Metalloproteinase-dependent control of thymocyte differentiation and proliferation.

The development of T cells in the thymus is dependent on interactions between thymocytes and thymic stromal cells, on stimulation by growth factors, and on the binding to and migration along extracellular matrix (ECM) components. As metalloproteinases (MP) are involved in processes such as growth factor release and ECM modelling, we assessed the effect of MP inhibitors on T-cell development using fetal thymic organ culture systems. MP inhibitors significantly reduced the numbers of CD4/CD8 double-positive (DP) and mature single-positive thymocytes generated, correlated with a reduced number of cell cycles between the double-negative (DN)3 and DP stages. The progression of early thymocyte progenitors through the DN1-4 stages of development was also severely affected, including incomplete upregulation of CD25, decreased DN3 cell numbers, reduced rearrangement of the T-cell receptor (TCR)-beta locus and expression of intracellular TCR-beta by fewer DN3 cells. When purified DN1 cells were utilized as donor cells in reaggregate thymic organ cultures, essentially no DP thymocytes were produced in the presence of MP inhibitors. The results suggest that MP inhibitors affect the differentiation of developing thymocytes before, and reduce proliferation after, pre-TCR-mediated selection.

Immature thymocytes that fail to express TCRbeta and/or TCRgamma delta proteins die by apoptotic cell death in the CD44(-)CD25(-) (DN4) subset.

Pre-TCR/CD3 signals are essential for survival and maturation of (CD44(-)25(+)) DN3 thymocytes via the (CD44(-)25(-)) DN4 stage to CD4(+)CD8(+) (DP) cells, a process termed beta-selection. The exact developmental stages of apoptosis resulting from lack of pre-TCR/CD3 signals have so far not been determined. Here we analyzed apoptotic cell death in relation to expression of clonotypic TCR polypeptides and to cell cycle status in immature thymocyte subpopulations of wild type (wt) mice and of several strains of mice with compromised pre-TCR/CD3 signaling complexes. In wt mice or pre-TCR/CD3-deficient mice, apoptotic cells could not be detected among DN3 cells but accumulated in a subset of DN4 expressing CD69. Apoptotic CD69(+)DN4 cells were rare in wt mice and were found among DN4 cells that were negative or low for intracellular TCRbeta and negative for TCRgamma delta polypeptide chains. Apoptotic CD69(+)DN4 cells were abundant in pre-TCR/CD3 signaling-deficient mice in which most DN4 cells failed to express clonotypic TCR polypeptides. Survival of DN4 cells, but not maturation of DN3 cells to DN4, was found to depend on the expression of clonotypic TCR polypeptides in the same cell. The results suggest that thymocytes unsuccessful in alpha beta or in gamma delta lineage development die by apoptosis in the DN4 subset.

Expression and selection of productively rearranged TCR beta VDJ genes are sequentially regulated by CD3 signaling in the development of NK1.1(+) alpha beta T cells.

The generation of thymic NK1.1(+)alpha beta T (NKT) cells involves positive selection of cells enriched for V(alpha)14/V(beta)8 TCR by CD1d MHC class I molecules. However, it has not been determined whether positive selection is preceded by pre-TCR-dependent beta selection. Here we studied NKT cell development in CD3 signaling-deficient mice (CD3 zeta/eta(-/-) and/or p56(lck-/-)) and TCR alpha-deficient mice. In contrast to wild-type mice, NK1.1(+) thymocytes in CD3 signaling-deficient mice are approximately 10-fold reduced in number, do not exhibit V(alpha)14-J(alpha)281 rearrangements and fail to express alpha beta TCR at the cell surface. However, they exhibit TCR beta VDJ rearrangements and pre-T alpha mRNA, suggesting that they contain pre-NKT cells. Strikingly, pre-NKT cells of CD3 zeta/Lck double-deficient mice fail to express TCR beta mRNA and protein. Whereas in wild-type NKT cells TCR beta VDJ junctions are selected for productive V(beta)8 and against productive V(beta)5 rearrangements, V(beta)8 and V(beta)5 rearrangements are non-selected in pre-NKT cells of CD3 signaling-deficient mice. Thus, pre-NKT cell development in CD3 signaling-deficient mice is blocked after rearrangement of TCR beta VDJ genes but before expression of TCR beta proteins. Most NKT cells of TCR alpha-deficient mice exhibit cell surface gamma delta TCR. In contrast to pre-NKT cells of CD3 signaling-deficient mice, approximately 25% of NKT cells of TCR alpha-deficient mice exhibit intracellular TCR beta polypeptide chains. Moreover, both V(beta)8 and V(beta)5 families are selected for in-frame VDJ joints in the TCR beta(+) NKT cell subset of TCR alpha-deficient mice. The data suggest that CD3 signals regulate initial TCR beta VDJ gene expression prior to beta selection in developing pre-NKT cells.

