Inhibition of T cell activation and adhesion functions by soluble CD2 protein.

The CD2 (T11) molecule belongs to a family of cell-surface glycoproteins that function as adhesion molecules in the immune system. Human CD2 is found exclusively on cells of the T lineage: peripheral T lymphocytes, NK cells, and thymocytes. CD2 binds specifically to the surface glycoprotein LFA-3. CD2/LFA-3 adhesion is the basis for the formation of rosettes between T cells and sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) which bear the sheep homologue of LFA-3. More importantly, CD2/LFA-3 adhesion functions in the immune system to augment T cell activation; it initiates conjugate formation between participating T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC). We investigated the effects of soluble forms of CD2 (sCD2), produced in either baculovirus or CHO expression systems, on the rosetting of T cells with SRBC and on the activation of T cells by antigen plus major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Rosette formation between T cells and SRBC was completely inhibited by as little as 1 microM sCD2. Furthermore, sCD2 effectively inhibited (at micromolar concentrations) the T cell proliferative response to recall antigens including rubella, tetanus toxoid, and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), as well as alloantigens in a mixed lymphocyte culture. These findings are consistent with the notion that the CD2/LFA-3 interaction augments antigen-specific T cell functions. The use of a CD2 "decoy" molecule rather than anti-CD2 or anti-LFA-3 antibodies to block the CD2/LFA-3 interaction rules out secondary antibody effects, via the Fc portion, as the basis for inhibition of T cell activation and directly stresses the importance of this adhesion interaction in T cell responses.

A soluble multimeric recombinant CD2 protein identifies CD48 as a low affinity ligand for human CD2: divergence of CD2 ligands during the evolution of humans and mice.

To search for possible ligands of CD2 distinct from CD58 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3), we have produced a soluble pentameric CD2-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion protein (spCD2) linking the 182-amino acid human CD2 extracellular segment with CH2-CH3-CH4 domains of human IgM heavy chain, thus enhancing the micromolar affinity of the CD2 monomer through multimeric interaction. Using quantitative immunofluorescence and standard stringency wash conditions, we observed that the binding of spCD2 to human B lymphoblastoid JY cells and red blood cells is virtually inhibited by anti-CD58 TS2/9 monoclonal antibody, even though these cells express levels of CD48 and CD59 comparable to CD58. Consistent with these results, spCD2 did not show any binding to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with human CD48 or CD59. However, binding studies on CD48-, CD58-, or CD59-transfected CHO cells with spCD2 under low stringency wash conditions revealed that human CD48 is a low affinity ligand of human CD2 compared with CD58 (Kd approximately 10(-4) vs. approximately 10(-6) M, respectively). The findings are noteworthy given that in the murine system CD48 is the major ligand for CD2. No detectable binding was observed to CD59-transfected CHO cells despite a report suggesting that CD59 may bind to the human CD2 adhesion domain. Importantly, in cell-cell adhesion assays between CD2+ Jurkat T cells and CD48- or CD59-transfected CHO cells, there was no conjugate formation, whereas binding of Jurkat T cells to CD58-transfected CHO cells was readily detected. Collectively, our findings provide evidence for a conservation of the CD2-CD48 interaction in the human species that may be of limited, if any, functional significance. Given the importance of the CD2-CD48 interaction in the murine system and CD2-CD58 interaction in humans, it would appear that there has been a divergence of functional CD2 ligands during the evolution of humans and mice.

N-glycosylation is required for human CD2 immunoadhesion functions.

The T-lymphocyte glycoprotein receptor, CD2, mediates cell-cell adhesion by binding to the surface molecule CD58 (LFA-3) on many cell types including antigen presenting cells. Two domains comprise the CD2 extracellular segment, with all adhesion functions localized to the amino-terminal domain that contains a single N-glycosylation site at Asn65. We have defined an important role for the N-linked glycans attached to Asn65 of this domain in mediating CD2-CD58 interactions and also characterize its N-glycotype structure. Analysis of deglycosylated soluble recombinant CD2 as well as a mutant transmembrane CD2 molecule containing a single Asn65-Gln65 substitution demonstrates that neither deglycosylated CD2 nor the mutant CD2 transmembrane receptor binds CD58 or monoclonal antibodies directed at native CD2 adhesion domain epitopes. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry demonstrates that high mannose oligosaccharides ((Man)nGlcNAc2, n = 5-9) are the only N-glycotypes occupying Asn65 when soluble CD2 is expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Based on a model of human CD2 secondary structure, we propose that N-glycosylation is required for stabilizing domain 1 in the human receptor. Thus, N-glycosylation is essential for human CD2 adhesion functions.

