CD27 engagement by a soluble CD70 protein enhances non-cytolytic antiviral activity of CD56bright natural killer cells by IFN-γ secretion.

We investigated regulation of human NK cell function by CD27 engagement using a recombinant soluble CD70 protein. CD27 was preferentially expressed on CD56(bright) NK cells, and soluble CD70 protein bound to CD27(+)CD56(bright) NK cells. While soluble CD70 protein enhanced IFN-γ secretion by CD56(bright) NK cells in the presence of IL-12, it augmented neither cytolytic activity nor proliferation of NK cells. Thus, we next asked if soluble CD70 protein could be used to induce non-cytolytic antiviral activity of NK cells using an in vitro hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection system. Soluble CD70 protein stimulated NK cells to suppress HCV replication by enhancing NK cell IFN-γ secretion without killing infected cells. Taken together, we demonstrate that CD27 engagement by a soluble CD70 protein enhances non-cytolytic antiviral activity of CD56(bright) NK cells by IFN-γ secretion. Thus, this soluble CD70 protein may be useful for the treatment of viral infections such as HCV infection.

CD27 costimulation contributes substantially to the expansion of functional memory CD8(+) T cells after peptide immunization.

Naive T cells require signals from multiple costimulatory receptors to acquire full effector function and differentiate to long-lived memory cells. The costimulatory receptor, CD27, is essential for optimal T-cell priming and memory differentiation in a variety of settings, although whether CD27 is similarly required during memory CD8(+) T-cell reactivation remains controversial. We have used OVA and anti-CD40 to establish a memory CD8(+) T-cell population and report here that their secondary expansion, driven by peptide and anti-CD40, polyI:C, or LPS, requires CD27. Furthermore, antigenic peptide and a soluble form of the CD27 ligand, CD70 (soluble recombinant CD70 (sCD70)), is sufficient for secondary memory CD8(+) T-cell accumulation at multiple anatomical sites, dependent on CD80/86. Prior to boost, resting effector- and central-memory CD8(+) T cells both expressed CD27 with greater expression on central memory cells. Nonetheless, both populations upregulated CD27 after TCR engagement and accumulated in proportion after boosting with Ag and sCD70. Mechanistically, sCD70 increased the frequency of divided and cytolytic memory T cells, conferred resistance to apoptosis and enabled retardation of tumor growth in vivo. These data demonstrate the central role played by CD27/70 during secondary CD8(+) T-cell activation to a peptide Ag, and identify sCD70 as an immunotherapeutic adjuvant for antitumor immunity.

4-1BBL induces TNF receptor-associated factor 1-dependent Bim modulation in human T cells and is a critical component in the costimulation-dependent rescue of functionally impaired HIV-specific CD8 T cells.

During chronic infection, HIV-specific CD8 T cells exhibit progressive signs of functional impairment, attributed to persistent antigenic stimulation, up-regulation of the inhibitory receptor PD-1, and declining T cell help. Strategies that directly improve CD8 T cell function offer the potential of restoring immune control of HIV. Although PD-1 expression has been identified as a cause of functional impairment in HIV, in this study, PD-1 expression was observed on only a subfraction of HIV-specific CD8 T cells in a subfraction of donors, whereas HIV-specific CTL from all donors exhibited a limited repertoire of effector functions. CD137L (4-1BBL) is emerging as an important stimulator of antiviral CD8 T cell responses. Regardless of the PD-1 status of the donors, here we show that 4-1BBL, when combined with CD80 or CD70, expands a population of Ag-specific CD8 T cells expressing multiple markers of effector function, from the functionally impaired starting population. In contrast, CD70 in combination with CD80 was insufficient for these effects and the related TNF family ligand, LIGHT, had negligible activity. The unique contribution of 4-1BBL correlated with down-regulation of the proapoptotic molecule Bim in activated CD8 T cells. Decreasing the level of TNFR-associated factor 1 in T cells using small interfering RNA resulted in increased levels of Bim in the 4-1BBL-stimulated T cells. Thus, costimulation via 4-1BBL leads to TNFR-associated factor 1-dependent Bim down-modulation in T cells, resulting in increased T cell expansion. These studies identify 4-1BBL as a critical component in therapeutic strategies aimed at improving CD8 T cell function.