Immunoglobulin class switch recombination deficiencies.

Maturation of the secondary antibody repertoire is generated by means of class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. The molecular mechanisms underlying these important processes have long remained obscure. Inherited defects in class switch recombination variably associated to defects in somatic hypermutation are a group of genetically heterogeneous diseases, the characterization of which has allowed recognition that T-B cell interaction (resulting in CD40-mediated signaling), intrinsic B cell mechanisms, and complex DNA repair machinery are involved in class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. Elucidation of the molecular defects underlying these disorders has been essential to better understand the molecular basis of immunoglobulin diversification and has offered the opportunity to define the clinical spectrum of these diseases and to prompt more accurate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Ligands of CD4 inhibit the association of phospholipase Cgamma1 with phosphoinositide 3 kinase in T cells: regulation of this association by the phosphoinositide 3 kinase activity.

We have previously shown that CD4 ligands inhibit interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and T cell proliferation in human peripheral CD4+ T lymphocytes, in an MHC-independent way. Two major pathways implicated in T cell activation are inhibited by binding of CD4 ligands to the CD4 molecule, i.e. Ca2+ signaling by phospholipase Cgamma1 (PLCgamma1), and ERK-2 activation, suggesting a p21ras inhibition. We have correlated these inhibitions with the disruption of multifunctional complexes containing PLCgamma1, p120GAP and Sam68, induced by T cell activation. We report here that T cell activation through the TCR/CD3 induces an association of the phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3 kinase) with PLCgamma1, both in peripheral CD4+ T lymphocytes and the HUT-78 CD4+ T cell line. PI3 kinase is present in the multifunctional complexes that we have described previously. Preincubation of human peripheral CD4+ T cells and HUT-78 CD4+ T cells with gp160 or a peptide analogue of the HLA class II DR molecule precludes the association of PLCgamma1 with PI3 kinase. We also demonstrate, using two specific inhibitors of PI3 kinase activity (LY294002 and wortmannin), that this activity plays a key role in the association of PLCgamma1 with PI3 kinase. Moreover, we demonstrate the implication of the PI3 kinase activity in the negative signal mediated by HIV gp160 binding to CD4 molecules. We propose that the products of the PI3 kinase are important mediators of the negative signaling induced by the binding of CD4 ligands to the CD4 molecule implicated in the regulation of the formation of multifunctional complexes.

Binding of CD4 ligands induces tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase p110 subunit.

We have previously reported that different putative CD4 ligands (anti-CD4 antibody, gp160 from HIV, synthetic peptides analogous to the residues 35-46 of HLA class II beta1 chain and residues 134-148 of HLA class II beta2 chain) down-regulate LFA-1-dependent adhesion between CD4+ T cells and HLA class II+ B cells, and also activate p56lck and the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-kinase) associated with the CD4-p56lck complex. It was demonstrated that the latter activation was dependent on the CD4-p56lck association. Since these results suggest a relationship between p56lck and PI3-kinase, we investigated whether PI3-kinase was tyrosine phosphorylated after CD4 binding and whether this phosphorylation was also dependent on the CD4-p56lck association. We show herein that CD4 binding increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit p110 of PI3-kinase but not of the p85 subunit. Association between p56lck and PI3-kinase was constitutive, and was not modified after CD4 binding. In contrast, p110 tyrosine phosphorylation was inducible, transient and dependent on the CD4-p56lck association. The role of the tyrosine phosphorylation of p110-PI3-kinase following ligand binding to CD4 is unknown. We speculate that this event could link the activation of p56lck and of PI3-kinase after CD4 binding.

Down-regulation of LFA-1-mediated T cell adhesion induced by the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp160 requires phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase activity.