Reconstitution of B cell subsets in Rag deficient mice by transplantation of in vitro differentiated embryonic stem cells.

In vitro differentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells contain a population which is similar to fetal liver pro/pre-B cells on the basis of cell surface antigens and cytoplasmic expression of immunoglobin heavy chain. This population was purified and transplanted into Rag-1 deficient recipients to characterize its developmental potential in vivo. Following intravenous transfer, these cells rapidly reconstituted the splenic B but not the T cell compartment. Reconstitution was transient, indicating the lack of long-term reconstituting capacity. Similar to fetal liver, B-1 type as well as conventional B cells were generated, accompanied by high serum IgM levels. Intraperitoneal injection generated high numbers of peritoneal B cells, predominately of the B-1a phenotype, with poor splenic repopulation and low serum IgM levels. These observations suggest the emergence of two different B lineage precursor populations during in vitro ES cell differentiation and define a possible role of the microenvironment in directing lymphoid development.

The outer surface lipoprotein A of Borrelia burgdorferi provides direct and indirect augmenting/co-stimulatory signals for the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells require two distinct signals to proliferate and to express effector functions [1]. One is provided by the antigen receptor on the T cell (TCR) after its encounter with antigenic peptides associated with class I or II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APC) [2]. The second signal, which is not antigen-specific but essential for proliferation and differentiation of naive T cells, is provided by co-stimulatory structures. The major co-stimulatory molecules for CD4+ T cells seem to be B7 [3], B7.2 [4,5], and heat-stable antigen (HSA) [6]. These molecules are expressed on a variety of naive and/or activated APC and bind to CD28 and CTLA-4 and possibly other, as yet undefined, TCRs [3,7]. Optimal T cell activation only occurs when co-stimulatory molecules and ligands for the TCR are expressed on the same APC [8,9]. However, co-stimulation for T cells may also be provided via bystander cells [8,9] or by glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix, like fibronectin [10] and laminin [11]. In this case, T-cell VLA integrins function as signaling molecules [10,11]. This indicates that antigen-specific T-cell activation may also occur in areas where antigens are presented in association with extracellular matrix proteins. The recent finding that the invasion protein of Yersinia spp. delivers co-stimulatory signals to anti-CD3-activated human T cells, most probably through the b1 integrins, suggests that bacterial products can also bind to contribute to the activation of T cells [12].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protection against Borrelia burgdorferi infection in SCID mice is conferred by presensitized spleen cells and partially by B but not T cells alone.

Borrelia burgdorferi induces spirochetemia, arthritis, carditis and myositis in SCID mice but not in immunocompetent co-isogenic C.B-17 mice. The contribution of naive or presensitized B and T cells in the control of spirochetal infection has now been analysed in SCID mice reconstituted with unselected spleen cells or enriched B or T cell populations thereof and subsequently challenged with B. burgdorferi. It is shown that SCID mice were protected (i) completely against disease (arthritis, carditis, myositis) by unselected spleen cells previously sensitized either to intact spirochetes or to recombinant outer surface protein A (OspA), (ii) to a large extent by mixtures of enriched spirochete-specific B and T cells, (iii) partially by equivalent preparations of presensitized B cells or by naive spleen or B cells, and (iv) not at all by presensitized or naive T cells alone. The degree of protection transferred was similar for the corresponding lymphocyte populations presensitized either to viable spirochetes or to recombinant OspA and correlated mainly with serum levels of B. burgdorferi-specific antibodies, in particular those to OspA/OspB. The capacity of enriched presensitized or naive B cells alone to generate specific antibodies of the isotypes IgM, IgG2b and IgG3, and to confer partial protection to SCID mice upon challenge with B. burgdorferi is most probably due to a B cell mitogen(s) associated with the spirochetes. These data further emphasize the important role of B cells and antibodies in the control of B. burgdorferi infection in mice, and suggest that T cells are critically involved in the optimal generation of protective antibody responses but not in the direct elimination of spirochetes from the host.

