Potential regulatory role of in vitro-expanded Vδ1 T cells from human peripheral blood.

γδ T cells represent a relevant proportion of T lymphocytes that express T cell receptors (TCRs) encoded by the γ and δ T cell receptor genes. Whereas the most circulating γδ T cell type, Vδ2 T cells, has been described and studied intensively, the potential role of Vδ1 T cells remains largely unclear. Here, we identified that expanded peripheral blood Vδ1 T cells stimulated with anti-human TCR Vδ1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in vitro predominantly expressed forkhead box p3 (Foxp3). In addition, these cells also expressed other regulatory T cell-related molecules, such as CD25, glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related protein and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), and held the potent capacity for the production of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). These autocrine and/or paracrine TGF-ß1 could bind TGF-ß1 receptors on Vδ1 T cells and induce sustained Foxp3 expression. Moreover, Foxp3 expression coincided with high CD25 expression. CD25(high) Vδ1 T cells exhibited stronger suppression on CD4(+) T cell proliferation compared with TGF-ß1-induced CD25(high) CD4(+) regulatory T cells. Therefore, our phenotypic and functional analyses first demonstrate the potential regulatory property of anti-human TCR Vδ1 mAb-activated Vδ1 T cells. These results will broaden our understanding about the role of peripheral blood Vδ1 T cells under physical and pathological conditions.

Abnormal expression of CD43 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies indicate that CD43 plays a role in regulating the adhesion of lymphocytes, cell mutation and activation, however, little is known about its effect on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was designed to explore the clinical significance of CD43 in SLE patients. METHODS: We used microarray and real-time PCR to detect the mRNA and protein expression of magnetic bead sorted T cells and B cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients, and analyzed the relationship between CD43 and the clinical indexes. RESULTS: Both microarray and real-time PCR results showed that CD43 mRNA was significantly decreased in PBMCs of SLE patients compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between lupus nephritis and non-lupus nephritis patients, and neuropsychiatric and non-neuropsychiatric patients. CD43 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in T cells but not in B-cells in SLE patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.01). Compared with healthy controls, the percentage of CD43(+) cells in the PBMCs of SLE was significantly decreased (P = 0.004), and the CD43 fluorescence intensity in CD3(+)/CD43(+) cells and CD19(+)/CD43(+) cells was also significantly weaker than in healthy controls (P = 0.039 and 0.003). There was no significant difference in the percentage of CD3(+)/CD43(+) cells, CD19(+)/CD43(+) cells between the two groups. The CD43 fluorescence intensity in CD3(+)/CD43(+) cells was inversely correlated with the levels of IgG and IgM (r = -0.8 and -0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to healthy controls, both CD43 mRNA and protein expressions were reduced in T cells from patients with SLE, and were inversely correlated with IgG.

Aberrant CD200/CD200R1 expression and function in systemic lupus erythematosus contributes to abnormal T-cell responsiveness and dendritic cell activity.

INTRODUCTION: CD200 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that can regulate the activation threshold of inflammatory immune responses, polarize cytokine production, and maintain immune homeostasis. We therefore evaluated the functional status of CD200/CD200 receptor 1 (CD200R1) interactions in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Serum CD200 level was detected by ELISA. The expression of CD200/CD200R1 by CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) was examined by flow cytometry, and then compared between SLE patients and healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester and annexin V/propidium iodide for evaluation of the effect of CD200 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, the effect of CD200 on DC function was determined by transwell migration assay as well as by measurement of binding and phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. RESULTS: In SLE patients, the number of CD200+ cells and the level of soluble CD200 were significantly higher than in healthy controls, whereas the expression of CD200R1 by CD4+ T cells and DCs was decreased. Furthermore, the increased CD200 expression by early apoptotic cells contributed to their diminished binding and phagocytosis by DCs in SLE. Importantly, the engagement of CD200 receptor on CD4+ T cells with CD200-Fc fusion protein in vitro reduced the differentiation of T-helper type 17 cells and reversed the defective induction of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ T cells by transforming growth factor beta in SLE patients. Conversely, blockade of CD200-CD200R1 interaction with anti-CD200R1 antibody promoted CD4+ T-cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: CD200 and CD200R1 expression and function are abnormal in SLE and may contribute to the immunologic abnormalities in SLE.

