Functional significance of varied quantitative and qualitative expression of HLA-A2.1 antigens in determining the susceptibility of cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

To determine whether varied quantitative HLA expression affects the susceptibility of target cells to CTLs, a panel of 15 EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing a fivefold difference of surface HLA-A2.1 antigens were employed. The susceptibility of these cell lines to HLA-A2.1-restricted and influenza virus matrix peptide-specific CTLs was correlated with the amounts of HLA-A2.1 antigens expressed on their surface. The results show a linear correlation between both parameters using exogenous viral peptide. The same linear correlation was observed when target cells infected with influenza virus were studied. These findings support the hypothesis that the amount of HLA antigens expressed on the cell surface is functionally significant in determining the susceptibility of target cells to CTLs. During our study, we also found that two HLA-A-2.1-positive cell lines were unresponsive to the CTL. Further investigation of the amino acid sequences of these cell lines reveals that their HLA-A2.1 antigens belong to the HLA-A0207 subtype which is different from HLA-A0201(A2.1) by one nucleotide. This difference results in an amino acid substitution from tyrosine to cysteine at position 99 of HLA-A2.1 heavy chains. Using a peptide-induced reconstitution assay, it was shown that failure of the peptide binding is responsible for the absence of cytotoxicity. This finding supports the hypothesis that amino acid 99 plays an important role in determining the peptide-binding specificity of HLA-A2 molecules.

Mutation of the alpha 2 domain disulfide bridge of the class I molecule HLA-A*0201. Effect on maturation and peptide presentation.

A combination of saturation and site-directed mutagenesis was utilized to disrupt the alpha 2 domain disulfide bridge of HLA-A*0201. Mutation of cysteine 101 to a serine (C101S) or of cysteine 164 to alanine (C164A) decreased the rate of maturation of the heavy chain, the total amount of mature heavy chain within the cell, and the level of surface expression. Cells expressing these genes and loaded with a synthetic peptide derived from the influenza A matrix protein (58-66) were recognized poorly by HLA-A*0201-restricted, peptide-specific CTLs. Cells expressing mutant HLA-A*0201 loaded with a synthetic peptide derived from the HIV-1 pol protein (476-484) were not recognized by pol IV-9-specific CTLs. Mutant C164A cells infected with influenza virus were partially recognized by influenza matrix peptide-specific CTLs, while C101S cells were not lysed. Surprisingly, endogenous peptide loading of cells expressing mutant HLA-A*0201 using a minigene coding for either the influenza A matrix peptide 58-66, or HIV-1 pol peptide 476-484, resulted in efficient CTL recognition. This suggests different structural constraints for peptide binding in the endoplasmic reticulum during biosynthesis and for binding to exported molecules on the cells surface.

Recognition by HLA-A2-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes of endogenously generated and exogenously provided synthetic peptide analogues of the influenza A virus matrix protein.

Experiments were carried out to determine whether complexes between MHC class I molecules and synthetic peptides are representative of those formed under more physiologically relevant conditions, with peptides derived intracellularly from processed antigens. Lysis of cells sensitized with exogenously provided and endogenously generated peptide analogues of the optimal nonameric peptide 58-66 (GILGFVFTL; derived from the influenza virus matrix protein) was compared. Endogenous loading was accomplished by expressing minigene DNA coding for alanine-substituted analogues of peptide 58-66 in HLA-A2-positive cells. Susceptibility to lysis by HLA-A2-restricted, peptide-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes was compared with lysis of cells sensitized with the same synthetic peptides. Although results were quite comparable, differences were observed. The endogenously presented analogues 58-66L60A, G61A, T65A, and L66A were recognized more efficiently than the corresponding exogenously presented analogues. This difference in recognition was most striking for peptide 58-66G61A. These results indicate the need for caution in using synthetic peptides in defining peptide binding motifs. Additional experiments with endogenously expressed analogues of 58-66 with substitutions other than alanine were carried out to define the interaction between this peptide and HLA-A2. Results are compatible with the interpretation that residues 58, 59, and 60 interact with pockets A, B, and D, respectively, in the HLA-A2 binding groove and that these interactions contribute to peptide binding.

