NLRP3 inflammasome is required in murine asthma in the absence of aluminum adjuvant.

BACKGROUND: Inflammasome activation with the production of IL-1ß received substantial attention recently in inflammatory diseases. However, the role of inflammasome in the pathogenesis of asthma is not clear. Using an adjuvant-free model of allergic lung inflammation induced by ovalbumin (OVA), we investigated the role of NLRP3 inflammasome and related it to IL-1R1 signaling pathway. METHODS: Allergic lung inflammation induced by OVA was evaluated in vivo in mice deficient in NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1R1, IL-1ß or IL-1α. Eosinophil recruitment, Th2 cytokine, and chemokine levels were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung homogenates, and mediastinal lymph node cells ex vivo. RESULTS: Allergic airway inflammation depends on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Dendritic cell recruitment into lymph nodes, Th2 lymphocyte activation in the lung and secretion of Th2 cytokines and chemokines are reduced in the absence of NLRP3. Absence of NLRP3 and IL-1ß is associated with reduced expression of other proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-5, IL-13, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin. Furthermore, the critical role of IL-1R1 signaling in allergic inflammation is confirmed in IL-1R1-, IL-1ß-, and IL-1α-deficient mice. CONCLUSION: NLRP3 inflammasome activation leading to IL-1 production is critical for the induction of a Th2 inflammatory allergic response.

Differential requirements for the induction of interleukin 2 responsiveness in L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ T cell subsets.

Minimal requirements for the induction of interleukin 2 (IL-2) responsiveness in purified subsets of murine T lymphocytes have been investigated. Whereas Lyt-2+ cells could be induced to IL-2-dependent growth by lectin, phorbol ester, or calcium ionophore, none of these stimuli was by itself sufficient for L3T4+ cells. The latter cells could, however, be induced to respond to IL-2 by combinations of lectin plus phorbol ester or ionophore plus phorbol ester (but not lectin plus ionophore). Under optimal conditions, growth of L3T4+ cells (like Lyt-2+ cells) was independent of accessory cells and cell-cell contact.

Activated B cells express receptors for, and proliferate in response to, pure interleukin 2.

In this study we investigated whether interleukin 2 (IL-2) acts on B cell proliferation and whether activated B cells express IL-2 receptors. First, the functional activity of immunoaffinity-purified or recombinant human IL-2 was studied in a B blast assay using positively selected murine surface Ig-positive cells that had been activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus anti-Ig antibodies (anti-Ig). In this assay, T cells were not detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. It was found that both IL-2 preparations led to optimal B cell proliferation compared with supernatants obtained from murine or human spleen cells or murine cloned T helper cells. Second, we observed that the IL-2 requirement in this assay was about the same as in a proliferation assay using lectin-activated polyclonal murine Lyt-2-positive T cells. Third, analysis of the binding of radiolabeled immunoaffinity-purified IL-2 to B cells indicated that LPS plus anti-Ig-activated B cells expressed a mean of 3,500 IL-2 receptors per cell with an apparent dissociation constant of 150 pM. However, neither nonactivated B cells nor B cells activated by LPS alone exhibited significant specific IL-2 binding. The functional and the receptor data are consistent with the conclusion that IL-2 is a growth factor not only for T cells but also for B cells.

Characterization of soluble factors that induce the cytolytic activity and the expression of T cell growth factor receptors of a T cell hybrid.

A rat X mouse T cell hybrid (PC60) proliferates in the absence of T cell growth factor (TCGF) and its cytolytic activity can be induced by culture in mixed leukocyte culture supernatants or concanavalin A-activated rat spleen cell supernatant (CS) to lyse 51Cr-labeled tumor target cells. To characterize the factor(s) responsible for this reversible induction, serum-free CS was fractionated by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and by phenyl-Sepharose chromatography. A cytotoxicity-inducing activity (CIA) was separated from TCGF and macrophage-activating factor/interferon-gamma. CIA was found to be a macromolecule with an apparent molecular weight of 12,000-18,000 and a pI of 5.0 and 6.2. Its activity on PC60 cells depended on the addition of TCGF. Thus TCGF may have other effects on T cells than the induction of entry into cell cycle. The number of TCGF surface receptors on PC60 cells was measured using purified 3H-TCGF. TCGF receptors were undetectable on noninduced cells but appeared during induction. The expression of TCGF receptors was not induced either by TCGF or by CIA-containing supernatants or fractions alone, only by a combination of both. These results show that TCGF plays a role in the regulation of the expression of its own receptors.

