Interleukin-10 suppression enhances T-cell antitumor immunity and responses to checkpoint blockade in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

T-cell dysfunction is a hallmark of B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), where CLL cells downregulate T-cell responses through regulatory molecules including programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) aims to restore T-cell function by preventing the ligation of inhibitory receptors like PD-1. However, most CLL patients do not respond well to this therapy. Thus, we investigated whether IL-10 suppression could enhance antitumor T-cell activity and responses to ICB. Since CLL IL-10 expression depends on Sp1, we utilized a novel, better tolerated analogue of the Sp1 inhibitor mithramycin (MTMox32E) to suppress CLL IL-10. MTMox32E treatment inhibited mouse and human CLL IL-10 production and maintained T-cell effector function in vitro. In the Eµ-Tcl1 mouse model, treatment reduced plasma IL-10 and CLL burden and increased CD8+ T-cell proliferation, effector and memory cell prevalence, and interferon-γ production. When combined with ICB, suppression of IL-10 improved responses to anti-PD-L1 as shown by a 4.5-fold decrease in CLL cell burden compared to anti-PD-L1 alone. Combination therapy also produced more interferon-γ+, cytotoxic effector KLRG1+, and memory CD8+ T-cells, and fewer exhausted T-cells. Since current therapies for CLL do not target IL-10, this provides a novel strategy to improve immunotherapies.

Identification of a Gal/GalNAc lectin in the protozoan Hartmannella vermiformis as a potential receptor for attachment and invasion by the Legionnaires' disease bacterium.

The Legionnaire's disease bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, is a facultative intracellular pathogen which invades and replicates within two evolutionarily distant hosts, free-living protozoa and mammalian cells. Invasion and intracellular replication within protozoa are thought to be major factors in the transmission of Legionnaire's disease. Although attachment and invasion of human macrophages by L. pneumophila is mediated in part by the complement receptors CR1 and CR3, the protozoan receptor involved in bacterial attachment and invasion has not been identified. To define the molecular events involved in invasion of protozoa by L. pneumophila, we examined the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation of the protozoan host Hartmannella vermiformis upon attachment and invasion by L. pneumophila. Bacterial attachment and invasion were associated with a time-dependent tyrosine dephosphorylation of multiple host cell proteins. This host cell response was highly specific for live L. pneumophila, required contact with viable bacteria, and was completely reversible following washing off the bacteria from the host cell surface. Tyrosine dephosphorylation of host proteins was blocked by a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor but not by tyrosine kinase inhibitors. One of the tyrosine dephosphorylated proteins was identified as the 170-kD galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-inhibitable lectin (Gal/GalNAc) using immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting by antibodies generated against the Gal/GalNAc lectin of the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. This Gal/GalNAc-inhibitable lectin has been shown previously to mediate adherence of E. histolytica to mammalian epithelial cells. Uptake of L. pneumophila by H. vermiformis was specifically inhibited by two monovalent sugars, Gal and GalNAc, and by mABs generated against the 170-kD lectin of E. histolytica. Interestingly, inhibition of invasion by Gal and GalNAc was associated with inhibition of bacterial-induced tyrosine dephosphorylation of H. vermiformis proteins. High stringency DNA hybridization confirmed the presence of the 170-kD lectin gene in H. vermiformis. We conclude that attachment of L. pneumophila to the H. vermiformis 170-kD lectin is required for invasion and is associated with tyrosine dephosphorylation of the Gal lectin and other host proteins. This is the first demonstration of a potential receptor used by L. pneumophila to invade protozoa.

Identification of putative cytoskeletal protein homologues in the protozoan host Hartmannella vermiformis as substrates for induced tyrosine phosphatase activity upon attachment to the Legionnaires' disease bacterium, Legionella pneumophila.

