The adjacent flanking region plays a critical role in facilitating the presentation of the Listeria monocytogenes product lemA to H2 M3wt-restricted, peptide-specific murine CD8 cells.

Mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes (LM) generate CD8 effectors specific for f-MIGWII, the amino terminus of the bacterial product lemA presented by the class Ib MHC molecule H2 M3wt. lemA has several distinctive properties: 1) it is readily presented as an exogenous Ag in the absence of bacterial infection; 2) it is processed by a TAP-independent pathway, which is sensitive to chloroquine, pepstatin, and brefeldin; and 3) the immunogenic portion of the molecule is extremely resistant to proteolytic degradation even by proteinase K. To assess the structural basis for these findings, we expressed a truncated variant (t-lemA) containing the amino-terminal hexapeptide and the subsequent 27 amino acids linked to a histidine tail in Escherichia coli, and purified the product by affinity chromatography. Purified t-lemA could be presented to f-MIGWII-specific effectors by macrophages and fibroblasts at 1-10 nM. Unlike f-MIGWII, which binds directly to H2 M3wt, t-lemA required processing by a chloroquine-, pepstatin-, and brefeldin-sensitive pathway. Brefeldin sensitivity often implies endogenous processing in the cytoplasm, but several lines of evidence suggest translocation to the cytoplasm and proteosomal degradation are not critical for t-lemA presentation. Unlike f-MIGWII, t-lemA was profoundly resistant to proteinase K, and, using 35S-labeled t-lemA, we could identify the region from position 1 to approximately 30 as the protease-resistant element. Thus, the hydrophobic peptide sequence following f-MIGWII can account for the unusual properties of lemA noted above. Analogous modification could be used to alter the properties of other peptide Ags presented by class I MHC products.

Downregulation of T cell receptor expression by CD8(+) lymphocytes in kidney allografts.

Allospecific CD8(+) T lymphocytes are an important component of the cellular response in allograft rejection. These cells recognize and engage MHC class I antigens, leading to allospecific cytolytic responses and graft rejection. In mouse kidney allografts that survive to 3 wk after transplantation, we noted that the majority of CD8(+) cells do not express surface alpha/beta T cell receptor alpha/beta(TCR), gamma/deltaTCR, or CD3. However, these CD8(+)TCR- cells did express surface markers characteristic of T cells, including Thy1.2, CD2, and CD5. In addition, the CD8(+)TCR- cells expressed mRNA for TCR Vbeta gene families, and nearly half stained positive for cytoplasmic Vbeta8 protein, suggesting that they are T cells that have downregulated alpha/betaTCR protein expression from their cell surfaces. When these surface TCR- cells were isolated from kidney allografts by flow cytometry and cultured in the presence of either allogeneic or syngeneic stimulators, nearly 100% of cells reacquired normal levels of alpha/betaTCR expression with disproportionate usage of Vbeta8 chains. After recovery of their surface TCR expression, the CD8(+)TCR- population demonstrated strong alloreactivity in culture. These results suggest that the substantial number of CD8(+)TCR- cells found in long-term surviving mouse kidney allografts are alpha/beta-T cells that have downregulated their cell surface expression of TCR. While in other systems this phenotype may identify cells that have engaged antigen, our results indicate that loss of TCR expression by CD8(+) kidney graft-infiltrating cells may not depend on antigen engagement and that elements in the microenvironment of the kidney graft play a key role in this process. Factors that modulate expression of TCR by graft-infiltrating lymphocytes may have an important role in regulating rejection responses.

H2M3wt-restricted, Listeria monocytogenes-immune CD8 T cells respond to multiple formylated peptides and to a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