Human immunodeficiency virus binds to CD4+ T lymphocyte by the interaction, in part, between its gp120 envelope glycoprotein and the CD4 molecule. We and others have reported that the lipid kinase phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3-kinase) is associated with the CD4-p56lck complex and can be activated by various CD4 ligands. In a previous report we showed that the gp160 envelope down-regulates lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)-dependent adhesion between CD4+ T cells and B cells. This down-regulation was shown to be p56lck-dependent. Here we investigate the role of PI3-kinase in the inhibition of adhesion induced by gp160 binding to CD4. We found that gp160 activates the PI3-kinase of HUT78 CD4+ T cell lines in a way dependent on CD4-p56lck association, since no activation was detected when the interaction between CD4 and p56lck was disrupted. It was also shown, using different inhibitors of the PI3-kinase (wortmannin, Ly294002 and antisense oligonucleotides), that this lipid kinase was necessary for the down-regulation of LFA-1-mediated adhesion induced by gp160. These results strongly suggest that PI3-kinase activation induced by gp160 leads to down-regulation of LFA-1-mediated T cell adhesion to B cells. Inhibition by gp160 of cytoskeleton rearrangement-dependent, anti-CD3-mediated T cell adhesion to B cells was blocked by neutralization of PI3-kinase activity, while inhibition of cytoskeleton rearrangement-independent, Mg(2+)-induced T cell adhesion was not. These results emphasize the role of PI3-kinase in the regulation of cytoskeleton structure. It is proposed that gp160 activates both p56lck and PI3-kinase which lead to a cytoskeleton organization unfavorable for LFA-1 function.

Abnormal CD40-mediated activation pathway in B lymphocytes from patients with hyper-IgM syndrome and normal CD40 ligand expression.

The CD40-mediated activation pathway of B cells from 10 patients with hyper-IgM syndrome and normal expression of CD40 ligand was studied. In all 10 cases, B cells were found to be defective for IgG, IgA, and IgE production after stimulation by anti-CD40 mAbs and cytokines. In the patients tested, neither B cell proliferation (n = 6) nor CD23 molecule expression (n = 5) were observed in cultures stimulated with anti-CD40 mAb. These results point to an intrinsic B cell deficiency and a defect in the CD40-triggered B cell activation pathway; this conclusion was supported by a lack of detectable germinal centers in the spleen of two patients. CD40-triggered activation events, i.e., phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase activation and induction of transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1, were next analyzed in B cell lines derived from five patients. Three distinct patterns were observed: an absence of detectable abnormalities (n = 1), defective PI3 kinase activation with normal induction of NF-kappaB and AP-1 (n = 3), and defects in both PI3 kinase activation and induction of NF-kappaB and AP-1 (n = 1). In three B cell lines, each exhibiting one of the CD40-mediated activation patterns, sequences of CD40 and CD40 binding protein coding regions were normal. The coding region of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), which is known to interact with CD40 for NF-kappaB induction, was also found to be normal in B cell lines deficient in NF-kappaB induction. Altogether, these results suggest that CD40 ligand-positive hyper-IgM syndrome could be genetically heterogeneous, although phenotypic variability is not excluded, and that an early defect in the CD40-triggered activation cascade can account for defective Ig class switching in some patients with CD40 ligand-positive hyper-IgM syndrome.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase participates in p56(lck)/CD4-dependent down-regulation of LFA-1-mediated T cell adhesion.

The mechanism inducing cell detachment in Ag-independent adhesion between lymphocytes is poorly understood. Different putative CD4 ligands, anti-CD4 Ab, a DR35-46 peptide mimicking residues 35 to 46 of HLA class II beta1, and a DR134-148 peptide mimicking residues 134 to 148 of HLA class II beta2, were previously found to down-regulate LFA-1-dependent adhesion between CD4+ T cells and HLA class II+ B cells. This down-regulation was shown to be p56(lck) dependent. Here we show that binding of these ligands to CD4 induced the activation of the tyrosine kinase p56(lck) associated with CD4 and also the lipid kinase phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-kinase) associated with the CD4-p56(lck) complex in the HUT78 cell line. These events were not detected when p56(lck) was dissociated from CD4 in cell lines expressing mutated forms of CD4. It was also shown, using different inhibitors of the PI3-kinase (wortmannin, Ly294002, and antisense oligonucleotides), that this lipid kinase was necessary for the down-regulation of LFA-1-mediated adhesion induced by CD4 binding. These results strongly suggest that CD4-induced PI3-kinase activation, in the absence of concomitant TCR/CD3 triggering, leads to down-regulation of LFA-1-mediated T cell adhesion to B cells. The mechanism by which PI3-kinase could exert its effect remains unknown. Since PI3-kinase has previously been found to participate in the regulation of cytoskeleton structure, we propose that p56(lck)-associated PI3-kinase activation leads to a cytoskeleton organization unfavorable for LFA-1 function.