p53 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes can regulate T helper cell functions in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: p53 is a tumor suppressor and plays a key role in regulating cell hyperplasia, repairing DNA and inducing apoptosis. This study was to investigate p53 expression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and its effect on CD4(+) T lymphocytes from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Human FLS were transfected with p53 siRNA and cocultured with CD4(+) T lymphocytes from patients with active RA. The expressions of osteoprotegerin and interleukin (IL)-6 were detected in p53 siRNA and scramble siRNA-transfected FLS. In addition, protein levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-17, IL-4 and CD25 as well as mRNAs of IFN-γ, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor (ROR)-γt, IL-17 and Foxp3 in cocultured CD4(+) T lymphocytes were also measured. RESULTS: IL-6 decreased in p53-knockdown FLS while osteoprotegerin expression was not altered. FLS with p53 deletion significantly increased the production of IL-17 and IFN-γ by CD4(+) T cells and upregulated Foxp3 mRNA expression without effects on the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(high) T lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: p53 in FLS might regulate Th1 and Th17 functions in patients with RA and participate in the pathogenesis of RA.

Activity of recombinant human interleukin-15 against tumor recurrence and metastasis in mice.

Transplantable experimental tumor models were constructed to study the activities of recombinant human interleukin-15 (rhIL-15) against tumor recurrence and metastasis. The results showed that tumor nodule formation was retarded and tumor growth was inhibited in the subcutaneous tumor model of LA795 lung adenocarcinoma after treatment with rhIL-15, and the survival rate of T739 tumor-bearing mice treated with rhIL-15 was much higher than that of mice treated with either saline or with the same dose of rhIL-2. This indicats that rhIL-15 had better antitumor effect than rhIL-2 at the same dose level. In some rhIL-15 treated mice, the tumor cells inoculated subcutaneously were eradicated and there was no tumor formation even 138 days after tumor cell inoculation. The tumor-free mice were rechallenged with live tumor cells and no tumor reoccurred in the following two months in all of these mice, indicating that long-lasting antitumor systemic immunity developed. It was also shown that tumor recurrence and metastasis were inhibited markedly after treatment with rhIL-15, but not with the same dose of rhIL-2, in both subcutaneously and intravenously disseminated tumor models of LA795 lung adenocarcinoma. Simultaneously, the CTL and NK cell activities of the splenocytes obtained from tumor-bearing mice that had been treated with either rhIL-15 or rhIL-2 were both markedly enhanced. However, the enhancement of CTL and NK cell activities was more significant in rhIL-15 treated mice than that in rhIL-2 treated mice. This suggests that the anti-tumor effect of rhIL-15 in vivo was achieved by enhancing the CTL and NK cell activities in tumor immune response.

[Model of B immunoblastic lymphomas in the Hu-PBL-SCID mice].

OBJECTIVE: To constitute a model of B immunoblastic lymphomas in the Hu-PBL-SCID mice. METHODS: The SCID mice were reconstituted by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 5 x 10(7) human lymphocytes from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seronegative individuals. After one week, the SCID mice were inoculated with EBV by i.p. injection, and subjected to the investigation of whether there was any tumor in the abdomen of such SCID mice four weeks later. The characteristics of the found tumor was observed by the methods of Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain, immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the control groups, all the EBV-infected Hu-PBL-SCID mice had abdominal solid tumors [(32 +/- 12.5) mm3] developed, often located in the liver. HE staining and immunohistochemical staining showed the tumors were human B cell lymphomas. EBV DNA could be detected in the tumors by the PCR. CONCLUSIONS: The model of B immunoblastic lymphomas in the Hu-PBL-SCID mice is successfully constituted, and may well be useful to the human tumor immunological study.