Tyrosine phosphorylation and association with phospholipase C gamma-1 of the GAP-associated 62-kD protein after CD2 stimulation of Jurkat T cell.

Numerous substrates are tyrosine phosphorylated upon CD2 stimulation of human Jurkat T cells using a mitogenic pair of CD2 monoclonal antibodies, including the phospholipase C (PLC)gamma-1-p35/36 complex. Most of these substrates are identically tyrosine phosphorylated after CD3 ligation, suggesting that both stimuli share the same biochemical pathway. We show, however, in this report that a 63-kD protein is specifically phosphorylated on tyrosine residues after ligation of the CD2 molecule. The tyrosine phosphorylation of p63 can be induced independently of other substrates when using a single CD2 mAb recognizing the D66 epitope of the molecule. Importantly, this CD2-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p63 can also occur in the absence of the CD3 zeta chain membrane expression, and is also distinct from the protein tyrosine kinases p56lck and p59fyn. We demonstrate, moreover, that p63 is physically linked with PLC gamma-1 and p35/36 upon CD2 stimulation. Finally, we also show that a 62-kD protein coimmunoprecipitating with the p21ras GTPase activating protein (GAP) is heavily tyrosine phosphorylated only after CD2 stimulation. This ultimately suggests that p63 may represent in fact the 62-kD protein that associates with GAP after tyrosine phosphorylation. Taken together, these results demonstrate the occurrence in Jurkat cells of a tyrosine kinase pathway specifically coupled to the CD2 molecule. They also suggest a function of the p62-GAP-associated protein as a link between PLC gamma-1 and p21ras activation pathways after CD2 activation.

An antigen shared by a human T cell subset and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemic cells. Distribution on normal and malignant lymphoid cells.

We obtained a monoclonal antibody, A50, after immunizing Biozzi's high responder strain of mice with T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) cells. A50 recognized an antigen present on the surface of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells from many patients and from cells of T lineage from any subject we tested. We could not find this antigen either on the surface of normal B cell or on other non-T cell malignancies. On T cells, this antigen was present on a subpopulation of thymus cells, and on most peripheral T cells. The antigen was present on the surface of cells from T-CLL, Sézary's disease, and a subset o T cell lymphoma. The antigen seemed to belong to a complex set of antigenic determinants that we had defined with rabbit antisera.

A novel 80-kD cell surface structure identifies human circulating lymphocytes with natural killer activity.

Human lymphocytes with natural killer (NK) activity, including most activated gamma/delta+ T lymphocytes, recognize and lyse tumor target cells without requiring recognition of major histocompatibility complex antigen. However, unlike gamma/delta+ T lymphocytes, NK cells do not express CD3/T cell receptor (TCR) molecules, and the receptors involved in cell-mediated cytotoxicity are unknown. To further delineate circulating NK cells, we developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the human NK leukemia YT2C2. We report the isolation of a mAb termed BY55, recognizing at the cell surface a novel 80-kD protein with restricted expression. In addition to the immunizing cell line, this mAb binds to circulating NK cells, gamma/delta+ cells, and a minor subset of alpha/beta+ T lymphocytes. Expression of the BY55 mAb-reactive epitope/molecule is regulated by activation, as short-term culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with phorbol ester induced its downmodulation. Furthermore, BY55 mAb reactivity was found neither with the NK nor with the TCR alpha/beta+ gamma/delta+ clones tested. Biochemical studies as well as phenotypic analysis revealed that this structure is different from all previously identified molecules on the lymphocyte cell surface. Interestingly, we found that BY55+ cells exert most NK activity obtained with fresh circulating lymphocytes. We report that within fresh E rosette-positive PBL only a subset of the CD16+, CD56+, and CD57+ cells coexpressed BY55 molecule, indicating that BY55 mAb defines a unique subset mediating NK activity of circulating PBL.

Phenomenon of human T cells rosetting with sheep erythrocytes analyzed with monoclonal antibodies. "Modulation" of a partially hidden epitope determining the conditions of interaction between T cells and erythrocytes.