A synthetic peptide mimicking the HLA-DR beta 2-binding site for CD4 inhibits antigen-independent CD4+ T cell adhesion to B cells and CD4+ T cell activation.

We studied the ability of a peptide mimicking the major binding site of HLA-DR beta 2 for CD4 (i.e. amino acids 134-148) to inhibit the adhesion of CD4+ T cells to B cells and ICAM-1-DR-expressing fibroblasts, as well as the proliferation of TCR-CD3-triggered CD4+ T cells. Peptide DR134-148 blocked CD4+ T cell (but not CD8+ T cell) binding to B cells and to DR+ ICAM-1+ fibroblasts in a concentration-dependent manner. A peptide composed of randomly associated identical amino acid residues had no effect. This inhibitory activity was not additive with the effect of an anti-CD4 antibody, peptide DR35-46 (mimicking another potential binding site of HLA-DR beta 1 to CD4) or an anti-LFA-1 antibody. Adhesion of a T cell line (HUT78) expressing a mutated form of CD4 unable to bind p56lck cytosine kinase was not inhibited by peptide DR134-148. In addition, herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abrogated the inhibitory activity of DR134-148. Since CD4-MHC class II interactions have been shown to play no detectable role in mediating antigen-independent adhesion in this assay, peptide interactions with CD4 may trigger an off signal down-regulating LFA-1-mediated adhesion. Indeed, adhesion of CD4+ T cells to ICAM-1- fibroblasts was not inhibited by peptide DR134-148, while the same peptide inhibited antigen (protein-pure derivative)- and anti-CD3 antibody-induced CD4 T cell proliferation. These findings suggest that the major sequence involved in the MHC class II interaction with CD4 is sufficient to induce a downstream negative regulatory signal that is mediated by p56lck, independently of antigen-specific TCR triggering.

Role of LFA-1, CD2, VLA-5/CD29, and CD43 surface receptors in CD4+ T cell adhesion to B cells.

We investigated the adhesion to B cells of CD4+ T cells both in the resting state and following activation by CD3 cross-linking or stimulation by PMA/ionomycine/IL2 for 6 days. Both resting and activated CD4+ T cell adhesion were inhibited by anti-LFA-1, -CD2, -VLA-5/CD29, and -CD43 antibodies, suggesting coordinated upregulation of T cell adhesion. The CD2 and LFA-1 adhesion pathways were found to act independently, as CD2 was functional in T cells not expressing LFA-1, and vice versa, and as specific antibodies had additive effects. In contrast, LFA-1- and VLA-5/CD29-specific antibodies did not have an additive blocking effect on CD4+ T cell adhesion, suggesting that efficient adhesion requires a competitive association of integrins with cytoskeleton elements. Although the involvement of fibronectin (coated to B cells via VLA-4) in VLA-5-mediated T cell adhesion to B cells is feasible, an anti-fibronectin and a VLA-4-specific antibody had no blocking effect. The involvement of an unidentified B cell ligand can also be envisaged.

LFA-1-mediated antigen-independent T cell adhesion is regulated by CD4 and p56lck tyrosine kinase.

