Activation and homologous desensitization of human endothelial cells by CD40 ligand, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin 1.

We have reported previously that activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) through CD40, using a recombinant soluble form of trimerized CD40 ligand, leads to induction of E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Here, we compare the effects of CD40 ligand with those of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL-1). All three ligands induce transient increases in E-selectin (peak 4 h) and VCAM-1 (peak 8-24 h), as well as sustained increases in ICAM-1 (plateau 24 h). Quantitatively, TNF is more potent than IL-1, which is much more potent than CD40 ligand. The same hierarchy is observed for transcriptional activation of an E-selectin promoter reporter gene construct in transiently transfected HUVECs. TNF and CD40 ligand each induced activation of the transcription factors NF-kappa B, IRF-1, and ATF-2/c-Jun, measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, but this response appeared quantitatively similar. All three agents transiently (peak 30 min) activated Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), which has been implicated in transcription of E-selectin through its actions on ATF-2/c-Jun. Activation of JNK again showed a hierarchy of potency (TNF > IL-1 >> CD40 ligand), although the time course of induction was similar for all three agents. After 44 h of pretreatment, TNF, IL-1, and CD40 ligand each display homologous desensitization for reinduction of surface expression of E-selectin. A similar pattern of homologous desensitization for reactivation of JNK was observed. We conclude that TNF, IL-1, and CD40 ligand all activate similar responses in ECs, and that homologous desensitization of JNK may explain the inability of individual cytokines to reinduce E-selectin expression.

Constitutive CD8 expression allows inefficient maturation of CD4+ helper T cells in class II major histocompatibility complex mutant mice.

Although mature CD4+ T cells bear T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and mature CD8+ T cells bear TCRs that recognize class I MHC, it is possible that the initial commitment of an immature thymocyte to a CD4 or CD8 lineage is made without regard to the specificity of the TCR. According to this model, CD4+ cells with class I TCR do not mature because the CD8 coreceptor is required for class I MHC recognition and positive selection. If this model is correct, constitutive expression of CD8 should allow CD4+ T cells with class I-specific TCRs to develop. In this report, we show that mature peripheral CD4+ cells are present in class II MHC-deficient mice that express a constitutive CD8.1 transgene. These cells share a number of properties with the major class II MHC-selected CD4 population, including the ability to express CD40 ligand upon activation. Although mature CD4 cells are also detectable in the thymus of class II MHC mutant/CD8.1 transgenic mice, they represent a small fraction of the mature CD4 cells found in mice that express class II MHC. These results indicate that some T cells choose the CD4 helper lineage independent of their antigen receptor specificity; however, the inefficiency of generating class I-specific CD4 cells leaves open the possibility that an instructive signal generated upon MHC recognition may bias lineage commitment.

CD40 expression by human monocytes: regulation by cytokines and activation of monocytes by the ligand for CD40.

CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family of cell surface proteins and was originally described as a B cell restricted antigen. Treatment of primary human monocytes with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin 3 (IL-3), or interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) resulted in the induction of CD40 mRNA and enhancement of cell surface protein expression. CD40 was found to mediate monocyte adhesion to cells expressing recombinant CD40 ligand. CD40 ligand-transfected cells provided a potent costimulus for monocyte TNF-alpha and IL-6 production in the presence of GM-CSF, IL-3, or IFN-gamma, and enhanced IL-8 production stimulated by GM-CSF or IL-3. In addition, CD40 ligand-transfected cells acting in the absence of a costimulus induced monocytes to become tumoricidal against a human melanoma cell target. Collectively, these data indicate that CD40 ligand is pleiotropic with potent biological activity on monocytes.

bcl-x exhibits regulated expression during B cell development and activation and modulates lymphocyte survival in transgenic mice.