The Legionnaires' disease bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, is a facultative intracellular pathogen that invades and replicates within two evolutionarily distant hosts, free living protozoa and mammalian cells. Invasion and intracellular replication within protozoa are thought to be major factors in the transmission of Legionnaires' disease. We have recently reported the identification of a galactose/N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (Gal/GalNAc) lectin in the protozoan host Hartmannella vermiformis as a receptor for attachment and invasion by L. pneumophila (Venkataraman, C., B.J. Haack, S. Bondada, and Y.A. Kwaik. 1997. J. Exp. Med. 186:537-547). In this report, we extended our studies to the effects of bacterial attachment and invasion on the cytoskeletal proteins of H. vermiformis. We first identified the presence of many protozoan cytoskeletal proteins that were putative homologues to their mammalian counterparts, including actin, pp125(FAK), paxillin, and vinculin, all of which were basally tyrosine phosphorylated in resting H. vermiformis. In addition to L. pneumophila-induced tyrosine dephosphorylation of the lectin, bacterial attachment and invasion was associated with tyrosine dephosphorylation of paxillin, pp125(FAK), and vinculin, whereas actin was minimally affected. Inhibition of bacterial attachment to H. vermiformis by Gal or GalNAc monomers blocked bacteria-induced tyrosine dephosphorylation of detergent-insoluble proteins. In contrast, inhibition of bacterial invasion but not attachment failed to block bacteria-induced tyrosine dephosphorylation of H. vermiformis proteins. This was further supported by the observation that 10 mutants of L. pneumophila that were defective in invasion of H. vermiformis were capable of inducing tyrosine dephosphorylation of H. vermiformis proteins. Entry of L. pneumophila into H. vermiformis was predominantly mediated by noncoated receptor-mediated endocytosis (93%) but coiling phagocytosis was infrequently observed (7%). We conclude that attachment but not invasion by L. pneumophila into H. vermiformis was sufficient and essential to induce protein tyrosine dephosphorylation in H. vermiformis. These manipulations of host cell processes were associated with, or followed by, entry of the bacteria by a noncoated receptor-mediated endocytosis. A model for attachment and entry of L. pneumophila into H. vermiformis is proposed.

Involvement of p59fynT in interleukin-5 receptor signaling.

Previous studies implicate the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) p59fyn in the propagation of signals from the B cell antigen receptor. To elucidate the functions of this kinase, we examined B cell responsiveness in mice engineered to lack the hematopoietic isoform of p59fyn. Remarkably, antigen receptor signaling was only modestly defective in fynTnull B cells. In contrast, signaling from the interleukin (IL)-5 receptor which ordinarily provides a comitogenic stimulus with antiimmunoglobulin, was completely blocked. Our results document the importance of p59fynT in IL-5 responses in B cells, and they support a general model for cytokine receptor signal transduction involving the simultaneous recruitment of at least three families of PTK.

Association between chronic liver and colon inflammation during the development of murine syngeneic graft-versus-host disease.

The murine model of cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced syngeneic graft-versus-host disease (SGVHD) is a bone marrow (BM) transplantation model that develops chronic colon inflammation identical to other murine models of CD4(+) T cell-mediated colitis. Interestingly, SGVHD animals develop chronic liver lesions that are similar to the early peribiliary inflammatory stages of clinical chronic liver disease, which is frequently associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, studies were initiated to investigate the chronic liver inflammation that develops in the SGVHD model. To induce SGVHD, mice were lethally irradiated, reconstituted with syngeneic BM, and treated with CsA. All of the SGVHD animals that developed colitis also develop chronic liver inflammation. Liver samples from control and SGVHD animals were monitored for tissue pathology, RNA for inflammatory mediators, and phenotypic analysis and in vitro reactivity of the inflammatory infiltrate. Diseased animals developed lesions of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Elevated levels of mRNA for molecules associated with chronic liver inflammation, including mucosal cellular adhesion molecule -1, the chemokines CCL25, CCL28, CCR9, and T(H)1- and T(H)17-associated cytokines were observed in livers of SGVHD mice. CD4(+) T cells were localized to the peribiliary region of the livers of diseased animals, and an enhanced proliferative response of liver-associated mononuclear cells against colonic bacterial antigens was observed. The murine model of SGVHD colitis may be a valuable tool to study the entero-hepatic linkage between chronic colon inflammation and inflammatory liver disease.

CD5-mediated negative regulation of antigen receptor-induced growth signals in B-1 B cells.

A subset of B lymphocytes present primarily in the peritoneal and pleural cavities is defined by the expression of CD5 and is elevated in autoimmune diseases. Upon signaling through membrane immunoglobulin M (mIgM), splenic B lymphocytes (B-2) proliferate, whereas peritoneal B cells (B-1) undergo apoptosis. However, in CD5-deficient mice, B-1 cells responded to mIgM crosslinking by developing a resistance to apoptosis and entering the cell cycle. In wild-type B-1 cells, prevention of association between CD5 and mIgM rescued their growth response to mIgM crosslinking. Thus the B cell receptor-mediated signaling is negatively regulated by CD5 in normal B-1 cells.

