Differentiation of distinct long-lived memory CD4 T cells in intestinal tissues after oral Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Mucosal antigen-specific CD4 T-cell responses to intestinal pathogens remain incompletely understood. Here we examined the CD4 T-cell response after oral infection with an internalin A 'murinized' Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). Oral Lm infection induced a robust endogenous listeriolysin O (LLO)-specific CD4 T-cell response with distinct phenotypic and functional characteristics in the intestine. Circulating LLO-specific CD4 T cells transiently expressed the 'gut-homing' integrin α4ß7 and accumulated in the intestinal lamina propria and epithelium where they were maintained independent of interleukin (IL)-15. The majority of intestinal LLO-specific CD4 T cells were CD27- Ly6C- and CD69+ CD103- while the lymphoid LLO-specific CD4 T cells were heterogeneous based on CD27 and Ly6C expression and predominately CD69-. LLO-specific effector CD4 T cells transitioned into a long-lived memory population that phenotypically resembled their parent effectors and displayed hallmarks of residency. In addition, intestinal effector and memory CD4 T cells showed a predominant polyfunctional Th1 profile producing IFNγ, TNFα, and IL-2 at high levels with minimal but detectable levels of IL-17A. Depletion of CD4 T cells in immunized mice led to elevated bacterial burden after challenge infection highlighting a critical role for memory CD4 T cells in controlling intestinal intracellular pathogens.

FcRn-mediated intestinal absorption of IgG anti-IgE/IgE immune complexes in mice.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism(s) responsible for the acquisition of maternal antibody isotypes other than IgG are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To define the ability of the neonatal Fc receptor for IgG uptake (FcRn) to mediate intestinal absorption of IgG(1) anti-IgE/IgE immune complexes. METHODS: C57BL/6 allergic ovalbumin (OVA)-immune foster mothers were generated to nurse naïve FcRn(+/-) or FcRn(-/-) progeny. At the time of weaning, serum levels of OVA-specific antibodies and IgG(1) anti-IgE/IgE immune complexes were determined in allergic foster mothers and FcRn(+/+), FcRn(+/-), or FcRn(-/-) breastfed offspring. In separate experiments, FcRn(+/-) or FcRn(-/-) neonatal mice were gavage fed TNP-specific IgE as IgG(1) anti-IgE/IgE immune complexes, IgG(1) isotype control and IgE, or IgE alone. Mice were killed 2 h after feeding to determine serum levels and biological activity of absorbed TNP-specific IgE. RESULTS: As expected, the absorption of maternal OVA-specific IgG(1) in FcRn(-/-) offspring was at levels 10(3) -10(4) less than observed in FcRn(+/+) or FcRn(+/-) offspring. Surprisingly, FcRn expression also influenced the absorption of maternal IgE. OVA-specific IgE was detected in FcRn(+/+) and FcRn(+/-) offspring, but not in FcRn(-/-) offspring. IgG(1) anti-IgE/IgE immune complexes were detected in allergic foster mothers and correlated strongly with levels in FcRn(+/+) and FcRn(+/-) offspring (ρ = 0.88, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, FcRn expression was required for neonatal mice to absorb TNP-specific IgE when fed as IgG(1) anti-IgE/IgE immune complexes. When immune complexes were generated with IgG(1) anti-IgE directed against the Cε4 domain, the absorbed IgE was able to function in antigen-dependent basophil degranulation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These data demonstrate a novel mechanism by which FcRn may facilitate absorption of maternal antibodies other than IgG. These findings are clinically relevant because FcRn mediates the transplacental passage of maternal IgG to the fetus. This raises the possibility that FcRn could mediate the transplacental passage of maternal IgE as IgG anti-IgE/IgE immune complexes.

Murine cytomegalovirus infection alters Th1/Th2 cytokine expression, decreases airway eosinophilia, and enhances mucus production in allergic airway disease.