Virus-specific CD8+ cells can switch to interleukin 5 production and induce airway eosinophilia.

Virus infections of the lung are thought to predispose individuals to asthma, a disease characterized by eosinophil infiltration of the airways. CD8+ T cells are an important part of the host response to virus infection, however, they have no reported role in eosinophil recruitment. We developed a mouse model of virus peptide-stimulated CD8+ T cell immune responses in the lung. We found that bystander CD4+ T helper cell type 2 immune responses to ovalbumin switched the virus peptide-specific CD8+ T cells in the lung to interleukin (IL) 5 production. Furthermore, when such IL-5-producing CD8 T cells were challenged via the airways with virus peptide, a significant eosinophil infiltration was induced. In vitro studies indicated that IL-4 could switch the virus-specific CD8+ T cells to IL-5 production. These results could explain the link between virus infection and acute exacerbation of asthma and, perhaps more importantly, they indicate an IL-4-dependent mechanism that would impair CD8+ T cell responses and delay viral clearance from the host.

Histamine plays an essential regulatory role in lung inflammation and protective immunity in the acute phase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

The course and outcome of infection with mycobacteria are determined by a complex interplay between the immune system of the host and the survival mechanisms developed by the bacilli. Recent data suggest a regulatory role of histamine not only in the innate but also in the adaptive immune response. We used a model of pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in histamine-deficient mice lacking histidine decarboxylase (HDC(-/-)), the histamine-synthesizing enzyme. To confirm that mycobacterial infection induced histamine production, we exposed mice to M. tuberculosis and compared responses in C57BL/6 (wild-type) and HDC(-/-) mice. Histamine levels increased around fivefold above baseline in infected C57BL/6 mice at day 28 of infection, whereas only small amounts were detected in the lungs of infected HDC(-/-) mice. Blocking histamine production decreased both neutrophil influx into lung tissue and the release of proinflammatory mediators, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), in the acute phase of infection. However, the accumulation and activation of CD4(+) T cells were augmented in the lungs of infected HDC(-/-) mice and correlated with a distinct granuloma formation that contained abundant lymphocytic infiltration and reduced numbers of mycobacteria 28 days after infection. Furthermore, the production of IL-12, gamma interferon, and nitric oxide, as well as CD11c(+) cell influx into the lungs of infected HDC(-/-) mice, was increased. These findings indicate that histamine produced after M. tuberculosis infection may play a regulatory role not only by enhancing the pulmonary neutrophilia and production of IL-6 and TNF-alpha but also by impairing the protective Th1 response, which ultimately restricts mycobacterial growth.

Induction of hemoglobin accumulation in human K562 cells by hemin is reversible.

Twenty micromolar hemin causes no change in the rate of division of K562 cells but results in accumulation of 11 to 14 picograms of embryonic and fetal hemoglobins per cell. This effect is reversible, and hemoglobin induction in response to hemin, and loss of hemoglobin upon removal of hemin, can be cyclically repeated. The cells can be indefinitely subcultured in the presence of the inducer. Thus, the control of hemoglobin levels in K562 cells does not depend on irreversible differentiation.

Switch of CD8 T cells to noncytolytic CD8-CD4- cells that make TH2 cytokines and help B cells.

CD8+ T cells are a major defense against viral infections and intracellular parasites. Their production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and their cytolytic activity are key elements in the immune response to these pathogens. Mature mouse CD8+ T cells that were activated in the presence of interleukin-4 (IL-4) developed into a CD8-CD4- population that was not cytolytic and did not produce IFN-gamma. However, these CD8- cells produced large amounts of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 and helped activate resting B cells. Thus, CD8 effector functions are potentially diverse and could be exploited by infectious agents that switch off host protective cytolytic responses.