We have assessed during B cell development, the regulation and function of bcl-x, a member of the bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulatory genes. Here we show that Bcl-xL, a product of bcl-x, is expressed in pre-B cells but downregulated at the immature and mature stages of B cell development. Bcl-xL but not Bcl-2 is rapidly induced in peripheral B cells upon surface immunoglobulin M (IgM) cross-linking, CD40 signaling, or LPS stimulation. Transgenic mice that overexpressed Bcl-xL within the B cell lineage exhibited marked accumulation of peripheral B cells in lymphoid organs and enhanced survival of developing and mature B cells. B cell survival was further increased by simultaneous expression of bcl-xL and bcl-2 transgenes. These studies demonstrate that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL are regulated differentially during B cell development and activation of mature B cells. Induction of Bcl-xL after signaling through surface IgM and CD40 appears to provide mature B cells with an additional protective mechanism against apoptotic signals associated with antigen-induced activation and proliferation.

Humoral immune responses in CD40 ligand-deficient mice.

Individuals with X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome fail to express functional CD40 ligand (CD40L) and, as a consequence, are incapable of mounting protective antibody responses to opportunistic bacterial infections. To address the role of CD40L in humoral immunity, we created, through homologous recombination, mice deficient in CD40L expression. These mice exhibited no gross developmental deficiencies or health abnormalities and contained normal percentages of B and T cell subpopulations. CD40L-deficient mice did display selective deficiencies in humoral immunity; basal serum isotype levels were significantly lower than observed in normal mice, and IgE was undetectable. Furthermore, the CD40L-deficient mice failed to mount secondary antigen-specific responses to immunization with a thymus-dependent antigen, trinitrophenol-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (TNP-KLH). By contrast, the CD40L-deficient mice produced antigen-specific antibody of all isotypes except IgE in response to the thymus-independent antigen, DNP-Ficoll. These results underscore the requirement of CD40L for T cell-dependent antibody responses. Moreover, Ig class switching to isotypes other than IgE can occur in vivo in the absence of CD40L, supporting the notion that alternative B cell signaling pathways regulate responses to thymus-independent antigens.

Recombinant human CD40 ligand stimulates B cell proliferation and immunoglobulin E secretion.

Signaling through the cell surface molecule, CD40, is known to play an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of B lymphocytes. Using the thymoma cell line EL4, we recently identified and cloned a cDNA encoding a murine ligand for the CD40 molecule (mCD40-L) and showed that it has biological activity in vitro. A cDNA encoding a human homologue of the mCD40-L was isolated using crosshybridization techniques from an activated peripheral blood T cell library. The predicted amino acid sequence indicates that this human ligand for CD40 (hCD40-L) is a 261 amino acid type II membrane protein that exhibits 78% amino acid identity with its murine counterpart. Northern blot and FACS analyses suggest that the hCD40-L is restricted in its expression to T lymphocytes, and that it is most abundant on the CD4+ T cell subpopulation. Cells transfected with hCD40-L caused the proliferation of human tonsil B cells in the absence of costimuli and, in the presence of interleukin 4, induced immunoglobulin E secretion from purified human B cells. A comparison of the efficacy of the hCD40-L and mCD40-L in these assays is presented.

Regulation of alloreactivity in vivo by a soluble form of the interleukin-1 receptor.

In vitro studies have shown that cytokines are involved in the regulation of the immune response, but their role in vivo is less well defined. Specific cytokine antagonists enable the identification of particular cytokines involved in the response and offer a means for modifying it. Systemic administration of a soluble, extracellular portion of the receptor for interleukin-1 (sIL-1R) had profound inhibitory effects on the development of in vivo alloreactivity. Survival of heterotopic heart allografts was prolonged from 12 days in controls to 17 days in mice treated with sIL-1R. Lymph node hyperplasia in response to a localized injection of allogeneic cells was completely blocked by sIL-1R treatment. The inhibition was overcome by simultaneous administration of interleukin-1 (IL-1); thus, sIL-1R acts by neutralizing IL-1. These results implicate IL-1 as a regulator of allograft rejection and demonstrate the in vivo biological efficacy of a soluble cytokine receptor.

Role of interleukin-4 in human immunoglobulin E formation in hu-PBL-SCID mice.

