CD8⁺ MAIT cells infiltrate into the CNS and alterations in their blood frequencies correlate with IL-18 serum levels in multiple sclerosis.

Recent findings indicate a pathogenic involvement of IL-17-producing CD8(+) T cells in multiple sclerosis (MS). IL-17 production has been attributed to a subset of CD8(+) T cells that belong to the mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell population. Here, we report a reduction of CD8(+) MAIT cells in the blood of MS patients compared with healthy individuals, which significantly correlated with IL-18 serum levels in MS patients. In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals and MS patients with IL-18 specifically activated CD8(+) MAIT cells. Moreover, IL-18 together with T-cell receptor stimulation induced, specifically on CD8(+) MAIT cells, an upregulation of the integrin very late antigen-4 that is essential for the infiltration of CD8(+) T cells into the CNS. Notably, we were able to identify CD8(+) MAIT cells in MS brain lesions by immunohistochemistry while they were almost absent in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In summary, our findings indicate that an IL-18-driven activation of CD8(+) MAIT cells contributes to their CNS infiltration in MS, in turn leading to reduced CD8(+) MAIT-cell frequencies in the blood. Therefore, CD8(+) MAIT cells seem to play a role in the innate arm of immunopathology in MS.

Neutrophils amplify autoimmune central nervous system infiltrates by maturing local APCs.

Multiple sclerosis is considered to be initiated by a deregulated, myelin-specific T cell response. However, the formation of inflammatory CNS lesions and the contribution of different leukocyte subsets in setting up these lesions are still incompletely understood. In this study, we show that, in the mouse model of multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, neutrophil granulocytes are important contributors in preparing CNS inflammation. Preclinical single-dose Ab-mediated depletion of neutrophils delayed the onset and continuous depletion attenuated the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, whereas the generation of a myelin-specific T cell response remained unaffected. Neutrophil-related enzymes such as myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase did not contribute in mounting CNS inflammation, as analyzed by using respective knockout mice and inhibitors. CNS-infiltrating neutrophils secreted proinflammatory molecules and matured bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in vitro, which in turn enhanced their ability to restimulate myelin-specific T cells. This was mirrored in vivo, in which depletion of neutrophils specifically impaired maturation of microglia and macrophages into professional APCs, resulting in a diminished amplification of early CNS inflammation. Therefore, inside the CNS neutrophils provide local cofactors that are required for the maturation of myeloid cells into professional APCs representing an essential step for the local restimulation of myelin-specific T cells and the development of autoimmune disease.

Critical role of the adhesion receptor DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) in the development of inflammation-driven dermal fibrosis in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contribution of the adhesion receptor DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) in the development of dermal fibrosis on gene inactivation and targeted molecular strategies. METHODS: Human skin expression of DNAM-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Mice deficient for DNAM-1 (dnam1-/-) and wild-type controls (dnam1+/+) were injected with bleomycin or NaCl. Infiltrating leucocytes, T cells, B cells and monocytes were quantified and inflammatory cytokines were measured in lesional skin of dnam1-/- and dnam1+/+ mice. The anti-fibrotic potential of a DNAM-1 neutralising monoclonal antibody (mAb) was evaluated in the mouse model of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis. RESULTS: Overexpression of DNAM-1 was detected in the skin of patients with SSc (systemic sclerosis). Dnam1-/- mice were protected from bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis with reduction of dermal thickening (75±5%, p=0.03), hydroxyproline content (46±8%, p=0.04) and myofibroblast counts (39±5%, p=0.01). Moreover, the number of T cells was significantly decreased in lesional skin of dnam1-/- mice (69±15%, p=0.0007). Dnam1-/- mice also displayed decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in lesional skin. Consistent with the gene inactivation strategy, treatment of mice with DNAM-1 neutralising mAb prevented dermal fibrosis induced by bleomycin with reduction of dermal thickness (64±6%, p=0.002), hydroxyproline content (61±8%, p=0.004) and myofibroblast counts (83±12%, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: An inactivation gene strategy showed that DNAM-1 exerts profibrotic effects by controlling T cell activation and cytokine release. A molecular targeted strategy confirmed that DNAM-1 neutralising mAb has potent antifibrotic properties, supporting the hypothesis that inhibition of DNAM-1 might be a promising new approach for the treatment of SSc and potentially other related fibrotic diseases.

CD83 on murine APC does not function as a costimulatory receptor for T cells.

