Allergen-specific CD4+ T cell responses in peripheral blood do not predict the early onset of clinical efficacy during grass pollen sublingual immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Surrogate biomarkers of efficacy are needed in support of allergen-specific immunotherapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to relate changes in peripheral CD4(+) T cell responses to clinical efficacy during sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). METHODS: Allergen-specific CD4(+) T cell responses were assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 89 grass pollen-allergic individuals enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled SLIT study conducted in an allergen exposure chamber (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00619827). Surface phenotype, proliferative responses, cytokine production and gene expression were analysed in coded samples at baseline, and after 2 and 4 months of SLIT, in PBMCs after in vitro allergen stimulation or among MHC class II/peptide (pMHCII)-tetramer-positive CD4(+) T cells. RESULTS: SLIT induced a 29.3% improvement of the average rhinoconjunctivitis total symptom score in the active group, when compared to the placebo group. In parallel, only minor changes in proportions of CD4(+) T cells expressing Th1 (CCR5(+), CXCR3(+)), Th2 (CRTh2(+), CCR4(+)) and Treg (CD25(+), CD127(-), Foxp3(+)) markers were detected. A down-regulation of IL-4 and IL-10 gene expression and IL-10 secretion (P < 0.001) were observed, as well as a decrease in the frequency of potential "pro-allergic" CD27(-) Th2 cells from patients receiving active tablets (P < 0.001), but without any correlation with clinical benefit. pMHCII-tetramer analyses failed to document any major impact in both numbers and polarization of circulating Phl p 1- and Phl p 5-specific CD4(+) T cells, confirming that early clinical improvement during SLIT is not associated with dramatic alterations in T lymphocyte responses. CONCLUSION & CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Changes in patterns of peripheral CD4(+) T cells are not markers for the early onset of efficacy during SLIT.

Inflammatory cytokines and inhibitors in HIV infection: correlation between interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and weight loss.

OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), together with cytokines, other cytokine inhibitors and markers of immune activation in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Sixty-one HIV-patients were classified into Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) groups A (n = 14), B (n = 14) and C (n = 33). Serum levels of IL-1Ra, IL-1 beta, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha, TNF soluble receptors (TNF-sR) and IL-2sR were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CD4+ cell counts, p24 antigen, immunoglobulin (Ig) A, beta 2-microglobulin, triglycerides and neopterin were measured according to standard procedures. Weight variation was measured as the percentage of baseline weight lost or gained during the 3 months before sampling. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-1Ra were significantly elevated in HIV-infected patients, compared with control subjects (S47 +/- 104 and 133 +/- 7 pg/ml), but did not vary significantly with the HIV disease stage, CD4+ cell count or p24 antigenaemia. IL-1Ra levels correlated with IL-1 beta (P < 0.005), IL-6 (P < 0.0001) and TNF-sR55 (P < 0.0001) levels, but not with those of TNF-alpha, TNF-sR75, IL-2sR, neopterin or IgA. IL-1 Ra and IL-1 Ra/IL-1 beta ratio were the only parameters significantly elevated (R = -0.67, P < 0.0001) in the HIV-infected patients with marked weight loss (n = 12; mean of weight variation, -13.9 +/- 2.1% relative to the other patients, regardless of HIV disease stage and opportunistic infections. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1Ra levels are significantly elevated in HIV infected patients, independently of immune deficiency. We propose that IL-1Ra accumulates in intense systemic inflammation, a state which does not seem to be reflected by the elevation of a single cytokine or the activation at a single cell system and which is correlated with marked weight loss.

Biphasic transforming growth factor-beta production flanking the pro-inflammatory cytokine response in cerebral trauma.

We determined the time-course of the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) after fluid-percussion injury using a bioassay. Biophasic production of TGF-beta composed mainly of TGF-beta 2 was detected in the ipsilateral cortex, with a first peak 30 min and a second peak 48 h after the lesion, flanking the transient production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 occurring between 5 and 18 h after trauma. This temporal pattern suggested that TGF-beta plays alternatively a pro- and anti-inflammatory role in the regulation of the brain cytokine network in response to injury, providing an endogenous mechanism for the control of the inflammatory reaction in traumatic brain injury.