A novel redox regulator, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+, enhances normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell function.

The signaling of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential for the maintenance of normal cellular function. However, whether and how ROS regulate stem cells are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that, in transgenic mice expressing the human manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene, a scavenger of ROS in mitochondria, the number and function of mouse hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) under physiological conditions are enhanced. Importantly, giving MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+(MnP), a redox- active MnSOD mimetic, to mouse primary bone marrow cells or to C57B/L6 mice significantly enhances the number of HSPCs. Mechanistically, MnP reduces superoxide to hydrogen peroxide, which activates intracellular Nrf2 signaling leading to the induction of antioxidant enzymes, including MnSOD and catalase, and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3. The results reveal a novel role of ROS signaling in regulating stem cell function, and suggest a possible beneficial effect of MnP in treating pathological bone marrow cell loss and in increasing stem cell population for bone marrow transplantation.

Role of CD5 in growth regulation of B-1 cells.

CD5 is a membrane glycoprotein that is expressed on a subset of B lymphocytes called B-1 cells, thymocytes and T cells. The CD5+ B-1 cells are normally unresponsive to surface Ig receptor induced growth signals unless the CD5 gene is deleted or sequestered away. Here we show that CD5 mediated negative regulation is unique to B cell receptor (BCR) signaling. The CD5 molecule in normal B-1 cells is constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated and associates specifically with SHP-1, an SH2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase. CD5 promotes a prolonged interaction between BCR and SHP-1, which may be inhibitory to BCR signaling. CD5 was shown to modulate the function of autoantibody producing B cells in transgenic mice expressing anti-DNA antibodies.

Defective macrophage function in neonates and its impact on unresponsiveness of neonates to polysaccharide antigens.

Neonates do not respond to thymus-independent (TI) antigens (Ag), making them vulnerable to infection with encapsulated bacteria. The antibody (Ab) response of adult and neonatal B cells to TI Ag requires certain cytokines, which are provided by T cells or macrophages (MPhi). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) failed to induce neonatal MPhi to produce interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA and to secrete IL-1beta, IL-12, and TNF-alpha. However, LPS induced neonates to secrete some IL-6 and three- to fivefold more IL-10 than adults. Accordingly, adding adult but not neonatal MPhi could restore the response of purified adult B cells to trinitrophenol (TNP)-LPS, a TI Ag. Increased IL-10 is causally related to decreased IL-1beta and IL-6 production, as IL-10(-/-) neonatal MPhi responded to LPS by secreting more IL-1beta and IL-6 than wild-type (WT) neonatal MPhi. When cultures were supplemented with a neutralizing Ab to IL-10, WT neonatal MPhi secreted increased amounts of IL-6 and allowed neonatal MPhi to promote adult B cells to mount an Ab response against TNP-LPS. Thus, neonates do not respond to TI Ag as a result of the inability of neonatal MPhi to secrete cytokines, such as IL-1beta and IL-6, probably as a result of an excess production of IL-10. This dysregulated cytokine secretion by neonatal MPhi may be a result of a reduction in expression of Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) and TLR-4 and CD14.

Activation of syk in an immature B cell line does not require lyn activity.

BKS-2 is an immature B cell lymphoma that undergoes apoptotic cell death when signaled via its surface IgM receptor. To study the signaling components of surface IgM mediated apoptosis in B lymphoma cells, we generated mutants of BKS-2 that were resistant to anti-IgM induced apoptosis. One mutant cell line, 1.B5, did not undergo apoptotic cell death upon treatment with anti-IgM antibodies and also did not exhibit elevation of intracellular Ca2+ in response to cross-linking of surface IgM. This appeared to be due to a defect in protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity since fewer proteins were tyrosine phosphorylated in the mutant cells stimulated with anti-IgM when compared to wild type BKS-2. Subsequently, we showed that protein tyrosine kinases lyn and blk were inducibly tyrosine phosphorylated in the wild type BKS-2 but not in 1.B5 mutant cells in response to anti-IgM. Also the kinase activity of lyn was elevated in the wild type but not in mutant cells upon triggering through surface IgM. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation of CD19, a known substrate of lyn, was inducible in anti-IgM stimulated BKS-2 cells but severely reduced in 1.B5 cells. In contrast, kinase activity of another src kinase, blk, was increased on anti-IgM stimulation in both wild type and mutant cells. Surprisingly, syk, a non-src protein tyrosine kinase important for surface IgM mediated signaling, was tyrosine phosphorylated in the lyn deficient mutant cells as well as in the wild type BKS-2 cells. Furthermore, anti-IgM induced increase in kinase activity of syk was similar in the mutant and wild type cells. Thus, in contrast to other studies that propose syk to be a downstream target of src family kinases, syk may act upstream of lyn in immature B cells. Consistent with a functional syk, its target, phospholipase gamma2 (PLC-gamma2) was normally tyrosine phosphorylated in mutant cells.

