Stimulatory lipids accumulate in the mouse liver within 30 min of contact sensitization to facilitate the activation of Naïve iNKT cells in a CD1d-dependent fashion.

Natural killer T cells with invariant αß-T cell receptors (TCRs) (iNKT cells) constitute a lipid-responsive arm of the innate immune system that has been implicated in the regulation or promotion of various immune, infectious and neoplastic processes. Contact sensitivity (CS), also known as contact hypersensitivity or allergic contact dermatitis, is one such immune process that begins with topical sensitization to an allergen and culminates in a localized cutaneous inflammatory response after challenge with the same allergen. CS depends on events initiated early in sensitization by hepatic iNKT cells. We have shown previously that these iNKT cells release IL-4 early after skin sensitization to activate B-1 B cells to produce IgM antibodies that aid in local recruitment of the effector T cells. Here, we utilize adoptive transfer techniques in several strains of knockout mice to demonstrate that hepatic lipids isolated 30 min after sensitization are significantly more stimulatory to naïve hepatic iNKT cells than hepatic lipids isolated after sham sensitization. These stimulatory hepatic lipids specifically affect iNKT cells and not B-1 B cells. The downstream CS response is abrogated with anti-CD1d-blocking antibodies, suggesting a critical role of CD1d in the activation of hepatic iNKT cells with these lipids. Hepatocytes may not be essential, as donor hepatic iNKT cells can reconstitute CS without migrating to the recipient mouse liver. Rather, CD1d-expressing liver mononuclear cells are sufficient for activation of iNKT cells. In conclusion, stimulatory lipids accumulate in the liver soon after sensitization and facilitate iNKT cell activation in a CD1d-dependent yet potentially hepatocyte-independent manner.

B-1 B cell IgM antibody initiates T cell elicitation of contact sensitivity.

Although B-1 B cells have received considerable attention, their actual role in the normal functioning of the immune system is unclear. The hypothesized role of B-1 cell IgM in natural protective immunity is just being established. We have uncovered a separate and novel role for B-1 cell IgM in initiating the elicitation of acquired T cell-dependent contact sensitivity (CS), the prototype of in vivo T cell immunity, early after immunization (within 4 days). The recent recognition of a similarly unanticipated role of B cells in a variety of T cell responses, may indicate that B-1 cell IgM has a broader role in immunity than thought previously. We showed that 24 hr CS responses, and rises in local IFN-gamma levels at 24 hrs later after antigen (Ag) challenge the ears, were absent in pan B cell and antibody deficient mice. The mechanism of B cell involvement in CS-initiation is via local C5a generation early (1-2 hrs) after antigen (Ag) challenge of the ears, in 4 day contact sensitized mice. C5a activates local mast cells to release serotonin (5-HT) and TNF alpha to induce endothelial ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, leading to T cell recruitment. We hypothesized that C5a was generated via complement activation due to antibodies forming local AgAb complexes, and that B-1 cell IgM was involved because isotype switching of B-2 cells to produce C-activating IgG isotypes, could not occur as early as day 4. Indeed, B-1 cell deficient CBA/N-xid mice lacked C5a in 2 hr ear extracts, and had impaired CS ear swelling and elaboration of IFN-gamma at 24 hrs. Importantly, adoptive transfer of purified normal peritoneal B-1 cells, or just i.v. injection of Ag-specific IgM monoclonal antibodies in sensitized xid, restored deficient early C5a and late 24 hr ear swelling. These results suggest that early after Ag challenge, specific B-1 cell IgM, produced at distant sites by prior sensitization, forms AgAb complexes that trigger elaboration of C5a, to activate mast cell release of vasoactive TNF alpha and 5-HT to initiate CS, leading to T cell recruitment. We postulate that antibody of various isotypes possibly may lead to local vascular activation to aid in T cell recruitment in a variety of T cell responses, but that very early after immunization, Ag-specific IgM produced by B-1 cells, preferentially serves this important function.

Endothelial cell E- and P-selectin up-regulation in murine contact sensitivity is prolonged by distinct mechanisms occurring in sequence.