A subset of H2M3wt-restricted, Listeria monocytogenes (LM)-immune CD8 effectors recognize antigen-presenting cells (APC) preincubated with heat-killed LM. The responsible product, which we have previously designated heat-killed Listeria-associated antigen (HAA), is extremely hydrophobic and resistant to proteolytic degradation. Despite the protease resistance of HAA, we now report that HAA-immune clones are uniformly responsive to fMIGWII, a formylated oligopeptide derived from the recently described LM product, lemA. While fMIGWII was by far the most potent peptide tested, over half our clones also responded to the LM-derived peptide fMIVII and cross-reactive responses to two other unrelated formylated peptides at concentrations of <1 microM were frequently observed. One of these peptides (fBlaZ) did not share any amino acid in common with fMIGWII except N-formyl methionine at position 1. Unformylated variants of the same peptides were inactive. HAA-immune CD8 cells also responded in an H2M3wt-restricted manner to APC pretreated with heat-killed or live preparations of other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes (SP) and Proteus vulgaris (PV). Unlike fMIGWII which is water soluble and protease sensitive, the native antigens extracted from SP and PV, like HAA, were very hydrophobic and proteinase K resistant, presumably reflecting in each case the association of cross-reactive polypeptides with bacterial lipid or phospholipid. Thus, HAA/lemA-immune, H2M3wt-restricted effectors can respond to a variety of formylated peptides and bacterial antigens in vitro. Similar cross-reactions in vivo might have physiologically significant implications.

CD4+ cytolytic effectors are inefficient in the clearance of Listeria monocytogenes.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize and lyse target cells through the interaction of the T-cell receptor complex with the class I or class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The production of class I-restricted CTL has been shown to be critical to the elimination of specific pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes. However, the function of class II-restricted CTL in the clearance of intracellular pathogens is poorly understood. H-2b beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice (beta 2M-/-) are not able to produce CD8+ CTL in response to infection with L. monocytogenes. We used this model to evaluate the efficacy of class II-restricted CTL, in the absence of a class I-restricted response, during a primary infection with L. monocytogenes. We demonstrate that, despite their effectiveness in adoptive transfer of protection, Listeria-specific CD4+ class II-restricted cytotoxic lymphocytes are ineffective in decreasing titres of L. monocytogenes in the spleen was found established infection. In beta 2M-/- mice, persistence of L. monocytogenes in the spleen was found preferentially in class II-negative cells. Surprisingly, class I-restricted CTL from C57BL/6 mice were capable of decreasing bacterial titres during an established infection even in the absence of detectable class I on the surface of cells from beta 2M-/- mice. These data strongly suggest that, in the absence of a class I-restricted response, pathogens that elicit a class II-restricted cytotoxic response may escape prompt eradication by the immune system.

The intragraft CD8+ T cell response in renal allograft rejection in the mouse.

To identify the role of donor class I alloantigens in regulating the CD8+ T cell response to a kidney allograft, we analyzed and compared the CD8+ infiltrate in kidney transplants from MHC class I-deficient (class I-) mouse donors and class I+ controls. One week after transplantation, there was a prominent CD8+ infiltrate in control allografts, whereas CD8+ T cells were virtually absent in grafts from class I- donors. In class I+ allografts, infiltrating CD8+ cells utilized a wide range of T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta families and their Vbeta usage was similar to that of the systemic CD8+ population. However, there was a modest but significant overrepresentation of cells bearing Vbeta8 in the graft compared with the spleen due to an expansion of CD8+ Vbeta8.3+ cells. This could be detected as early as 1 week and became more pronounced by 3 weeks after transplantation. In 3-week allografts, only 52% of CD8+ cells expressed alphabetaTCR. Among T cells isolated from class I+ grafts, the CD8+ Vbeta8+ cells demonstrated allospecific responses that were numerically larger than responses of the CD8+ Vbeta8- population. In contrast to the early (1 week) time point, significant numbers of CD8+ cells could be isolated from class I- grafts by 3 weeks after transplantation and their Vbeta repertoire resembled that seen in controls. While increasing numbers of CD8+ Vbeta8+ were present in the class I- grafts at 3 weeks, this increase was not statistically significant. Thus, expression of class I alloantigens on a kidney graft plays an important role in regulating the rate of accumulation of CD8+ T cells in rejecting kidney grafts. However, the TCR Vbeta repertoire of the CD8+ T cell infiltrate is largely determined by factors that are independent of normal class I expression on the graft.

H2-M3wt-restricted, Listeria monocytogenes-specific CD8 T cells recognize a novel, hydrophobic, protease-resistant, periodate-sensitive antigen.

Mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes (LM) generate H2-M3wt-restricted CD8 effectors which recognize a heat-killed LM-associated antigen (HAA) presented by macrophages. To characterize HAA, we extracted a bioactive component from LM using SDS or NaOH. Extracted HAA aggregated in hydrophilic solvents but dissociated in the presence of SDS into a smaller subunit which migrated in Sephadex G-200 between chymotrypsinogen (25 kDa) and cytochrome c (12.5 kDa). HAA bioactivity and size was unaffected by proteinase K under conditions which degraded virtually all detectable protein. HAA was also unaffected by other proteases, RNase and DNase, but HAA bioactivity was destroyed by periodate, an agent that degrades carbohydrates. These studies demonstrate that H2-M3wt can present a hydrophobic, non-peptide, microbial antigen, probably glycolipid in origin, to CD8 T cells.

Bacterial DNA induces murine interferon-gamma production by stimulation of interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Bacterial, but not mammalian DNA, can induce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in murine splenocytes. To elucidate the basis of this activity, we have assessed in vitro cytokine production by C3H/HeJ splenocytes stimulated with either DNA from Escherichia coli or a synthetic oligonucleotide containing an active palindromic sequence identified from DNA. Both DNAs induced IFN-gamma production, with the requirement for intact DNA shown by sensitivity to DNase digestion. Fractionated cell populations were evaluated to determine direct or indirect cellular effects of the DNA. Although bacterial DNA failed to induce IFN-gamma in the nonadherent cell population, supernatants from adherent cells stimulated by DNA induced IFN-gamma production by these cells. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) was detectable in supernatants from DNA-stimulated splenocytes before IFN-gamma, and neutralizing antibodies directed against IL-12 markedly inhibited the induction of IFN-gamma. Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) antibodies also inhibited IFN-gamma production, and the combination of both anti-IL-12 and anti-TNF-alpha could totally inhibit production of IFN-gamma. Taken together, these results indicate that the stimulation of IFN-gamma production by bacterial DNA is mediated by IL-12 and TNF-alpha and point to macrophages/monocytes as targets of action of this macromolecule.

Analysis of the interrelationship between IL-12, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma production during murine listeriosis.

IL-12, a recently described cytokine, is an important mediator in the early production of IFN-gamma during infection. To evaluate the timing of IL-12 production, and its relationship to TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma production during primary murine listeriosis, we measured cytokine mRNA and protein levels in C57B1/6 mice infected intravenously with Listeria monocytogenes (LM). IL-12 is a disulfide-linked heterodimer containing two chains (designated P35 and P40); however, bioactive cytokine production has been more closely linked with P40 expression. Consequently, we monitored mRNA and protein levels of P40 in the spleen as a marker for IL-12 production in vivo. Splenic P40 mRNA levels (assayed using RNase protection methods) were low in uninfected animals, but increased markedly beginning 15 to 18 hr after LM infection. In sublethally infected animals, P40 mRNA levels remained elevated for 5 days, returning to baseline with the resolution of infection. P40 protein (assayed using an antibody capture ELISA) could be detected in the spleens of LM-infected animals beginning around 18 hr postinfection confirming linkage between P40 mRNA accumulation and the generation of a protein product. In comparing P40 and IFN-gamma mRNA levels in vivo, we found in each case that substantial increases in mRNA accumulation did not appear until 15-18 hr postinfection. In comparable studies using BALB/c animals, cytokine production began slightly earlier (between 12 and 15 hr) but once again P40 and IFN-gamma mRNA levels increased in a coordinated manner. P40 mRNA (like IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNA) only accumulated in animals infused with live, virulent bacteria. Although we could detect no obvious lag between the time of onset of IL-12 and IFN-gamma accumulation in vivo, infusions of anti-IL-12 antibodies markedly reduced IFN-gamma expression implying that IL-12 production precedes and directs IFN-gamma production. TNF-alpha production, on the other hand, was not diminished by anti-IL-12 treatment. Our studies demonstrate that IL-12 generation is an essential step in normal IFN-gamma production during listeriosis, and suggest that IL-12, once produced, may begin enhancing IFN-gamma production in vivo in less than 3 hr.

Cytokine expression in vivo during murine listeriosis. Infection with live, virulent bacteria is required for monokine and lymphokine messenger RNA accumulation in the spleen.

