K45A mutation of RIPK1 results in poor necroptosis and cytokine signaling in macrophages, which impacts inflammatory responses in vivo.

Receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) participates in several cell signaling complexes that promote cell activation and cell death. Stimulation of RIPK1 in the absence of caspase signaling induces regulated necrosis (necroptosis), which promotes an inflammatory response. Understanding of the mechanisms through which RIPK1 promotes inflammation has been unclear. Herein we have evaluated the impact of a K45A mutation of RIPK1 on necroptosis of macrophages and the activation of inflammatory response. We show that K45A mutation of RIPK1 results in attenuated necroptosis of macrophages in response to stimulation with LPS, TNFα and IFNß in the absence of caspase signaling. Impairment in necroptosis correlated with poor phosphorylation of RIPK1, RIPK3 and reduced trimerization of MLKL. Furthermore, K45A mutation of RIPK1 resulted in poor STAT1 phosphorylation (at S727) and expression of RANTES and MIP-1α following TNF-R engagement in the absence of caspase activation. Our results further indicate that in the absence of stimulation by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), cellular inhibitors of apoptotic proteins (cIAPs) prevent the K45-dependent auto-phosphorylation of RIPK1, leading to resistance against necroptosis. Finally, RIPK1(K45A) mice displayed attenuated inflammatory response in vivo as they were significantly resistant against endotoxin shock, but highly susceptible against a challenge with Salmonella typhimurium. This correlated with reduced expression of IL-1ß and ROS, and poor processing of caspase 8 by RIPK1(K45A) macrophages. Overall, these results indicate that K45 mediated kinase activity of RIPK1 is not only important for necroptosis but it also has a key role in promoting cytokine signaling and host response to inflammatory stimuli.

IL-10 produced by trophoblast cells inhibits phagosome maturation leading to profound intracellular proliferation of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium.

INTRODUCTION: Salmonella enterica Typhimurium (ST) is a phagosomal pathogen that can infect placental trophoblast cells leading to abortion and severe maternal illness. It is unclear how the trophoblast cells promote profound bacterial proliferation. METHODS: The mechanism of internalization, intracellular growth and phagosomal biogenesis in ST-infected human epithelial (HeLa), macrophage (THP-1) and trophoblast-derived cell lines (JEG-3, BeWo and HTR-8) was studied. Specific inhibitors were used to block bacterial internalization. Phagosomal maturation was determined by confocal microscopy, Western-blotting and release of lysosomal ß-galactosidase by infected cells. Bacterial colony forming units were determined by plating infected cell lysates on agar plates. RESULTS: ST proliferated minimally in macrophages but replicated profoundly within trophoblast cells. The ST-ΔinvA (a mutant of Salmonella pathogenicity island-1 gene effector proteins) was unable to infect epithelial cells, but was internalized by scavenger receptors on trophoblasts and macrophages. However, ST was contrastingly localized in early (Rab5⁺) or late (LAMP1⁺) phagosomes within trophoblast cells and macrophages respectively. Furthermore trophoblast cells (unlike macrophages) did not exhibit phagoso-lysosomal fusion. ST-infected macrophages produced IL-6 whereas trophoblast cells produced IL-10. Neutralizing IL-10 in JEG-3 cells accelerated phagolysomal fusion and reduced proliferation of ST. Placental bacterial burden was curtailed in vivo in anti-IL-10 antibody treated and IL-10-deficient mice. DISCUSSION: Macrophages phagocytose but curtail intracellular replication of ST in late phagosomes. In contrast, phagocytosis by trophoblast cells results in an inappropriate cytokine response and proliferation of ST in early phagosomes. CONCLUSION: IL-10 production by trophoblast cells that delays phagosomal maturation may facilitate proliferation of pathogens in placental cells.

cIAP1 and cIAP2 limit macrophage necroptosis by inhibiting Rip1 and Rip3 activation.

Cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (cIAPs) have emerged as important anti-cell death mediators, particularly in cancer. Although they are known to be expressed in immune tissue, their specific immune function remains unclear. We observed that degradation of cIAPs with SMAC mimetic (SM) results in death of primary bone-marrow-derived macrophages. SM-induced death of macrophages occurred by programmed necrosis (necroptosis), which was dependent on TNF receptor expression. Consistent with necroptosis, SM-induced death of macrophages was abrogated by inhibition of receptor interacting protein 1 (Rip1) kinase signaling or by receptor interacting protein 3 (Rip3) knockdown. SM-induced necroptosis was also dependent on inhibition of SM-induced apoptosis due to the expression of the endogenous caspase inhibitor, xIAP. We found that cIAPs limit Rip3, and to a lesser extent Rip1, expression via post-transcriptional mechanisms, leading to inhibition of the Rip1-Rip3 death complex (necrosome). Reduced cIAP activity in vivo, via SM treatment or specific knockout of either cIAP, resulted in elevated macrophage cell death and compromised control of an intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes. These results show that cIAPs have an important role in limiting programmed necrosis of macrophages, which facilitates effective control of a pathogen.

The potent adjuvant activity of archaeosomes correlates to the recruitment and activation of macrophages and dendritic cells in vivo.

The unique glycerolipids of Archaea can be formulated into vesicles (archaeosomes) with potent adjuvant activity. We studied the effect of archaeosomes on APCs to elucidate the mechanism(s) of adjuvant action. Exposure of J774A.1 macrophages to archaeosomes in vitro resulted in up-regulation of B7.1, B7.2, and MHC class II molecules to an extent comparable to that achieved with LPS. Similarly, incubation of bone marrow-derived DCs with archaeosomes resulted in enhanced expression of MHC class II and B7.2 molecules. In contrast, conventional liposomes made from ester phospholipids failed to modulate the expression of these activation markers. APCs treated with archaeosomes exhibited increased TNF production and functional ability to stimulate allogenic T cell proliferation. More interestingly, archaeosomes enhanced APC recruitment and activation in vivo. Intraperitoneal injection of archaeosomes into mice led to recruitment of Mac1alpha(+), F4/80(+) and CD11c(+) cells. The expression of MHC class II on the surface of peritoneal cells was also enhanced. Furthermore, peritoneal cells from archaeosome-injected mice strongly enhanced allo-T cell proliferation and cytokine production. The ability of archaeosome-treated APCs to stimulate T cells was restricted to Mac1alpha(high), B220(-) cells in the peritoneum. These Mac1alpha(high) cells in the presence of GM-CSF gave rise to both F4/80(+) (macrophage) and CD11c(+) (dendritic) populations. Overall, the activation of APCs correlated to the ability of archaeosomes to induce strong humoral, T helper, and CTL responses to entrapped Ag. Thus, the recruitment and activation of professional APCs by archaeosomes constitutes an efficient self-adjuvanting process for induction of Ag-specific responses to encapsulated Ags.

Archaeosomes induce long-term CD8+ cytotoxic T cell response to entrapped soluble protein by the exogenous cytosolic pathway, in the absence of CD4+ T cell help.

The unique ether glycerolipids of Archaea can be formulated into vesicles (archaeosomes) with strong adjuvant activity for MHC class II presentation. Herein, we assess the ability of archaeosomes to facilitate MHC class I presentation of entrapped protein Ag. Immunization of mice with OVA entrapped in archaeosomes resulted in a potent Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell response, as measured by IFN-gamma production and cytolytic activity toward the immunodominant CTL epitope OVA(257-264). In contrast, administration of OVA with aluminum hydroxide or entrapped in conventional ester-phospholipid liposomes failed to evoke significant CTL response. The archaeosome-mediated CD8(+) T cell response was primarily perforin dependent because CTL activity was undetectable in perforin-deficient mice. Interestingly, a long-term CTL response was generated with a low Ag dose even in CD4(+) T cell deficient mice, indicating that the archaeosomes could mediate a potent T helper cell-independent CD8(+) T cell response. Macrophages incubated in vitro with OVA archaeosomes strongly stimulated cytokine production by OVA-specific CD8(+) T cells, indicating that archaeosomes efficiently delivered entrapped protein for MHC class I presentation. This processing of Ag was Brefeldin A sensitive, suggesting that the peptides were transported through the endoplasmic reticulum and presented by the cytosolic MHC class I pathway. Finally, archaeosomes induced a potent memory CTL response to OVA even 154 days after immunization. This correlated to strong Ag-specific up-regulation of CD44 on splenic CD8(+) T cells. Thus, delivery of proteins in self-adjuvanting archaeosomes represents a novel strategy for targeting exogenous Ags to the MHC class I pathway for induction of CTL response.

Biochemical engineering of surface alpha 2-8 polysialic acid for immunotargeting tumor cells.