Chemokine receptor expression on allergen-specific T cells in asthma and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a rare variant of severe asthma resulting from hypersensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus (Asp f) present in the airways. AIMS OF THE STUDY: We analyzed the expression of a panel of six chemokine receptors (CCR3, CCR4, CCR8, CCR5, CXCR3 and CXCR4) on total blood CD4(+) T cells and Asp f-specific-T cells in ABPA patients. We hypothesized that chemokine receptor pattern on T cells differs between ABPA patients, non-ABPA allergic asthmatics sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) or Phleum pratense (Phl p) and healthy controls. METHODS: We used the fluorescent dye PKH26, a membrane bound marker, to identify accumulated proliferating (cell-sorted PKH26(low)) CD4(+) T cells in response to allergens (Asp f, Der p, Phl p) or recall antigens (PPD and TT). Chemokine receptor expression was analyzed by flow cytometry on proliferating CD3(+) CD4(+) PKH26(low) cells. RESULTS: Stimulation of CD4(+) T cells with the relevant allergen resulted in different patterns of chemokine receptor expression in ABPA and non-ABPA allergic asthmatics. Upon Asp f exposure, proliferating CD4(+) T cells from ABPA patients down-regulated the expression of CCR4 and CXCR3 while CCR4 and CXCR3 were up-regulated in allergen-specific T cells from non-ABPA allergic asthmatics. Considering each group of patients, the pattern of chemokine receptors expressed on proliferating allergen-specific CD4(+) T cells was similar to that expressed by recall antigen-specific T cells. CONCLUSIONS: The down-regulation of CCR4 and CXCR3 after allergen exposure in Asp f-specific T cells seems to be a characteristic feature of ABPA patients and requires further evaluation.

Macrophage activation switching: an asset for the resolution of inflammation.

Macrophages play a central role in inflammation and host defence against microorganisms, but they also participate actively in the resolution of inflammation after alternative activation. However, it is not known whether the resolution of inflammation requires alternative activation of new resting monocytes/macrophages or if proinflammatory activated macrophages have the capacity to switch their activation towards anti-inflammation. In order to answer this question, we first characterized differential human macrophage activation phenotypes. We found that CD163 and CD206 exhibited mutually exclusive induction patterns after stimulation by a panel of anti-inflammatory molecules, whereas CCL18 showed a third, overlapping, pattern. Hence, alternative activation is not a single process, but provides a variety of different cell populations. The capacity of macrophages to switch from one activation state to another was then assessed by determining the reversibility of CD163 and CD206 expression and of CCL18 and CCL3 production. We found that every activation state was rapidly and fully reversible, suggesting that a given cell may participate sequentially in both the induction and the resolution of inflammation. These findings may provide new insight into the inflammatory process as well as new fields of investigation for immunotherapy in the fields of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Role of glutamate transporters in the regulation of glutathione levels in human macrophages.

Cysteine is the limiting precursor for glutathione synthesis. Because of its low bioavailability, cysteine is generally produced from cystine, which may be taken up through two different transporters. The cystine/glutamate antiporter (x system) transports extracellular cystine in exchange for intracellular glutamate. The X(AG) transport system takes up extracellular cystine, glutamate, and aspartate. Both are sensitive to competition between cystine and glutamate, and excess extracellular glutamate thus inhibits glutathione synthesis, a nonexcitotoxic mechanism for glutamate toxicity. We demonstrated previously that human macrophages express the glutamate transporters excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT)1 and EAAT2 (which do not transport cystine, X system) and overcome competition for the use of cystine transporters. We now show that macrophages take up cystine through the x and not the X(AG) system. We also found that glutamate, although competing with cystine uptake, dose-dependently increases glutathione synthesis. We used inhibitors to demonstrate that this increase is mediated by EAATs. EAAT expression in macrophages thus leads to glutamate-dependent enhancement of glutathione synthesis by providing intracellular glutamate for direct insertion in glutathione and also for fueling the intracellular pool of glutamate and trans-stimulating the cystine/glutamate antiporter.

Imbalance between IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist in the cerebrospinal fluid of HIV-infected patients.

Inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]) have specific inhibitors (IL-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1Ra] and TNF-soluble receptors), the concentration of which can indicate activation and regulation of this system. We measured IL-1 and IL-1Ra in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of HIV-infected patients and seronegative controls. High IL-1Ra concentrations were found in samples from patients with opportunistic meningoencephalitis, even in the presence of normal cell count and protein content, not in samples from patients with leucoencephalopathies or controls. Therefore, IL-1Ra appears to be a sensitive marker of inflammation in the central nervous system. In contradistinction to previous results obtained from blood measurement, IL-1alpha and IL-1beta remained below detectable levels in all cases, suggesting that IL-1 may be regulated differently in the central nervous system and in the blood.

Mechanisms of downmodulation and release of tumour necrosis factor receptor induced by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in human monocytes.

Infection of human monocytes with human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV-1 LAI) triggers the release of both the cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and its soluble receptor (TNFsr). In the present study, the authors have investigated the cellular events implicated in the modulation of expression and shedding of the monocyte TNF receptor induced by HIV-1 LAI. Release of TNFsr75 was triggered at an early step of interaction of the virus particles with the monocyte, involving the envelope glycoprotein gp120. HIV-1 LAI induced an upregulation of TNFr75 mRNA, whereas TNFr55 mRNA was not detectable. TNFsr75 release required exocytosis, proteolytic cleavage by serine protease(s), but was independent of prior endocytosis of the receptor. Early shedding of TNFr75 accounted for the almost total but transient disappearance of the membrane TNF receptor P75, observed 60 min after activation with HIV-1 LAI, whereas internalization was minimal. Endogenous TNF-alpha had no role in the disappearance of its own receptor. Complete and stable restoration of TNFr expression at the cell membrane, dependent on de novo protein synthesis, occurred after 5 h, followed by massive TNFsr75 release. These results demonstrate that interaction of human monocytes with HIV-1 LAI triggers at an early stage a cascade of cellular events that lead to profound remodeling of the cell TNFr pool. Understanding the mechanisms of these receptor movements is of importance to document the central role of the TNF system in HIV infection.

[Oxidative metabolism of HIV-infected macrophages: the role of glutathione and a pharmacologic approach]. / Métabolisme oxydatif dans les macrophages infectés par le VIH: rôle du glutathion et approche pharmacologique.

Oxidative stress and glutathione deficiency seem to play a major role in the pathogenesis of HIV infection, as suggested by the increased survival of HIV-infected patients treated with N-acetylcysteine, a prodrug of glutathione. However, beneficial effects of GSH-replenishing drugs are restricted in vivo by the high concentrations needed to obtain biological effects and their low bioavailability. In this study, we evaluated the antiretroviral and antioxidant activities of new more lipophilic GSH-replenishing molecules, in macrophages infected in vitro with HIV-1. In these experimental conditions, a prodrug of N-acetylcystéine and beta-mercaptoethylamine, I-152 demonstrated a potent anti-HIV activity, increased intracellular GSH level, and decreased TNF-alpha production. Altogether, these results suggest that I-152 could be beneficial as adjuvant therapy of antiretrovirals in HIV-infected patients, especially in those with damages to the central nervous system or with mitochondrial damages associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

HIV predominantly induces IL-1 receptor antagonist over IL-1 synthesis in human primary monocytes.

Interaction of HIV with cultured human monocytes triggers not only cytokine production but also the release of natural cytokine inhibitors such as the soluble TNF receptors, levels of which are increased in the circulation of HIV-infected patients. We found that HIV-1 LAI induced the production by human monocytes from HIV-seronegative donors of another type cytokine inhibitor, the IL-1Ra receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). HIV mainly induced the secreted form (83%) of IL-1Ra through de novo mRNA synthesis. IL-1Ra production was triggered at an early step of the infection process and involved the HIV envelope protein and the CD4 receptor. HIV-triggered IL-1Ra production occurred after a lag time, suggesting an indirect mechanism. Neutralizing Abs to IL-1 beta and IL-10 had no effect, while simultaneous treatment with anti-TNF-alpha, anti-granulocyte-macrophage CSF, and anti-TGF-beta nearly abrogated IL-1Ra release, supporting an indirect induction through the concerted action of the co-produced cytokines. IL-1Ra was induced by HIV in a mean 1,000-fold increase over IL-1 alpha beta, a ratio 20-fold higher than that obtained with LPS. This production masked 80% of IL-1 bioactivity in HIV-induced monocyte supernatants. These results suggest that the net balance between pro-inflammatory cytokines and their natural inhibitors could be critical in the control of the inflammatory process associated with HIV infection.

