Palivizumab epitope-displaying virus-like particles protect rodents from RSV challenge.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of serious viral bronchiolitis in infants, young children, and the elderly. Currently, there is not an FDA-approved vaccine available for RSV, though the mAb palivizumab is licensed to reduce the incidence of RSV disease in premature or at-risk infants. The palivizumab epitope is a well-characterized, approximately 24-aa helix-loop-helix structure on the RSV fusion (F) protein (F254-277). Here, we genetically inserted this epitope and multiple site variants of this epitope within a versatile woodchuck hepadnavirus core-based virus-like particle (WHcAg-VLP) to generate hybrid VLPs that each bears 240 copies of the RSV epitope in a highly immunogenic arrayed format. A challenge of such an epitope-focused approach is that to be effective, the conformational F254-277 epitope must elicit antibodies that recognize the intact virus. A number of hybrid VLPs containing RSV F254-277 were recognized by palivizumab in vitro and elicited high-titer and protective neutralizing antibody in rodents. Together, the results from this proof-of-principle study suggest that the WHcAg-VLP technology may be an applicable approach to eliciting a response to other structural epitopes.

Autoimmunogenicity of the helix-loop-helix DNA-binding domain.

Nonimmunogenic character of native DNA, and its high immunogenicity when presented in complex with the DNA-binding proteins indicate that the latter might contain molecular triggers of anti-DNA response. To find if this is the case, we have evaluated the autoimmunogenic potential of the main DNA-binding domain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase that belongs to the canonical helix-loop-helix type. BALB/c mice were immunized with a peptide representing the domain, alone or in complex with the fragmented human DNA in the presence of an adjuvant. Mice were assessed for specific antibodies, autoantibodies against a panel of self-antigens; glomerular immunoglobulin deposition; and for the signs of autoimmune disease, such as proteinuria, and changes in the blood components. Immunization with the adjuvanted peptide-DNA complex induced autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA, histones, heterochromatin, and kidney proteins; glomerular IgG and IgA deposition; proteinuria; thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Altogether, this identifies the helix-loop-helix DNA-binding domain as one of the molecular triggers of autoimmunity to DNA and DNA-associated proteins. The experiments cast new light on the role of the DNA-binding retroviral proteins in the induction of autoimmunity, and on the origins of autoimmune complications in the microbial infections in general. It also implies that choosing the DNA-binding proteins as vaccine candidates should be done with precaution.

The helix-loop-helix motif at the N terminus of HalI is essential for its immunity function against halocin C8.

Halocin C8 (HalC8) is a stable microhalocin exhibiting strong antimicrobial activity against a wide range of haloarchaea. HalI, a 207-amino-acid peptide derived from the N terminus of the HalC8 preproprotein, is the immunity protein of HalC8. In this study, the molecular mechanism of the immunity function of HalI was investigated. Both pull-down and surface plasmon resonance assays revealed that HalI directly interacted with HalC8, and a mixture of purified HalI and HalC8 readily formed a heterocomplex, which was verified by gel filtration. Interestingly, HalC8 tended to form a self-associated complex, and one immunity protein likely sequestered multiple halocins. Significantly, the helix-loop-helix (HLH) motif containing a 4-amino-acid repeat (RELA) at the N terminus of HalI played a key role in its immunity activity. Disruption of the HLH motif or mutagenesis of the key residues of the RELA repeat resulted in loss of both the immunity function and the ability of HalI to bind to HalC8. These results demonstrated that HalI sequestered the activity of HalC8 through specific and direct binding.

Transcription factor Tfec contributes to the IL-4-inducible expression of a small group of genes in mouse macrophages including the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor.