To target tumor cells for immunotherapy, we evaluated the feasibility of altering the epitopes on the surface polysialic acid of tumor cells. A precursor (N-propionylmannosamine), when incubated with leukemic cells, RBL-2H3 and RMA, resulted in substitution of the N-acetyl groups of surface alpha2-8 polysialic acid with N-propionyl groups. Expression of the altered alpha2-8 N-propionylpolysialic acid on the surface of tumor cells induced their susceptibility to cell death mediated by monoclonal antibody 13D9 (mAb 13D9), which specifically recognizes alpha2-8 N-propionylated polysialic acid. The expression of alpha2-8 N-propionylated polysialic acid and the lysis of tumor cells by antibody-dependent cytotoxicity depended on the time and dose of incorporation of N-propionylated mannosamine. In vivo, mAb 13D9 effectively controlled metastasis of leukemic cells RMA when mice were administered the precursor N-propionylated mannosamine.

Cytokine deprivation of naive CD8+ T cells promotes minimal cell cycling but maximal cytokine synthesis and autonomous proliferation subsequently: a mechanism of self-regulation.

Naive CD8+ T cells differentiate into effectors secreting various cytokines that aid their function. IL-2, but not IL-15, promoted this differentiation of naive CD8+ T cells into effectors. However, the amount of IL-2 present during differentiation had a dichotomous effect on their subsequent function. High concentrations of IL-2 enhanced proliferation and cell cycling initially, but the effectors subsequently failed to produce cytokines and proliferate autonomously, although CD28 expression was maintained. In contrast, suboptimal amounts of IL-2 during priming promoted apoptosis, little proliferation and cell cycling, yet the CD8+ effectors generated produced high levels of cytokines and proliferated autonomously. Interestingly, the effects of IL-2 on naive CD8+ T cells were totally opposite those on naive CD4+ T cells. Although IL-2 impaired cytokine synthesis by CD8+ T cells, the expression of LFA1 and CD44 as well as Fas-dependent cytotoxicity were enhanced. However, loss of cytokine synthesis was not due to increased cytotoxicity, as inhibition occurred even in the absence of perforin/FasL. Interestingly, CD8+ effectors secreting reduced amounts of cytokines exhibited enhanced IL-2Ralpha, but reduced IL-2Rbeta, expression. Furthermore, sorted CD8+ IL-2Ralphahigh cells secreted less cytokines than IL-2Ralphalow cells. These results suggest that the presence of excessive IL-2 during the activation of naive CD8+ T cells, while promoting cell cycling initially, may compromise long-term immunity.

Cytokine-deficient CD8+ Tc1 cells induced by IL-4: retained inflammation and perforin and Fas cytotoxicity but compromised long term killing of tumor cells.

After antigenic stimulation, naive CD8+ T cells differentiate into cytotoxic Tc1 cells secreting the cytokines IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF, which aid their proliferation and effector functions. We have previously shown that IL-4 acts directly on differentiated Tc1 cells to impair subsequent Con A-induced IL-2 production. As IL-4 may be produced in the vicinity of Tc1 cells during normal immune responses, we have further analyzed the short and long term functions of IL-4-treated Tc1 cells. We now show that these cells also have a defect in the synthesis of IFN-gamma, TNF, and IL-10 in response to antigenic stimulation. IL-2 synthesis was the most sensitive, as stimulation of IL-4-treated Tc1 cells with higher numbers of APCs partially restored IFN-gamma, TNF, and IL-10, but not IL-2, synthesis. Injection of allo-specific Tc1 cells into mice expressing the target Ag revealed reduced cytokine synthesis in vivo by IL-4-treated Tc1 cells. Loss of cytokine synthesis did not impair the short term effector functions of Tc1 cells, as they induced adoptively transferred delayed type hypersensitivity in recipient mice and retained both perforin- and Fas-dependent cytolytic mechanisms in vitro. Long term coculture of tumor targets and tumor-specific Tc1 cells indicated that normal Tc1 cells proliferated and killed tumor cells, whereas IL-4-treated Tc1 cells failed to proliferate and hence were unable to curtail the proliferation of tumor cells. These results suggest that IL-4 synthesis in vivo would not affect immediate effector functions of differentiated Tc1 cells, but would compromise immunity by reducing their long term functional capability.

CD8Tc1 and Tc2 cells secrete distinct cytokine patterns in vitro and in vivo but induce similar inflammatory reactions.