To examine the regulation of cytokine synthesis during murine listeriosis, we have monitored IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta mRNA levels in the spleens of C57B1/6 mice after the i.v. infusion of virulent and nonvirulent preparations of Listeria monocytogenes (LM). Messenger RNA coding for TNF, IL-1, or IFN did not become detectable until approximately 12 to 15 h after the infusion of virulent LM. Levels of each cytokine mRNA then increased synchronously reaching peak or near peak levels around 24 h after infection. Levels gradually decreased over the next 4 to 5 days. Unlike virulent LM, neither heat-killed LM, nor nonvirulent LM variants lacking listeriolysin O, stimulated monokine or IFN mRNA accumulation even when administered in very large doses. To gain perspective concerning the response to LM, we examined the early pattern of cytokine mRNA accumulation induced by Salmonella typhimurium (ST), an intracellular pathogen expressing LPS. We noted at least three significant differences between the cytokine responses to LM and ST: 1) monokine mRNA levels increased much more rapidly (within 1 h) after ST infection; 2) unlike LM, ST retained the capacity to stimulate cytokine mRNA production when injected as heat-killed bacteria; 3) in contrast to LM, ST could not trigger the early IFN production characteristic of LM infection. Our data suggest that monokine and IFN production early in listeriosis are critically linked with the process of bacterial invasion of host cells. The timing and pattern of cytokine mRNA accumulation in this setting is qualitatively different from that induced by LPS. The pathway described in these studies may also play a role in the host cytokine response to other intracellular pathogens as well.

Specialized role for a murine class I-b MHC molecule in prokaryotic host defenses.

Although nonclassical (class I-b) gene products represent the majority of murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, the role of these relatively nonpolymorphic molecules remains uncertain. Recently, one such protein, H-2M3 (formerly designated Hmt), was shown to bind and specifically present N-formylated peptides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Because N-formylation is characteristic of prokaryotic proteins, this MHC molecule may be especially adapted for a role in the mammalian defense against bacterial attack. The current studies demonstrate that an MHC molecule, indistinguishable from H-2M3, presents antigens derived from the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes to Listeria-specific CD8+ cells.

Metabolic requirements for macrophage presentation of Listeria monocytogenes to immune CD8 cells.

Though ingested Ag are readily degraded into peptides within endocytic vesicles, APC usually cannot present these fragments to CD8 cells. Despite this generalization, some exceptions have been noted. For example, murine macrophage targets readily process heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes (HKLM) into a form recognizable by immune CD8 CTL. Using an assay of Listeria-specific, CD8-mediated cytotoxicity to quantitate Ag presentation by C57Bl/6 macrophage targets, we have examined some of the cellular requirements for this form of Ag processing. To assess whether the physical form of the Ag is an important determinant of processing, we compared the ability of macrophages to present intact HKLM, fractionated L. monocytogenes (LM) membranes, and octyl-beta-d-thioglucopyranoside-solubilized extracts of LM membranes. Macrophages presented each Ag form in a similar manner indicating that processing is not critically dependent on the presence of intact bacteria or even on the introduction of Ag in a particulate form. To gain insight into the metabolic requirements for Ag processing, we examined the effects of several inhibitors. As might be expected, listerial Ag presentation was blocked by brefeldin, a known inhibitor of the endogenous pathway of Ag processing. LM Ag presentation, however, was also blocked by inhibitors of endosomal acidification (chloroquine, ammonium chloride, and monensin) and by the acid protease inhibitor pepstatin A, suggesting that endocytic processing may play an essential role in CD8 recognition of this Ag. To formally establish that this pattern of exogenous Ag processing requires the presence of a class I MHC product, we demonstrated that beta-2 microglobulin-deficient macrophages, which lack class I MHC product expression, cannot present HKLM to CD8 cells. However, we could not block Ag presentation by incubating macrophages with monoclonal anti-H-2K or H-2D antibodies, suggesting that LM Ag presentation may be mediated by some other class I MHC product. Additional characterization of this pathway of Ag presentation is warranted in view of its possible role in initiating CD8-mediated immunity against microbial Ag.

Analysis of the time course of IFN-gamma mRNA and protein production during primary murine listeriosis. The immune phase of bacterial elimination is not temporally linked to IFN production in vivo.