Expression of the mouse transcription factor EC (Tfec) is restricted to the myeloid compartment, suggesting a function for Tfec in the development or function of these cells. However, mice lacking Tfec develop normally, indicating a redundant role for Tfec in myeloid cell development. We now report that Tfec is specifically induced in bone marrow-derived macrophages upon stimulation with the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, or LPS. LPS induced a rapid and transient up-regulation of Tfec mRNA expression and promoter activity, which was dependent on a functional NF-kappaB site. IL-4, however, induced a rapid, but long-lasting, increase in Tfec mRNA, which, in contrast to LPS stimulation, also resulted in detectable levels of Tfec protein. IL-4-induced transcription of Tfec was absent in macrophages lacking Stat6, and its promoter depended on two functional Stat6-binding sites. A global comparison of IL-4-induced genes in both wild-type and Tfec mutant macrophages revealed a surprisingly mild phenotype with only a few genes affected by Tfec deficiency. These included the G-CSFR (Csf3r) gene that was strongly up-regulated by IL-4 in wild-type macrophages and, to a lesser extent, in Tfec mutant macrophages. Our study also provides a general definition of the transcriptome in alternatively activated mouse macrophages and identifies a large number of novel genes characterizing this cell type.

Early B cell factor promotes B lymphopoiesis with reduced interleukin 7 responsiveness in the absence of E2A.

The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors encoded by the E2A gene function at the apex of a transcriptional hierarchy involving E2A, early B cell factor (EBF), and Pax5, which is essential for B lymphopoiesis. In committed B lineage progenitors, E2A proteins have also been shown to regulate many lineage-associated genes. Herein, we demonstrate that the block in B lymphopoiesis imposed by the absence of E2A can be overcome by expression of EBF, but not Pax5, indicating that EBF is the essential target of E2A required for development of B lineage progenitors. Our data demonstrate that EBF, in synergy with low levels of alternative E2A-related proteins (E proteins), is sufficient to promote expression of most B lineage genes. Remarkably, however, we find that E2A proteins are required for interleukin 7-dependent proliferation due, in part, to a role for E2A in optimal expression of N-myc. Therefore, high levels of E protein activity are essential for the activation of EBF and N-myc, whereas lower levels of E protein activity, in synergy with other B lineage transcription factors, are sufficient for expression of most B lineage genes.

Impairment of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in Id2 deficient mice.

BACKGROUND: Id2, an inhibitor of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, regulates cell differentiation. Id2-/- mice exhibit a variety of phenotypes in the immune system. AIMS: In this study we investigated whether Id2 plays a role in intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), which constitute the main defence against pathogens in the intestinal tract. METHODS: Flow cytometry and bone marrow transplantation were used to analyse and characterise subsets of IELs of Id2-/- mice. Gene expression was analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Intestinal barrier function was evaluated by treating mice with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). RESULTS: Among the four members of the Id gene family, Id2 was selectively expressed in all T cell subsets in the small intestinal IELs. Id2-/- mice showed alteration in the proportions of T cell subsets and a substantial reduction in the number of IELs, especially those of the CD4+ and CD8 alpha beta+ T cell subsets, indicating a more pronounced effect on thymus derived IELs. Expression of alphaE integrin was reduced in CD4+ and CD8 alpha beta+ T cell subsets in IELs of Id2-/- mice. IELs isolated from C57BL/6 mice reconstituted with Id2-/- bone marrow cells showed a similar phenotype to that of Id2-/- mice, indicating that the defects are intrinsic to bone marrow derived cells. Expression of genes encoding intestinal epithelial cell derived cytokines was reduced in Id2-/- mice. The 5-FU treatment revealed impaired intestinal barrier function of Id2-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS: The Id2 gene is essential for constituting the intestinal mucosal barrier, particularly with respect to IELs. Id2 null mutant mice may provide a good experimental model for studying the ontogeny of IELs and intestinal inflammation and infection.

E-proteins directly regulate expression of activation-induced deaminase in mature B cells.

Activated mature B cells in which the DNA-binding activity of E-proteins has been disrupted fail to undergo class switch recombination. Here we show that activated B cells overexpressing the antagonist helix-loop-helix protein Id3 do not induce expression of the murine Aicda gene encoding activation-induced deaminase (AID). A highly conserved intronic regulatory element in Aicda binds E-proteins both in vitro and in vivo. The transcriptional activity of this element is regulated by E-proteins. We show that the enforced expression of AID in cells overexpressing Id3 partially restores class switch recombination. Taken together, our observations link helix-loop-helix activity and Aicda gene expression in a common pathway, in which E-protein activity is required for the efficient induction of Aicda transcription.