We studied the role of IL-4 in human IgE formation in severe combined immunodeficient mice engrafted with peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (hu-PBL-SCID). PBL from four nonatopic donors produced only small (< 20 ng/ml) or undetectable amounts of IgE in SCID mice whereas engrafted PBL from seven atopic donors secreted IgE with IgE serum levels reaching a mean +/- SE of 184 +/- 37 ng/ml (n = 20). Serum IgE levels peaked 2-3 wk after PBL transfer and declined thereafter with a half-life of 1-2 wk. In contrast, IgG of all subclasses reached maximum serum levels 5-7 wk after PBL transfer and declined little thereafter. Injection of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody to the human IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) on day 0 inhibited completely the IgE formation and caused an approximate twofold reduction of IgG production of all subclasses. The anti-IL-4 R antibody had no effect on IgE secretion when administered 4 wk after PBL engraftment. Incubation of PBL with IL-4 before engraftment resulted in a 10-fold increase in IgE production and could be further enhanced by 100 fold if, in addition to preincubation with IL-4, IL-4 was injected daily for 5 d after PBL transfer. This treatment with IL-4 also induced two- to threefold increase in IgG levels. IFN-gamma had no effect on either IgE or IgG subclass production. In approximately 50% of the mice, one or more IgG subclasses increased disproportionally 5 wk after PBL injection as a result of monoclonal IgG formation. These data demonstrate that PBL from atopic donors secrete IgE in SCID mice in an IL-4-dependent manner, and that IgE production can be enhanced 10- to 100-fold with exogenous human IL-4 in these mice. This mouse model is amenable for the in vivo study of immunomodulators on human IgE formation.

Immunologic and hematopoietic effects of CD40 stimulation after syngeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice.

CD40 is a molecule present on multiple cell types including B lymphocyte lineage cells. CD40 has been shown to play an important role in B cell differentiation and activation in vitro, although little is known concerning the effects of CD40 stimulation in vivo. We therefore examined the effects of CD40 stimulation in mice using a syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model in an effort to augment B cell recovery after high dose therapy with hematopoietic reconstitution. After the BMT, mice were treated with or without 2-6 microg of a soluble recombinant murine CD40 ligand (srmCD40L) given intraperitoneally twice a week. A significant increase in B cell progenitors (B220+/ surface IgM-) was observed in the bone marrow of mice receiving the srmCD40L. The treated recipients also demonstrated improved B-cell function with increases in total serum immunoglobulin and increased splenic mitogen responsiveness to LPS being noted. Additionally, srmCD40L treatment promoted secondary lymphoid organ repopulation, accelerating germinal center formation in the lymph nodes. Total B cell numbers in the periphery were not significantly affected even with continuous srmCD40L administration. Lymphocytes obtained from mice treated with the ligand also had increases in T cell mitogen and anti-CD3 mAb responsiveness and acquired the capability to produce IL-4. Surprisingly, treatment with srmCD40L also produced hematopoietic effects in mice, resulting in an increase of BM and splenic hematopoietic progenitor cells in the mice after BMT. Treatment with srmCD40L significantly increased granulocyte and platelet recovery in the peripheral blood. Incubation of BMC with srmCD40L in vitro also resulted in increased progenitor proliferation, demonstrating that the hematopoietic effects of the ligand may be direct. Thus, stimulation of CD40 by its ligand may be beneficial in accelerating both immune and hematopoietic recovery in the setting of bone marrow transplantation.

Soluble receptors for IL-1 and IL-4: biological activity and therapeutic potential.

Cytokine research has yielded a range of products which have now reached the stage of clinical trials and a plethora of novel therapeutics may be expected. Recently, cytokine receptors have also become an area of intensive research. Preliminary results indicate that recombinant soluble receptors can interfere with the biological functions of cytokines and thus may be appropriate for the treatment of certain pathological conditions where cytokine activity needs to be modulated.

Dietary nucleotides, a requirement for helper/inducer T lymphocytes.