Concomitant infection of murine CMV (MCMV), an opportunistic respiratory pathogen, altered Th1/Th2 cytokine expression, decreased bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid eosinophilia, and increased mucus production in a murine model of OVA-induced allergic airway disease. Although no change in the total number of leukocytes infiltrating the lung was observed between challenged and MCMV/challenged mice, the cellular profile differed dramatically. After 10 days of OVA-aerosol challenge, eosinophils comprised 64% of the total leukocyte population in BAL fluid from challenged mice compared with 11% in MCMV/challenged mice. Lymphocytes increased from 11% in challenged mice to 30% in MCMV/challenged mice, and this increase corresponded with an increase in the ratio of CD8(+) to CD4(+)TCRalphabeta lymphocytes. The decline in BAL fluid eosinophilia was associated with a change in local Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles. Enhanced levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 were detected in lung tissue from challenged mice by RNase protection assays. In contrast, MCMV/challenged mice transiently expressed elevated levels of IFN-gamma and IL-10 mRNAs, as well as decreased levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 mRNAs. Elevated levels of IFN-gamma and reduced levels of IL-5 were also demonstrated in BAL fluid from MCMV/challenged mice. Histological evaluation of lung sections revealed extensive mucus plugging and epithelial cell hypertrophy/hyperplasia only in MCMV/challenged mice. Interestingly, the development of airway hyperresponsiveness was observed in challenged mice, not MCMV/challenged mice. Thus, MCMV infection can modulate allergic airway inflammation, and these findings suggest that enhanced mucus production may occur independently of BAL fluid eosinophilia.

Enterocyte expression of interleukin 7 induces development of gammadelta T cells and Peyer's patches.

The intestinal mucosa is suggested to support extrathymic T cell development, particularly for T cell receptor (TCR)-gammadelta intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). TCR-gammadelta cell development requires interleukin (IL)-7; IL-7(-/)- or IL-7 receptor(-/)- mice lack TCR-gammadelta cells. Using the intestinal fatty acid binding protein (iFABP) promoter, we reinstated expression of IL-7 to mature enterocytes of IL-7(-/)- mice (iFABP-IL7). In iFABP-IL7 mice, TCR-gammadelta IELs were restored, as were cryptopatches and Peyer's patches. TCR-gammadelta cells remained absent from all other tissues. Likewise, T cell development in thymus and B cell maturation in the bone marrow and spleen retained the IL-7(-/)- phenotype. Thus, IL-7 expression by enterocytes was sufficient for extrathymic development of TCR-gammadelta cells in situ within the intestinal epithelium and was crucial for organization of mucosal lymphoid tissue.

Proinflammatory roles of T-cell receptor (TCR)gammadelta and TCRalphabeta lymphocytes in a murine model of asthma.

The role of lymphocytes bearing alphabeta or gammadelta T-cell receptors (TCRs) was assessed during the acute allergic response in a mouse model of asthma. The inflammatory immune response to ovalbumin (OVA) was characterized in wild-type C57BL/6J mice and congenic TCRbeta(-/-) and TCRdelta(-/-) mice by evaluation of airway eosinophilia, histopathology, serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels, and in vivo airway responsiveness to methacholine. OVA-challenged wild-type mice demonstrated marked pulmonary inflammation, evidenced by airway eosinophilia (68 +/- 7 x 10(4) cells), peribronchial lympho-plasmocytic infiltration, and elevated serum IgE (4.9 +/- 0.6 microg/ml). These responses were markedly attenuated in TCRdelta(-/-) animals (5.0 +/- 1.0 x 10(4) eosinophils and 1.6 +/- 0. 3 microg/ml IgE) and were completely absent in TCRbeta(-/-) mice (< 1 x 10(3) eosinophils and 0.38 +/- 0.21 microg/ml IgE). Similar results were observed in mice treated with anti-TCRgammadelta or anti-TCRalphabeta monoclonal antibodies. Airway responsiveness to aerosolized methacholine was also reduced in challenged TCRdelta(-/-) animals relative to challenged wild-type mice. These results demonstrate that acute allergic airway responses are dependent upon intact TCRalphabeta and TCRgammadelta lymphocyte function and that TCRgammadelta cells promote acute airway sensitization.

The nuclear receptor PPAR gamma and immunoregulation: PPAR gamma mediates inhibition of helper T cell responses.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of transcription factors belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily. Until recently, the genes regulated by PPARs were those believed to be predominantly associated with lipid metabolism. Recently, an immunomodulatory role for PPAR gamma has been described in cells critical to the innate immune system, the monocyte/macrophage. In addition, evidence for an antiinflammatory role of the PPAR gamma ligand, 15-deoxy-Delta 12,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2) has been found. In the present studies, we demonstrate, for the first time, that murine helper T cell clones and freshly isolated splenocytes express PPAR gamma 1. The PPAR gamma expressed is of functional significance in that two ligands for PPAR gamma, 15d-PGJ2 and a thiazolidinedione, ciglitazone, mediate significant inhibition of proliferative responses of both the T cell clones and the freshly isolated splenocytes. This inhibition is mediated directly at the level of the T cell and not at the level of the macrophage/APC. Finally, we demonstrate that the two ligands for PPAR gamma mediate inhibition of IL-2 secretion by the T cell clones while not inhibiting IL-2-induced proliferation of such clones. The demonstration of the expression and function of PPAR gamma in T cells reveals a new level of immunoregulatory control for PPARs and significantly increases the role and importance of PPAR gamma in immunoregulation.