Anti-D66 is a monoclonal antibody able to inhibit E-rosette formation of T cells both at 4 degrees C and at 37 degree C but that does not inhibit T cell rosette formation with neuraminidase or 2-amino-ethylisothiouronium bromide (AET)-pretreated E. As demonstrated by capping experiments, it defines an epitope, D66, that is directly involved in E-rosette formation. D66 is distinct from the epitope defined by 9.6 because 9.6, a previously defined "pan-T" monoclonal antibody, inhibits E(AET) rosette formation and because no cross-blocking occurred between both antibodies fixation. However, 9.6 and D66 are carried by the same molecule, as demonstrated by sequential immunoprecipitation assays performed on two different T cell lines. On the thymocyte surface, also, 9.6 and D66 are most probably carried by the same molecule, as indicated by cocapping and colysostripping experiments. D66 is present at higher densities on thymocytes and activated T cells than on peripheral blood T cells. Investigation of numerous T cell populations, both normal and malignant, showed a straightforward correlation between elevated D66 density and ability to form 37 degrees C stable E-rosettes. Neuraminidase treatment of thymocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes forming E-rosettes unmasked a large fraction of D66 not readily accessible on their surface. These hidden D66 epitopes appear to be responsible for a surprising observation: the ability of anti-D66 to inhibit E-rosette formation could be totally reversed by fixation on anti-D66 of an antibody to mouse immunoglobulin or an Fab fragment anti-mouse immunoglobulin. This would induce microdisplacement with emergence of hidden D66, as documented by fluorometric studies. Finally, malignant T cells with a differentiative status of mature T cells, but forming no (or low numbers of) E-rosettes, could be induced both to display D66 and to form E-rosettes by neuraminidase treatment.

Evidence that granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor regulates the distribution and differentiated state of dendritic cells/Langerhans cells in human lung and lung cancers.

GM-CSF has been shown to be important for the survival and function of cells of dendritic cell/Langerhans cell (LC) lineage in vitro. Since these cells have been demonstrated to infiltrate human lung and some lung carcinomas, we hypothesized that the production of GM-CSF in the lung could be important in their recruitment and differentiation. Using both immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we have shown that: (a) GM-CSF was produced by normal bronchiolar epithelium, the only site were CD1a+ LC are observed in the normal lung, whereas neither GM-CSF production nor LC were identified in normal alveolar epithelium. (b) In inflamed pulmonary tissue, hyperplastic alveolar cells produced GM-CSF, and CD1a+ LC accumulated adjacent to these cells. (c) Some, but not all, lung carcinomas produced this cytokine, and a close correlation was found between the production of GM-CSF and the number of CD1a+ LC infiltrating these tumors. Since GM-CSF was produced at all sites where CD1a+ LC are known to accumulate, but not at other locations within the lung, these data suggest that the local production of GM-CSF by certain lung cells may play an important role in determining the distribution and differentiated state of dendritic cell/LC in the human lung.

Functional role of PECAM-1/CD31 molecule expressed on human cord blood progenitors.

CD31/PECAM-1 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1) is a 130 kDa integral membrane protein of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily with the distinctive feature of being expressed on several cell types associated with the vascular compartment. In the present study we report a novel, unique CD31 mAb termed IP28A which reacts with all CD34 molecule expressing hematopoietic progenitor cells and a subset of T, B and NK lymphocytes from human cord blood. Interestingly, we show that the number of CFU-GM and BFU-E was significantly augmented in cord blood progenitor cultures when purified IP28A mAb was added to rhSCF plus rhGM-CSF and rhEpo, respectively. Thus, these results are of relevance in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as they reveal an agonistic property of the IP28A/CD31 mAb on the differentiation of cord blood progenitor cells.

Potential antileukemic effect of gamma delta T cells in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The immune response to leukemia is poorly understood. We postulated that nonmalignant T lymphocytes remaining within bone marrow from children with newly diagnosed ALL could be involved in this immune response. T lymphocytes which expressed gamma delta TCR comprised less than 1% of ALL marrow cells. A preferential outgrowth of gamma delta T cells within the CD3 population was observed when marrow cells were cultured with IL-2 alone or with stimulating feeder cells. These results, obtained in a series of 14 patients with precursor B-ALL, were significantly different when compared with expansions from normal marrow cells. In one patient, the clones established from the expanded population displayed different patterns of cytotoxicity against tumoral targets of the B cell lineage. Some clones expressing the TCR V delta 1 segment showed cytotoxic activity against a cell line derived from a pre-B ALL without activity against a LAK-sensitive B cell line. Using PCR amplification, one such clone was detected at high frequency, in the primary expansion of ALL marrow cells. These results suggest a prior activation in vivo of some gamma delta T cells by leukemic cells and provide some evidence on the role of these subsets in the immune response to leukemia.