Naive CD8 T cells, similar to CD4 T cells, can differentiate into at least two subsets of cytolytic effector cells with distinct cytokine patterns: T cytotoxic-1 (Tc1) cells secrete a Th1-like cytokine pattern, including IL-2 and IFN-gamma; and Tc2 cells produce Th2 cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. As CD4 Th1 cells induce delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) more effectively than Th2 cells, we tested the potential ability of Tc1 and Tc2 cells to induce DTH. Allospecific Tc1 or Tc2 cells were injected into the footpads of naive mice expressing the target Ag. Tc1 and Tc2 cells induced comparable levels of Ag-specific footpad swelling with similar kinetics. They also induced similar levels of footpad edema and similar infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils. However, Tc2 cells induced slightly more eosinophil infiltration. Analysis of footpad extracts showed that Tc1 and Tc2 cells retained their distinct in vitro cytokine profiles in the injected footpads. These results suggest that both Tc1 and Tc2 cytokines can be associated with the DTH reaction induced by CD8 T cells. Perforin-deficient Tc1 or Tc2 cells also induced DTH, although at lower levels, suggesting that perforin-mediated cytotoxicity of CD8 T cells is not essential for CD8-induced DTH. Thus, despite their distinct cytokine profiles in vitro and in vivo, Tc1 and Tc2 cells induce similar DTH reactions.

Functions of CD8 T-cell subsets secreting different cytokine patterns.

CD8+ T cells can differentiate into two effector phenotypes, Tc1 and Tc2, secreting different cytokine patterns. Both subsets are cytotoxic via the perforin and Fas pathways, and both kill resting and activated B cells, ruling out the possibility of cognate help, although Tc2 cells may provide bystander help. Both subsets induce inflammation with similar cellular infiltrates. Tc1 cytokine synthesis is limited by two mechanisms--IL-4 induces a permanent deficiency in cytokine secretion, and rapid killing of target cells limits CD8+ T-cell activation and cytokine production. These multiple CD8 T-cell activities provide a versatile set of immune functions.

Cytotoxicity and weak CD40 ligand expression of CD8+ type 2 cytotoxic T cells restricts their potential B cell helper activity.

Naive CD8+ T cells differentiate into distinct cytokine-secreting subsets: T helper (Th)1-like cytotoxic T cells (Tc1) and Th2-like Tc2. Although Th2 cells provide strong B cell help, we show that Tc2 cells secreting the same cytokines provide only modest B cell help for IgM production, and only when large numbers of B cells were stimulated with small numbers of Tc2 cells. Lack of effective B cell help by Tc2 cells was attributable partly to their cytotoxicity towards B cells. Both Tc1 and Tc2 cells killed small resting B cells mainly by a perforin-dependent mechanism. In contrast to normal Tc2 cells, perforin-deficient Tc2 cells failed to kill small resting B cells and induced IgM and IgG1 production, although their B cell help was significantly lower than that mediated by Th2 cells. This may be partly attributable to the ability of Tc2 but not Th2 cells to kill activated B cells even in the absence of perforin. Plate-bound anti-CD3 antibodies inhibited Tc2 killing of B cells and induced substantial immunoglobulin production. Additionally, Tc1 and Tc2 cells failed to express CD40 ligand (CD40L), whereas Th1 and Th2 cells expressed high levels of CD40L. Stimulation of Tc1 and Tc2 cells with plate-bound anti-CD3 antibodies for extended periods resulted in low-level expression of CD40L. Proliferation of small resting B cells correlated with immunoglobulin production: proliferation was promoted strongly by Th1 and Th2, weakly by normal Tc1 and Tc2, and moderately by perforin-deficient Tc1 and Tc2 cells. Thus, Tc2 cells may not contribute significantly to cognate B cell help during normal responses.

Differentiation and functions of T cell subsets.

