 and B7-2 surface expression) to any of the three anticancer modalities. The up-regulation of B7-1 surface expression following in vitro exposure of tumor cells to l -PAM, gamma-irradiation, or mitomycin C required de novo protein and RNA synthesis, and was associated with the accumulation of mRNA for B7-1 within 4-8 h, indicating that the regulation of B7-1 expression is at the RNA transcriptional level. These results have important implications for an additional immune-potentiating mechanism of these anticancer modalities in clinical setting.

Antigen-specific regression of established tumors induced by active immunization with irradiated IL-12- but not B7-1-transfected tumor cells.

Transfection of modestly immunogenic tumors to express B7 family co-stimulator molecules results in their rejection by syngeneic mice, suggesting a possible clinical application in cancer patients. Immunization of naive mice with irradiated B7-1-transfected P1.HTR cells is sufficient to induce specific cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) and to protect against tumor challenge. However, patients to be treated will have an existing tumor burden; thus, preclinical models should examine therapeutic efficacy in an established tumor setting. Contrary to expectations, immunization of mice with irradiated B7-1-transfected P1.HTR cells had no impact on the growth of pre-established control-transfected tumors. Mice bearing control-transfected P1.HTR tumors successfully rejected living B7-1 transfectants on the contralateral flank, demonstrating the ability of tumor-bearing mice to respond to B7 co-stimulation. Inasmuch as IL-12 is another important factor for CTL maturation, P1.HTR transfectants expressing B7-1 and/or IL-12 were then constructed. Remarkably, regression of pre-established tumors was achieved following immunization with irradiated IL-12 transfectants, even without co-expression of B7-1. Rejection required a shared antigen with the tumor used for immunization, could not be reproduced with rIL-12 alone, depended on host T lymphocytes and correlated with a high IFN-gamma-producing T cell phenotype. In addition, IL-12-facilitated tumor rejection required co-operation with a CTLA-4 ligand provided by the host, and correlated with up-regulation of B7-1 and B7-2 on host antigen-presenting cells. Thus, active immunization in the established tumor setting is benefitted greatly by the provision of IL-12, which may recruit participation of sufficient B7 co-stimulation from the host that it need not be provided exogenously.

Up-regulation of human epidermal Langerhans' cell B7-1 and B7-2 co-stimulatory molecules in vivo by solar-simulating irradiation.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation impairs cutaneous immune functions and induces antigen-specific tolerance both locally at the irradiated skin site, as well as at distant skin sites and systemically. It has been postulated that in the local model, altered Langerhans' cells (LC) provide tolerogenic signals, and studies in vitro have indicated that UV radiation may down-regulate the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on the surface of these cells. To examine the effect of UV radiation on LC co-stimulatory molecules in vivo, we irradiated human volunteers with erythematogenic doses of solar-simulating UV radiation (SSR), and analyzed the expression of cell surface markers in dermatome skin samples obtained 1-72 h post-irradiation. For flow cytometric analysis, epidermal cell (EC) suspensions were prepared and double labeled with monoclonal antibodies against CD1a or HLA-DR, and B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), ICAM-1 (CD54), ICAM-3 (CD50), LFA-3 (CD58), E-cadherin, or integrin-beta4 (CD104). In unirradiated control skin samples, keratinocytes (KC) expressed high levels of E-cadherin. LC expressed high levels of both E-cadherin and ICAM-3, and low levels of B7-2, LFA-3, ICAM-1, and integrin-beta4. Following SSR, a triphasic reaction pattern was seen: an immediate, down-regulatory phase prevailing 2-6 h post-irradiation, when the number of DR+ and CD1a+ cells were temporarily reduced; a delayed, up-regulatory phase in which the number of LC was increased and the expression intensities of CD1a, HLA-DR, B7-1, and B7-2 were strongly up-regulated, maximally evident 12-24 h after irradiation, but no more seen at 48 h; and a late phase at 72 h, in which an influx of monocytes and a concomitant rise in DR+ cells was recorded. We conclude that to understand real-life cutaneous UV immunology, studies in vitro need to be complemented with studies in vivo. In the case of LC, the effects of erythematogenic UV radiation in vivo on human LC B7 co-stimulatory molecules include an up-regulatory stage.