Interleukin-4 overcomes the negative influence of cyclic AMP accumulation on antigen receptor stimulated B lymphocytes.

Activation of protein kinase A (PKA) in B lymphocytes prior to the ligation of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) results in a profound inhibition of BCR induced proliferation. The major effect of increased PKA activity in B lymphocytes was the induction of apoptosis leading to a reduced BCR induced growth response. The growth promoting cytokine IL-4 rescued B lymphocytes from PKA mediated negative effects. IL-4 protected BCR stimulated cells from PKA mediated inhibition primarily by preventing apoptosis and growth arrest. PKA-activation caused a downregulation of anti-IgM induced expression of Bcl-xL protein, that was restored by IL-4. Previous studies have shown that PKA-activation blocks BCR induced phospholipase Cgamma-activation and calcium mobilization. IL-4 was unable to overcome the block in anti-IgM mediated calcium mobilization due to PKA-activation. B cell apoptosis induced by PKA-activation was also seen in CD72 stimulated cells, although CD72 mediated B-lymphocyte proliferation was not affected. PKA mediated block in phospholipase gamma-activation and calcium mobilization were not due to alterations in the activation of tyrosine kinases lyn, blk and syk. Moreover, BCR mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma2 and CD19 were also unaffected by cAMP accumulation. These observations are in contrast to the ability of PKA to drastically reduce the activity of ZAP-70 and syk in T lymphocytes and neutrophils, respectively. The IL-4 mediated protection appears to be due to a change in late events in BCR signaling, which are important for Bcl-xL expression.

Anti-cancer activity of withaferin A in B-cell lymphoma.

Withaferin A (WA), a withanolide from the plant, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) used in Ayurvedic medicine, has been found to be valuable in the treatment of several medical ailments. WA has been found to have anticancer activity against various solid tumors, but its effects on hematological malignancies have not been studied in detail. WA strongly inhibited the survival of several human and murine B cell lymphoma cell lines. Additionally, in vivo studies with syngeneic-graft lymphoma cells suggest that WA inhibits the growth of tumor but does not affect other proliferative tissues. We demonstrate that WA inhibits the efficiency of NF-κB nuclear translocation in diffuse large B cell lymphomas and found that WA treatment resulted in a significant decrease in protein levels involved in B cell receptor signaling and cell cycle regulation. WA inhibited the activity of heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 as reflected by a sharp increase in Hsp70 expression levels. Hence, we propose that the anti-cancer effects of WA in lymphomas are likely due to its ability to inhibit Hsp90 function and subsequent reduction of critical kinases and cell cycle regulators that are clients of Hsp90.

Rapamycin, a potent immunosuppressive drug, causes programmed cell death in B lymphoma cells.