We examined the role of CD4 and p56lck in the regulation of LFA-1-dependent T cell adhesion to B cells and to fibroblasts expressing ICAM-1 and HLA-DR by using various transfectant constructions. Although CD4 transfection in CD4low HUT78 T cell lines did not significantly modify their maximal binding to B cells and fibroblasts, it made the LFA-1-dependent adhesion sensitive to inhibition by anti-CD4 Ab, HIV-1 (env) gp 160, and a 12-mer peptide encompassing the 35-46 sequence of the beta 1 domain of the MHC class II molecule. CD4low HUT78 T cell adhesion to B cells was stable over 60 min, whereas expression of CD4 led to a transient adhesion. In addition, adhesion of CD4+ T cells to MHC class II- B cells was also stable. The CD4-dependent alteration of adhesion required the association of CD4 with p56lck because expression of mutant forms of CD4 unable to bind p56lck resulted in a lack of CD4-dependent regulation of adhesion. Herbimycin A, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity, reversed the effect of CD4 transfection on adhesion. These results indicate that ligand binding to CD4 delivers a signal-inducing cell dissociation by activating p56lck tyrosine kinase. This regulatory pathway may provide a quick and reliable way for multiple and subsequent Ag-independent adhesion events of CD4+ T cells.

Differential CD4-dependent regulation of naive and memory CD4+ T cell adhesion is not related to differences in expression and function of CD4 and p56lck.

We have previously reported that antigen-independent adhesion of CD45RO+ memory CD4+ T cells to B cells is negatively regulated by CD4-MHC class II interaction, whereas that of CD45RA+ naive CD4+ T cells is not. We have now found that both cross-linking of CD4 ligands [anti-CD4 mAbs, HIV gp160 (env) protein and a 12mer peptide encompassing the 35-46 sequence of the HLA-DR beta 1 domain] on CD4+ naive T cells and activation-induced conversion of naive CD4+ T cells to memory T cells leads to CD4-dependent down-regulation of adhesion. To further elucidate CD4-dependent differential regulation of naive and memory T cell adhesion to B cells, we investigated the expression and function of CD4 and p56lck, a tyrosine kinase associated with the cytoplasmic domain of CD4. p56lck tyrosine kinase activity was equally enhanced by anti-CD4 mAbs and gp160 (120) in the two subsets. Furthermore, cell-surface CD4 down-modulation by phorbol myristate acetate or anti-CD4 mAbs was similar in the two subsets, which express the same amounts of both cell-surface CD4 and CD4-associated p56lck. Finally, the pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins induced by gp120 (160) was similar in the two subsets. Taken together, these results indicate that the different sensitivity of naive and memory CD4+ T cells to CD4-dependent regulation of adhesion is not accounted for by differences in the tyrosine kinase activity of p56lck; it probably, therefore, involves a step downstream of p56lck or another pathway differentially used in naive and memory CD4+ T cells.

Antigen-independent adhesion of CD4 CD45RA T cells from cord blood.

Antigen-independent adhesion of resting adult CD4+ CD45RO+ T cells to B lymphocytes has been shown to be transient and can be down-regulated by CD4 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule interactions. Conversely, adhesion of adult CD4+ CD45RA+ subpopulation to B cells is not regulated by ligands of CD4. We have investigated the regulation of adhesion of cord blood CD45RA+ CD4+ T lymphocytes. In contrast to adult CD45RA+ CD4+ T cells, cord blood CD45RA+ CD4+ T cells were strongly sensitive to the down-regulation of adhesion mediated by the CD4-HLA class II interaction, since adhesion to MHC class II(+) B cells was transient and inhibited by an anti-CD4 antibody. In addition, human immunodeficiency virus gp160, synthetic gp106-derived peptides encompassing a CD4 binding site inhibited conjugate formation between cord blood CD45RA+ CD4+ T cells and B cells. Following activation of the cord blood CD4 T cells by an anti-CD3 antibody, a conversion from a transient to a stable adhesion pattern of cord blood CD4 T cells to B cells occurred in 2 days. The reversal to a transient adhesion occurred at day 8 following anti-CD3 activation in correlation with a complete shift to a CD45RO phenotype of the cord blood CD4 T cells. These data suggest that CD4 T cell adhesion can be developmentally regulated.

GF109203X, a specific PKC inhibitor, abrogates anti-CD3 antibody-induced upregulation of CD4+ T cell adhesion to B cells.

