Topography and characteristics of specific binding sites for non-opioid gamma-type endorphins in the rat brain as studied by autoradiography with [35S]Met-desenkephalin-gamma-endorphin.

An in vitro autoradiographic study was performed to characterize specific rat brain binding sites for non-opioid neuroleptic-like gamma-type endorphins, using [35S]Met-des-enkephalin-gamma-endorphin ([35S]Met-DE gamma E; [35]S-beta-endorphins(5-17)) with high specific activity as radioligand. The binding sites appeared to be confined to rat forebrain regions, e.g., orbital cortex, frontal cortex, cingulate cortex, piriform cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus and arcuate and periventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. These regions are part of the mesocorticolimbic feedback circuit. Densitometric analysis of the autoradiographs revealed that the density of the binding sites was highest in the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus and the amygdala. Concentration-dependent displacement of [35S]Met-DE gamma E (500 pM) with DE gamma E yielded an IC50 of 0.6 nM whereas DE alpha E (beta-endorphin(6-16)) had an IC50 of 210 nM. Various endorphins, sharing the gamma-endorphin C terminus, displaced [35S]Met-DE gamma E to the same extent as non-labelled DE gamma E (at 10(-6) M) whereas non-endorphin peptides did not show displacing capacity. Possible relationships of the binding sites with opioid receptors were investigated. DAMGO (mu) and DPDPE (delta) displaced [35S]Met-DE gamma E to some extent at 10(-6) M whereas U69,593 (kappa) was inactive, suggesting that the binding sites for gamma-type endorphins may resemble mu- and delta-opioid receptors in some aspects. Similarly, relationships with dopamine receptors were investigated. Haloperidol partially displaced [35S]Met-DE gamma E whereas sulpiride, SKF38,393 and 3-PPP at 10(-6) M did not induce significant displacement. Thus, binding sites are distinct from dopamine receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Behavioral studies on the putative gamma-type endorphin receptor using different antibodies.

To investigate the significance of endogenous, neuroleptic-like gamma-type endorphins and their putative receptors, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against gamma-type endorphins, which may bio-inactivate the ligands for the receptors, and monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies, which presumably bind to the receptors, were injected into the nucleus accumbens of the rat brain. The desenkephalin-gamma-endorphin-induced antagonism of the hypomotility response elicited by challenge with apomorphine injected into the nucleus accumbens was used as test system. Both the anti-desenkephalin-gamma-endorphin antibodies and anti-idiotype antibodies blocked the action of exogenous desenkephalin-gamma-endorphin. Thus, the anti-idiotype antibodies may serve as receptor antagonists. Chronic treatment (injection into the nucleus accumbens) with the anti-idiotype antibodies induced sustained hypermotility, decreased habituation and impaired passive avoidance behavior. In such treated animals local treatment with apomorphine did not elicit hypomotility. It is suggested that gamma-type endorphins influence the setpoint for feedback regulation in dopaminergic neurons equipped with gamma-type endorphin receptor systems.

Gamma delta T cell reactivity towards bacterial superantigens.

Human TCR gamma delta positive T cells can proliferate in response to stimulation with staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) or mediate lysis of SE pulsed target cells. In the small number of studies reported, the proliferative response of gamma delta T cells was limited to V gamma 9 negative cells and, in vitro, such responses do not require the presence of MHC class II molecules for antigen presentation. Proliferative responses have been found after stimulation with SEA, SEB and TSST. The cytolytic activity of gamma delta T cells can be mediated by two different mechanisms: either gamma delta T cells specifically interact with SEA pulsed target cells--this is most likely TCR mediated recognition--or gamma delta T cells mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). This latter reactivity depends on Fc-receptor expression by the gamma delta T cell clones and the presence of SE specific antibodies during the assay. So far cytotoxic gamma delta T cell reactivity has only been found against the highly homologous enterotoxins SEA and SEE. Finally, HLA-class II positive gamma delta T cell clones can present SE to other SE reactive T cells but appear to be relatively resistant to T cell mediated lysis. Taken together, TCR gamma delta positive T cells are able to respond to a number of bacterial superantigens and may therefore be involved in local immune responses to such antigens. This may be especially relevant for those gamma delta T cell subpopulations that are preferentially found in the (intestinal) epithelia where exposure to bacterial superantigens is likely to occur.

