Dendritic cell differentiation induced by a self-peptide derived from apolipoprotein E.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional APCs and potent stimulators of naive T cells. Since DCs have the ability to immunize or tolerize T cells they are unique candidates for use in immunotherapy. Our laboratory has discovered that a naturally processed self-peptide from apolipoprotein E, Ep1.B, induces DC-like morphology and surface marker expression in a murine monocytic cell line (PU5-1.8), human monocytic cell line (U937), murine splenocytes, and human peripheral blood monocytes. Microscopy and flow cytometric analysis revealed that Ep1.B-treated cells display decreased adherence to plastic and increased aggregation, dendritic processes, and expression of DC surface markers, including DEC-205, CD11c, B7.1, and B7.2. These effects were observed in both PU5-1.8 cells and splenocytes from various mouse strains including BALB/c, C57BL/6, NOD/Lt, and C3H/HeJ. Coadministration of Ep1.B with OVA antigenic peptide functions in dampening specific immune response to OVA. Ep1.B down-regulates proliferation of T cells and IFN-gamma production and stimulates IL-10 secretion in immunized mice. Ep1.B-induced differentiation resulted in the activation of PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways, including ERK1/2, p38, and JNK. We also found that NF-kappaB, a transcription factor essential for DC differentiation, is critical in mediating the effects of Ep1.B. Ep1.B-induced differentiation is independent of MyD88-dependent pathway of TLR signaling. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that Ep1.B acts by initiating a signal transduction cascade in monocytes leading to their differentiation into DCs.

Identification of CD4+ T cell-specific epitopes of islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein: a novel beta cell autoantigen in type 1 diabetes.

Islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP) has been identified as a novel CD8(+) T cell-specific autoantigen in NOD mice. This study was undertaken to identify MHC class II-specific CD4(+) T cell epitopes of IGRP. Peptides named P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7 were synthesized by aligning the IGRP protein amino acid sequence with peptide-binding motifs of the NOD MHC class II (I-A(g7)) molecule. Peptides P1, P2, P3, and P7 were immunogenic and induced both spontaneous and primed responses. IGRP peptides P1-, P2-, P3-, and P7-induced responses were inhibited by the addition of anti-MHC class II (I-A(g7)) Ab, confirming that the response is indeed I-A(g7) restricted. Experiments using purified CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from IGRP peptide-primed mice also showed a predominant CD4(+) T cell response with no significant activation of CD8(+) T cells. T cells from P1-, P3-, and P7-primed mice secreted both IFN-gamma and IL-10 cytokines, whereas P2-primed cells secreted only IFN-gamma. Peptides P3 and P7 prevented the development of spontaneous diabetes and delayed adoptive transfer of diabetes. Peptides P1 and P2 delayed the onset of diabetes in both these models. In summary, we have identified two I-A(g7)-restricted CD4(+) T cell epitopes of IGRP that can modulate and prevent the development of diabetes in NOD mice. These results provide the first evidence on the role of IGRP-specific, MHC class II-restricted CD4(+) T cells in disease protection and may help in the development of novel therapies for type 1 diabetes.