CD70 reverse signaling enhances NK cell function and immunosurveillance in CD27-expressing B-cell malignancies.

The interaction of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) CD27 with its ligand CD70 is an emerging target to treat cancer. CD27 signaling provides costimulatory signals to cytotoxic T cells but also increases the frequency of regulatory T cells. Similar to other TNFR ligands, CD70 has been shown to initiate intracellular signaling pathways (CD70 reverse signaling). CD27 is expressed on a majority of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but its role in the immune control of lymphoma and leukemia is unknown. We therefore generated a cytoplasmic deletion mutant of CD27 (CD27-trunc) to study the role of CD70 reverse signaling in the immunosurveillance of B-cell malignancies in vivo. Expression of CD27-trunc on malignant cells increased the number of tumor-infiltrating interferon γ-producing natural killer (NK) cells. In contrast, the antitumoral T-cell response remained largely unchanged. CD70 reverse signaling in NK cells was mediated via the AKT signaling pathway and increased NK cell survival and effector function. The improved immune control by activated NK cells prolonged survival of CD27-trunc-expressing lymphoma-bearing mice. Finally, CD70 reverse signaling enhanced survival and effector function of human NK cells in a B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenotransplants model. Therefore, CD70 reverse signaling in NK cells contributes to the immune control of CD27-expressing B-cell lymphoma and leukemia.

Human autoreactive T cells recognize CD1b and phospholipids.

In contrast with the common detection of T cells that recognize MHC, CD1a, CD1c, or CD1d proteins, CD1b autoreactive T cells have been difficult to isolate in humans. Here we report the development of polyvalent complexes of CD1b proteins and carbohydrate backbones (dextramers) and their use in identifying CD1b autoreactive T cells from human donors. Activation is mediated by αß T-cell receptors (TCRs) binding to CD1b-phospholipid complexes, which is sufficient to activate autoreactive responses to CD1b-expressing cells. Using mass spectrometry and T-cell responses to scan through the major classes of phospholipids, we identified phosphatidylglycerol (PG) as the immunodominant lipid antigen. T cells did not discriminate the chemical differences that distinguish mammalian PG from bacterial PG. Whereas most models of T-cell recognition emphasize TCR discrimination of differing self and foreign structures, CD1b autoreactive T cells recognize lipids with dual self and foreign origin. PG is rare in the cellular membranes that carry CD1b proteins. However, bacteria and mitochondria are rich in PG, so these data point to a more general mechanism of immune detection of infection- or stress-associated lipids.

Effects of glycation of the model food allergen ovalbumin on antigen uptake and presentation by human dendritic cells.

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) of food proteins resulting from the Maillard reaction after cooking or heating may have particular importance in food allergy. The underlying immunological mechanisms are only poorly understood. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of AGE derived from the model food allergen ovalbumin (AGE-OVA) on dendritic cells (DCs), their immunostimulatory capacity and the T-cell response compared with regular OVA. For this purpose, human immature DCs were exposed to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled AGE-OVA and FITC-labelled regular OVA and uptake was analysed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, autologous CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and cytokine production induced by mature DCs loaded with AGE-OVA were compared with those induced by mature DCs loaded with OVA. Finally, expression of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) and activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB by AGE were investigated. Internalization of FITC-AGE-OVA by immature DCs was significantly increased compared with FITC-OVA. Blocking the mannose receptor, macropinocytosis or the scavenger receptor strongly reduced uptake of both FITC-OVA and FITC-AGE-OVA. In a comparison of CD4(+) T cells co-cultured with AGE-OVA-loaded mature DCs versus those co-cultured with OVA-loaded mature DCs, AGE-OVA DCs were found to produce more interleukin (IL)-6 and to induce a stronger T helper type 2 (Th2) and a weaker Th1 cytokine response, while there was no difference in proliferation of CD4(+) T cells. The expression of RAGE was higher on immature DCs compared with mature DCs. AGE-OVA-exposed immature DCs showed a stronger expression of RAGE and activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB compared with OVA-loaded immature DCs. Our data indicate that AGE-OVA may be more immunogenic/allergenic than regular OVA.