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells have a phenotype comparable to that of dermal dendritic cells and display ultrastructural granules distinct from Birbeck granules.

Most monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) display CD1a, like Langerhans cells (LC) and some dermal DC, but their relationship with these skin DC remains unclear. To address this issue, we studied the expression of different antigens characteristic of skin DC and of monocyte/macrophages in CD1a+ and CD1a- monocyte-derived DC. Their phenotype indicated that they may be related to dermal DC rather than to LC, i.e., they were all CD11b-positive, and 72% were Factor XIIIa-positive, but they did not express E-cadherin nor VLA-6. It is interesting that CD1a+ and CD1a-cells showed intracytoplasmic granules that were different from LC Birbeck granules. These phenotypical and ultrastructural features are comparable to those of CD14-derived DC obtained from cord blood precursors [C. Caux et al. J. Exp. Med. 184, 695-706]. These results show a close relationship between these two in vitro models, which are both related to dermal DC.

TCR gamma delta bearing T lymphocytes infiltrating human primary cutaneous melanomas.

In situ immunophenotypic studies show that tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes from six of 11 fresh cutaneous primary melanomas tested contain T-cell receptor gamma delta expressing cells whereas those from 8 metastatic melanomas did not. In three cases these cells represent an unexpectedly high proportion of the lymphocytic infiltrate, ranging from 15 to 25%. This elevated percentage is maintained when tumor infiltrating lymphocytes are propagated in vitro for 2 or 3 weeks in the presence of recombinant interleukin 2 and autologous tumor cells. Functional studies reveal that gamma delta lines or clones developed from lymphocytes infiltrating primary melanoma display, in addition to their natural killer-like activity, a potent autologous tumor cell cytotoxic activity that does not seem to be restricted by major histocompatibility complex gene products.

A surface glycoprotein complex related to the adhesive receptors of the VLA family, shared by epidermal Langerhans cells and basal keratinocytes.

A murine monoclonal antibody, designated K20, was raised by immunization with a human malignant T-cell line. It reacted specifically with membrane glycoprotein complexes on early haematopoietic cells, T cells, and monocytes. In epidermis, K20 specifically reacted with Langerhans cells and basal keratinocytes, as demonstrated by double labeling experiments. Membrane immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that the antigen identified by K20 on lymphoid cells and epidermal cells was different. While on lymphoid cells, K20 recognized glycoprotein complexes made of a constant 130-kD subunit associated with subunits of higher molecular weight ranging from 150 to 200 kD, a complex of 105-145 kD was precipitated from Langerhans and basal cells. Metabolic labeling studies demonstrated that these proteins were synthesized by the basal cells. The antigen identified by K20 was thought to belong to the integrins, a family of cell surface receptors that play a role in cell adhesion, cell interactions, wound healing, and immune defense mechanisms. K20 is the first monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes a membrane antigen common to Langerhans and basal cells. Additionally, K20 is the first of five reported monoclonal antibodies to have been characterized on the epidermal cells that detect antigens shared by lymphoid subpopulations and normal basal keratinocytes.

Functional inhibitory receptors expressed by a cutaneous T cell lymphoma-specific cytolytic clonal T cell population.

Inhibitory receptors on natural killer cells and on a minority of T lymphocytes are major histocompatibility complex class Ia or Ib specific. We have previously reported several tumor-specific cytotoxic T cell clones infiltrating a CD4(+) V beta 13(+) cutaneous T cell lymphoma. These clones mediated a specific major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic activity toward the uncultured tumor cells and autologous long-term tumor T cell lines. In this study, we cultured with interleukin-2 the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the same patient a few weeks before invasion of the blood by tumor cells. We report the rapid and selective expansion of a CD8(+) V beta 13(+) lymphoid population. This population was clonal, as it expressed a unique T cell receptor-V beta junctional region. V beta 13(+) tumor cells and V beta 13(+) reactive T cells were shown to have different junctional sequences. The CD8(+) reactive clone was functional, as it had a specific autologous tumor-specific, human leukocyte antigen-A2 restricted, cytotoxic activity. This clone coexpressed high levels of CD158a, CD158b, p70, and CD94/NKG2A inhibitory receptors. Interestingly, we found that anti-CD158a and anti-CD158b monoclonal antibodies could inhibit anti-CD3 redirected cytotoxicity mediated by the reactive clonal population. Further, an anti-human leukocyte antigen-B/C monoclonal antibody enhanced the specific cytotoxic activity of the clone against autologous tumor cells. These results are the first evidence that inhibitory receptor expression can lead to the inhibition of cutaneous T cell lymphoma-specific T cell responses.