The Tc1 and Tc2 subsets of CD8+ T effector cells secrete different patterns of cytokines, but have similar functions, including perforin- and Fas-dependent cytotoxicity, and induction of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions involving oedema and granulocytic infiltration. The characteristic cytokines of Tc1 (gamma-interferon) and Tc2 (interleukins 4 and 5) are expressed in vivo during the DTH reaction. Tc1 cells that are deficient in cytokine synthesis also induce similar levels of DTH, supporting the lack of correlation between CD8+ T cell cytokine patterns and DTH. CD8+ T cells often produce lower cytokine levels than CD4 cells because the CD8 cells kill their antigen-presenting cells before full stimulation can occur. This effect can be counteracted by increasing the frequency of stimulation, or using perforin-deficient T cells. A multiparameter analysis of cytokine effects on CD8+ T cell differentiation has been initiated, on the basis of the principle that normal immune responses involve complex cytokine mixtures. All combinations of seven cytokines were tested. In some combinations, the combined effect could not have been predicted from individual cytokine functions. Conditions were identified in which each of interleukins 4, 10 and 12 could have opposite effects on CD8+ T cell differentiation.

Perforin and Fas killing by CD8+ T cells limits their cytokine synthesis and proliferation.

During an immune response, effector CD8+ T cells can kill infected cells by the perforin-dependent pathway. In comparison to CD4+ T cells, which are major sources of cytokines, normal CD8+ T cells produced less interleukin 2 and interferon gamma, and proliferated less vigorously after antigenic stimulation. Killing of target cells was a major cause of these reduced responses, since perforin-deficient CD8+ T cells showed substantially increased cytokine synthesis and proliferation. Cytotoxicity by the alternate Fas pathway also resulted in self-limitation of CD8+ T cell cytokine synthesis. This relationship between cytotoxicity and cytokine synthesis may regulate CD8+ T function in different phases of an immune response.

The expanding universe of T-cell subsets: Th1, Th2 and more.

Since their discovery nearly ten years ago, T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 subsets have been implicated in the regulation of many immune responses. In this article, Tim Mosmann and Subash Sad discuss the increasing number of T-cell subsets defined by cytokine patterns; the differentiation pathways of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells; the contribution of other cell types to these patterns; and the cytokine interactions during infection and pregnancy.

Interleukin (IL) 4, in the absence of antigen stimulation, induces an anergy-like state in differentiated CD8+ TC1 cells: loss of IL-2 synthesis and autonomous proliferation but retention of cytotoxicity and synthesis of other cytokines.

Naive T cells in the periphery mainly secrete interleukin (IL) 2 upon activation. After stimulation in the presence of appropriate costimulators, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells differentiate into effector cells secreting distinct T helper (Th) 1- and Th2-like cytokine patterns. Subsequent to differentiation, both CD4+ (Th1 and Th2) and CD8+ (TC1 and TC2) cells are stable and cannot be induced to differentiate into the opposite pattern or revert to the naive cytokine secretion pattern. We now show that IL-4 caused committed TC1 bulk populations or clones to lose the ability to synthesize IL-2. The cells retained the ability to secrete interferon (IFN) gamma, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor, did not synthesize any Th2 cytokines, and did not alter cell surface marker expression. IL-4 rapidly inhibited IL-2-synthesizing ability in the absence or presence of antigen-presenting cells, thus demonstrating that IL-4 acted directly on TC1 cells. The defect in IL-2 synthesis could not be reversed by subsequent stimulation with potent antigen-presenting cells in the presence of IL-2 and anti-IL-4, or with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 antibodies. Both IL-2+ and IL-2- TC1 cells were strongly cytotoxic toward allogeneic but not syngeneic targets. However, IL-2- TC1 cells were unable to proliferate unless exogenous IL-2 was provided. TC1 cells that lose IL-2 synthesis but retain IFN-gamma synthesis and cytotoxicity may be similar to the "anergic" cells induced by stimulation of CD4+ or CD8+ cells in the absence of costimulators. These results suggest that during a mixed type 1/type 2 response in vivo, IL-4 may induce the IL-2+ TC1-->IL-2-TC1 conversion, and thus curtail the expansion of the TC1 response without impairing short-term effector function.

Characterization of an immunosuppressive factor secreted by a human trophoblast-derived choriocarcinoma cell line.