Induction of T cell serine proteinase 1 (TSP-1)-specific mRNA in mouse T lymphocytes.

An oligonucleotide probe corresponding to nucleotides of a cDNA encoding the T cell-associated proteinase 1 (TSP-1) was chosen to study the induction and expression of TSP-1-specific transcripts in mouse T lymphocytes and tissues. We demonstrate that TSP-1 mRNA is only expressed in activated T lymphocytes and is absent from all mouse tissues tested including those containing resting mature T lymphocytes. Expression of the TSP-1 gene was observed in T lymphocytes in vitro in response to either phorbolester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), Ca2+ ionophore (A23187), lectin or alloantigen. In general, TSP-1 mRNA appeared and peaked later compared to interleukin 2 transcripts. Furthermore, TSP-1 mRNA was inducible in vitro in both Ly-2+ and L3T4+ lymphocyte populations treated with alloantigen and/or lectin. The transcription of the TSP-1 gene was always accompanied by the expression of proteinase activity. High expression of TSP-1 transcripts was also observed in in vivo derived T effector cells specific for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. However, TSP-1 mRNA was predominantly associated with virus-specific Ly-2+ T cells and correlated with their proteinase and cytolytic activities. The data suggest that TSP-1 gene transcription is a useful marker to characterize T effector cells in vitro and in vivo.

Determination of frequency of T cells expressing the T cell-specific serine proteinase 1 (TSP-1) reveals two types of L3T4+ T lymphocytes.

TSP-1 is a murine T cell-specific serine proteinase which is exclusively expressed in activated but not in resting T lymphocytes. Among T lymphocyte clones tested so far the enzyme was found to be associated with all Ly-2+ but only with a fraction of L3T4+ lines. Here we have applied a limiting dilution system to determine the frequency of precursor cells of resting L3T4+ and Ly-2+ lymphocytes which can be induced in vitro by antigen/lectin to express TSP-1. T cell subsets were either positively enriched by flow cytofluorometry cell sorting or by negative selection using monoclonal antibodies and complement. Following stimulation of lymphocytes in vitro, individual microwells were tested for growth by visual examination and for the TSP-1 protein/enzyme by analyzing cell lysates using either a specific rabbit anti-TSP-1 antiserum and/or the chromogenic model peptide substrate H-D-Pro-Phe-Arg-p-nitroanilide. Moreover, a large panel of L3T4+ and Ly-2+ T lymphocyte clones generated from primary cultures were similarly investigated. In some cell cultures the presence of TSP-1 was also tested on the mRNA level using a TSP-1-specific oligonucleotide probe. The data show that the majority, if not all, of antigen/lectin-induced-Ly-2+ T cells expressed TSP-1. In contrast, only 12%-27% of the growing lectin or antigen-reactive L3T4+ lymphocytes were positive for the enzyme. Studies performed in parallel with L3T4+ and Ly-2+ lymphocyte populations sensitized in bulk culture showed that under these conditions similar levels of TSP-1-specific mRNA and enzyme activity are detected in both subsets. The finding of primary L3T4+ T lymphocyte clones with distinct patterns of TSP-1 production provides evidence for the existence of two types of L3T4+ effector cells with different functional capacities. The data also suggest a cooperation between distinct L3T4+ lymphocytes for induction of optimal TSP-1 activity in L3T4+ T cells.

Release of biologically active fragments from human plasma-fibronectin by murine T cell-specific proteinase 1 (TSP-1).