T cell inhibitory mechanisms in a model of aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

A reduced immune surveillance due to immune deficiency or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs is associated with a higher risk to develop aggressive Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Nevertheless, NHL also develops in immunocompetent patients indicating an escape from the immune system. T cell function in advanced aggressive lymphoma is not well characterized and the molecular mechanisms how malignant B cells influence T cell function are ill-defined. We therefore studied T cell function in Eµ-myc transgenic mice that develop an aggressive B cell lymphoma with some similarities to human Burkitt-lymphoma (BL). In advanced lymphoma, the number of T cells was severely reduced and the remaining CD4+ and CD8+ T cells lost the capacity to produce effector cytokines and expand upon re-stimulation. T cells in lymphoma-bearing mice were characterized by the expression of the immune inhibitory molecules programmed death (PD)-1, 2B4 and lymphocyte activation protein (LAG)-3. The proto-oncogene c-Myc not only drives cell proliferation and disease progression but also induces apoptosis of the malignant cells. We found that apoptotic lymphoma cells release purine metabolites that inhibit T cell function. Taken together, our data document that the characteristic high cell turnover and apoptotic rate in aggressive NHL induce a severe T cell dysfunction mediated by several immune-inhibitory mechanisms including ligation of inhibitory ligands and purine metabolites. Blocking a single mechanism only partially restored T cell function and did not increase survival of lymphoma mice.

CD27 signaling increases the frequency of regulatory T cells and promotes tumor growth.

Signaling of the TNF receptor superfamily member CD27 activates costimulatory pathways to elicit T- and B-cell responses. CD27 signaling is regulated by the expression of its ligand CD70 on subsets of dendritic cells and lymphocytes. Here, we analyzed the role of the CD27-CD70 interaction in the immunologic control of solid tumors in Cd27-deficient mice. In tumor-bearing wild-type mice, the CD27-CD70 interaction increased the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs), reduced tumor-specific T-cell responses, increased angiogenesis, and promoted tumor growth. CD27 signaling reduced apoptosis of Tregs in vivo and induced CD4(+) effector T cells (Teffs) to produce interleukin-2, a key survival factor for Tregs. Consequently, the frequency of Tregs and growth of solid tumors were reduced in Cd27-deficient mice or in wild-type mice treated with monoclonal antibody to block CD27 signaling. Our findings, therefore, provide a novel mechanism by which the adaptive immune system enhances tumor growth and may offer an attractive strategy to treat solid tumors.

Destruction of lymphoid organ architecture and hepatitis caused by CD4+ T cells.

Immune responses have the important function of host defense and protection against pathogens. However, the immune response also causes inflammation and host tissue injury, termed immunopathology. For example, hepatitis B and C virus infection in humans cause immunopathological sequel with destruction of liver cells by the host's own immune response. Similarly, after infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in mice, the adaptive immune response causes liver cell damage, choriomeningitis and destruction of lymphoid organ architecture. The immunopathological sequel during LCMV infection has been attributed to cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells. However, we now show that during LCMV infection CD4(+) T cells selectively induced the destruction of splenic marginal zone and caused liver cell damage with elevated serum alanin-transferase (ALT) levels. The destruction of the splenic marginal zone by CD4(+) T cells included the reduction of marginal zone B cells, marginal zone macrophages and marginal zone metallophilic macrophages. Functionally, this resulted in an impaired production of neutralizing antibodies against LCMV. Furthermore, CD4(+) T cells reduced B cells with an IgM(high)IgD(low) phenotype (transitional stage 1 and 2, marginal zone B cells), whereas other B cell subtypes such as follicular type 1 and 2 and germinal center/memory B cells were not affected. Adoptive transfer of CD4(+) T cells lacking different important effector cytokines and cytolytic pathways such as IFNγ, TNFα, perforin and Fas-FasL interaction did reveal that these cytolytic pathways are redundant in the induction of immunopathological sequel in spleen. In conclusion, our results define an important role of CD4(+) T cells in the induction of immunopathology in liver and spleen. This includes the CD4(+) T cell mediated destruction of the splenic marginal zone with consecutively impaired protective neutralizing antibody responses.