IFN-gamma clearly plays an important role in the murine host response against Listeria monocytogenes, but the time course of its production and its precise role in immunity remain controversial. To address these issues, we sequentially monitored IFN production and bacterial accumulation in vivo in C57B1/6 mice during primary listeriosis. IFN-gamma mRNA levels (measured by Northern blot analysis of freshly isolated splenic RNA) and serum IFN (measured by ELISA) were both maximal on day 1 of infection, decreasing steadily after day 2 to barely detectable levels by days 4 to 6. Significantly, there was no direct relationship between IFN levels and listericidal activity in vivo. Between days 1 and 3, the period of maximal IFN production, host bacterial load (assessed by quantitating live L. monocytogenes/spleen) increased approximately 10- to 50-fold. On the other hand, during the immune phase of infection (between days 5 and 7), a period when both IFN mRNA and protein were barely detectable, the host bacterial load decreased 1,000- to 10,000-fold. The paucity of IFN production in vivo during the immune phase was unexpected in light of previous reports demonstrating abundant in vitro lymphokine release by splenocytes isolated during the same time period. By direct comparisons of IFN production in vivo and in vitro, however, we could show that the late (days 6-7) peak of IFN release observed in Ag-stimulated cultures was an in vitro artifact. By contrast the pattern of spontaneous IFN release (obtained when freshly isolated cells were incubated in the absence of Ag) conformed more closely to that observed in vivo. Because listerial Ag stimulated vigorous lymphokine release in vitro, we sought to determine whether an analogous effect could be observed in vivo. In fact, even the infusion of very large doses of live bacteria (5-20,000,000/mouse) did not stimulate endogenous IFN-gamma production in mice infected for 6 to 7 days. These studies suggest three major conclusions: 1) IFN production in vivo occurs primarily during the early phase of listeriosis; 2) the dramatic decrease in bacterial numbers observed late in infection cannot be directly attributed to increased IFN production by LM-immune T cells; 3) although Ag-driven cultures of freshly isolated cells can provide useful information about the potential lymphokine-producing capabilities of Ag-specific T cells, these results have limited relevance in understanding patterns of T cell lymphokine production in vivo.

MHC-unrestricted transfer of antilisterial immunity by freshly isolated immune CD8 spleen cells.

Immune CD8 cells, which play an essential role in the adoptive transfer of antilisterial immunity, can specifically lyse Listeria-bearing macrophages in vitro in an MHC-unrestricted manner. In contrast, the adoptive transfer of immunity by unseparated immune lymphocytes has been reported to be MHC-restricted. To address the restriction properties of CD8 effectors in vivo, we assessed their efficacy in protecting syngeneic and allogeneic recipients. Protection was determined by comparing the number of viable splenic Listeria in naive mice and in recipients of 60 million CD8-enriched, L3T4-depleted, Listeria-immune spleen cells, 2 days after the infusion of 10,000 Listeria. Donor cells from B6 (H-2b) mice transferred about 4 logs of protection in syngeneic recipients and more than 2 logs in allogeneic B10.A (H-2a) or B10.BR (H-2k) mice. Immune B10.A CD8 cells transferred equivalent protection to B6 mice. Protection was almost completely abrogated by the lysis or lethal irradiation of CD8 cells before transfer in vivo. On the other hand, the depletion of macrophages or NK cells did not impair adoptive transfer. By comparison, nonimmune CD8 cells from normal mice or from mice stimulated with an irrelevant Ag in vivo did not transfer substantial immunity to allogeneic recipients. We have noted previously that protective CD8 cells inhibit phagocyte accumulation in the spleen of Listeria-infected syngeneic recipients. In the present studies, we observed similar changes in adoptively immunized allogeneic mice. Reduced phagocyte accumulation may reflect Listeria-dependent lysis of infected phagocytes by immune CD8 cells. In support of this, we showed that Listeria-immune donor cells rapidly acquired the capacity to mediate Listeria-dependent, MHC-unrestricted lysis of macrophages after incubation with small amounts of IL-2 in vitro. In sum, our data establish that Listeria-immune CD8 cells can function in vivo in MHC incompatible hosts, and indirectly support the hypothesis that the destruction of infected phagocytes may be important in T cell-mediated immunity against Listeria and perhaps other intracellular pathogens.

Genetic control of inflammatory arthritis in congenic lpr mice.