We have studied the proteolytic activity of TSP-1, a tissue-specific serine proteinase expressed by activated murine T cells, on human plasma fibronectin and have investigated by affinity chromatography the biological activity of the polypeptides released after limited proteolysis. A Mr approximately 2.9 x 10(4) peptide bound to denatured collagen (gelatine) but not to heparin, a Mr approximately 3.0 x 10(4) fragment contained heparin-binding but not collagen-binding sites and a third Mr approximately 3.5 x 10(4) peptide did not express either of the two activities. All larger fragments - an array of five to six polypeptides with relative molecular masses between 15 x 10(4) and 19 x 10(4) - were bound to heparin-Sepharose but not to gelatine-Sepharose and could be eluted with high salt concentration. These data confirm recent results suggesting multiple, proteinase-resistant domains with discrete biological functions within fibronectins. The release of small, biologically active fibronectin fragments by TSP-1, an enzyme specifically released by activated T cells upon contact with antigen, suggests a role for this enzyme in the numerous cellular functions elicited by T lymphocytes in vivo.

Change in antigen specificity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes is associated with the rearrangement and expression of a T-cell receptor beta-chain gene.

Cloned H-Y-specific murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which alter antigen specificity in vitro ("aging"), simultaneously exhibit changes in the T-cell antigen receptor beta-chain rearrangements and respective mRNAs expressed. beta-chain cDNA clones were isolated from a library prepared from mRNA of aged killer T cells. The sequence of the beta-chain variable region element (VAK) was found to be identical with germ-line DNA. Four bases at the beta-chain diversity-joining region (D beta--J beta) junction cannot be explained by known germ-line D beta and J beta elements. These results illustrate that in T-cell clones altered antigen specificity correlates with a switch in productive beta-chain rearrangements of the T-cell receptor. When tested for its expression under physiological conditions, significant levels of VAK mRNA were found in normal lymphocyte populations.

Characterization and isolation of a trypsin-like serine protease from a long-term culture cytolytic T cell line and its expression by functionally distinct T cells.

We describe the characterization and purification of a trypsin-like serine protease isolated from cloned long-term culture cytolytic T cell line (CTLL AK). High amounts of proteolytic activity were isolated from extracts of CTLL AK after either nitrogen cavitation or detergent lysis. Trypsin-like protease was detected by using either the ester compound N alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine thiobenzyl ester or a panel of low molecular amide substrates. The latter compounds were preferentially cleaved at the carboxyl termini of lysine and arginine residues. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by two serine esterase inhibitors, diisopropylfluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, and by aprotinin and meta-aminobenzamidine, which are known to block trypsin-like proteases. The pH optimum for CTLL AK-derived protease activity is 8 to 9. Analysis of the enzyme by gel filtration revealed that the cell-bound proteolytic activity was associated with a complex that could not be dissociated by treatment with Triton X-100. The CTLL AK-derived protease activity was found to reside in two proteins with relative molecular masses (Mr) of 32,000 and 40,000 daltons as determined by affinity labeling with [3H]diisopropylfluorophosphate and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. High levels of enzyme activity were found in a panel of H-Y-specific cloned T cell lines with either cytolytic/suppressor (CTLL) or helper potential (THL), indicating a lack of correlation between trypsin-like protease activity and a particular T cell function. High enzyme activity was also detected in tumorigenic variants of CTLL. Furthermore, it was excluded that the trypsin-like activity detected was attributable to plasminogen activator activity. In contrast to cloned T effector cells and their in vitro or in vivo derived variants, considerably less activity was found in normal nonactivated or activated lymphocyte populations. The possible role of the trypsin-like serine protease in the function of T effector cells is discussed.

Interleukin 2 induces both, growth and maturation of lectin reactive Lyt-2+ but not Lyt-2-precursor cells and regulates the cytolytic potential of effector cells.