Six chains of the human T cell antigen receptor.CD3 complex are necessary and sufficient for processing the receptor heterodimer to the cell surface.

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) plays a key role in the process of antigen recognition. It is a complex of at least seven peptide chains (alpha beta gamma delta epsilon zeta-zeta). It is found on the surface of mature T cells and functions in antigen binding in the presence of the major histocompatibility complex. It has been known for some time that physical associations between the CD3 proteins and the TCR chains are essential for efficient transport of either component to the surface of T cells. For example, T cells that lack either the alpha, beta, or delta chains synthesize partial complexes that are eventually degraded. cDNAs encoding the six chains of receptor have become available recently. We have used transfection techniques to generate a panel of Chinese hamster ovary cells that contain partial receptor complexes of known composition and also cells that express all six subunits of the TCR.CD3 complex. Cells in this panel were analyzed for the ability to form alpha-beta heterodimers and also an ability to transport the synthesized chains to the plasma membrane. These studies have allowed us to define the minimum requirements for TCR.CD3 expression on the cell surface.

Recombinant soluble human complement receptor type 1 inhibits inflammation in the reversed passive arthus reaction in rats.

The human CR1 was genetically engineered by site directed mutagenesis into a truncated form which was secreted from transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. This soluble recombinant CR1 (sCR1) was purified from the supernatants of the Chinese hamster ovary cells cultured in a hollow fiber bioreactor. sCR1 inhibits the C3 and C5 convertases of the classical and the alternative pathways in vitro. The ability of sCR1 to inhibit the immune complex-mediated inflammation in vivo was tested in a rat reversed passive Arthus reaction model. Administration of sCR1 at the dermal sites reduced the Arthus vasculitis in a dose-dependent manner as judged by both gross and microscopic examination, as well as by immunohistologic localization of C3 and C5b-9 neoantigen deposits. These data suggest that sCR1 inhibits the Arthus reaction by interrupting the activation of the C cascade, hence limiting the detrimental immune complex-induced tissue damage in vivo.

The transmembrane anchor of the T-cell antigen receptor beta chain contains a structural determinant of pre-Golgi proteolysis.

Studies with the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) have shown that the endoplasmic reticulum, or an organelle closely associated with it, can retain and degrade membrane proteins selectively. The observation that only three (alpha, beta, and delta) of the six (alpha beta gamma delta epsilon zeta) subunits of the TCR are susceptible to proteolysis implies that structural features within the labile proteins mark them for degradation. The TCR beta chain is degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum, and, in this study, we have started to define the domains of the protein that make it susceptible to proteolysis. The experiments show that the transmembrane anchor and short five-amino-acid cytoplasmic tail of the protein contain a dominant determinant of proteolysis. When these residues were removed from the beta chain, the protein became resistant to proteolysis. Even though the resulting ectodomain of the beta chain lacked a transmembrane anchor, it was not secreted by cells and was retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. We conclude that retention in the endoplasmic reticulum alone does not lead to degradation. The results suggest that structural features within the membrane anchor of the protein predispose the beta chain to proteolysis. This was confirmed by replacing the membrane anchor of the interleukin 2 (IL2) receptor, a protein that was stable within the secretory pathway, with that of the TCR beta chain. The unmodified IL2 receptor was transported efficiently to the surface of cells, and an "anchor minus" construct was secreted quantitatively into the culture media. When the membrane anchor of the IL2 receptor was replaced with that of the TCR beta chain, the chimera was unable to reach the Golgi apparatus and was degraded rapidly.

Soluble human complement receptor type 1: in vivo inhibitor of complement suppressing post-ischemic myocardial inflammation and necrosis.