The selectins are adhesion molecules that mediate the tethering and rolling of leukocytes on vascular endothelium. Although E-selectin and P-selectin are known to be expressed by endothelial cells (EC) in response to proinflammatory stimuli, their pattern and mechanisms of expression in immune-mediated inflammation remain poorly understood. By quantifying luminal endothelial selectin expression via i.v. administration of radiolabeled mAb, we detected constitutive expression of P-selectin, but not E-selectin, in mouse skin. Both selectins were transiently up-regulated after intradermal TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, or IL-1beta. In contrast, during a contact sensitivity response to oxazolone, expression of both selectins was prolonged, with distinct peaks at 6 and 48 h. Experiments with P-selectin gene-targeted mice showed that the P-selectin measured was exclusively expressed by EC rather than platelets. The early and late phases of selectin expression in contact sensitivity were differentiated in terms of their requirement for prior sensitization, and the action of IL-1. Whereas the early phase was a nonspecific 'irritant' response to oxazolone, the late phase was Ag specific and was partially IL-1 dependent. Therefore, persistence of both E- and P-selectin expression in vivo can occur as a result of sequential and distinct EC activation processes that appear to be at least partially different from those previously reported as stimulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. The further elucidation of mechanisms of EC activation in this model may help determine the relative roles of selectins and ligands for leukocyte integrins in the sequential recruitment of T cells and other leukocyte subsets during ongoing immune-mediated inflammatory responses.

Aggregated immunoglobulin protects immune T cells from suppression: dependence on isotype, Fc portion, and macrophage FcgammaR.

We determined the regulatory properties of heat-aggregated immunoglobulins (HA-Ig) that possess many activities of immune complexes (IC), such as binding and activation of cells via immunoglobulin Fc gamma receptors (FcgammaR). HA-Ig protected contact sensitivity (CS) effector T cells from antigen-specific immunosuppression, while monomeric IgG were inactive. This anti-suppressive activity of HA-Ig was antigen non-specific, and depended on the species from which Ig was derived, i.e. mouse and rat HA-Ig were protective in mice, and of other species were inactive. The protecting activity of HA-Ig was confined to IgG2a and IgG3, and to a lesser degree to IgG1 isotypes, and resided in the Fc domain. Removal of phagocytic cells from the CS-immune target cells, or blocking with anti-FcgammaR mAb, abolished HA-Ig protection of CS-effector T cells from suppression. We suggest that HA-Ig multimers acted via Fc domains, in one of two ways: by binding to FcgammaR of macrophages to produce positive-acting cytokines, or by blocking FcgammaR on macrophages, to compete with suppressive factors that can also bind to FcgammaR. If HA-Ig protection of T cells is generalized, it is likely that IC in vivo may non-specifically overcome suppression of responses to antigen that normally are under the control of T suppressive cells, and thus may contribute to the development of autoimmunity.

Required early complement activation in contact sensitivity with generation of local C5-dependent chemotactic activity, and late T cell interferon gamma: a possible initiating role of B cells.

Complement (C) is an important component of innate immunity, and was also shown recently to participate in induction of acquired B cell humoral immunity. In this study, we present evidence that C also participates in acquired T cell immunity. We found that C was involved in early events of the efferent elicitation phase of contact sensitivity (CS), and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). Thus, CS and DTH were inhibited by administration of a C-blocker, soluble recombinant C receptor-1 (sCR1), when given 30 min before, but not 3 h after local antigen challenge. Among C components, local C5 were thought crucial to elicitation of CS, since local administration of anti-C5 monoclonal antibodies or locally injected C-depleting cobra venom factor also inhibited CS and DTH. These findings were consistent with our previous finding of the importance of C5 for CS elicitation, using congenitally C5-deficient mice. To dissect the mechanism of C dependence in CS, we demonstrated that locally increased early macrophage chemotactic activity (probably C5a) in evolving CS skin extracts, as well as late elaboration of IFN-gamma, were both inhibited by anti-C treatment. In addition, histological analysis showed that leukocyte recruitment into CS ear sites was similarly C-dependent. Furthermore, an initiating role of B cell-derived C-fixing immunoglobulin was suggested by demonstration of impaired CS responses in B cell-deficient mice. In summary, these results suggest that C was activated locally, perhaps via a B cell product, in an important early component of the stepwise events necessary to elicit CS, leading to local production of C5-dependent macrophage chemotactic activity and later IFN-gamma, and subsequently leading to cell infiltration, for development of T cell-dependent CS.