Increased expression of a novel early activation surface membrane receptor in cutaneous T cell lymphoma cells.

Using a newly generated monoclonal antibody we identified the 96 kDa transmembrane receptor SC5 expressed simultaneously on a human Sezary cell line and a minor T cell subset in normal individuals. SC5 antigen was detected mostly on CD45RO+ lymphocytes from both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets as well as on natural killer and B lineage cells. SC5 surface expression increased very early after polyclonal stimulation of CD3+ cells due to the transfer of intracellular SC5 molecules to the cell membrane. Engagement of SC5 receptor by its monoclonal antibody inhibited the anti-CD3-induced proliferation and cytokine secretion of peripheral blood T cells and cell clones, whereas SC5 monoclonal antibody did not affect the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cell clones. Extensive phenotypic analysis revealed that the percentage of SC5+ CD4+ circulating lymphocytes in Sezary syndrome patients was significantly increased in comparison with controls (p < 0.01) and correlated with the morphologically detected percentage of Sezary syndrome cells in peripheral blood (p < 0.001). In one patient we clearly demonstrated that the circulating malignant T cells coexpress SC5 molecules. Importantly, ligation of SC5 receptor in a cutaneous T cell lymphoma cell line profoundly inhibited the anti-CD3-induced proliferation. Consequently, the expression of SC5 receptor in the peripheral blood of Sezary syndrome patients may serve not only to detect the presence of circulating malignant CD4+ cells but also as a target for immunotherapy.

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma reactive CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones display a Th1 cytokine profile and use a fas-independent pathway for specific tumor cell lysis.

We have previously described two cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones isolated from lymphocytes infiltrating a human major histocompatibility complex class II-/class I+, CD4+ cutaneous T cell lymphoma. These clones displayed a CD4+CD8dim+ (TC5) and CD4+ CD8- (TC7) phenotype and mediated a specific major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic activity toward Cou-LB autologous tumor cell line. Our studies were performed to elucidate the mechanism involved in T-cell-clone-mediated cytotoxicity and to determine the cytokine profile of both the lymphoma cell line and specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones. The results indicate that, despite surface expression of Fas receptor on Cou-LB and Fas ligand induction on TC5 and TC7 cell membranes, the CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones do not use this cytotoxic mechanism to lyse their specific target. The TC7 clone uses instead a granzyme-perforin-dependent pathway. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of Th1 and Th2 cytokine mRNA expression in the cutaneous T cell lymphoma cell line as well as in TC5 and TC7 clones indicated that, whereas the tumor cells display a Th2-type profile (interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10), the cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones express Th1-type cytokines (interferon-gamma, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, and interleukin-2). In addition, preincubation of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte clones with autologous tumor cells induced their activation and subsequent amplification of the Th1-type response. These results indicate a direct contribution of the malignant cells in the Th1/Th2 imbalance observed frequently in cutaneous T cell lymphoma patients and suggest their potential role in depressed cell-mediated immunity. Identification of CD4+ Th1-type cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones, the tumor antigen they recognize, and optimization of their cytokine expression profile should be useful for the design of new immunotherapy protocols in cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

Functional characterization of neurotensin receptors in human cutaneous T cell lymphoma malignant lymphocytes.

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas are a clonal proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes primarily involving the skin. Mycosis fungoides is an epidermotropic CD4+ cutaneous T cell lymphoma, and a more aggressive form, Sezary syndrome, occurs when the malignant cells become nonepidermotropic. The role of neuropeptides in the growth and chemotaxis capacity of cutaneous T cell lymphoma cells remains unknown. In this report, we found that cutaneous T cell lymphoma cells, similarly to normal resting or activated peripheral lymphocytes, were able to bind neurotensin. We used an interleukin-2-dependent cutaneous T cell lymphoma malignant T cell line derived from cutaneous T cell lymphoma lesions in order to study the role of neurotensin in the proliferation and migration of these malignant cells. First, we determined that the malignant cells expressed neurotensin receptors on their cell membrane. Functional results indicated that neurotensin did not stimulate the growth of the cell line. In contrast, this neuropeptide inhibited the proliferation of the tumor cells in response to exogenous interleukin-2. Furthermore, we found that neurotensin enhanced both spontaneous and chemoattractant-induced migration of the malignant cells. This suggests that neurotensin in skin can play a role in the disease by locally limiting the growth of the cutaneous T cell lymphoma tumor cells in response to cytokines and by enhancing their chemotaxis capacity.