Rapamycin, a potent immunosuppressive drug that prevents rejection of organ transplants in many animals, caused profound growth inhibition in an immature B cell lymphoma, BKS-2, at very low concentrations (2 ng/ml). Similar growth inhibition was also observed in a series of B cell lymphomas (i.e., L1.2, NFS.1.1, and WEHI-279) as well as in thymoma cells. The cell death induced by rapamycin in BKS-2 lymphoma was found to be via programmed cell death, or apoptosis. In contrast to rapamycin, neither FK506 nor CsA affected the normal growth of these cells. FK506, but not CsA antagonized the effect of rapamycin and rescued the BKS-2 cells from undergoing apoptosis. Further, suboptimal concentrations of anti-IgM antibodies and rapamycin acted synergistically in causing the growth inhibition of BKS-2 cells and this inhibitory effect was also completely reversed by FK506. Thus, rapamycin appeared to inhibit lymphoma growth by binding to FK506 binding protein. These results indicate that rapamycin should be evaluated as an effective immunosuppressive therapeutic agent to prevent the incidence of lymphoma after transplantations.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide induced B cell activation is mediated via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase dependent signaling pathway.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent stimulant of B cells and macrophages. LPS induces B cell proliferation and differentiation into antibody secreting cells. In addition, LPS also stimulates IL-6 secretion in mature B cells and in immature B cell lines such as WEHI-231. Although sufficient literature is available on LPS induced signaling events in monocytes and macrophages, the mechanisms involved in LPS induced B cell activation are not well understood. In this report, it is shown that both LPS mediated B cell proliferation and IL-6 secretion are dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) signaling pathways. The B cell specific co-receptor, CD19 is not tyrosine phosphorylated in LPS stimulated B cells. Thus, in contrast to B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling, the activation of PI 3-kinase appears not to be related to the recruitment of PI 3-kinase to tyrosine phosphorylated CD19. This is the first demonstration of the importance of PI 3-kinase signaling pathway in LPS mediated B lymphocyte activation.

Hippocampal neurons of mice deficient in DNA-dependent protein kinase exhibit increased vulnerability to DNA damage, oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.

DNA damage has been documented in neurodegenerative conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease to stroke. DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is involved in V(D)J recombination and DNA double strand break repair, and may play a role in cell death induced by DNA damage. We now report that cultured hippocampal neurons from severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice which lack DNA-PK activity are hypersensitive to apoptosis induced by exposure to topoisomerase inhibitors, amyloid beta peptide (A beta) and glutamate. A similar increased vulnerability of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons was observed in adult scid mice after kainate-induced seizures. Our results suggest that DNA-PK activity is important for neuron survival under conditions that may occur in neurological disorders.

Redox proteomic identification of HNE-bound mitochondrial proteins in cardiac tissues reveals a systemic effect on energy metabolism after doxorubicin treatment.

Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most effective anticancer drugs, is known to generate progressive cardiac damage, which is due, in part, to DOX-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). The elevated ROS often induce oxidative protein modifications that result in alteration of protein functions. This study demonstrates that the level of proteins adducted by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a lipid peroxidation product, is significantly increased in mouse heart mitochondria after DOX treatment. A redox proteomics method involving two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry and investigation of protein databases identified several HNE-modified mitochondrial proteins, which were verified by HNE-specific immunoprecipitation in cardiac mitochondria from the DOX-treated mice. The majority of the identified proteins are related to mitochondrial energy metabolism. These include proteins in the citric acid cycle and electron transport chain. The enzymatic activities of the HNE-adducted proteins were significantly reduced in DOX-treated mice. Consistent with the decline in the function of the HNE-adducted proteins, the respiratory function of cardiac mitochondria as determined by oxygen consumption rate was also significantly reduced after DOX treatment. Treatment with Mn(III) meso-tetrakis(N-n-butoxyethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin, an SOD mimic, averted the doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions as well as the HNE-protein adductions. Together, the results demonstrate that free radical-mediated alteration of energy metabolism is an important mechanism mediating DOX-induced cardiac injury, suggesting that metabolic intervention may represent a novel approach to preventing cardiac injury after chemotherapy.

Differential regulation of surface immunoglobulin and Lyb2 mediated B cell activation: II. cAMP dependent (prostaglandin E2) and independent (IFN-gamma) mechanisms of regulation of B lymphocyte activation.