To determine the genetic requirements for the development of inflammatory arthritis in MRL-lpr/lpr mice, clinical, serologic, and pathologic features of lpr/lpr and +/+ mice of MRL, B6, C3H, and AKR strains were studied. Arthritis was evaluated by histopathologic examination of the knee joint, while sera were tested for the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-DNA activity by ELISA. Of the strains tested to age 7 months, only the MRL-lpr/lpr mice developed histologic evidence of arthritis. All lpr mice, however, produced both IgM RF and IgG RF, although amounts varied among strains. These results indicate that the lpr gene as well as another gene(s) in the MRL background are necessary for the development of inflammatory arthritis and that this lesion may be independent of RF production.

Comparison of the effects of IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha on phagocyte accumulation and murine antibacterial immunity.

IL-1 and TNF both are reported to increase host antibacterial resistance. To directly compare their effects on tissue phagocyte accumulation and antibacterial activity, we infused recombinant human IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha into C3H/HeJ mice. Although IL-1, at a dose of 1 microgram/day, did not significantly elevate blood neutrophil concentrations, it increased the number of PMNs within the spleen three to fourfold within 2 days. Similar neutrophil accumulation also occurred in the lungs, bone marrow, and liver of treated animals without detectable changes in macrophage numbers. IL-1 also increased myelopoiesis in the spleen by Days 3-4 of infusions. The capacity of splenocytes from IL-1-treated animals to kill Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and to suppress listeria proliferation in vivo after the intravenous infusion of bacteria both rose in parallel with PMN accumulation. Comparable doses of TNF also enhanced listeria killing in vivo but in contrast to IL-1, it significantly depressed peripheral blood neutrophil counts, and inhibited splenic neutrophil accumulation and in vitro listericidal activity in listeria-infected mice. Our results suggest that IL-1 enhances host resistance to infection by increasing tissue neutrophil accumulation while TNF protects by a different mechanism, despite a net inhibitory effect on neutrophil accumulation.

Characterization of the pattern of inflammatory cell influx and cytokine production during the murine host response to Listeria monocytogenes.

To examine the physiologic mechanisms responsible for enhanced antibacterial activity during infection with Listeria monocytogenes (LM), we developed an in vitro assay for quantifying leukocyte anti-listerial activity (LAA) in spleen and bone marrow. When LAA was serially measured in C57B1/6 (B6) mice infected i.v. with LM, two distinct phases of response were observed. Splenic LAA increased four- to fivefold during the first 2 days after i.v. infusion of LM (from 2.4 +/- 1.8 U/spleen before infection to 11.8 +/- 2.4, p less than 0.01), dropped significantly on days 3 to 4, and increased again to similar levels from days 5 to 7. A fall in bone marrow activity from the 3.5 +/- 1.5 to 1.6 +/- 0.7 U/mouse (two femurs) coincided with the initial rise in splenocyte activity, and was followed by a gradual return to base line. Bacterial containment in vivo correlated well with splenic LAA in vitro. Carbonyl iron pretreatment of cells from both normal and LM-infected animals ablated LAA, suggesting the effectors were phagocytic. LAA in normal spleens was unaffected by 400 rad; LAA of normal marrow as well as splenocyte and marrow cell suspensions obtained 2 days after LM infection was markedly reduced by this dose of irradiation. Quantitative studies of spleen composition revealed a 10-fold increase in polymorphonuclear neutrophils between day 0 and day 2 followed by a marked decrease on day 3; this pattern closely resembled the changes in LAA observed during the same period. In contrast, splenic macrophage number did not increase from base line until after day 3. To look for evidence of changes in the efficiency of bacterial killing by phagocytes during infection, we calculated LAA/splenic phagocyte. The efficiency of killing increased threefold over base line within 1 day after LM infusion but we detected no additional increases later in infection. Because cytokines may have mediated some or all of the changes observed, we measured the capacity of splenocytes obtained at various times after infection to produce IL-2, TNF, and IFN-gamma in vitro. TNF activity increased in parallel with the first and second LAA peaks, whereas increases in IL-2 and IFN-gamma activity were associated only with the second.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The effects of an anti-I-Ab antibody on murine host resistance to Listeria monocytogenes.