High efficiency of Biozzi's high responder mouse strain in the generation of antibody secreting hybridomas.

While preparing monoclonal antibodies against human lymphocyte surface antigens, we compared two strains of mice, which had been genetically selected by Biozzi et al. (1970) for their high and low antibody responses to sheep erythrocytes. Biozzi et al. (1975) subsequently showed that these high and low responder strains (HR and LR) have a high and low antibody response to almost any antigen. We observed with the HR strain a huge increase in the number of hybrids secreting an antibody directed against human lymphocytes.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. Definitive diagnosis with the use of monoclonal antibody O10 on routinely paraffin-embedded samples.

The histological and immunohistochemical findings of 34 biopsy specimens from patients with Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) are reported, with special emphasis on the findings with CD1a mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) O10 using paraffin-embedded material. Eighteen patients were treated in an adult hospital (mean age, 26.3 years), and the 16 others were children (mean age, 3 years) from a pediatric center. Specimens included 17 bone, 14 skin, two lung, and one lymph node. Tissue was fixed in formalin or Bouin's, and most bone samples were decalcified in nitric acid. Frozen sections were available for 16 cases and electron microscopy for one. Light microscopy was suggestive of LCH in all cases, characterized by large mononucleated cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and "coffee bean" nucleus. In 33 of the 34 paraffin-embedded LCH samples, mononucleate cells were stained by MAb O10. As controls, we investigated seven tumors expressing S-100 protein (three nevi, two melanomas, two neurofibromas): all were negative with MAb O10. Five non-Langerhans' cell histiocytoses (three juvenile xanthogranulomas and two Rosai-Dorfman lymphadenopathies) were also negative with MAb O10. The results show that in most cases a definitive diagnosis of LCH can be assessed on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens with the help of immunohistochemistry using MAb O10.

Activation of T-cells through an antigen-independent alternative pathway induces precocious sensitivity to Fas-induced apoptosis.

Autoreactive T-cells can be activated inadvertently during immune responses through antigen-independent pathways. It has been suggested that Fas/Fas ligand interactions may play a role in eliminating these cells, but the extent that cells activated through such alternative pathways are sensitive to Fas-induced apoptosis has not been extensively evaluated. Proliferation of peripheral blood T-cells from normal individuals activated for 4 days with PHA or PMA + ionophore was not influenced by the presence of anti-Fas antibody. When the same cells were activated with soluble factors produced by previously activated T-cells (lymphostimulatory activity), anti-Fas antibodies inhibited thymidine incorporation by 74+/-4%. The presence of typical morphological changes and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA indicated that the reduced proliferation resulted from apoptotic death of the lymphoblasts. Fas-sensitivity of T-cells activated by lymphostimulatory activity was first detectable 4 days after activation, and at 5 days the majority of lymphoblasts had become sensitive to Fas, whereas no evidence of sensitivity to Fas was observed for lymphoblasts generated by PHA or PMA + ionophore during the first 5 days of culture. Incubation of cells activated with PHA or PMA+ ionophore in the presence of IL-2 at concentrations 10-fold higher than that present in lymphostimulatory activity did not induce early sensitivity to Fas, indicating that exposure to IL-2 could not explain the precocious development of sensitivity to Fas seen following activation by lymphostimulatory activity. These studies demonstrate that T-cells activated through an antigen-independent 'alternative' pathway develop precocious sensitivity to Fas-induced apoptosis, which may be important in permitting the elimination of autoreactive bystander cells activated in the course of immune responses.

Comparison of signals delivered through CD3 and CD2 for T-cell activation: the role of calcium influx and interleukin 1.