Antigen-independent adhesion of CD4+ T lymphocytes to Epstein-Barr virus transformed B cells is mainly mediated by LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) and CD2 molecules. Low-affinity binding of resting T cells can be transiently upregulated by cross-linking of CD3-TCR (T cell receptor) complexes. This inside-out signaling influences integrin (beta 1 and beta 2) adhesion capacity. Studies using the nonspecific inhibitor staurosporine have suggested that this phenomenon is dependent on protein kinase C activation. We found that the upregulation of anti-CD3-activated CD4+ T cell adhesion was inhibited strongly and in a concentration-dependent manner by GF109203X, a compound described as a potent and selective inhibitor of PKC. Comparative studies showed that GF109203X and staurosporine had similar inhibitory effects on the upregulation of activated CD4+ T cell adhesion. However, staurosporine is a nonselective kinase inhibitor. PMA-activated CD4+ T cell adhesion was also inhibited by GF109203X. In contrast, passive enhancement of adhesion by treatment with the CD11a-specific antibody NKI-L16 was unaffected by GF109203X. Taken together, these results show that PKC is involved in upregulating the adhesion of CD4+ T cells to B cells following activation of the former by CD3 cross-linking. PKC-dependent upregulation of CD4+ T cell adhesion to B cells is exclusively LFA-1-dependent, as GF109203X had no additional inhibitory effect on anti-LFA-1 antibody-pretreated T cells activated by the anti-CD3 antibody OKT3 and had no effect on the adhesion of LFA-1(-) CD4+ T cells. Finally, PKC inhibition did not alter CD2-mediated adhesion. This points to a limited participation of CD2 in T-B cell interactions after TCR/CD3 cross-linking.

Human immunodeficiency virus gp120 and derived peptides activate protein tyrosine kinase p56lck in human CD4 T lymphocytes.

Human immunodeficiency virus binds to CD4 T lymphocytes by interaction between its envelope glycoprotein gp120 and the CD4 molecule. The latter is non-covalently associated with a src-related tyrosine kinase, p56lck. CD4 cross-linking increases the activity of p56lck, leading to phosphorylation of several cellular substrates. We report here that gp160/120 increases both the autophosphorylation of p56lck and its enzymatic activity (reflected by phosphorylation of an exogenous substrate) in normal T cells and the HUT78 CD4+ T cell line. This effect was detectable 5 min after activation and persisted for 40 min in normal T cells. It did not require gp120 cross-linking and was associated with phosphorylation of tyrosine residue on several proteins, as shown by phosphotyrosine Western blot analysis. The pattern of proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to gp120 activation was distinct from that induced by anti-CD4 antibodies. p56lck activation required its association with CD4, since p56lck activity was not modified in HUT78 T cell lines expressing a truncated or mutated form of CD4 unable to associate with p56lck. Peptides mimicking residues 418 to 434 and 449 to 464 of HIV-1 Bru gp120, regions known to participate in gp120 binding to CD4, also increased p56lck activity and triggered phosphorylation of similar substrates. Taken together, these results show that gp160/120 and derived peptides can transiently increase p56lck activity without the need for CD4 cross-linking. This activation led to a specific pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation on cellular proteins that may be of significance in the biological effects of the gp120/CD4 interaction, e.g. syncytium formation and inhibition of T cell activation.

Primary membrane T cell immunodeficiencies.

Primary membrane T cell immunodeficiencies (ID) have recently been characterized. In this paper we describe the main findings about the leukocyte adhesion deficiencies (LAD), the ID with low expression of the T cell receptor/CD3 complex, and the Omenn's syndrome. LAD is a consequence of mutations in the beta-chain-encoding gene of the leukocyte adhesion proteins. Functional consequences mainly affect phagocytic cells which are incapable of transendothelial migration. Effector T lymphocyte functions are, however, also impaired, i.e., helper T cell activity and cytotoxicity. The latter defect may account for the inability of LAD patients to reject HLA nonidentical bone marrow. Low expression of the T cell receptor CD3 complex is a rare entity characterized by a profoundly diminished expression of the whole complex on all T cells. The basic defect has not yet been unravelled. Interestingly, such T cells differentiate normally and can be activated by some antigens while anti-CD3 and anti-CD2 antibodies are not efficient. In five patients with Omenn's syndrome (combined immunodeficiency with eosinophilia), oligoclonal T cells were detected in blood, skin, and gut. These T cells are also in vivo activated. Since in one family, one sibling presented with typical SCID, i.e., alymphocytosis, and another with the Omenn's syndrome, it is proposed that the latter syndrome may correspond to a form of leakiness of SCID as found in the mice SCID model.