Shifts in lung lymphocyte profiles correlate with the sequential development of acute allergic and chronic tolerant stages in a murine asthma model.

T lymphocytes have a central regulatory role in the pathogenesis of asthma. We delineated the participation of lymphocytes in the acute allergic and chronic tolerant stages of a murine model of asthma by characterizing the various subsets of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue associated with these responses. Acute (10-day) aerosol challenge of immunized C57BL/6J mice with ovalbumin resulted in airway eosinophilia, histological evidence of peribronchial and perivascular airway inflammation, clusters of B cells and TCRgammadelta cells in lung tissue, increased serum IgE levels, and airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. In mice subjected to chronic (6-week) aerosol challenge with ovalbumin, airway inflammation and serum IgE levels were significantly attenuated and airway hyperresponsiveness was absent. The marked increases in lung B and T cell populations seen in the acute stage were also significantly reduced in the chronic stage of this model. Thus, acute ovalbumin challenge resulted in airway sensitization characteristic of asthma, whereas chronic ovalbumin challenge elicited a suppressed or tolerant state. The transition from antigenic sensitization to tolerance was accompanied by shifts in lymphocyte profiles in the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

The role of beta7 integrins in CD8 T cell trafficking during an antiviral immune response.

The requirement of beta7 integrins for lymphocyte migration was examined during an ongoing immune response in vivo. Transgenic mice (OT-I) expressing an ovalbumin-specific major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted T cell receptor for antigen were rendered deficient in expression of all beta7 integrins or only the alphaEbeta7 integrin. To quantitate the relative use of beta7 integrins in migration in vivo, equal numbers of OT-I and OT-I-beta7(-/-) or OT-I-alphaE-/- lymph node (LN) cells were adoptively transferred to normal mice. Although OT-I-beta7(-/-) LN cells migrated to mesenteric LN and peripheral LN as well as wild-type cells, beta7 integrins were required for naive CD8 T cell and B cell migration to Peyer's patch. After infection with a recombinant virus (vesicular stomatitis virus) encoding ovalbumin, beta7 integrins became critical for migration of activated CD8 T cells to the mesenteric LN and Peyer's patch. Naive CD8 T cells did not enter the lamina propria or the intestinal epithelium, and the majority of migration of activated CD8 T cells to the small and large intestinal mucosa, including the epithelium, was beta7 integrin-mediated. The alphaEbeta7 integrin appeared to play no role in migration during a primary CD8 T cell immune response in vivo. Furthermore, despite dramatic upregulation of alphaEbeta7 by CD8 T cells after entry into the epithelium, long-term retention of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes was also alphaEbeta7 independent.

The role of IL-7 in thymic and extrathymic development of TCR gamma delta cells.

IL-7-deficient (IL-7(-/-)) mice have reduced numbers of B and TCR alpha beta cells, but lack mature TCR gamma delta cells. Although most T cell development occurs in the thymus, some intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), including TCR gamma delta cells, can develop extrathymically. Epithelial cells in both thymus and intestine synthesize IL-7, suggesting that TCR gamma delta cell development could occur in either site. To evaluate the role of thymic IL-7 in development of TCR gamma delta cells, newborn TCR beta-deficient (TCR beta(-/-)) thymi were grafted to IL-7(-/-) mice. Donor- and host-derived TCR gamma delta cells were recovered from thymus grafts, spleen, and IEL. However, when IL-7(-/-) thymi were grafted to TCR beta(-/-) mice, no development of graft-derived TCR gamma delta cells occurred, indicating that extrathymic IL-7 did not support TCR gamma delta IEL generation from newborn thymic precursors. In contrast, TCR gamma delta IEL development occurred efficiently in adult, thymectomized, irradiated C57BL/6J mice reconstituted with IL-7(-/-) bone marrow. This demonstrated that extrathymic development of TCR gamma delta IEL required extrathymic IL-7 production. Thus, intrathymic IL-7 was required for development of thymic TCR gamma delta cells, while peripheral IL-7 was sufficient for development of extrathymic TCR gamma delta IEL.