Factors and cells of placental origin have been considered to be important in mediating local active immunosuppression that regulates maternal immune reactivity to aid fetal survival. In this context, we investigated the immunosuppressive capabilities of supernatants from human trophoblast-derived choriocarcinoma cell lines (HCS). We have previously reported the inhibitory effects of HCS on proliferative responses of T-lymphocytes both in vitro and in vivo (L. Krishnan, E. Menu, G. Chaouat, G. P. Talwar, and R. Raghupathy, Cell. Immunol. 138, 113, 1991; L. Krishnan, R. Kinsky, G. Chaouat, G.P. Talwar, and R. Raghupathy, Cell. Immunol. 150, 376, 1993). We now show that HCS also suppresses LPS-induced proliferation of murine lymphocytes but does not inhibit the constitutive proliferation of lymphoma cell lines and B cell hybridomas indicating that HCS has no inhibitory effects on terminally differentiated or transformed cells. Furthermore, we have succeeded in isolating and partially characterizing the HCS-derived suppressor factor (HCSf) from culture supernatants of a human choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. Purification of the factor has been accomplished by sequential fractionation on anion-exchange, gel filtration, and reverse-phase HPLC columns. The suppressor factor is a low-molecular-weight compound in the range of 5-6 kDa, composed predominantly of hydrophilic amino acids. Protease digestion of the factor revealed that the peptide moiety in HCSf is important for its inhibitory activity. HCSf mediates a dose-dependent suppression of proliferative responses of both human and murine lymphocytes.

Cytokine-induced differentiation of precursor mouse CD8+ T cells into cytotoxic CD8+ T cells secreting Th1 or Th2 cytokines.

Alloantigen-stimulated CD8+ mouse spleen cells, either spontaneously or in the presence of IL-12 or IFN gamma plus anti-IL-4, differentiate into CD8+ T cells secreting a Th1-like cytokine pattern (IL-2 and IFN gamma). IL-4 induced differentiation into CD8+ T cells secreting Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10), whereas anti-IFN gamma suppressed the development of CD8+ cells secreting IFN gamma. Clones of IL-4- or IFN gamma-producing CD8+ T cells were relatively stable, as IL-4 or IFN gamma did not cause interconversion of committed CD8+ T cells. Both CD8+ subsets were cytotoxic, failed to provide cognate help for B cell antibody production, and remained CD4-, CD8 alpha+ CD8 beta+. We propose the names TC1 and TC2 for cytotoxic CD8+ T cells secreting Th1-like and Th2-like cytokines, respectively.

Differentiation of subsets of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Our knowledge of the cytokine secretion patterns of T cells and other cells is clearly becoming more complex. The T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 patterns may represent the extremes of a spectrum of cytokine regulatory patterns controlled by several cell types. CD8+ T cells can also secrete either Th1-like or Th2-like cytokine patterns, and they can contribute to bystander B cell activation. Interactions occur between immune cytokine regulatory networks and other systems, and pregnancy and responses against infection can profoundly influence each other.

Single IL-2-secreting precursor CD4 T cell can develop into either Th1 or Th2 cytokine secretion phenotype.

Immunocompetent T lymphocytes in peripheral tissues mainly secrete IL-2 when first stimulated, whereas effector T lymphocytes generated during an immune response secrete different cytokine patterns, such as the Th1, Th2, or other phenotypes displayed by in vitro T cell clones. In this paper, we have examined whether the cell populations that have distinctive cytokine-producing capabilities represent different cell lineages or whether they are derived from the same uncommitted precursor T cell. During allostimulation of CD4+ spleen T cells, TGF-beta inhibited the development of T cells that could produce the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5. Anti-IFN-gamma inhibited the development of Th1-like IFN-gamma-secreting cells, and the combination of TGF-beta and anti-IFN-gamma resulted in the proliferation of a cell population that produced IL-2, but not IFN-gamma, IL-4, or IL-5, on restimulation. These IL-2-producing T cells expressed low levels of CD45RB and MEL14 and high levels of CD44. Clones of IL-2-producing T cells were isolated, and either bulk culture or clonal IL-2-producing populations acquired the ability to secrete Th1 or Th2 cytokine patterns when restimulated in the presence of TGF-beta or IL-4, respectively. These results demonstrate that both Th1- and Th2-like cells can be derived from a bipotential IL-2-producing precursor CD4+ T cell.

Synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccines incorporating GnRH and synthetic T-helper epitopes.

A vaccine against the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is being developed as an immunological method for treatment of prostatic hypertrophy, based on the observation that active immunization against GnRH leads to the production of anti-GnRH antibodies which results in the shrinkage of the prostate gland. We have been investigating the regulation of anti-GnRH antibody responses by carrier molecules. In previous studies we showed that the use of large protein molecules as carriers limits the use of such a vaccine owing to potential problems of carrier-induced anti-haptenic suppression. In this report we show that synthetic T-helper epitopes can be used as carriers for the generation of anti-GnRH antibody responses.