The transmembrane glycoprotein CD83 is rapidly upregulated on murine and human DC upon maturation and therefore a costimulatory function for T cell activation has been suggested. Studies employing human APC indeed showed that CD83 expression was positively correlated to the stimulatory capacity of the APC. Murine APC that were CD83 deficient however, did not display a reduced capacity to activate T cells. To elucidate this contradiction, we thoroughly compared the stimulatory capacity of CD83-overexpressing and CD83-deficient APC. Here we show that CD83 expression levels on APC did not affect the capacity of the APC to activate CD8(+) T cells. CD83 expression levels did not significantly affect CD4(+) T cell activation in vivo, but a weak positive correlation of CD83 expression with CD4(+) T cell activation was observed in vitro under suboptimal stimulation conditions. As CD83 expression also positively correlated with MHC-II but not with MHC-I expression, this differential stimulation specifically of CD4(+) T cells could be explained by a higher density of MHC-II peptide complexes on the APC surface. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that CD83 does not deliver crucial costimulatory signals to murine T cells.

Passive immunization with a monoclonal IgM antibody specific for Strongyloides ratti HSP60 protects mice against challenge infection.

It is estimated that 30-100 million people are infected with the pathogenic nematode Strongyloides stercoralis worldwide but parasite control is still based on anti-helminthic treatment. To develop protective vaccination strategies, we use the murine model of Strongyloides ratti infection. We have shown recently that vaccination with alum-precipitated, but not with native or CFA-emulsified S. ratti heat shock protein 60 (srHSP60) conferred protection to challenge infection. Here we describe the generation of a monoclonal IgM specific for srHSP60. Anti-srHSP60 detected human and srHSP60 and stained S. ratti infective larvae in vitro. Passive immunization of mice with monoclonal anti-srHSP60 IgM led to reduced numbers of migrating larvae in lung and head, reduced numbers of parasitic adults in the small intestine and reduced larval output upon S. ratti challenge infection. Taken together, our findings highlight the relevance of srHSP60 as vaccine candidate for the induction of antibody-mediated protection against Strongyloides infection.

Vaccination with Strongyloides ratti heat shock protein 60 increases susceptibility to challenge infection by induction of Th1 response.

The control of strongyloidiasis affecting approximately 100 million people - caused by the gastrointestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis - is still based on anti-helminthic treatment. In the current study we analysed the immune response to Strongyloides ratti heat shock protein 60 (srHSP60) as a possible vaccine candidate in the murine system. We show that srHSP60 is a target of both, humoral and cellular response in S. ratti-infected mice. Strikingly, vaccination with srHSP60 without adjuvant or with CFA induced a S. ratti-specific Th1 response in vivo that did not confer protection but slightly increased larval output during challenge infection. Using in vitro T cell stimulation assays we provide further evidence that srHSP60 skewed activated T cells towards a Th1 response that interfered with efficient clearance of S. ratti infection. Vaccination with alum-precipitated srHSP60, in contrast, overruled the Th1-inducing activity intrinsic to srHSP60, induced a Th2 response, and conferred partial protection against a challenge infection. As srHSP60 is actively secreted by S. ratti during all life stages, our findings strongly suggest that srHSP60 induced polarization towards a Th1 response reflects a mechanism of immune evasion by this pathogenic nematode.

Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) stimulates neutrophil effector functions.

Neutrophil granulocytes belong to the first cells that enter sites of infection, where they eliminate infiltrating pathogens via phagocytosis and the release of antimicrobial mediators. Hence, recruitment of neutrophils and activation of neutrophil microbicidal functions are crucial steps in the early containment of infection. In this study, we show that hHSP60 binds to murine and human PMN strongly and specifically. We demonstrate that HSP60 serves as a chemoattractant and modulates neutrophil functions. Human PMN were incubated with HSP60 alone or prior to stimulation with fMLP or PMA acetate. We observed that HSP60, although not inducing neutrophil release of ROS and degranulation itself, strongly enhanced the production of reactive oxygen induced by PMA and the release of primary granule enzymes induced by both secondary stimuli. This sensitization of PMN was HSP60-specific. Moreover, PMN that had been preincubated with HSP60 exhibited a marked increase in the uptake of opsonized Escherichia coli in the absence of additional stimuli. Taken together, our results show for the first time that HSP60 modulates antimicrobial effector functions of neutrophil granulocytes. In this way and in agreement with its function as an endogenous danger signal, HSP60, which is released by damaged tissue, may promote early innate defense mechanisms against invading pathogens.