Vav-1 and the IKK alpha subunit of I kappa B kinase functionally associate to induce NF-kappa B activation in response to CD28 engagement.

We have recently observed that CD28 engagement initiates a signaling pathway leading to the activation of I kappa B kinase (IKK) complex and, consequently, to NF-kappa B activation, and we identified Vav-1 as an important mediator of this function. Here we report for the first time that Vav-1 constitutively associates with IKK alpha in both Jurkat and primary CD4(+) T cells. Vav-1/IKK alpha association is mediated by their helix-loop-helix domains, does not involve IKK beta, and is functionally relevant in that Vav-1-associated IKK alpha kinase activity is increased following CD28 engagement by B7. Moreover, we demonstrate that CD28-induced NF-kappa B activation is augmented by both IKK alpha and Vav-1, but not IKK beta. Confocal microscopy showed that endogenous Vav-1 and IKK alpha, but not IKK beta, were recruited to the membrane and colocalized in response to CD28 stimulation. Taken together, these data evidence that Vav-1 plays a key role in the control of NF-kappa B pathway by targeting IKK alpha in the T cell membrane and favoring its activation in response to CD28 stimulation.

Cloning and characterization of a promoter flanking the early B cell factor (EBF) gene indicates roles for E-proteins and autoregulation in the control of EBF expression.

The early B cell factor (EBF) is a transcription factor shown crucial for the development of B lymphocytes. The protein is expressed from the earliest stages of B cell development until the mature B cell stage, but the control elements responsible for the regulation of the gene are unknown. In this study, we report of the identification of a promoter region flanking the EBF gene. Several transcription start sites were identified by primer extension analysis in a region approximately 3.1 kb from the predicted ATG. Transient transfections revealed that this region was able to stimulate transcription of a reporter gene in B lymphoid and to a lesser extent, myeloid cells, but not in a pre-T cell line. The promoter was also able to functionally interact with E47, suggesting that the EBF gene may be a direct target for activation by E-proteins. In addition, functional binding of EBF to its own promoter was confirmed by EMSA and transfection assays indicating that the EBF protein may be involved in an autoregulatory loop. Finally, a tissue-restricted factor was able to bind an upstream regulatory region in B-lineage cells, further supporting the idea that the cloned promoter participates in the regulation of stage and lineage specific expression of the EBF gene.

An analysis of T cell intrinsic roles of E2A by conditional gene disruption in the thymus.

The importance of E2A transcription factors in T cell development has been demonstrated in studies of E2A-deficient mice, which display abnormal T cell development and a high frequency of T cell lymphomas. Because E2A expression is not restricted to the T cell lineage, the primary cause of the T cell phenotype in E2A-deficient mice was not fully determined. To further investigate the role of E2A in T cell lineage, we generated mice with the E2A gene disrupted exclusively during thymocyte development using the Cre-lox system. We show that this system allows E2A gene disruption to occur throughout the double-negative stage of thymocyte development. E2A deletion appears to be completed before development reaches the double-positive stage. Consistent with the gene disruption, these mice reveal a T cell intrinsic role for E2A during the transition from the double-negative stage to the double-positive stage of thymocyte development. In contrast to germline E2A knockout mice, conditional E2A knockout mice do not develop T cell lymphoma. This work establishes a new model for further investigating E2A function in T cell development and leukemiogenesis.

The murine IL-2 promoter contains distal regulatory elements responsive to the Ah receptor, a member of the evolutionarily conserved bHLH-PAS transcription factor family.