Previous investigations have revealed that dietary nucleotide restriction delays the onset of primary murine cardiac allograft rejection and acute graft-versus-host disease followed H-2-incompatible bone marrow transplantation, suppresses sensitization to intradermally injected antigens and suppresses in vivo and in vitro lymphocyte proliferation to alloantigen or lectin stimulation. To determine the mechanisms responsible for these phenomena, BALB/c mice were placed on chow (F), nucleotide free (NF) diet, or NF diet supplemented with 0.25% RNA (NFR), with 0.6% adenine (NFA), or with 0.06% uracil (NFU). Following four weeks of dietary equilibrium, splenic lymphocytes harvested from naive or immunostimulated mice in the various dietary groups were stained with monoclonal antibodies directed Lyt 1, Lyt 2, 3, or surface mouse immunoglobulin (IgG) surface markers. While naive animals demonstrated no differences in lymphocyte subpopulations between groups, following complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) stimulation, splenic lymphocytes for NF mice demonstrated 27.3 +/- 1.7% Lyt 1+ cells compared with F (32.6 +/- .04%) and NFR mice (33.2 +/- 1.2%) (P less than 0.02). Restriction of dietary nucleotides affected not only phenotypes of T lymphocytes, but also T cell function. Following conconavalin A stimulation of irradiated splenic lymphocytes, IL-2 production was decreased in NF mice compared with the F control group (P less than 0.01). The RNA-repleted diet maintained normal IL-2 production, while addition of adenine or uracil alone did not. Finally, NF diets adversely affected host resistance to the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. Following inoculation with 0.25 X 10(6) organisms NF or NFA-fed hosts succumbed more rapidly than F, NFR, or NFU fed hosts (P less than 0.001). These data suggest that helper/inducer T lymphocytes require exogenous nucleotides to respond normally following immune stimulation. Uracil may be the critical substrate, based upon the studies of Candida resistance. By understanding the metabolic basis of NFD-induced immunosuppression, the role of dietary nucleotides in combatting infection and alloantigen rejection can be more clearly defined.

Immunohemopoietic effects of dietary nucleotide restriction in mice.

The influence of dietary sources of nucleotides on host in vivo and in vitro immuno-hematologic responses in BALB/c (NCI) mice was studied. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) were measured in popliteal lymph nodes undergoing proliferative response to syngeneic and allogeneic in vivo stimulation. Supplementation of a nucleotide-free (NF) diet with yeast RNA (NFR) or uracil (NFU) significantly enhanced the host PLN immune response as compared with NF and NF supplemented with adenine (NFA) diets. Levels of ADA and PNP enzymes in the PLNs increased with the alloimmune PLN response of host, and immunosuppression was associated with decreased ADA and PNP activities in lymphocytes following antigenic stimulation. The induction of these enzymes during immune response appears to require dietary sources of certain nucleotides. When bone marrow cells from control chow fed animals were cultured with supernatants (sups) from mitogen activated splenocytes of animals on each dietary group, NF sups significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) the BM proliferative response compared with the response observed with NFR sups, and similar to NFA or NFU sups. When stimulated with purified IL-3, NFR BM cells had higher levels of Thy1.2 or Lyt 1 surface markers as compared with other test groups. In the in vivo splenic colony formation-CFUs assay, spleens from NFR- and NFU-fed animals had a significantly higher number of colonies than spleens from NF- or NFA-fed mice. Thus, NF diet decreases both in vivo lymphoproliferation response to alloantigen and hemopoietic growth factor production, rendering the host splenic environment deficient for stem cell growth. These adverse effects are reversed by RNA supplementation of NF diet. These nutritional studies demonstrate a critical and regulatory role for dietary nucleotides in immunohemopoiesis.

Influence of dietary nucleotide restriction on bacterial sepsis and phagocytic cell function in mice.