Activation of the Fas receptor on lung eosinophils leads to apoptosis and the resolution of eosinophilic inflammation of the airways.

While considerable progress has been made in understanding the events by which eosinophils accumulate in various pathophysiological conditions, the mechanisms controlling the resolution of eosinophilic inflammation are poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrate that lung eosinophils obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) after aerosol allergen provocation of immunized mice expressed the Fas receptor. Stimulation of purified eosinophils in vitro with a monoclonal anti-Fas mAb (1 ng-1 microg/ml) induced a dose/time dependent loss of cell viability from 24-72 h. Measurement of DNA fragmentation with propidium iodide confirmed that anti-Fas induced eosinophil death by apoptosis. While incubation with IL-3, IL-5, or GM-CSF prevented spontaneous apoptosis, these factors failed to prevent anti-Fas induced apoptosis. Administration of anti-Fas mAb to the lungs after the induction of a lung eosinophilia increased the number of peroxidase positive macrophages in BAL fluid 4-12 h later which was followed by a marked reduction in the number of eosinophils in the airways. Importantly, Fas-mediated resolution of eosinophilic inflammation occurred in the absence of any overt secondary inflammatory changes in the lungs. We speculate that defects in this pathway may at least in part explain the chronic eosinophilic inflammation often observed in the lungs of asthmatic individuals.

Non-cytotoxic, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 producing CD8+ T cells: their activation and effector functions.

CD8+ T cells activated in the presence of IL-4 can develop into distinct, non-cytotoxic CD8- and cytotoxic CD8+ subsets that produce IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 but do not produce IFN-gamma. These 'Th2 like' CD8+ cells may enhance Th2 responses, help B cells or suppress Th1 immune responses. Importantly, the switch from the cytotoxic, IFN-gamma producing CD8+ T-cell phenotype could compromise the host response to infectious agents such as HIV.

IL-4 differentiates naive CD8+ T cells to a "Th2-like" phenotype: a link between viral infections and bronchial asthma.

Viral infections of the lung have been postulated to be a major factor in the etiology of bronchial asthma, a disease characterized by eosinophilic inflammation of the airways. In addition, upper respiratory tract infection in asthmatic individuals results in an exacerbation of the disease. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which viral infection leads to disease exacerbation are poorly understood. CD8+ T cells play an important role in the host defense responses against viral infection, although to date, there are no reports to suggest that CD8+ T cells play any role in eosinophil recruitment. In the present study, we report that CD8+ T cells activated by either immobilized CD3 mAb or specific antigen can switch to a phenotype that produces Th2 cytokines and secretes less IFN-gamma. Moreover, in vivo, if a lung mucosal Th2 immune response exists, then antigen-specific activation of CD8 cells results in the development of lung eosinophilic inflammation mediated by the secretion of IL-5 from CD8+ T cells. These results may explain the link between viral infections and bronchial asthma, as this IL-4-dependent switch to CD8+ T cells to IL-5 secretion may not only exacerbate asthma by recruiting eosinophils into the lungs, but the impaired IFN-gamma production may also lead to delayed viral clearance.

An assay for the detection of interleukin-1 synthesis inhibitors: effects of antirheumatic drugs.

The monokines interleukin-1 beta and alpha (IL-1) play a central role in the connective tissue destruction of many chronic inflammatory diseases. A high capacity screening assay for the detection of inhibitors of IL-1 biosynthesis has been established. Normal human monocytes were obtained by leukapheresis and elutriation. IL-1 beta and alpha biosynthesis was stimulated with LPS, and cell-associated and secreted IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha were measured by specific immunoassays (ELISA). The mean total IL-1 beta (cell-associated and secreted) production in 18 different donors was 11 ng/10(6) cells (range 1.2-28.8). Secreted IL-1 beta represented 31 to 86% of the total IL-1 beta. More IL-1 alpha than IL-1 beta was produced but, unlike IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha was poorly secreted. The steroids prednisolone and dexamethasone, gold (sodium aurothiomalate) and chloroquine were potent inhibitors of the IL-1 production. Mean IC50 values of 180 nM (range 2.5 nM-1 microns), 10 microM (range 6-20 microM) and of 75 microM were found for prednisolone, gold and chloroquine, respectively. Above 5 microM, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds indomethacin and BW755C increased IL-1 beta biosynthesis. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibited the level of the secreted form of IL-1 beta, but tended to increase the cell-associated level. D-Penicillamine (up to 6 mM), cyclosporin A (up to 1 microM) and methotrexate (up to 12 microM) inhibited neither cell-associated nor secreted IL-1 beta levels. This high capacity assay, which is insensitive to classical NSAIDs, may serve in the detection and characterization of new classes of anti-inflammatory compounds.