Infection with Listeria monocytogenes stimulates T cell proliferation and T cell-derived lymphokine production. The release of lymphokines, in turn, "activates" macrophages, enhancing their bactericidal capacity. Because prior studies suggest that I-A+ accessory cells play a critical role in this pathway, we assessed the effects of an anti-I-A antibody on the murine host resistance to listerial infection. To this end, we infused Listeria into control C57BL/6 mice (I-Ab haplotype) and mice of the same strain which had been pretreated 18 hr earlier with D3137 (a monoclonal IgG2a anti-I-Ab,d antibody). Preliminary studies demonstrated that this antibody can markedly inhibit antigen-induced proliferation of Listeria-dependent T cells in vitro and (at a dose of 1 mg/animal) can markedly reduce I-A expression on splenocytes in vivo. Even though D3137 pretreatment prevented the splenomegaly normally observed after Listeria infusion into mice, it protected animals infused with otherwise lethal concentrations of Listeria. Because antibody-treated animals had sevenfold fewer organisms in their spleens 18 hr after infection and 1000-fold fewer organisms than control animals 3 days after infection, improved survival resulted from an antibody-induced increase in the bactericidal capacity of the MPS. Protection was not noted when C1.18.4 (an IgG2a myeloma protein without known antibody activity) was infused into C57BL/6 mice or when D3137 was infused in B10.BR (I-Ak) mice. D3137 also protected (B10 X B10.BR)F1 mice (which are hybrids bearing I-Ab and I-Ak), suggesting that complete blockade of antigen presentation is not a prerequisite for its protective action. Further studies into the mechanism for these effects may provide new insights into the pathophysiology of MPS activation in response to immunologic challenge.

Comparison of intravenous gamma globulin and a monoclonal anti-Fc receptor antibody as inhibitors of immune clearance in vivo in mice.

Fc-receptor-mediated clearance and nonspecific phagocytic clearance were assessed after the infusion of monomeric human IgG, heat-aggregated human IgG, and a monoclonal anti-mouse macrophage FcII receptor antibody (2.4G2) into normal mice. Each agent blocked Fc-receptor function in vivo, but 2.4G2 was much more potent per microgram than the other agents. Monomeric IgG in blocking doses did not affect other aspects of immune function. In contrast, aggregated IgG, and to a lesser extent, 2.4G2 reduced serum complement levels. In addition, these agents also caused moderate reductions in nonspecific phagocytic function. Monoclonal anti-mouse macrophage C3bi receptor antibody (Mac-1), another monoclonal antibody which binds to macrophage CR3 receptors without interfering with Fc-receptor function, also reduced serum complement and inhibited nonspecific phagocytic function. Complement depletion alone (produced by infusion of cobra venom factor) could not account for the observed changes in Fc receptor or nonspecific phagocytic function. We conclude that both monomeric IgG and anti-Fc-receptor antibodies can markedly inhibit Fc-receptor function in vivo; however, the pattern of physiologic changes produced by these agents differs.

The clearance of a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody following administration of DNA in normal and autoimmune mice.

To study the assembly of DNA-anti-DNA complexes in vivo, we have measured the clearance from blood and organ localization of a murine IgG2a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody, called 6/0, following the infusion of DNA intravenously or intraperitoneally. Intraperitoneal DNA caused a profound acceleration of 6/0 anti-DNA clearance that was dose dependent and demonstrable after the infusion of as little as 1.9 microgram per gram of body weight of single-stranded DNA. The antibody was cleared primarily in the liver without increased deposition in the kidney. Intraperitoneal infusions of DNA also accelerated the clearance of 6/0 in autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mice. In contrast, intravenous DNA given in comparable doses caused only a slight increase in 6/0 antibody clearance; this accelerated clearance was seen only at low antigen doses and only during the first 10 min following DNA infusion. Using double-radiolabeling techniques, 6/0 and Cl.18, an IgG2ak myeloma protein without anti-DNA activity, were found to disappear from blood at a comparable rate in both B6D2 mice and MRL-lpr/lpr mice. These results suggest that the DNA-anti-DNA immune complexes can form in vivo but that this process is profoundly affected by the manner in which DNA enters the circulation. In addition, the results suggest that DNA-dependent clearance is not a major pathway for anti-DNA metabolism in normal or at least one strain of autoimmune mice.