Presentation of endogenous peptides to MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes in transport deletion mutant T2 cells.

The ability of minigene-encoded viral peptide epitopes to be presented by class I molecules in the absence of MHC-encoded transporters has been evaluated in mutant T2 cells. These cells have a large deletion in the class II MHC region that includes the known transporter protein for antigenic peptides and proteasome genes and they are defective in presenting viral epitopes to CTL. T2 cells that express minigenes encoding the influenza virus matrix peptide 58-66 (GILGFVFTL) and two HTLV 1 Tax peptides 11-19 (LLFGYPVYV) and 12-19 were lysed by HLA-A2-restricted peptide-specific CTL. Minigene expression of a HLA-A2-restricted HIV reverse transcriptase peptide 476-484 (ILKEPVHGV) with three charged residues sensitized T2 cells poorly for lysis by HIV-specific CTL unless the peptide was preceded by an endoplasmic reticulum translocation signal sequence. Expression of an influenza virus nucleoprotein peptide 383-391 (SRYWAIRTR) with three charged arginine residues did sensitize HLA-B27+ T2 cells for lysis by peptide-specific CTL. These and other results with endogenously expressed peptide analogs in which hydrophobic and charged amino acids were interchanged demonstrate that antigenic peptides can be translocated from the cytoplasm into the class I Ag presentation pathway independent of MHC-encoded transporters; and that peptide hydrophobicity appears not to be a major determinant in selecting peptides for this alternate pathway.

Endogenous loading of HLA-A2 molecules with an analog of the influenza virus matrix protein-derived peptide and its inhibition by an exogenous peptide antagonist.

Episomal plasmids (p8901) with minigenes coding for the influenza virus matrix peptide amino acids 57-68 (KGILGFVFTLTV; referred to as M57-68) or coding for a modified peptide were introduced into HLA-A2-positive target cells. The association of these peptides, synthesized in the cytoplasm, with HLA-A2 and the expression of this complex at the cell surface was evaluated with HLA-A2-restricted CTL specific for the influenza virus matrix peptide M57-68. Cells expressing M57-68 were lysed effectively, as were cells expressing a peptide that retained residues 60-64 with seven flanking alanine residues (AAALGFVFAAAA). An exogenously added synthetic analog of peptide M57-68 that inhibited sensitization of targets with synthetic peptide M57-68 also inhibited lysis of cells expressing the minigene coding for the peptide with seven alanine substitutions. These results demonstrate the utility of minigene DNA constructs in creating experimental systems to develop agents to diminish the severity of CTL-mediated tissue damage in autoimmune diseases and graft rejection.

The minimum peptide epitope from the influenza virus matrix protein. Extra and intracellular loading of HLA-A2.

Influenza virus matrix protein-derived peptides were synthesized based on the amino acid motifs for HLA-A2 bound self peptides. Among these peptides a nonamer (amino acids 58 through 66: G I L G F V F T L) was found to be 100 to 1000 times more effective than the commonly used peptide 57-68 (K G I L G F V F T L T V) in sensitizing HLA-A2+ target cells to lysis by influenza virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The sensitizing activity of the 12-mer 57-68 was not due to contamination with shorter and more active peptides. Intracellular expression of peptide 58-66 (mediated by a stable expression plasmid with DNA coding for this peptide) also sensitized HLA-A2+ cells to lysis. Peptide 58-66 stimulated human PBMC to generate CTL that recognized peptides 58-66 and 57-68 in association with HLA-A2.