Airway structural cells regulate TLR5-mediated mucosal adjuvant activity.

Antigen-presenting cell (APC) activation is enhanced by vaccine adjuvants. Most vaccines are based on the assumption that adjuvant activity of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists depends on direct, functional activation of APCs. Here, we sought to establish whether TLR stimulation in non-hematopoietic cells contributes to flagellin's mucosal adjuvant activity. Nasal administration of flagellin enhanced T-cell-mediated immunity, and systemic and secretory antibody responses to coadministered antigens in a TLR5-dependent manner. Mucosal adjuvant activity was not affected by either abrogation of TLR5 signaling in hematopoietic cells or the presence of flagellin-specific, circulating neutralizing antibodies. We found that flagellin is rapidly degraded in conducting airways, does not translocate into lung parenchyma and stimulates an early immune response, suggesting that TLR5 signaling is regionalized. The flagellin-specific early response of lung was regulated by radioresistant cells expressing TLR5 (particularly the airway epithelial cells). Flagellin stimulated the epithelial production of a small set of mediators that included the chemokine CCL20, which is known to promote APC recruitment in mucosal tissues. Our data suggest that (i) the adjuvant activity of TLR agonists in mucosal vaccination may require TLR stimulation of structural cells and (ii) harnessing the effect of adjuvants on epithelial cells can improve mucosal vaccines.

Th2-like CD8 T cells: their role in protection against infectious diseases.

The expression of cytolytic activity and production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) by CD8(+) T cells is thought to play a fundamental role in protection against infection by viruses and intracellular parasites. François Erard and Graham Le Gros have recently shown that CD8(+) T cells activated in the presence of interleukin 4 (IL-4) can switch development to a CD8(-)CD4(-)Th2-like phenotype that is not cytolytic and that does not produce IFN-gamma. Here they speculate on whether this IL-4-induced switch is used by the host to make a more-effective response against parasite invasion, or i f it is a host mechanism used by the parasite to evade protective CD8(+) T-cell responses.

Inhibitors of cell division reversibly modify hemoglobin concentration in human erythroleukemia K562 cells.

The human leukemia K562 cell line can be induced by 20 micro M hemin to reversibly accumulate embryonic and fetal hemoglobins without any change in the rate of cell division. When we reduced the rate of cell division by glutamine starvation or addition of hydroxyurea, the cells increased by tenfold the basal hemoglobin level of 0.3-0.5 pg Hb/cell. The combined effects of hemin and inhibitors of cell division permitted K562 cells to attain levels of hemoglobin (26-34 pg Hb/cell) close to that found in normal red cells. This superinduction was reversible and cells could be recycled indefinitely. Furthermore, electrofocusing experiments show that the three primary hemoglobin species produced by these cells (Hb Gower 1, Hb Portland, and fetal Hb), were induced, or reinduced, synchronously by inhibitors of cell division but asynchronously by hemin. Differing effects of hemin and inhibitors of cell division were observed in the absence of irreversible differentiation and suggest different molecular mechanisms controlling globin gene expression.

Antigen stimulation of cytolytic T lymphocyte precursors: minimal requirements for growth and acquisition of cytolytic activity.