Inhibition of CD4+ T cell activation and adhesion by peptides derived from the gp160.

It has been previously demonstrated that the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp160 can inhibit the activation of T cells triggered by phytohemagglutinin, anti-CD3 antibody and Ag, caused in part by the modulation of the expression of CD4. In this study, we show that gp160 is also able to inhibit the Ag-independent adhesion of CD4+ T cells to B cells as anti-CD4 antibodies do. In addition, synthetic peptides (14 to 21 mer) derived from the gp160 sequence and analogous to the putative binding site of gp160 to CD4 (residues 418-460), and also covering residues 460 to 474 inhibit the capacity of both CD4+ T cell proliferation induced by tuberculin and anti-CD3 antibody and adhesion. This was not associated with inhibition of Ca2+ flux in T cell activation. These inhibitory activities are specific because a) CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells are susceptible to their effects, and b) soluble CD4 neutralizes the inhibitory activities. Peptides are, however, about 100- to 1000-fold less potent inhibitors than the native gp160. In addition, they do not induce CD4 modulation. It is thought therefore that at least part of the gp160 inhibitory activity is not secondary to CD4 modulation but may rely either upon steric hindrance of CD4-MHC class II interaction, of CD4/CD3 TCR complex interaction, or upon negative signaling through binding to CD4. The latter hypothesis is suggested by the inhibition by gp160, gp160-derived peptides, and anti-CD4 antibodies of the Ag-independent adhesion of CD4+ T cells. This adhesion process has been previously shown to be mediated by the LFA-1 and CD2 molecules and not by the TCR/CD3 complex and by CD4. Together, these results support the role of part of the 418-460 region of gp160 as a binding site to CD4, and suggest that binding of part of this region to CD4 can alter T cell proliferation and adhesion. It is proposed that these effects are mainly mediated by negative signaling through CD4.

Regulation of LFA-1-mediated T cell adhesion by CD4.

Heterotypic adhesion of T lymphocytes to monocytes, B lymphocytes, or other target cells is mainly mediated by LFA-1 and CD2 molecules. Low-affinity binding of resting T cells can be transiently up-regulated by cross-linking of CD3. We have previously found that binding of specific ligands to CD4 can down-regulate adhesion of resting T cells to B cells. We now show that the enhanced adhesiveness of CD4+ T cells induced by CD3 cross-linking using plastic-bound anti-CD3 antibody can also be inhibited by several CD4 ligands. i.e. anti-CD4 antibodies, the gp160 env protein of human immunodeficiency virus, as well as by putative CD4 ligands, i.e. synthetic peptides analogous to the gp160-binding site to CD4 (positions 418-434 and 449-464) and a 12-mer synthetic peptide (DR-12) analogous to positions 35-46 of HLA class II beta subunit and including the highly conserved Arg-Phe-Asp-Ser (RFDS) sequence. After CD3 cross-linking, maximal binding of T cells to HLA class II-positive and -negative B cells was similar, although binding to HLA class II-negative B cells was more prolonged. T cells that were passively induced to up-regulate adhesion by binding of a CD11a-specific antibody NKIL16, known to enhance LFA-1-dependent adhesiveness, were less sensitive to the inhibitory effect of the DR-12 peptide, whereas the inhibitory effects of gp160 were preserved. The kinetics of adhesion of NKIL16-pretreated T cells was not influenced by HLA class II expression at the B cell surface. Together, these results strongly suggest that CD4-HLA class II interaction may down-regulate low-affinity adhesion of resting T cells and, to some extent, high-affinity adhesion of T cells actively induced by CD3 cross-linking but not passively induced by an anti-CD11a antibody.