Soluble HLA-A2.1 restricted peptides that are recognized by influenza virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The influenza A virus matrix protein derived peptide with amino acids 57-68 (Lys-Gly-Ileu-Leu-Gly-Phe-Val-Phe-Thr-Leu-Thr-Val) is recognized by influenza virus HLA-A2 restricted CTL. Because of the large number of hydrophobic residues this peptide is very insoluble. Substitution with a number of polar amino acids resulted in a soluble peptide (Lys-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Phe-Val-Phe-Thr-Leu-Asp-Lys) that was very effective in sensitizing HLA-A2 positive target cells. Further substitution of threonine in position 65 with lysine resulted in a soluble antagonist peptide that inhibited sensitization. Both agonist and antagonist peptides retained 20% of their biological activity when tyrosine was added at the N terminus. Soluble radio-iodinated peptides can now be prepared that will be useful reagents to study the interaction of peptides and class I molecules.

A human monoclonal antibody that protects mice against Pseudomonas-induced pneumonia.

X-linked immunodeficient (xid) (CBA/N female x DBA/2 male) F1 male mice, when treated with cyclophosphamide, were much more susceptible to challenge with aerosolized Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 11 than were control F1 female littermates. Mortality of F1 males was decreased significantly after intravenous administration of human P. aeruginosa serotype 11 O-specific monoclonal antibody. Antibody treatment reduced bacterial titers in the lungs as well as the severity of Pseudomonas-induced lung histopathology.

Heterohybridomas that secrete high levels of pseudomonas-specific therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies: their generation and large scale growth in an automated hollow fiber cell culture system.

Fusion of lymphoblastoid cell lines that produce human monoclonal antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the human/mouse heteromyeloma SHM-D33 generated heterohybrids that were stable and secreted antibody in the range of 20 to 300 micrograms/ml. One of the hybridoma cell lines ws adapted to serum-free medium and maintained for 60 days in an automated hollow fiber system. During that time, 3 g of antibody was produced. Such yields make it possible to evaluate these monoclonals for their therapeutic potential in patients at risk for Pseudomonas infections.

Human monoclonal antibodies that protect mice against challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Lymphocytes from healthy volunteers and from cystic fibrosis patients were transformed with Epstein-Barr virus and cultured at a limiting dilution to generate lymphoblastoid cell lines that secreted human monoclonal antibodies specific for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Three cell lines (RM5, FDD7, and 11F9) produced immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody species that reacted specifically with P. aeruginosa Fisher immunotypes 2, 4, and 5, respectively, and with LPS extracted from these immunotypes. A fourth cell line (9H10) produced a single IgM antibody species that recognized P. aeruginosa immunotypes 3, 6, and 7 and LPS extracted from them. Monoclonal antibodies secreted by cell lines RM5, FDD7, and 11F9 protected neutropenic mice prophylactically against challenge with P. aeruginosa immunotypes 2, 4, and 5, and those secreted by 9H10 protected against P. aeruginosa immunotypes 3 and 6 but did not protect against immunotype 7. In vivo experiments indicated that antibodies protected mice against infection by increasing the rate of bacterial clearance.

X-linked immunodeficient mice as a model for testing the protective efficacy of monoclonal antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

(DBA/N[female] X CBA/2[male])F1 males have been reported to be deficient in producing antibodies against a number of antigens, including carbohydrates (I. Scher, Adv. Immunol. 35:1-71, 1982). We show that F1 male mice, in contrast to females, made less lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific antibodies after immunization with heat-inactivated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and had significantly less naturally occurring LPS-specific antibodies. Furthermore, neutropenic males were 50 to 1,000 times more sensitive to challenge with representative isolates belonging to the seven Fisher immunotypes. Administration to neutropenic F1 males of a human monoclonal antibody specific for the O carbohydrates of P. aeruginosa immunotype 2 LPS or administration of serum from rabbits immunized with heat-inactivated P. aeruginosa immunotype 1 raised the level of resistance to bacterial challenge close to that of females. The results show that the X-linked immunodeficient mouse is an excellent model with which to test the protective efficacy of P. aeruginosa-specific monoclonal antibodies.