Signaling through the TCR and costimulatory signals primarily control transcription of the IL-2 gene in naive T cells. The minimal promoter necessary for this expression lies proximal, between -300 and the transcription start site. We had previously shown that activation of the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a member of the bHLH-PAS family of transcription factors, leads to increased mRNA expression of IL-2 in murine fetal thymocytes. The AHR is abundant in the thymus and may play a role for the development of the immune system. Moreover, its overactivation by chemicals such as dioxins leads to immunosuppression and thymic involution. Binding motifs for the liganded AHR can be identified in the distal region -1300 to -800 of the mouse IL-2 promoter. We show here that these DNA motifs, the so-called dioxin response elements, after binding to the liganded AHR are sufficient to transactivate luciferase expression in a reporter gene system. The IL-2 gene can be induced by the AHR also in thymocytes in vivo after injection of 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, a potent ligand of the AHR. The AHR mediates the IL-2 induction as shown with AHR-deficient mice. However, in spleen cells in vitro costimulation via the TCR is necessary for optimal IL-2 gene induction. Thus, the IL-2 promoter region contains novel distal regulatory elements that can be addressed by the AHR to induce IL-2 and can cooperate with the proximal promoter in this.

A role for pref-1 and HES-1 in thymocyte development.

T lymphocyte development requires a series of interactions between developing thymocytes and thymic epithelial (TE) cells. In this paper we show that TE cells in the developing thymus express Pref-1, a Delta-like cell-surface molecule. In fetal thymus organ cultures (FTOC), thymocyte cellularity was increased by the exogenous dimeric Pref-1 fusion protein, but was reduced by the soluble Pref-1 monomer or anti-Pref-1 Ab. Dimeric Pref-1 in FTOC also increased thymocyte expression of the HES-1 transcription factor. Thymocyte cellularity was increased in FTOC repopulated with immature thymocytes overexpressing HES-1, whereas FTOC from HES-1-deficient mice were hypocellular and unresponsive to the Pref-1 dimer. We detected no effects of either Pref-1 or HES-1 on developmental choice among thymocyte lineages. These results indicate that Pref-1 expressed by TE cells and HES-1 expressed by thymocytes are critically involved in supporting thymocyte cellularity.

Overexpression of the Helix-Loop-Helix protein Id2 blocks T cell development at multiple stages.

The Id proteins are inhibitors of basic-Helix-Loop-Helix transcription factor function that have been implicated in the control of cell differentiation and proliferation. To study the role of Id proteins in the control of T cell development, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress the Id2 protein in thymocytes. We detect a significant expansion of the early CD4(-)CD8(+)TCR(-) thymocyte stage and a depletion of the thymocytes of the subsequent developmental stages. These data indicate that the overexpression of Id2 leads to a stage-specific developmental block early in thymopoiesis. In addition, progeny mice from five of the six Id2 transgenic founder lines succumb to aggressive T cell hyperproliferation that resembles lymphoma. Thus, overexpression of the Id2 protein has profound effects on T cell development and oncogenesis, consistent with the hypothesis that the bHLH proteins play critical roles in these processes.

Coordinate regulation of B cell differentiation by the transcription factors EBF and E2A.

The transcription factors EBF and E2A are required at a similar step in early B cell differentiation. EBF and E2A synergistically upregulate transcription of endogenous B cell-specific genes in a non-B cell line. Here, we examine a genetic collaboration between these factors in regulating B lymphopoiesis. We find that Ebf+/- E2a+/- mice display a marked defect in pro-B cell differentiation at a stage later than observed in the single homozygous mutant mice. Pro-B cells from Ebf+/- E2a+/- mice show reduced expression of lymphoid-specific transcripts, including Pax5, Rag1, Rag2, and mb-1. We also show that EBF directly binds and activates the Pax5 promoter. Together, these data show collaboration between EBF and E2A and provide insight into the hierarchy of transcription factors that regulate B lymphocyte differentiation.

Impaired immune responses and B-cell proliferation in mice lacking the Id3 gene.