Evaluation of CD4+ T cells proliferating to grass pollen in seasonal allergic subjects by flow cytometry.

Our objective was to characterize T-cell responses to Phleum pratense in grass pollen allergic individuals and healthy controls using the fluorescent dye PKH26. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with P. pratense, or with recall antigens, and CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD8+ T-cells that had proliferated were analysed by flow cytometry. In the presence of P. pratense CD4+/CD3+ T-cells proliferated more in grass pollen sensitive atopic patients than in nonallergic controls or in nongrass pollen sensitive atopic subjects. PPD and TT recall antigens elicited uniformly high proliferation in all T-cell subsets. Only half of pollen sensitive patients also had an increased proliferation of CD3+/CD8+ T-cells in response to P. pratense. We determined precursor frequency of CD4+ T cells in the original population that responded to P. pratense and found values ranging from 1 x 10-3 to 0.6 x 10-1, in the same range as those measured for PPD and TT. In conclusion, grass pollen sensitive atopic patients show enhanced CD4+ T-cell reactivity to P. pratense, and this could be related to the presence of elevated numbers of circulating allergen-specific CD4+ T cells. This flow cytometric method should allow the identification of other phenotypic markers such as intracellular cytokines in allergen specific responding CD4+ T cells.

Expression of excitatory amino acid transporter-2 (EAAT-2) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in brain macrophages and microglia of SIVmac251-infected macaques.

Na+-dependent transporters for glutamate (excitatory amino acid transporters, EAATs) clear extracellular glutamate in the brain and prevent excitotoxic neuronal damage. Glutamine synthetase (GS) provides metabolic support for neurones by producing the neurotrophic amino acid glutamine. EAAT and GS expression has recently been demonstrated in macrophages and microglial cells in vitro, and in two models of acute inflammation in vivo. This observation might modify our current understanding of brain inflammation, which considers activated microglia and brain macrophages as the main neurotoxic cells through their production of a variety of neurotoxins, including glutamate. EAAT and GS expression by these cells would entail neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties, counterbalancing the deleterious consequences of microglial activation. Macaque infection by the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is considered the most relevant model for human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), including chronic inflammation of the brain at the early asymptomatic stage of the infection, followed by an AIDS-like disease where neuronal death occurs. We studied the expression of EAAT-2 and GS in the brains of three SIVmac251-infected and two noninfected cynomolgus macaques. We found that both microglia and brain macrophages expressed EAAT-2 and GS in infected primates, suggesting that these cells might, like astrocytes, clear extracellular glutamate and provide glutamine to neurones. Microglia and macrophages could thus have neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties in addition to their production of neurotoxins. This finding might explain the contrast between early intense microglial activation and the late occurrence of neuronal apoptotic cell death, which is mainly observed at the terminal stage of the disease.

Induction of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R75) release by HIV adsorption on cultured human monocytes.

Soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors were recently detected in the circulation of patients with early HIV-induced disease, at significantly higher levels than in control subjects. They were proposed as markers of disease progression and of the degree of immunodeficiency. We report that adsorption of heat-inactivated HIV-1 LAI to isolated human monocytes triggers the release of both TNF-alpha and its natural specific inhibitor, the soluble TNF receptor (sTNF-R)75, but not that of sTNF-R55. Only limited inhibition of sTNF-R release was obtained in the presence of a fully neutralizing anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody, suggesting that stimulation by TNF-alpha was only partially responsible for sTNF-R release. HIV-1 LAI induced a higher sTNF-R/TNF ratio than lipopolysaccharide, a well-known monocyte activator. Monocytes thus represent a cellular source of sTNF-R that can be detected in the circulation of HIV-infected patients from seroconversion onwards. The release of sTNF-R could be of great significance in the control of HIV infection via the cytokine network and especially TNF-alpha.