Irradiation of singly and doubly transduced murine neuroblastoma cells expressing B7-1 and producing interferon-gamma reduces their capacity to induce systemic immunity.

We have previously reported that immunization with low major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I expressing murine neuroblastoma (neuro-2a) transduced with B7-1 fails to induce significant protection to wild-type tumor challenge. In this study we investigated whether B7-1 expressing neuro-2a cells can stimulate an effective T-cell response if they were cotransduced with the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene to upregulate MHC class I. Transfer of both the IFN-gamma and B7-1 genes into neuro-2a (N-2a/B7-1/IFN) almost completely abrogated the tumorigenic potential of this tumor and improved survival when compared with mice receiving the single transductants, N-2a/IFN and N-2a/B7-1. Rejection of N-2a/B7-1/IFN was mediated primarily by CD8+ T cells. When irradiated tumor cells were tested, IFN-gamma gene transfer into neuro-2a significantly increased immunogenicity, but transfer of the B7-1 gene did not. However, nonirradiated N-2a/B7-1, N-2a/IFN, and N-2a/B7-1/IFN cells were significantly more effective in eliciting systemic immunity against subsequent wild-type tumor challenge than their irradiated counterparts. N-2a/B7-1/IFN was more immunogenic than N-2a/B7-1 but not more than N-2a/IFN, indicating that B7-1 does not further increase immunogenicity of neuro-2a over that induced by IFN-gamma transduction. These findings should be considered when designing gene modified tumor vaccines for use in human trials.

A radiosensitive APC activity dissociates IL-2 secretion and activation-induced cell death by autoreactive T cell hybridomas.

T cell hybridomas were generated from a LEW rat T cell line specific for the uveitogenic peptide bov-B1 of bovine retinal S-antigen. Using these autoreactive hybridomas, IL-2 production and activation-induced cell death (AICD) were dissociated as outcomes of activation. The self-reactive hybridomas secrete IL-2 and undergo AICD in response to antigen presented by non-irradiated syngeneic splenocytes, whereas antigen presentation by irradiated splenocytes induced only AICD. IL-2 production by a non-self reactive hybridoma was unaffected by irradiation of the APC. Pretreatment of the APC with phorbol ester or lipopolysaccharide and IL-4 protected their ability to induce IL-2 secretion after gamma-irradiation. Although the co-stimulation-blocking reagent CTLA-4-Ig mimicked the effect of gamma-irradiation by preventing IL-2 secretion but not AICD, B7 expression on the APC was not radiosensitive, nor did co-stimulation, provided 'in trans' with a B7-expressing third-party cell, reconstitute antigen-specific hybridoma IL-2 secretion in response to irradiated APC. In summary, the data show that IL-2 secretion and AICD of a self-reactive T cell hybridoma can be dissociated as consequences of TCR occupancy in the presence of a functional co-stimulatory signal. It is proposed that the signals producing these events are transduced through the TCR-CD3 complex alone and reflect the differential outcomes of high- and low-affinity interactions.

Specificity and longevity of antitumor immune responses induced by B7-transfected tumors.

We have shown previously that expression of the costimulatory ligand B7.1 by the UV-induced melanoma K1735 leads to rejection of the tumor by syngeneic hosts and the induction of immunity to challenge by the parental B7-negative tumor. Here we extend our analysis of the effectiveness of B7-positive tumor cells as vaccines to additional tumor models and analyze the protective immunity in detail. We have found that the immunity induced by K1735 is not restricted to the parental tumor cells but is effective against an additional melanoma line and an unrelated fibrosarcoma as well. This immunity is, however, relatively short-lived, and no significant protection is observed after 90 days. Depletion of CD4+ T cells prior to rechallenge has no significant effect on the subsequent rejection of B7-negative tumor cells. EL-4 thymoma cells transfected with B7.1 are also effectively rejected, and mice which have rejected B7 + EL-4 cells are immune to challenge with not only EL-4, but also reject an unrelated thymoma, C6VL. In contrast to the short-lived immunity observed in the melanoma model, mice are effectively protected against challenge with EL-4 for longer than 90 days after rejection of B7 + EL-4. Finally, we show that irradiation severely diminishes the effectiveness of B7-positive tumor cells as immunogens. This work has implications for the use of B7-positive cells as tumor vaccines.