Regulation of T helper-B lymphocyte adhesion through CD4-HLA class II interaction.

Antigen-independent adhesion of CD4+ T lymphocytes to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cells is mediated by CD2/lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-3 and LFA-1/intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1. Although some anti-CD4 antibodies block the antigen-independent adhesion of CD4+ T lymphocytes, the CD4-HLA class II interaction does not appear to significantly contribute to the forces of cell adhesion since CD4+ T cells equally bind HLA class II+ and HLA class II- mutant B cells. In addition, conjugates formed between CD4+ T cells and HLA class II- B cells remain stable for at least 1 h while CD4+T/HLA class II+ B cell conjugate percentages promptly drop off. Down-regulation of CD4 or spontaneous low expression of CD4 also results in a persistance of conjugates formed with B cells. The role of the CD4-HLA class II interaction has been further studied by investigating the inhibitory effect of synthetic 12-mer peptides analogous to HLA class II and containing the Arg-Phe-Asp-Ser sequence conserved in the beta 1 domain. These peptides were previously found to inhibit HLA class II-restricted T cell responses, this sequence being thought to be involved in CD4-HLA class II interaction. These peptides block conjugate formation of CD4+ resting T cells or clones but not of CD8+ T cells, by interacting with the T cells as shown by preincubation experiments. Down-regulation of CD4 or spontaneous low expression results in the loss of the inhibitory activity. The peptide-mediated inhibition is neutralized by a soluble dimeric CD4 molecule. Alteration within the Arg-Phe-Asp-Ser sequence results in a significant loss of inhibition. It is thus proposed that the CD4-HLA class II interaction negatively regulates antigen-independent adhesion of T cells, this interaction involving the highly conserved Arg-Phe-Asp-Ser sequence in the HLA class II beta 1 sequence as a CD4-binding site.

Immunosuppressive properties of synthetic peptides derived from CD4 and HLA-DR antigens.

Synthetic peptides derived from the beta 1 domain of HLA-DR antigens containing RFDS and a peptide derived from the immunoglobulin-like amino-terminal domain of CD4 and containing RADS were shown to exhibit specific dose-dependent inhibitory effects on antigen-induced HLA class II-restricted T-cell proliferation and in vitro antibody synthesis. These inhibitory activities are similar to those exhibited by anti-CD4 and HLA-DR antibodies, respectively. The peptides derived from HLA-DR or CD4 and anti-CD4 or anti-HLA-DR antibodies acted together in synergy to inhibit these responses when the relevant cell populations were incubated with infrainhibitory concentrations of the reagents. In contrast, these peptides were shown to exert no inhibitory activity on nonspecific T-cell activation mediated by ionomycin, phorbol myristate acetate, and interleukin-2.

The role of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) in the adherence of T lymphocytes to B lymphocytes.

The functional role of the LFA-1 molecule in the interaction between helper T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes was investigated using lymphocytes from patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency, an inherited immunodeficiency characterized by a defective leukocyte expression of the LFA-1, Mac-1 (CR3) and p150,95 molecules. The ability of LFA-1- T lymphocytes to provide antigen-specific help for HLA-identical LFA-1+ B lymphocytes was reduced while their antigen-specific activation was normal. Antigen-independent conjugate formation between resting, nonactivated LFA-1- T lymphocytes and LFA-1+ B lymphocytes was impaired while LFA-1- B lymphocytes bound LFA-1+ T lymphocytes normally. Conjugate formation of activated LFA-1- T lymphocytes was mostly mediated by the CD2-LFA-3 adhesion pathway while the ICAM-1 molecule, a ligand of LFA-1, had no function. These results demonstrate that LFA-1 plays a major role in the cognate interaction between helper T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes that cannot be mediated instead by CD2 or other molecules on resting T lymphocytes.