Specific recognition of staphylococcal enterotoxin A by human T cells bearing receptors with the V gamma 9 region.

T cells bearing the alpha beta receptor can specifically react with target cells coated with staphylococcal enterotoxin and expressing major histocompatibility complex class II molecules; these responses depend on which variable region (V) of the receptor's beta-subunit is used. We have now examined whether a similar situation exists for human T cells bearing the gamma delta receptor. We found that reactivity to staphylococcal enterotoxin A is strictly dependent on the presence of the V gamma 9 variable region in the gamma delta T-cell receptor (TCR). These cytotoxic responses required the expression of HLA class II molecules by the target cell and could be inhibited by anti-gamma delta TCR and by anti-HLA-class-II monoclonal antibodies. In contrast to alpha beta TCR+ cell clones, no proliferative response of V gamma 9+ T-cell clones towards stimulator cells coated with enterotoxin A was observed in vitro. These results indicate that the gamma delta TCR repertoire might be influenced by enterotoxin A produced during staphylococcal infections in vivo. This could provide a molecular basis for the observation that V gamma 9+ T cells form the large majority of peripheral gamma delta TCR+ cells but only a small proportion of thymic gamma delta TCR+ cells.

Immobilized staphylococcal enterotoxin A is sufficient to induce T cell proliferation.

We investigated the role of HLA-DR molecules in T cell stimulation by staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA). Previous results with immobilized purified HLA-DR preincubated with peptide showed that peptide-specific T cell clones were able to bind to and proliferate in response to purified HLA-DR/peptide complexes in the absence of antigen presenting cells. We report here that two human T cell clones (1 alpha beta and 1 gamma delta T cell clone) and a murine T cell hybridoma were each activated by immobilized purified HLA-DR4Dw4 preincubated with SEA. Furthermore, immobilized SEA in the absence of HLA-DR4Dw4 also stimulated the human T cell clones. The proliferative response of the human T cell clones was inhibited by CD3-reactive monoclonal antibodies, indicating that the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 reacts with SEA. These observations suggest that the HLA-DR in the complex functions only to immobilize SEA and that an interaction between the TCR and HLA-DR is not necessary for SEA-driven T cell stimulation. Finally, the assays described here could provide a method for defining and distinguishing the SEA binding sites for MHC class II and TCR.

Joint-derived T cells in rheumatoid arthritis react with self-immunoglobulin heavy chains or immunoglobulin-binding proteins that copurify with immunoglobulin.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients were found to have CD4+ T cells that proliferate in response to autologous synovial fluid and plasma. T cell clones and polyclonal T cell lines were found to respond to antigen(s) eluted from protein A Sepharose and anti-human immunoglobulin (Ig) antibody Sepharose. The antigen(s) was further resolved to fractions that contained intact Ig or Ig heavy chain since the T cells responded to > 100 kDa and 40-60 kDa polypeptides derived from purified Ig under nonreducing and reducing conditions, respectively. These results indicated that the antigen(s) is either Ig heavy chain or Ig-binding proteins that copurify with Ig and Ig subunits. Pepsin and papain digestion of the antigenic fractions eluted from protein A destroyed the T cell reactivity. Since most Fab regions are resistant to these enzymes, further analyses are required to localize the antigenic epitope(s). The presence of Ig- or Ig-antigen complex-reactive T cells in arthritic joints implies that B cells expressing anti-Ig antibody (i.e. rheumatoid factor) may play an important role in antigen presentation to autoreactive T cells.