Minimal requirements for growth and acquisition of cytolytic activity by alloantigen-stimulated cytolytic T lymphocyte precursors (CTL-P) have been investigated. CTL-P from C57BL/6 spleen were purified by staining with monoclonal anti-Lyt-2 antibodies followed by positive selection on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Microcultures containing 2000 purified Lyt-2+ cells were set up with irradiated P815 (DBA/2 mastocytoma) stimulating cells and pure interleukin 2 obtained by recombinant DNA technology (rIL2). Proliferation and generation of antigen-specific cytolytic activity were observed to be both antigen and IL2-dependent in such microcultures. Furthermore, P815 stimulating cells could be replaced by 5 other H-2d cell lines of differing tissue origin. In limiting dilution studies, 1-2% of Lyt-2+ CTL-P (contaminated by less than 0.2% macrophages) could be induced to grow and express cytolytic activity in the presence of irradiated P815 and rIL2. Taken together, these data indicate that neither accessory cells nor differentiation factors (other than IL2) are absolutely required for alloantigen-induced growth and differentiation of CTL-P.

Regulation of expression of T cell gamma chain, L3T4 and Ly-2 messages in Abelson/Moloney virus-transformed T cell lines.

Recent results have suggested that T cells may exist in two distinct pathways, one expressing alpha and beta chain of the T cell receptor genes with either or both of the cell surface markers CD4 and CD8, while the other is negative for these cell surface markers and expresses the T cell-specific gamma chain genes. The relationship between these two pathways is not known. In this study, we have examined a series of either Abelson virus or Moloney virus-derived T cell lines for their expression of these T cell receptor and cell surface marker genes. Results indicate that the Abelson T cell lines do not express the cell surface markers CD4 and CD8, but express relatively high levels of gamma chain transcripts. After culture of these cell lines with the phorbol ester phorbol myristate acetate and interleukin 2, a down-regulation of these gamma chain transcripts can be observed. More interestingly, we found that the Moloney virus-derived T cell lines, which express the cell surface markers CD4 and/CD8, contain high levels of alpha and beta chain T cell receptor transcripts but little or no gamma transcripts even though they have rearranged these latter genes. The gamma transcripts, however, can be induced to high levels after culture with phorbol myristate acetate and interleukin 2. In the process, the cell surface markers CD4 and CD8 and their transcripts were dramatically down-regulated resulting in cells with high levels of gamma chain transcripts and a CD4-CD8- phenotype. The regulation of expression of these genes is reversible. Taken together, these results indicate that the T cell receptor gamma chain genes and those of the cell surface markers CD4 CD8 can be regulated in vitro by external factors and it opens up the possibility of studying the regulatory sequences associated with these genes.

Increased interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) concentration in gingival tissue from periodontitis patients.

Human gingival tissues from periodontitis patients were found to contain from 126 fg/mg to 2161 fg/mg interleukin-1 beta as determined by a sensitive enzyme linked immunoassay. No IL-1 beta could be found in normal gingival tissue. This finding may have important consequences relevant to connective tissue destruction and episodes of alveolar bone resorption characteristic of chronic periodontitis.

Interferon-alpha suppresses the capacity of T cells to help antibody production by human B cells.

This study was designed to analyze the effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on the potential of T cells to help B-cell differentiation in vitro. Human splenic T cells preactivated via the T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex, as well as murine EL4 thymoma T cells preactivated with phorbol esters, stimulated human B cells via a species cross-reactive physical interaction to differentiate into antibody-producing cells. If the human or murine T cells were activated in the presence of IFN-alpha, normal proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production occurred, but the cells did not acquire any B-cell helper potential. Therefore, IFN-alpha modulates the B-cell stimulatory potential of T cells by interfering with the T-cell activation process. In contrast, IFN-alpha neither acted on B cells directly nor on already activated T cells, because it did not suppress B-cell differentiation induced by T cells preactivated in the absence of IFN-alpha. IFN-alpha did not induce the production of inhibitory T-cell factor(s), since T cells preactivated in the presence of IFN-alpha did not inhibit the interaction of B cells with T cells optimally preactivated in the absence of IFN-alpha. Taken together the data indicate that IFN-alpha suppresses the potential of T cells to stimulate B-cell differentiation by interfering with the T-cell activation process, but acts neither on B cells directly nor on already activated T cells.