Although enzyme defects in purine metabolism have revealed the importance of these substrates to maintenance of a normal immune response, the role of exogenous nucleotides on the cells that mediate the host defense system has remained largely unexplored. Recent investigations have revealed that dietary nucleotides are vital to the maintenance of cell-mediated responses to antigen stimulation. To test the influence of dietary nucleotide deprivation on resistance to infection, Balb/c mice were maintained on chow, a nucleotide-free (NF) diet, or an NF diet repleted with adenine, uracil, or RNA. Mice on the NF diet suffered 100% mortality following intravenous challenge with Staphylococcus aureus, while chow-fed and RNA- or uracil-repleted mice demonstrated significantly greater resistance to this bacterial challenge. Macrophages from mice on the NF diet had decreased phagocytic activity as measured by uptake of radiolabeled bacteria compared with mice maintained on the NF diet supplemented with adenine, uracil, or RNA. No change in S aureus antibody response was noted on the various diets. Although the mechanism of this suppression of nonspecific immunity remains unclear, provision of nucleotides to defined diets appears vital to maintain host resistance to bacterial challenge.

Effect of nucleotide restriction and supplementation on resistance to experimental murine candidiasis.

The influence of dietary nucleotides on susceptibility to candidiasis in mice was studied using two criteria: animal survival and recovery of viable Candida albicans organisms from the kidney and spleen. One-month-old mice were placed on one of five diets with varying nucleotide content. The results show that mice maintained on a nucleotide-free diet (NF) exhibit a significantly decreased mean survival time and a significantly increased viable organism recovery in the spleen following intravenous injection of graded inocula of C. albicans compared to mice fed diets containing RNA or uracil as a nucleotide source.

Effect of dietary nucleotides on response to bacterial infections.

A nucleotide-free diet (NFD) suppresses cellular immunity including suppression of both murine allograft rejection and murine graft-vs-host disease in H2 mismatched marrow recipients. To explore the effect of this diet upon response to a bacterial challenge, BALB/c mice were placed upon one of four diets: NFD, NFD supplemented with 0.25% RNA (NFR) and NFD reconstituted with either 0.06% adenine (NFA) or 0.06% uracil (NFU). After 8 weeks on the diets, which supported normal growth in all groups, each dietary group of 10 mice was challenged with an intravenous injection of 1 X 10(7) live Staphylococcus aureus (Strain ATCC 25923). By 120 hr postinoculation all mice in the NFD group had died; mortality was only 56% in the NFR group (p less than 0.05). Addition of uracil resulted in mortality similar to that of the NFR group. Addition of adenine resulted in mortality close to that of the NFD group. Thus, dietary nucleotide restriction increases the mortality from staphylococcal sepsis. Addition of certain dietary nucleotides appears to decrease this susceptibility to bacterial challenge.

Expression of receptors for interleukin 4 and interleukin 7 on human T cells.

Human recombinant interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 7 (IL-7) have been modified with biotin-N-hydroxysuccinimide and used to examine the expression of human IL-4 and IL-7 receptors (R) on activated peripheral blood T cells by flow cytometry. Freshly isolated T cells expressed only a low level of IL-4R which remained unchanged when cells were cultured in the absence of stimuli. In the presence of IL-4, IL-7, phytohemagglutinin A (PHA) or immobilized CD3 monoclonal antibody the intensity of biotinylated IL-4 staining increased approximately twofold on the majority of cells. A combination of mitogen with either IL-4 or IL-7 caused a considerable increase in IL-4 receptor expression over that seen in the presence of mitogen alone. IL-2 alone failed to induce IL-4R although it was able to cause a significant increase in receptor expression on T cells co-cultured with PHA or CD3. Freshly isolated T cells expressed high levels of IL-7R, as determined by biotinylated IL-7 binding and flow cytometry, which did not change significantly with culture in medium alone. Stimulation with PHA, Concanavalin A (Con A) or CD3 had little effect on the intensity of staining. In contrast, activation with phorbol ester resulted in a decrease in IL-7R expression. Similarly, in the presence of IL-4 or IL-7, but not IL-2, the intensity of staining with biotinylated IL-7 was lowered. Analysis of purified T-cell populations showed that IL-7R were present, and IL-4R could be induced, on both CD4+ and CD8+ populations. Analysis of IL-4 receptor expression by this flow cytometric technique was supported by results from 125I-labeled IL-4 binding and by Northern blot analysis of mRNA levels. Taken together, the results of these studies show that the use of biotinylated cytokines and flow cytometry provides a very sensitive method with which to study the expression and regulation of cytokine receptors.