Age-dependent intestinal lymphoproliferative disorder due to stem cell factor receptor deficiency: parameters in small and large intestine.

Signaling through c-Kit/stem cell factor (SCF) is crucial for normal development of erythroid and myeloid hematopoietic precursors and of melanocytes and germ cells. While peripheral lymphoid populations of W/Wv and SI/SId mice appear normal, we demonstrated that the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) populations of small (SI) and large (LI) intestine were significantly affected. IEL populations of young W/Wv animals were indistinguishable from those of their control littermates, but an age-dependent decrease in SI and LI TCRgamma delta IEL occurred in c-Kit mutant mice. In SI, but not in LI, this diminution was accompanied by gross expansion of TCRalpha beta IEL that resulted in significantly increased IEL:epithelial cell ratios in c-Kit mutant mice. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling studies revealed that the increase in cell numbers was due to lymphoproliferation that occurred in situ. Interestingly, TCRgamma delta IEL expressed cell surface c-Kit, while the expanding population of TCRalpha beta IEL did not. Analysis of radiation bone marrow chimeras demonstrated that the dysregulation required either disruption of stromal cell SCF or IEL c-Kit and showed that the effect on IEL or their precursors was not due to other changes in the intestinal microenvironment. Lamina propria T cell populations in these mice were unaffected, reinforcing the idea that the developmental requirements of these gut-resident lymphocyte populations are distinct. Overall, the results demonstrated that the development of intestinal TCRgamma delta IEL, regardless of location, shares common requirements for SCF, while SI and LI TCRalpha beta IEL may develop along distinct pathways. Possible mechanisms for the loss of proliferative regulation in gut T cells in c-Kit/SCF deficiency are discussed.

Extrathymic intestinal T-cell development: virtual reality?

Extrathymic T-cell development is a topic of considerable interest and debate, with important implications for the mechanisms of T-cell maturation and repertoire selection. Recent evidence has suggested that intraepithelial T lymphocytes (IELs) of the small intestine can mature and undergo selection in the absence of a thymus. However, IEL precursors are present in the thymus and IEL development is known to be influenced by the thymus. Here, Leo Lefrançois and Lynn Puddington discuss these data and suggest that the differentiation pathway of IEL precursors is dependent on whether or not a thymus is present.

Interactions between stem cell factor and c-Kit are required for intestinal immune system homeostasis.

Interactions between stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor, c-Kit, are important for development of hematopoietic, melanocytes, and germ cells. T lymphocytes appeared normal in c-Kit (W/Wv) or SCF (SI/SId) mutant mice, except for those residing within the intestinal epithelium, the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL). Normally, IEL are composed of equal numbers of cells with alpha beta or gamma delta T cell receptors. In mutant mice, beginning at 6-8 weeks of age, the number of gamma delta IEL decreased, whereas alpha beta IEL increased. The latter was due largely to an increased CD4+ CD8+ TCR alpha beta subset, suggesting that these cells may be intermediates in the alpha beta IEL lineage. c-Kit or SCF was expressed by IEL or intestinal epithelial cells, respectively, indicating a potential for direct intercellular interaction. This possibility was supported by reconstitution studies that demonstrated that c-Kit mutations directly affected IEL. Thus, SCF-c-Kit interactions are important for homeostasis of the intestinal immune compartment.

Developmental expression of the alpha IEL beta 7 integrin on T cell receptor gamma delta and T cell receptor alpha beta T cells.

A novel monoclonal antibody, 2E7, was shown by immunoprecipitation to be reactive with the alpha IEL beta 7 integrin and was employed to analyze the expression of this integrin in lymphocyte subsets and during T cell ontogeny. In adult lymph nodes, alpha IEL was expressed at low levels by 40-70% of CD8+ T cells and < 5% of CD4+ T cells. However, virtually all intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and approximately 20% of lamina propria CD4+ T cells were 2E7+, indicating a preferential expression of this integrin on mucosal T cells. Examination of alpha IEL integrin expression during thymus ontogeny revealed that approximately 3-5% of fetal or adult thymocytes were 2E7+. Interestingly, early in fetal thymus ontogeny, approximately 40% of 2E7+ cells expressed T cell receptor (TcR)-gamma delta and this subset persisted through birth. A developmental switch occurred such that 2E7+ TcR- CD4-8+ cells detected on fetal day 19 were followed by 2E7+ TcR-alpha beta CD4-8+ cells in the neonatal thymus. The latter population persisted throughout thymus ontogeny into adulthood. Interestingly, a subset of TcR-gamma delta V gamma 3+ day 16 fetal thymocyte dendritic epidermal cell (DEC) precursors were 2E7+, but all mature DEC expressed high levels of alpha IEL integrin, suggesting that the alpha IEL integrin was acquired late in DEC maturation. This possibility was strengthened by immunohistochemical localization of the majority of 2E7+ gamma delta and alpha beta T cells to the medullary regions of the thymus. Overall, the results demonstrate a developmentally ordered expression pattern of the alpha IEL beta 7 integrin that suggests a common function for this integrin during TcR-gamma delta and -alpha beta CD4-8+ T cell thymocyte development or perhaps in effector functions for these subsets.