Recombinant soluble alphabeta T cell receptors protect T cells from immune suppression: requirement for aggregated multimeric, disulfide-linked alphabeta heterodimers.

Recombinant soluble T cell receptors (sTCR) protected contact sensitivity (CS) effector T cells from down-regulation or immunosuppression. CS-protecting sTCR were released enzymatically from the surface of thymoma cells transfected with cDNAs encoding TCR-alpha and -beta extracellular domains that were expressed with a phosphatidylinositol linkage. sTCR affinity purified on anti-TCR-alpha and anti-TCR-beta mAb columns had identical CS-protective activity, as did sTCR from a CD4+ Th2 clone or from a CD8+ cytotoxic clone. Reduced sTCR alpha- and beta-chains had no CS-protective activity, but this was restored when the TCR chains were rejoined into disulfide-linked alphabeta heterodimers. sTCR CS protection was Ag nonspecific, MHC unrestricted, and not influenced by the relevant synthetic peptide specific for the TCR complexed with appropriate MHC. CS protection may have resided in the sTCR constant region. When heated at 62 degrees C for 30 min, sTCR formed a CS-protecting aggregate, with a molecular mass of 481 +/- 37 kDa, corresponding to an alphabeta TCR pentamer. HPLC gel filtration essentially confirmed the molecular mass at 516 kDa for the multimer, while the monomer, which was an alphabeta TCR heterodimer, had an expected molecular mass of approximately 104 kDa and no bioactivity. In summary, the pentameric sTCR may bind to and activate lymphoid cells, perhaps via constant domains, resulting in protection of CS effector T cells from down-regulation. The ability of sTCR to protect CS effector T cells from down-regulation/suppression, if generalized, could overcome immunosuppression accompanying infectious diseases, particularly AIDS, or in tumors.

Nonatopic asthma: in vivo airway hyperreactivity adoptively transferred to naive mice by THY-1(+) and B220(+) antigen-specific cells that lack surface expression of CD3.

To investigate the cellular immune events contributing to airway hyperreactivity (AHR), we studied an in vivo mouse model induced by the hapten picryl (trinitrophenyl) chloride (PCl). Mice were immunized by cutaneous contact sensitization with PCl and airway challenged subsequently with picryl sulfonic acid (PSA) antigen (Ag). Increased airway resistance was produced late (24 h) after Ag challenge, disappeared by 48 h, and was associated with no decrease in diffusion capacity. AHR could be produced in PCl immune/ PSA challenged mice on day 7 or even, with challenge, as early as 1 d after contact sensitization, after adoptive transfer of immune cells lacking CD3(+) contact sensitivity effector T cells, or after transfer of Ag-specific lymphoid cells depleted of conventional T lymphocytes with surface determinants for CD3, CD4, CD8, TCR-beta, or TCR-delta molecules. Further experiments showed that development of AHR depended upon transfer of immune cells expressing surface membrane Thy-1 and B220 (CD45RA) determinants. We concluded that a novel population of Ag-specific lymphoid cells with a defined surface phenotype (Thy-1(+), CD3(-), CD4(-), CD8(-), TCR-alphabeta-, TCR-gammadelta-, and CD45RA+) is required in a mouse model for the development of AHR.

Pig but not human interferon-gamma initiates human cell-mediated rejection of pig tissue in vivo.

Split-thickness pig skin was transplanted on severe combined immunodeficient mice so that pig dermal microvessels spontaneously inosculated with mouse microvessels and functioned to perfuse the grafts. Pig endothelial cells in the healed grafts constitutively expressed class I and class II major histocompatibility complex molecules. Major histocompatibility complex molecule expression could be further increased by intradermal injection of pig interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) but not human IFN-gamma or tumor necrosis factor. Grafts injected with pig IFN-gamma also developed a sparse infiltrate of mouse neutrophils and eosinophils without evidence of injury. Introduction of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells into the animals by intraperitoneal inoculation resulted in sparse perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrates in the grafts confined to the pig dermis. Injection of pig skin grafts on mice that received human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with pig IFN-gamma (but not human IFN-gamma or heat-inactivated pig IFN-gamma) induced human CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and macrophages to more extensively infiltrate the pig skin grafts and injure pig dermal microvessels. These findings suggest that human T cell-mediated rejection of xenotransplanted pig organs may be prevented if cellular sources of pig interferon (e.g., passenger lymphocytes) are eliminated from the graft.