Na+-dependent high-affinity glutamate transport in macrophages.

Excessive accumulation of glutamate in the CNS leads to excitotoxic neuronal damage. However, glutamate clearance is essentially mediated by astrocytes through Na+-dependent high-affinity glutamate transporters (excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs)). Nevertheless, EAAT function was recently shown to be developmentally restricted in astrocytes and undetectable in mature astrocytes. This suggests a need for other cell types for clearing glutamate in the brain. As blood monocytes infiltrate the CNS in traumatic or inflammatory conditions, we addressed the question of whether macrophages expressed EAATs and were involved in glutamate clearance. We found that macrophages derived from human blood monocytes express both the cystine/glutamate antiporter and EAATs. Kinetic parameters were similar to those determined for neonatal astrocytes and embryonic neurons. Freshly sorted tissue macrophages did not possess EAATs, whereas cultured human spleen macrophages and cultured neonatal murine microglia did. Moreover, blood monocytes did not transport glutamate, but their stimulation with TNF-alpha led to functional transport. This suggests that the acquisition of these transporters by macrophages could be under the control of inflammatory molecules. Also, monocyte-derived macrophages overcame glutamate toxicity in neuron cultures by clearing this molecule. This suggests that brain-infiltrated macrophages and resident microglia may acquire EAATs and, along with astrocytes, regulate extracellular glutamate concentration. Moreover, we showed that EAATs are involved in the regulation of glutathione synthesis by providing intracellular glutamate. These observations thus offer new insight into the role of macrophages in excitotoxicity and in their response to oxidative stress.

Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors in chronic hepatitis C: a correlation with histological fibrosis and activity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is a mediator of inflammation and cellular immune response. Soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR) sTNF-R55 and sTNF-R75, which compete with cellular receptors for the binding of TNF, have been detected at high levels in infectious diseases including human immunodeficiency virus and HBV infection. In order to investigate the activation of the TNF system in HCV infection, we have analyzed the balance between TNF and sTNF-R in 60 HCV-infected subjects according to their clinical, biological, virological and histological characteristics. METHODS: Serum TNF, sTNF-R55 and sTNF-R75 levels were determined by ELISA before any therapy and were compared to a control group of 60 healthy subjects and a group of 34 HBV-infected patients. RESULTS: Mean TNF levels were 50.5+/-4.5 pg/ml in HCV patients, and undetectable (<5 pg/ml) in the control subjects. sTNF-R55 and sTNF-R75 levels were significantly higher in HCV-infected patients than in the controls: 2.88+/-0.14 ng/ml vs. 1.30+/-0.05, (p = 0.0001), and 9.54+/-0.58 ng/ml vs. 4.19+/-016, (p = 0.0001), respectively. sTNF-R55 and TNF-alpha levels in HCV patients were not significantly different from levels in HBV patients. sTNF-R75 levels were slightly lower than in HBV patients (9.54+/-0.58 vs. 11.4+/-0.79 ng/ml, p = 0.03). In contrast to other infectious diseases, there was no correlation between levels of sTNF-R and TNF. sTNF-R75 but not TNF levels were correlated with aminotransferases levels (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0015 for aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, respectively), while sTNF-R55 levels were significantly correlated only with aspartate aminotransferase levels (p = 0.003). sTNF-R75 levels were significantly correlated with the Metavir activity index (p = 0.01), and sTNF-R55 and sTNF-R75 levels were significantly higher in patients with vs. without cirrhosis (3.22+/-0.21 vs. 2.54+/-0.17 ng/ml (p<0.02) and 11.6+/-0.86 vs. 7.5+/-0.53 ng/ml (p<0.001), respectively). sTNF-R55, sTNF-R75 and TNF levels were not correlated with viral load, genotype or response to interferon therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of soluble TNF receptors, and particularly sTNF-R75, are significantly correlated with the severity of the disease but not with virological parameters such as quantitative viremia and genotype. High TNF-R production could thus suggest that HCV-related liver disease involves immunological mechanisms, including activation of the TNF system.