Nonimmunogenic tumor cells may efficiently restimulate tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells.

Induction of immunity to a viral protein that had been transfected into a tumor cell line was studied. The nucleoprotein (NP) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was used as a model tumor-associated Ag after transfection into EL-4, and H-2b thymoma originating from C57BL/6 mice. The NP-transfected cell line (EL-4NP) was lysed by NP-specific CTL and was found to restimulate NP-specific CTL in vitro as efficiently as did VSV-infected macrophages. Despite both of these in vitro characteristics, C57BL/6 mice inoculated with EL-4NP did not mount a measurable NP-specific CTL response and developed a lethal tumor as rapidly as did mice given control EL-4. This lack of immunogenicity could not be explained by down-regulation of MHC class I molecules or by loss of NP; even EL-4NP cells metastasizing to the spleen kept their high restimulatory capacity and excellent target characteristics. However, once mice were immunized with VSV or with a vaccinia-VSV-NP recombinant virus they were protected against tumor growth of EL-4NP by CD8+ CTL but not by CD4+ T cells. Taken together, the failure of the tumor-associated Ag to induce a protective T cell response in vivo despite its excellent capacity to restimulate CTL in vitro may encourage adjuvant immunotherapy in cancer; even the effects of weakly immunizing tumor vaccines, e.g., recombinant viruses, may be efficiently amplified by tumor cells.

Role of protein sulfation in vasodilation induced by minoxidil sulfate, a K+ channel opener.

Evidence from contractile, radioisotope ion flux and electrophysiological studies suggest that minoxidil sulfate (MNXS) acts as a K+ channel opener in vascular smooth muscle. This study was designed to examine possible biochemical mechanisms by which MNXS exerts such an effect. Experiments performed in the isolated rabbit mesenteric artery (RMA) showed that MNXS, 5 microM, but not the parent compound minoxidil, was a potent vasodilator. Whereas the relaxant effects of an another K+ channel opener vasodilator, BRL-34915 (cromakalim), were removed by washing with physiological saline solution, the effects of MNXS persisted after repeated washout attempts. Furthermore, after an initial exposure of segments of intact RMA to [35S] MNXS, greater than 30% of the radiolabel was retained 2 hr after removal of the drug. In contrast, retention of radiolabel was not detected with either [3H]MNXS (label on the piperidine ring of MNXS) or [3H]minoxidil (each less than 3% after a 2-hr washout). These data suggested that the sulfate moiety from MNXS was closely associated with the vascular tissue. To determine if proteins were the acceptors of sulfate from MNXS, intact RMAs were incubated with [35S]MNXS, and then 35S-labeled proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analyzed by fluorography. Preferential labeling of a 116 kD protein was detected by 2 and 5 min of treatment. A 43 kD protein (resembling actin) also showed significant labeling. A similar profile of 35S-labeled proteins was observed in [35S] MNXS-treated A7r5 rat aortic smooth muscle cells, suggesting that the majority of proteins labeled by [35S]MNXS in intact RMA were components of smooth muscle cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vesicular stomatitis virus M protein in the nuclei of infected cells.

The M protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was localized in the nuclei and cytoplasm of VSV-infected cells by subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence microscopy. Nuclei isolated from VSV-infected Friend erythroleukemia cells were fractionated into a nuclear membrane and a nucleoplasm fraction by DNase digestion and differential centrifugation. G protein was present in the membrane fraction, and M protein was present in the nucleoplasm fraction. Immunofluorescence detection of M protein in the nucleus required that fixed cells be permeabilized with higher concentrations of detergent than were required for detection of M protein in the cytoplasm of VSV-infected BHK cells.