Gamma delta T cells from tolerized alpha beta T cell receptor (TCR)-deficient mice inhibit contact sensitivity-effector T cells in vivo, and their interferon-gamma production in vitro.

Contact sensitivity (CS) responses to reactive hapten Ag, such as picryl chloride (PCl) or oxazolone (OX), are classical examples of T cell-mediated immune responses in vivo that are clearly subject to multifaceted regulation. There is abundant evidence that downregulation of CS may be mediated by T cells exposed to high doses of Ag. This is termed high dose Ag tolerance. To clarify the T cell types that effect CS responses and mediate their downregulation, we have undertaken studies of CS in mice congenitally deficient in specific subsets of lymphocytes. The first such studies, using alpha beta T cell-deficient (TCR alpha -/-) mice, are presented here. The results clearly show that TCR alpha -/- mice cannot mount CS, implicating alpha beta T cells as the critical CS-effector cells. However, TCR alpha -/- mice can, after high dose tolerance, downregulate alpha +/+ CS-effector T cells adoptively transferred into them. By mixing ex vivo and then adoptive cell transfers in vivo, the active downregulatory cells in tolerized alpha -/- mice are shown to include gamma delta TCR+ cells that also can downregulate interferon-gamma production by the targeted CS-effector cells in vitro. Downregulation by gamma delta cells showed specificity for hapten, but was not restricted by the MHC. Together, these findings establish that gamma delta T cells cannot fulfill CS-effector functions performed by alpha beta T cells, but may fulfill an Ag-specific downregulatory role that may be directly comparable to reports of Ag-specific downregulation of IgE antibody responses by gamma delta T cells. Comparisons are likewise considered with downregulation by gamma delta T cells occurring in immune responses to pathogens, tumors, and allografts, and in systemic autoimmunity.

Immune or normal gamma delta T cells that assist alpha beta T cells in elicitation of contact sensitivity preferentially use V gamma 5 and V delta 4 variable region gene segments.

In the current study, we confirmed previous findings suggesting that gamma delta T cells were involved in the successful adoptive cell transfer of contact sensitivity (CS) by alpha beta CS-effector T cells. In this study, we used hamster anti-mouse gamma delta-TCR mAb treatment of CS-effector T cells, followed by enrichment and removal of the gamma delta T cells with goat anti-hamster Ig-linked magnetic beads, or by addition of hemolytic rabbit C. This removal of gamma delta T cells abrogated adoptive cell transfers of CS, despite the presence of alpha beta T cells that are known to mediate CS. FACS analysis documented enrichment of gamma delta T cells rising from 1 to 2% of the starting cells, to 60 to 95% of the magnetic bead adherent cells. Adoptive cell transfer of CS was reconstituted by adding back to the alpha beta cells, highly enriched gamma delta cells attached to anti-gamma delta-TCR magnetic beads. Not only were gamma delta-enriched T cells from sensitized mice able to assist immune CS-effector alpha beta T cells, but gamma delta T cells from normal nonimmune mice also had CS-assisting activity, and furthermore, neither were MHC-restricted in this function. Thus, CS-assisting gamma delta T cells were present endogenously in normal mice without prior immunization, and acted without Ag specificity and without MHC restriction, to assist CS-effector alpha beta T cells. Similar studies, with hamster mAbs specific for V gamma and V delta portions of gamma delta-TCR, demonstrated that the gamma delta T cells that assisted the CS-effector alpha beta T cells preferentially expressed V gamma 5 and V delta 4 in their TCR. PCR analysis on extracted mRNA showed that V gamma 5 and V delta 4 gene segments indeed were rearranged and expressed in the sensitized and normal lymph nodes; and one-and two-color FACS analysis of magnetic bead-fractionated cells suggested that V gamma 5 and V delta 4 were expressed on the same T cells. In summary, these results demonstrated that V gamma 5+, V delta 4+, gamma delta T cells were needed to assist alpha beta effector T cells in the adoptive cell transfer of CS.