This study investigated the requirements for lymphokines derived by recombinant (rec.) DNA technology for the induction of growth and maturation in highly purified lectin reactive T cell subsets. Nylon purified C57BL/6 lymph node T cells were treated with monoclonal anti-Lyt-2.2 or anti-L3T4 antibodies and fluorescence labeled (FITC) anti-immunoglobulin antibodies and were positively selected into Lyt-2+ (L3T4-) and Lyt-2- (L3T4+) lymphocyte subsets using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Sorted T lymphocytes, which were devoid of accessory cells were incubated either in bulk culture (2 X 10(2) - 3 X 10(4) cells/microculture) or under limiting dilution conditions (2.5-1,000 cells/well) with lectin (Concanavalin A, Leukoagglutinin) and rec. human Interleukin 2 (rec. hIL-2) and/or rec. mouse Interferon gamma (rec. mIFN-gamma). The data show that Lyt-2+ lymphocytes respond to lectin and rec. hIL-2 with growth and development of cytolytic activity in the absence of other exogenous factor(s) or accessory cells. The presence of monoclonal antibodies to the Interleukin 2 receptor during the sensitization phase ablated the induction of Con A reactive precursor cells of cytolytic lymphocytes (CTL-P) by either rec. hIL-2 or conventional IL-2 containing lymphokine sources, indicating the essential role of IL-2 during activation of Lyt-2+ T lymphocytes. In contrast, Lyt-2- lymphocytes could not be induced by lectin and rec. hIL-2 alone for proliferation and always required the presence of accessory cells for significant growth. Exogenous rec. m IFN gamma was unable to induce growth and cytolytic activity in Con A reactive Lyt-2+ cells and did not significantly effect their response to rec. hIL-2. Limiting dilution experiments revealed that 10-16% of the Lyt-2+ lymphocytes responded to Con A and rec. hIL-2 with growth (GTL-P). The frequencies of CTL-P, determined under similar conditions, were always lower compared to GTL-P. However the results suggest that the differences observed between both precursor populations is due to differential sensitivity of the detection system rather than to the recruitment of distinct T cell subsets. Furthermore, it was shown that at least 50% of lectin reactive CTL-P were induced by rec. hIL-2 to secrete IFN-gamma under optimal conditions. The finding that some of the conventional lymphokine sources were superior to rec. hIL-2 in the induction of growth and cytolytic activity suggests the existence of mediators distinct from IL-2 that regulate the expansion of CTL-P.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Immunoregulation by mouse T cell clones. III. Cloned H-Y-specific cytotoxic T cells secrete a soluble mediator(s) that inhibits cytotoxic responses by acting on both Lyt-2- and L3T4- lymphocytes.

In this study we report that cloned Thy-1+, L3T4-, Lyt-1-, Lyt-2+, H-Y-specific and H-2Db-restricted cytotoxic T cell lines (CTLL) when induced by lectin or antigen secrete a soluble mediator(s) (SF) that inhibits proliferation and generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC). The biological activity was separable by gel filtration and appeared as a broad peak in the molecular mass range between 10 000 and 50 000 kDa. It was found that the suppressive activity released by CTLL neither strictly correlates with their cytotoxic potential nor with their ability to produce immune interferon or lymphotoxin. SF was shown to elicit its activity in an antigen-nonspecific manner in that it suppressed the maturation of T lymphocytes responding to both, the appropriate H-Y antigen as well as to unrelated H-2d alloantigens or to the hapten 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP). The effect of SF on CTL responses was most pronounced in early phases of primary or secondary MLC. When analyzed for its inhibitory activity on precursor cells in populations selected for either Lyt-2- or L3T4- lymphocytes, it was found that SF interfered with the maturation of both subsets. The inhibition of CTL responses elicited by SF could not be reversed by the addition of exogenous interleukin 2. The finding that SF also inhibited the proliferation of some but not all antigen-dependent cloned T cells with helper or cytotoxic potential provides evidence that the factor also may regulate effector lymphocytes. In addition, the results support the assumption that SF exerts its effect directly on the responder rather than the stimulator population, and demonstrate that the development of CTL from their precursor cells is controlled at least in part by the cytotoxic effector cells themselves via a soluble factor(s) that interferes with distinct stages of T cell maturation. These findings again emphasize the expression of multiple functions by CTL and indicate their possible role during the course of an immune response by their capability to eliminate target cells and to secrete a soluble product(s) that mediates feedback control.

Quantitative studies on T-cell functions in MRL/MP-Lpr/Lpr mice. I. Frequency analysis of precursor cells of proliferating, cytotoxic, and T-cell growth factor-secreting T lymphocytes reveals an increase in absolute numbers, with a concomitant decrease in percentage of immunocompetent cells.