In the absence of monocytes, resting T lymphocytes extensively purified from human peripheral blood failed to proliferate when stimulated with a mixture of calcium ionophore, which elevates intracellular calcium levels, and TPA, which activated protein kinase C. A third signal, i.e., the triggering via CD3 or CD2 molecules, was necessary in order to observe proliferation. These highly purified T cells required the presence of monocytes in both CD3 and CD2 systems for their proliferation. Exogenous interleukin 1 clearly substituted for monocytes in CD2- but not in CD3- triggered T-cell proliferation. In contrast, the effect of CD2 and CD3 antibodies on Ca++ influx was apparently not dependent on the presence of monocytes. In the presence or absence of the monocytes, CD3, as well as certain combinations of CD2 monoclonal antibodies including the D66 monoclonal antibody, were able to increase the intracellular calcium concentration as measured by Quin 2 fluorescence. EGTA, a Ca++ chelator, completely inhibited CD2- and CD3- mediated T-cell proliferation, indicating that calcium uptake is necessary during the T-cell proliferation. The addition of TPA abrogated the inhibitory effect of EGTA and completely restored the response of the T cells stimulated by CD3, but not by CD2, monoclonal antibodies. In the CD2 pathway, EGTA-inhibited proliferation of T cells could be completely restored by addition of exogenous interleukin 2 as well as exogenous recombinant interleukin 1. Our results indicate that EGTA inhibits the production of interleukin 1 but has no direct effect on either interleukin 2 production or on Tac antigen expression. In this system, recombinant interleukin 1 alpha demonstrated a more potent ability for restoring the T-cell response than did recombinant interleukin 1 beta. These results suggest that interleukin 1 could act as a potent costimulatory factor in the non-antigen-specific T-cell activation.

A unique epitope on the CD2 molecule defined by the monoclonal antibody 9-1: epitope-specific modulation of the E-rosette receptor and effects on T-cell functions.

Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 9-1 shows unique binding properties to CD2 resulting in peculiar epitope specific changes. 9-1 shows competitive binding with MoAb to D66 epitope, and gives a similar staining pattern with T-cell populations, at a low density on resting T cells, and high density on thymocytes and activated T cells. However, 9-1 has the opposite effect on anti-D66 MoAbs on rosette formation, namely, 9-1 increases the stability of rosettes, but 9-1 plus anti-mouse Ig bound to T-cell surface blocks rosettes. 9-1 plus anti-mouse Ig, like anti-D66 MoAbs, induces further appearance of D66 and 9-1 epitopes but, contrary to anti-D66, induces appearance of T11(3) epitopes. Thus, binding 9-1 results in unique "epitope-specific modulation" events that are not solely artificial, but appear to mimic events naturally occurring during T-cell differentiation/activation. The effects of binding 9-1 on T-cell functions also display peculiarities. 9-1, like anti-D66 MoAbs, activates T cells when added in combination with anti-9.6/T11(1) MoAbs but not with anti-T11(3). To obtain full activation, monocytes are required; however, adding 9-1 alone do not inhibit specific T-cell cytotoxicity contrary to anti-D66 or anti-9.6/T11(1), although 9-1 inhibits NK activity of peripheral cells. Given the apparent complexities of the functions exerted by CD2, these data show that definite conformational changes or reorientation, which would be naturally produced by soluble and/or cell surface ligand(s), would be key events in determining how CD2 will influence T-cell functions.

Identification of a novel functional 85-kD glycoprotein restricted to long-term dividing human lymphocytic lines.

Lymphocyte activation induces or increases the expression of several surface structures, some of which are directly involved in cell growth such as receptors for IL2 or transferrin. To identify new structures characteristic of activated lymphocytes, we developed a series of mAbs against functionally defined human T-cell clones or the NK-mediating cell line YT2C2. In this study, we report the isolation of an mAb termed AY19 recognizing, at the cell surface, an 85-kD glycoprotein whose expression is restricted to T-lymphocyte clones, leukemic T-cell lines, and T-ALL peripheral blood cells. Biochemical studies, as well as phenotypic analysis, revealed that this structure is different from all previously identified molecules on the cell surface of lymphocytes. Furthermore, functional studies showed that triggering of this 85-kD structure on cloned T-lymphocytes through the AY19 epitope led to an inhibition of CD3-induced proliferation. These findings suggest that the AY19 mAb defines a T-cell antigen expressed mainly on long-term dividing lymphocytes and, therefore, its putative ligand might play a role in the regulation of T-lymphocyte growth induced by CD3-TcR stimulation.