Adoptive cell transfer of contact sensitivity-initiation mediated by nonimmune cells sensitized with monoclonal IgE antibodies. Dependence on host skin mast cells.

A role for mast cell release of serotonin (5-HT), via Ag-specific factors derived from Thy-1+ B220+ lymphoid cells in the initiation of murine contact sensitivity (CS) has been suggested. However, because CS in mast cell-deficient mice was intact, a role for mast cells in CS initiation was unclear. Therefore, we examined whether CS could be initiated by i.v. injection of nonimmune mixed lymphoid cells that were sensitized in vitro with IgE. When naive mice received IgE-sensitized nonimmune spleen or lymph node cells, or IgE-sensitized purified mast cells, together with immune CS-effector B220- T cells, which therefore were depleted of CS-initiating, Thy-1+, B220+ cells, which could not transfer CS, then reconstitution of CS occurred. Mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice could not elicit this IgE-dependent CS ear swelling, but when mast cell deficiency was reversed by ear injection of normal bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells, then CS was restored. In vitro pretreatment with irrelevant monoclonal anti-OVA IgE prevented CS initiation mediated by Ag-specific, IgE mAb-sensitized cells, presumably by blocking sensitization with IgE. Thus Fc epsilon R on the normal lymphoid cells were involved. When ketanserin, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, was injected i.v. before cell transfer, CS initiation via IgE-sensitized cells and CS were no longer elicited. Thus, in this system, IgE Abs bound to circulating IgE Fc epsilon R bearing lymphoid cells sensitized in vitro (most likely basophils), probably mediated early activation of these circulating basophils to release mediators, causing 5-HT release from cutaneous mast cells, to mediate CS initiation.

Elicitation of nickel sulfate (NiSO4)-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity requires early-occurring and early-acting, NiSO4-specific DTH-initiating cells with an unusual mixed phenotype for an antigen-specific cell.

The elicitation in immunized mice of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to nickel sulfate (NiSO4) was found to be mediated by the sequential activities of two different antigen-specific Thy-1+ cells. Early-acting (2-hr) NiSO4-specific, DTH-initiating cells were required for elicitation of subsequent 24-hr NiSO4-specific DTH and had an unusual phenotype for an antigen-specific cell (Thy-1+, CD5+, CD3-, CD4-, CD8- CD23+, CD45RA+ (B220+), IL-2R-, IL-3R+, sIg-, MHC Class II-, Mel-14-, CD44+ (Pgp-1+), J11d+ (HSA+), MAC-1+, LFA-1, and Fc gamma II-R+). In contrast, the late-acting, NiSO4-specific DTH-effector T cells were: Thy-1+, CD5+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8-, CD23-, B220-, IL-2R+, IL-3R-, sIg-, MHC Class II-, Mel-14+, CD44- (Pgp-1-), J11d- (HSA-), MAC-1-, LFA-1+, and Fc gamma II-R-. Our results led us to surmise that the early-acting DTH-initiating cells were necessary to locally recruit the late-acting effector T cells. Relatively high doses of anti-B220 (CD45RA) and anti-CD23 (IgE Fc epsilon RII receptor) monoclonal antibodies were necessary to completely eliminate all DTH-initiating cells, and therefore completely block subsequent expression of some late NiSO4-specific DTH activity that was due to the late-acting DTH effector T cells. In addition, we found that mast cells were important for expression of early-acting, DTH-initiating cell activity in this NiSO4-specific, DTH system. This was probably due to the absence of mast cells in mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice. Our results indicated that two different antigen-specific Thy-1+ cells are necessary to elicit NiSO4-specific DTH in mice and that mast cells are necessary for expression of the early component that is due to early-acting, DTH-initiating cells.

Gamma delta T cells in normal spleen assist immunized alpha beta T cells in the adoptive cell transfer of contact sensitivity. Effect of Bordetella pertussis, cyclophosphamide, and antibodies to determinants on suppressor cells.