A limiting dilution system has been applied to compare precursor frequencies of proliferating T lymphocytes (PTL-P), of T-cell growth factor-secreting T cells (TTCGF-P), and of cytotoxic T cells (CTL-P) in lymphocyte populations of aged, MRL/MP-lpr/lpr (MRL-lpr) mice and the congeneic strain MRL/MP- +/+ (MRL-n,), or the H-2k-compatible strains AKR/N and B10.BR responding to the mitogen concanavalin (ConA), to alloantigens (H-2) or to trinitrophenol (TNP)-modified syngeneic cells. In lymph node and spleen populations of 3- to 8-month-old MRL-lpr mice, the frequencies of H-2d- or ConA-reactive PTL-P and TTCGF-P, and of CTL-P sensitive to either H-2d, TNP, or ConA stimuli were between 5 to 30 times lower than in the corresponding populations of the other three strains. Furthermore, the frequencies of CTL-P progressively decreased in MRL-lpr mice from 3 to 8 months of age. In contrast, the absolute numbers of immunologically competent precursor T cells (PTL-P, TTCGF-P, CTL-P) was in general approximately 2- to 5-fold higher in MRL-lpr than in the control mice. However, these normal T cells do not seem to expand proportionally with the progressive lymphadenopathy in MRL-lpr mice since the number of T lymphocytes recovered from lymph nodes of the individual animals tested exceeded those of tissues from control mice by 30- to 300-fold. The results therefore suggest that mature T cells are progressively diluted out by abnormal lymphocytes in lymphocyte populations of aging MRL-lpr mice, thus causing a decrease of immune responses in vitro and possibly also affecting optimal cellular interactions in vivo.

Immunoregulation by mouse T-cell clones. I. Suppression and amplification of cytotoxic responses by cloned H-Y-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes.

H-Y-specific and H-2Db-restricted, Lyt-1-2+ T-cell clones ( CTLL ) with graded specific cytotoxic activities on male C57BL/6 (B6) target cells ( 1E3 , ; 2C5 , ++; 2A5 , +, 3E6 , +/-) were tested for their capacity to inhibit the generation of H-Y-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. Addition of irradiated lymphocytes of CTLL 1E3 and CTLL 3E6 but not those of CTLL 2A5 or CTLL 2C5 abolished the generation of CTL from in vivo primed H-Y-specific precursor cells (CTLP) when added to fresh mixed-lymphocyte cultures (MLC). Exogenous sources of T-cell growth factors (TCGF) did not overcome suppression. Rather the presence of TCGF resulted in a further enhancement of suppressive activities in CTLL 1E3 and 3E6 and the induction of similar activities in cells from CTLL 2A5 and 2C5 , which by themselves were not inhibitory. Moreover when added to similar MLC on Day 1 instead of Day 0, only irradiated cells of CTLL 3E6 but not those of the other three CTLL were suppressive. Induction of suppressive activities in H-Y-specific CTLL was independent of the appropriate male stimulator cells since it was also observed in MLC induced by irrelevant antigens (H-2, trinitrophenol). Furthermore at low cell numbers, irradiated lymphocytes from any of the CTLL consistently enhanced CTL activities generated from H-Y-specific CTLP. This augmenting activity, which was not TCGF, could be transferred by soluble mediators present in antigen-sensitized CTLL cultures. Thus, these data indicate (i) that cytotoxic effector cells can function as suppressor cells in the generation of CTL, (ii) that the cytotoxic activity of cloned CTL does not correlate with their capacity to suppress CTL responses, (iii) that the inhibition of CTL responses by CTLL is not due to simple consumption of T-cell growth factors produced in MLC, and (iv) that different CTL clones may interfere with the generation of CTL at different stages of their maturation. Moreover, the experiments suggest an antigen-independent enhancement of suppression by the interaction of CTL with lymphokines. Together with the augmenting activity evoked by cloned CTL the data provide strong evidence for the expression of multiple immunological functions by one particular subset of T cells and suggest that cytotoxic effector cells can differentially regulate the maturation and/or clonal expression of their precursor cells.