Stimulation or tolerization of an anti-myelin basic protein T lymphocyte line with membrane fragments from antigen presenting cells.

We have investigated the abilities of a cell-free supernatant of splenocytes or thymocytes, which have been incubated with myelin basic protein (MBP), and of membranes prepared by lysing these cells, to stimulate proliferation of a Lewis rat anti-MBP T lymphocyte line in vitro. The supernatant fraction, obtained by low-speed centrifugation, is thought to contain shed membrane fragments bearing class II MHC protein (Ia) and processed antigen. Almost all of 67 preparations of supernatant fraction and about a third (26/70) of the membrane preparations stimulate proliferation of the line cells in the absence of other antigen-presenting cells and antigen. Some membrane preparations bearing the synthetic peptide S69 (residues 69-89 of MBP), containing the immunodominant encephalitogenic determinant for the Lewis rat, instead of processed MBP could also stimulate proliferation. Those membrane preparations bearing either processed MBP or synthetic S69, which do not stimulate proliferation, induce a state of unresponsiveness in which the cells do not proliferate but produce inositol phosphate. Stimulation of proliferation and induction of unresponsiveness were both inhibited by anti-Ia antibody. Addition of cyclosporin A prevents induction of unresponsiveness. Addition of allogeneic splenocytes or the cell-free supernatant fraction of syngeneic or allogeneic splenocytes or thymocytes, prevents induction of unresponsiveness by providing a necessary costimulatory signal. Further fractionation of the cell-free supernatant by high-speed ultracentrifugation showed that the costimulatory signal resided in a particulate fraction which sedimented and not in the supernatant. These results indicate that the encephalitogenic peptide can induce anergy in T cells when presented on class II MHC in the absence of the costimulatory signal. Tolerizing forms of the membrane preparations which lack the costimulatory signal may be useful for in vivo treatment of autoimmune response.

Liposomal amphotericin B inhibits in vitro T-lymphocyte response to antigen.

The effects of free amphotericin B (as Fungizone) and amphotericin B (AMB) incorporated into liposomes on the proliferation of lymphocytes were determined. Freshly obtained guinea pig and rat antigen-specific lymphocytes were compared with rat T-lymphocyte cell lines cultured for a long period of time. Incorporation of AMB into multilayered vesicles significantly reduced its effect relative to that of Fungizone on cultured T-cell lines, as reported by others for mammalian cells. In contrast, the effects on freshly obtained antigen-specific lymphocytes were different. Fungizone inhibited proliferation of antigen-specific lymph node cells freshly obtained from immunized guinea pigs at fungicidal concentrations, and incorporation into multilayered lipid vesicles did not have much of a protective effect. Higher concentrations of Fungizone were required to inhibit proliferation of fresh rat lymph node cells, but incorporation into multilayered lipid vesicles still did not have much of a protective effect. Some T lymphocytes in the peripheral circulation of guinea pigs and in the lymph nodes of rats were more resistant to liposomal AMB than another more sensitive T-lymphocyte population was. Proliferation of lymphocytes in response to mitogens was inhibited less than that in response to specific antigen was. Thus, sensitivity to AMB depended on the species, the strength of the stimulus used to activate the lymphocytes, and on some other property of the lymphocytes, possibly their state of differentiation. Regardless of the reason for the difference in effects on freshly obtained lymph node lymphocytes and cultured line cells, the former may be more relevant to effects in vivo and should be considered in a complete evaluation of the in vivo toxicity of these forms of the drug. Incorporation into sonicated unilamellar vesicles had more of a protective effect, while equimolar drug-lipid complexes had even more of a protective effect. These forms of AMB might have less of an immunosuppressive potential than multilayered vesicles containing low amounts of AMB do.

Antigen-targeted liposome-encapsulated methotrexate specifically kills lymphocytes sensitized to the nonapeptide of myelin basic protein.

Antigen targeting of liposome-encapsulated cytotoxic drugs to specific lymphocytes may be a useful approach for antigen-specific immunosuppressive treatment of autoimmune diseases in which a specific antigen is involved. The feasibility of utilizing this approach was investigated using experimental allergic encephalomyelitis as an animal model for an autoimmune response. The encephalitogenic determinant of myelin basic protein for the guinea pig is contained in residues 114-122, the so-called nonapeptide. We have acylated the nonapeptide at its N-terminal to anchor it in the lipid bilayer of liposomes containing the cytotoxic drug methotrexate. The nonapeptide on the surface of the liposomes then allows targeting of the liposomal methotrexate in vitro to anti-nonapeptide T lymphocytes obtained from guinea pigs with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Treatment with the nonapeptide-targeted liposomal methotrexate inhibited proliferation of anti-nonapeptide lymphocytes significantly more than that of control lymphocytes. These included non-sensitized lymphocytes, stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, or lymphocytes sensitized to different, unrelated proteins, the purified protein derivative of tuberculin and keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and stimulated with their specific antigens. Furthermore, nonapeptide-targeted liposomes had a greater cytotoxic effect on anti-nonapeptide T cells than untargeted liposomes. The results indicated that specific targeting to and killing of anti-nonapeptide cells was achieved, although improvements of the treatment are necessary before its use can be attempted in vivo.

Effect of liposomal surface charge on the pharmacokinetics of an encapsulated model compound.

The pharmacokinetics of 3H-Triamcinolone Acetonide-21-palmitate entrapped in liposomes with neutral, negative and positive surface charge was investigated in the male New Zealand White rabbit after a single intravenous bolus injection. Drug concentration-time data monitored in whole blood showed bi-exponential decay and were analysed by a least-squares regression analysis procedure to obtain pertinent pharmacokinetic parameters. The significance of the observed differences in the pharmacokinetics after administration of each type of liposome was assessed by the Analysis of Variance test method. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) were found in alpha, beta, (t 0.5)alpha, K12, and Vc. Positive liposomes apparently encountered a larger initial apparent volume of distribution than the neutral or negative type, and consequently exhibited demonstrably lower initial blood drug concentration, (Cb)0. Liposomes with different surface properties were removed from circulation at different rates and this resulted in significant difference (p less than 0.01) in the concentration of circulating liposomes an hour following injection of each type of liposome. A mean of 66 per cent of the initial concentration of positive liposomes remained in circulation an hour after injection whereas 11 and 23 per cent respectively of the neutral and negative type remained in circulation during the same time period. Liposomes with different surface properties apparently exhibited similar total body clearance of the encapsulated compound.

Covalent binding of antibodies to liposomes using a novel lipid derivative.

N-[3-(2-Pyridyldithio) propionyl] stearylamine (PDP-SA) was synthesized from a reaction between stearylamine and the heterobifunctional reagent N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate. Use of this PDP-SA to covalently couple antibodies to liposomes was investigated. The binding efficiency was found to be 24-32%. The antibodies bound to liposomes were shown to retain the specific antibody activity. This new procedure of coupling antibodies to liposomes could be an efficient means to deliver drugs to selected target organs, especially in cancer chemotherapy.

Chemical modification of triamcinolone acetonide to improve liposomal encapsulation.

The 21-palmitate of triamcinolone acetonide was synthesized to aid in the liposomal encapsulation of the drug. Encapsulation efficiency of triamcinolone acetonide-21-palmitate was 85%, compared with 5% for the parent drug.