Our prior studies showed that gamma delta T cells were required to assist alpha beta T cells in the successful adoptive cell transfer of contact sensitivity (CS) responsiveness. These TCR-gamma delta+ regulatory T cells in immune spleen and lymph node were CD3+, CD4-, CD8+, nonantigen-specific, and non-MHC-restricted. In the current work, experiments were conducted to determine the mechanisms of how the gamma delta T cells were required to assist the alpha beta T cells in CS. We found that similar regulatory gamma delta T cells were in the spleen of normal mice, but not in the spleen of nude nor SCID mice, suggesting that the regulatory gamma delta T cells were present before immunization and required the thymus for differentiation, and also required rearrangements of gamma delta V gene segments. Treatment of cell transfer recipient mice with Bordetella pertussis (Bp), or with a low dose of cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg), restored the ability of alpha beta+ gamma delta- T cells to transfer CS. This and other results suggested that Bp caused the CS-assisting gamma delta T cells to leave the lymphoid organs (such as the spleen) and enter the circulation, and only then to be able to assist the TCR-alpha beta+ CS-effector T cells. This effect needed the simultaneous i.v. injection of the CS-effector alpha beta T cells and the CS-assisting gamma delta T cells. The results also suggested that treatment with cyclophosphamide inactivated suppressor T cells in the recipients that acted to inhibit the alpha beta T cell transfer of CS, and thus that the CS-assisting gamma delta T cells acted by protecting the CS-effector alpha beta T cells from this endogenous suppression. This suppression of CS transfers also was eliminated by treatment of recipients with two different mAbs to determinants on suppressor T cells. In conclusion, we have described regulatory TCR-gamma delta+ CS-assisting/protecting T cells that are non-antigen-specific, non-MHC-restricted, CD3+, CD8+ gamma delta T cells that may assist adoptive transferring CS-effector alpha beta T cells by making these effector T cells resistant to suppressor T cells in the normal recipients.

DNFB contact sensitivity (CS) in BALB/c and C3H/He mice: requirement for early-occurring, early-acting, antigen-specific, CS-initiating cells with an unusual phenotype (Thy-1+, CD5+, CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, sIg-, B220+, MHC class II-, CD23+, IL-2R-, IL-3R+, Mel-14-, Pgp-1+, J11d+, MAC-1+, LFA-1+, and Fc gamma RII+).

Immunization of mice for contact sensitivity induces two different antigen-specific Thy-1+ cell activities that are required to act in sequence for elicitation of contact sensitivity. In this study, 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene contact sensitivity responses in BALB/c and C3H/He mice demonstrated the importance of early-acting and antigen-specific contact sensitivity-initiating cells to recruit the classical, late-acting contact sensitivity effector T cells. Employing in vitro treatment of sensitized cells with monoclonal antibodies to cell surface determinants and then incubation in complement, prior to adoptive cell transfer, the contact sensitivity-initiating cells were shown to have a surface phenotype that is quite unusual for antigen-specific cells [Thy-1+, CD5+, CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, sIg-, B220+, major histocompatibility complex class II-, CD23+, IL-2R-, IL-3R+, Mel-14-, CD44+ (Pgp-1+), J11d+ (HSA+), MAC-1+, LFA-1+, and Fc gamma IIR+], and is quite different from the late-acting, contact sensitivity-effector T cells (Thy-1+, CD5+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8-, sIg-, B220-, major histocompatibility complex class II-, CD23-, IL-2R+, IL-3R-, and CD44- (Pgp-1-), J11d-(HSA-), MAC-1-, LFA-1+, Fc gamma IIR-). Contact sensitivity initiation was required for elicitation of late 24-h 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene contact sensitivity responses, in both BALB/c and C3H/He mice. Moreover, relatively high doses of some monoclonal antibodies [anti-B220 (CD45RA) and anti-CD23 (IgE Fc epsilon II receptor)] were necessary to completely eliminate all contact sensitivity-initiating cells that permitted expression of late contact sensitivity-effector T-cell activity. In contrast, high doses of monoclonal antibody specific for surface determinants of late-acting contact sensitivity effector T cells (anti-CD3 and anti-CD4), when used in high doses similar to anti-B220 and anti-CD23, had no effect on contact sensitivity-initiating cell activity. Our results indicate that two very different antigen-specific Thy-1+ cells are necessary to elicit 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene contact sensitivity in BALB/c and C3H/He mice.

Gamma delta T cells assist alpha beta T cells in adoptive transfer of contact sensitivity.