The complement system is an important mediator of the acute inflammatory response, and an effective inhibitor would suppress tissue damage in many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Such an inhibitor might be found among the endogenous regulatory proteins of complement that block the enzymes that activate C3 and C5. Of these proteins, complement receptor type 1 (CR1; CD35) has the most inhibitory potential, but its restriction to a few cell types limits its function in vivo. This limitation was overcome by the recombinant, soluble human CR1, sCR1, which lacks the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The sCR1 bivalently bound dimeric forms of its ligands, C3b and methylamine-treated C4 (C4-ma), and promoted their inactivation by factor I. In nanomolar concentrations, sCR1 blocked complement activation in human serum by the two pathways. The sCR1 had complement inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities in a rat model of reperfusion injury of ischemic myocardium, reducing myocardial infarction size by 44 percent. These findings identify sCR1 as a potential agent for the suppression of complement-dependent tissue injury in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Genetic profile of the transcriptional signals from the adenovirus major late promoter.

Identical functional profiles were obtained for in vivo and in vitro transcription assays of more than 30 site-directed point mutants within the adenovirus major late promoter. The functional limits of the functional regions encompassing upstream promoter element are defined (-51 to -61), as well as a region around the transcription start site (-1 to +1), flanked by regions insensitive to sequence alterations.

The adenovirus major late promoter TATA box and initiation site are both necessary for transcription in vitro.

Mutagenized DNA templates and HeLa whole cell extracts were used to study the effects of promoter-specific base changes on in vitro transcription. DNA templates where the initiating adenine (+1) was changed to thymidine (AT+1) in the adenovirus 2 major late transcription unit were transcribed with 50% efficiency of the unaltered template. We have described a mutant at the TATA box, where the A at position -28 was changed to a C (AC-28). Transcription efficiency was reduced to less than 20% of control in the AC-28 mutant (Concino et al., 1983, J. Biol. Chem. 258: 8493-8496). Primer extension analysis revealed increased 5' end heterogeneity for in vitro transcripts derived from AC-28 and AT+1 DNA templates. Specific transcription was completely abolished from AT+1 DNA templates when a second change was introduced within the TATA sequence, creating a double mutant (AC-28 . AT+1). Neither the AC-28 nor the AT+1 change alone had such an effect, suggesting a coordinated interaction in transcription initiation involving both the TATA box and the initiation site.

DNA-binding vesicles released from the surface of a competence-deficient mutant of Haemophilus influenzae.

Haemophilus influenzae com-51, a mutant deficient in DNA uptake, produces an extracellular DNA-binding activity. The activity was specific for Haemophilus DNA and was isolated from cell-free competence medium after incubation for 100 to 130 min. Initial steps in the purification procedure resulted in the loss of detectable binding activity, but activity was restored by the addition of a nonionic detergent. The active fractions contained vesicles derived from the outer membrane of the cells. The vesicles were produced only under conditions that normally lead to competence development. The lack of competence of com-51 cells was not due to loss of protein synthesis in M-IV competence medium or to competition of extracellular protein for exogenous DNA. Results suggest that the inability of cells to bind DNA was due in part to the loss of DNA receptors that are released into the medium in membrane fragments.

Haemophilus influenzae polypeptides involved in deoxyribonucleic acid uptake detected by cellular surface protein iodination.

Polypeptides that appear to be involved in competence development and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) uptake by Haemophilus influenzae were detected with a surface-specific iodinating reagent 1,3,4,6,-tetrachloro-3 alpha, 6 alpha-diphenylglycoluril. As shown on electrophoretograms, a number of polypeptides became sensitive to 125I protein labeling with the ability of these cells to bind DNA. Of these polypeptides, nine were reduced in their ability to be labeled (ral polypeptides) extensively after the incubation of competent cells with homologous, but not with heterologous, DNA. Iodination of many of these ral polypeptides was reduced in competence-deficient mutants compared with wild-type competent cells. One 125I-labeled polypeptide corresponding to a molecular weight of 29,000 was present at reduced levels in mutants reduced in the ability to bind DNA. Our results suggest that the 29,000-molecular-weight polypeptide corresponds with the ability of H. influenzae to take up DNA and that a complex of proteins is involved in DNA uptake and transformation.