Effects of peptide therapy on ex vivo T-cell responses.

BACKGROUND: Peptide therapy targets T cells directly with short peptides containing multiple T-cell receptor epitopes. Murine studies suggest T-cell anergy as the mechanism of action; however, changes in T-cell cytokine profiles may be more relevant in human beings. OBJECTIVE: We sought to study the effects of peptide therapy on ex vivo antigen-specific T-cell responses. METHODS: Antigen-specific T-cell lines were generated from subjects enrolled in a double-blind, placebo controlled, two-dose study of the ALLERVAX CAT therapeutic, containing Fel d 1 peptides (ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corp., Waltham, Mass.) (n = 7, 8, and 7, respectively, for groups receiving placebo, 75 microg, or 750 microg). Each subject had three lines propagated before and after receiving peptide therapy; antigens used were cat hair extract, Fel d 1 peptides, and tetanus toxoid (negative control). Proliferative responses and cytokine generation from each line were assessed after two restimulations with antigen and autologous antigen-presenting cells. RESULTS: The Fel d 1 peptide lines showed a dose-dependent decrease of IL-4 production (p = 0.02 and 0.025, respectively, for the 750 microg group vs both the 75 microg and placebo groups). IL-4 production from the cat hair allergen extract lines and interferon-gamma production from both the Fel d 1 peptide lines and cat hair allergen extract lines showed no statistically significant changes. The control tetanus toxoid lines showed no changes in cytokine production; there were no significant changes in proliferation with any of the antigens in any of the treatment groups. In the clinical arm of the trial, only the 750 microg dose of peptides produced a significant response. CONCLUSIONS: Peptide therapy induces a significant, dose-dependent decrease in peptide-stimulated IL-4 production, consistent with either a shift in T-cell phenotype or peptide-specific T-cell tolerance.

Release of calcium from intracellular stores in rat basophilic leukemia cells monitored with the fluorescent probe chlortetracycline.

Release of calcium from intracellular stores of rat basophilic leukemia cells was monitored using the fluorescent probe chlortetracycline. The ability of chlortetracycline to indicate release from intracellular calcium stores was initially validated. The decrease of chlortetracycline fluorescence upon antigen-stimulation was not the result of secretion of granule-associated dye or of changes in the properties of the membranes. The chlortetracycline fluorescence signal was not influenced by Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. Results obtained from these chlortetracycline fluorescence measurements corresponded well with 45Ca efflux data, an indirect measurement of release of calcium from stores. Chlortetracycline was used to examine the rate of antigen-induced release of calcium from stores, the depletion of intracellular calcium stores by EGTA, and the relationship between the antigen-stimulated release of stored calcium and exocytosis. Chlortetracycline was shown to be a useful qualitative indicator for the release of intracellular calcium with a relatively rapid response time.

Human endothelial cells prolong eosinophil survival. Regulation by cytokines and glucocorticoids.

Many recent studies have established the eosinophil as an active proinflammatory participant in a variety of disease states, most notably in allergic and helminthic disorders. In order to understand the effector role of eosinophils, factors which promote a selective eosinophilic infiltrate must be delineated. Eosinophil adherence to vascular endothelium is the first step in the formation of such an infiltrate. However, studies thus far have failed to identify factors which selectively activate the adherence of eosinophils. We have therefore speculated that the selective enrichment of eosinophils may result from nonselective recruitment of several leukocyte types combined with the production of local factors that promote the survival of eosinophils and not of other cells. We report that endothelial cell-conditioned medium selectively prolongs eosinophil survival up to 6 days in culture in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Stimulation of human vascular endothelial cells with IL-1 caused an increase in the generation of eosinophil survival-promoting activity, whereas stimulation with platelet-activating factor did not. Supernatants from human vascular endothelial cells cultured for 48 h in the presence of the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, were less active in promoting eosinophil survival than control supernatants. These results suggest that factors produced locally in the vascular microenvironment may selectively promote eosinophil survival and may be under the regulation of cytokines and glucocorticoids.

IgE-dependent regulation of human basophil adherence to vascular endothelium.

Mechanisms favoring the recruitment of circulating human basophils to extravascular sites of allergic inflammation are unknown. The basophil secretagogues anti-IgE, and pollen allergens rye grass I and ragweed Ag E (Lol p I and Amb a I) were tested for their ability to promote basophil adherence to umbilical vein endothelial cells. Co-incubation of endothelial cells and basophils with anti-IgE resulted in time and dose-dependent increases in basophil adhesion. These effects were due to activation of the basophil, required both magnesium and calcium, occurred before or in the absence of histamine release, and were seen at concentrations of stimulus below the usual range of secretagogue activity. In contrast, anti-IgE or Ag stimulation of neutrophils, or basophils from donors non-responsive to anti-IgE or Ag with respect to histamine release, had no effect on cell adherence. mAb 60.3, recognizing the CD18 leukocyte adhesion molecule, inhibited anti-IgE-induced enhancement of basophil-endothelial cell binding. Exposure of basophils to low concentrations of Ag in vivo may selectively initiate basophil infiltration into tissue sites of allergic inflammation by enhancing their adherence to endothelium.