Cutaneous immune responses to contact sensitizers such as picryl chloride or oxazolone, are classical manifestations of T cell-mediated immunity in vivo. In fact, the first documentation of T cell-mediated immunity was the ability to adoptively transfer contact sensitivity (CS) responses. Although it is now clear that Ag/MHC-restricted alpha beta TCR positive effector T cells are responsible for 24 to 48 h CS responses, other subsets of Thy-1+ cells in mice also participate in the elicitation of CS. Thus, Thy-1+, CD5+, CD3-, B220+, hapten-specific, non-MHC-restricted early-acting cells are required to initiate CS responses by leading to local serotonin release, which allows for extravascular recruitment of the late-acting, alpha beta TCR+, CS effector T cells. This study describes another T cell population that is needed for the adoptive transfer of CS by alpha beta T cells. In vitro treatment of a mixture of CS effector cells with hamster mAb to gamma delta TCR, together with rabbit complement, or by panning on anti-hamster Ig-coated dishes, diminished substantially the subsequent transfer of CS reactivity without affecting either CS-initiating cells, or the later-acting, alpha beta TCR+ CS effector T cells. Immune cells treated with anti-alpha beta TCR mAb, or recovered as adherent cells from petri dishes after anti-gamma delta TCR panning (i.e., gamma delta TCR-enriched cells), reconstituted the ability of anti-gamma delta TCR-treated immune cells (i.e., alpha beta TCR-enriched cells) to transfer 24-h CS responsiveness. The phenotype of the gamma delta T cells that assisted CS effector alpha beta T cells was: CD3+, CD4-, and CD8+. The gamma delta T cells that assisted alpha beta T cells were not Ag-specific since anti-alpha beta-TCR-treated cells (gamma delta T-enriched) from picryl chloride immunized donors aided alpha beta T cells (anti-gamma delta TCR-treated) from oxazolone-immunized donors, and conversely gamma delta T cells from oxazolone-immunized donors aided alpha beta T cells from picryl chloride immunized donors. Furthermore, the CS-regulating gamma delta T cells were not MHC-restricted because gamma delta T cells from H2d or H2b donors could assist alpha beta T cells from H2k donors. It was concluded that a regulatory population of non-Ag specific, non-MHC-restricted gamma delta T cells was needed to assist immune effector, Ag/MHC-specific alpha beta T cells in the adoptive transfer of CS.

IL-3 dependence of a Thy-1lo, B220+, IL-3 receptor-positive antigen-specific DTH-initiating clone.

The elicitation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions in mice is due to the sequential action of two different antigen-specific Thy-1+ cells. We have previously cloned the early-acting DTH-initiating cell from nude mice that were immunized and boosted by contact sensitization with oxazolone (OX). This clone WP-3.27 produces an antigen-specific factor, OX-F, that acts in an Ag-specific manner to initiate DTH. The clone was phenotyped as a Thy-1+, B220+, CD3-, CD4-, CD8- cell. In this report, we further detail the characteristics of this unusual Ag-specific DTH-initiating cell clone. By flow cytometry analysis, WP-3.27 is Thy-1lo, Lyt-1+ (CD5+), but CD3-, TCR-alpha beta-, and TCR-gamma delta-. Moreover, WP-3.27 does not express surface immunoglobulins but expresses B220 (CD45RA), and also some macrophage markers such as Mac-1, F4-80, and MHC class II after gamma-IFN treatment. Interestingly, this clone also expresses IL-3 receptors (IL-3R) and not IL-2R. In addition to the Ag-specific DTH-initiating factor, WP-3.27 constitutively produces IL-3. Inhibition of proliferation of WP-3.27 with an anti-mouse IL-3 monoclonal antibody suggests that the clone WP-3.27 is IL-3-dependent, at least partially. WP-3.27 also constitutively produces IL-1 and IL-6, but not TNF-alpha. LPS activation of the clone resulted in a net increase of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha production. Thus, this Ag-specific DTH-initiating cell clone makes a unique set of cytokines. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that clone WP-3.27 transcribes mRNA encoding IL-1, IL-3, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, but not for TNF-beta (lymphotoxin). The nature of this unusual cell, which displays characteristics of more than one cell lineage, is discussed.