We have recently demonstrated that pharmacological agents that elevated cAMP inhibited slgM but not Lyb2 mediated activation of murine B lymphocytes. In this report we show evidence for differential regulation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a physiological agent that elevated cAMP and IFN-gamma on slgM and Lyb2 mediated B cell activation. PGE2 inhibited anti-IgM but not anti-Lyb2 induced DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, rIFN-gamma also inhibited anti-Ig but not anti-Lyb2 induced DNA synthesis. rIFN-gamma exerted its effects directly on B cells since depletion of T cells and G-10 Sephadex adherent cells did not alter effects of IFN-gamma on anti-IgM and anti-Lyb2 induced DNA synthesis. Pretreatment of B cells with IL-4 and/or IL-5 did not prevent the IFN-gamma mediated inhibition of the anti-IgM response. The inhibitory effect of IFN-gamma was observed during early stages of B cell activation. Thus IFN-gamma inhibited anti-mu induced blast transformation and subsequent progression into the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The differential effects exerted by PGE2 and rIFN-gamma appeared to be mediated by distinct mechanisms. Thus PGE2 but not rIFN-gamma, at concentrations inhibitory to the slgM response, induced elevation of intracellular cAMP levels. These results demonstrate that physiologically relevant immunomodulators such as PGE2 and IFN-gamma can differentially regulate murine B cell responses mediated through the antigen receptor and Lyb2 molecules by cAMP dependent and independent mechanisms. Relevance of this regulation for the induction of antibody synthesis by Th1 and Th2 types of helper T cells is discussed.

Involvement of CD5 in Th1 and Th2 contact-mediated rescue of anti-mu and ionomycin induced growth inhibition in a B cell lymphoma.

Cross-linking of membrane Ig receptors by anti-mu antibodies (Ab) or treatment with ionomycin induced complete growth arrest and subsequent apoptotic cell death in an immature B cell lymphoma, BKS-2. The growth-inhibitory signals delivered by anti-mu and ionomycin were overcome by anti-CD3-activated Th2 clones D10.G4 and F1 and by Th1 cell clone S53. In this report the Th-mediated growth reversal in BKS-2 cells was shown to require contact-dependent interactions when the inhibition was caused by immobilized anti-mu or ionomycin. Th2 cells in transwells (lymphokines) failed to protect BKS-2 cells from the growth-inhibitory effect of immobilized anti-mu or ionomycin. Monoclonal antibodies to CD5 or CD40 ligands on activated Th cells partially inhibited the Th2 contact-dependent growth reversal of BKS-2 cells whereas simultaneous addition of both antibodies effectively prevented the delivery of contact-mediated growth signal. In contrast, anti-class I or class II Ab did not affect Th cell mediated growth reversal of BKS-2 cells. These data demonstrated that noncognate physical interaction with Th cells was essential for the recovery of BKS-2 cells when the latter were growth-arrested by strong inhibitory stimuli such as immobilized anti-mu and ionomycin. Further CD5 as well as CD40 ligands on Th cells are important for signal transduction in this type of T-B interaction.

Reversal of age-associated decline in immune response to Pnu-imune vaccine by supplementation with the steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone.

Recently, we reported that murine antibody responses to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide (Pnu-Imune) vaccine declined with age. Here we present data to support the concept that age-associated immune defects are not only due to intrinsic defects in immune cells but are also due to extrinsic factors emanating from the neuroendocrine system. We found that supplementation with dehydroepiandrosterone, a steroid hormone known to be reduced in the aged, corrects the immune deficiency of aged mice and significantly enhanced their splenic immune responses to the Pnu-Imune vaccine.

Elevation of cytosolic calcium is sufficient to induce growth inhibition in a B cell lymphoma.

Recently, we have described that anti-IgM antibodies profoundly inhibited the growth of BKS-2, an immature B cell lymphoma. In this report, we demonstrated that ionomycin alone at very low concentrations (20 nM) inhibited the growth of BKS-2 cells completely. The levels of intracellular Ca2+ induced by the inhibitory concentrations of ionomycin were comparable to those in anti-IgM-treated cells. The growth inhibition caused by ionomycin was reversed by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and lipopolysaccharide. In addition, the immunosuppressants, cyclosporin A and FK506 conferred significant protection from the negative signal induced by ionomycin. However, either cyclosporin A, FK506 or lipopolysaccharide was not found to have direct effect on ionomycin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in BKS-2 cells. Also, ionomycin augmented the anti-IgM-induced growth arrest in these cells. Furthermore, BKS-2 cells that were exposed to anti-IgM or ionomycin underwent apoptosis as characterized by DNA fragmentation. Thus, the characteristics of growth inhibition induced by ionomycin and anti-IgM appeared to be similar in that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, lipopolysaccharide, cyclosporin A and FK506 caused significant reversal from such negative signals and both ionomycin and anti-IgM induced apoptosis in these cells. Altogether, these results showed that the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ alone was sufficient to inhibit the growth of some B lymphoma cells.