B-lymphocyte activation and proliferation induced by the B-cell receptor (BCR) signals are important steps in the initiation of humoral immune responses. How the BCR signals are translated by nuclear transcription factors into cell cycle progression is poorly understood. Id3 is an immediate-early gene responding to growth and mitogenic signals in many cell types including B cells. The primary function of the Id3 protein has been defined as that of inhibitor of basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors. The interaction between Id3 and bHLH proteins, many of which are essential for cellular differentiation, has been proposed as a key regulatory event leading to cellular proliferation instead of differentiation. To further investigate the role of Id3 in tissue and embryo development and the mechanism of Id3-mediated growth regulation, we generated and analyzed Id3-deficient mice. While these mice display no overt abnormality in tissue and embryo development, their humoral immunity is compromised. The amounts of immunoglobulins produced in Id3-deficient mice immunized with a T-cell-dependent antigen and a type 2 T-cell-independent antigen are attenuated and severely impaired, respectively. Further analysis of lymphocytes isolated from Id3-deficient mice reveals a B-cell defect in their proliferation response to BCR cross-linking but not to lipopolysaccharide or a combination of BCR cross-linking and interleukin-4. Analyses of cultured lymphocytes also suggest involvement of Id3 in cytokine production in T cells and isotype switching in B cells. Finally, the proliferation defect in Id3-deficient B cells can be rescued by ectopic expression of Id1, a homologue of Id3. Taken together, these results define a necessary and specific role for Id3 in mediating signals from BCR to cell cycle progression during humoral immune responses.

B cell-specific activator protein prevents two activator factors from binding to the immunoglobulin J chain promoter until the antigen-driven stages of B cell development.

The immunoglobulin J chain gene is inducibly transcribed in mature B cells upon antigen recognition and a signal from interleukin-2 (IL-2). B cell-specific activator protein (BSAP), a transcription factor that silences J chain transcription, has been identified as a nuclear target of the IL-2 signal. The levels of BSAP progressively decrease in response to IL-2 and this change correlates with the differentiation of B cells into antibody secreting plasma cells. Here we report the binding of the upstream stimulatory factor (USF) to an E-box motif immediately upstream from the BSAP site on the J chain promoter. Mutations in the USF binding motif significantly decrease J chain promoter activity in J chain expressing B cell lines. We also show that a functional relationship exists between USF and a second J chain positive-regulating factor, B-MEF2, using co-immunoprecipitation assays and transfections. Finally, we provide evidence that the binding of BSAP prevents USF and B-MEF2 from interacting with the J chain promoter during the antigen-independent stages of B cell development. It is not until the levels of BSAP decrease during the antigen-driven stages of B cell development that both USF and B-MEF2 are able to bind to their respective promoter elements and activate J chain transcription.

Positive and negative regulation of V(D)J recombination by the E2A proteins.

A key feature of B and T lymphocyte development is the generation of antigen receptors through the rearrangement and assembly of the germline variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments. However, the mechanisms responsible for regulating developmentally ordered gene rearrangements are largely unknown. Here we show that the E2A gene products are essential for the proper coordinated temporal regulation of V(D)J rearrangements within the T cell receptor (TCR) gamma and delta loci. Specifically, we show that E2A is required during adult thymocyte development to inhibit rearrangements to the gamma and delta V regions that normally recombine almost exclusively during fetal thymocyte development. The continued rearrangement of the fetal Vgamma3 gene segment in E2A-deficient adult thymocytes correlates with increased levels of Vgamma3 germline transcripts and increased levels of double-stranded DNA breaks at the recombination signal sequence bordering Vgamma3. Additionally, rearrangements to a number of Vgamma and Vdelta gene segments used predominantly during adult development are significantly reduced in E2A-deficient thymocytes. Interestingly, at distinct stages of T lineage development, both the increased and decreased rearrangement of particular Vdelta gene segments is highly sensitive to the dosage of the E2A gene products, suggesting that the concentration of the E2A proteins is rate limiting for the recombination reaction involving these Vdelta regions.

Recognition properties of a sequence-specific DNA binding antibody.

A sequence-specific DNA-binding antibody was previously generated by incorporating a 17 amino acid alpha-helix from the DNA-binding domain of the transcription factor TFEB into the HCDR3 site of a recombinant human Fab fragment. The recombinant DNA-binding antibody, called Fab-E box, binds the TFEB recognition sequence CACGTG (an E box site) with a 5-10-fold lower affinity than TFEB. Here, we have determined the precise kinetics of interaction of Fab-E box with DNA and show that the lower affinity of Fab-E box relative to TFEB for E box DNA is due to a higher dissociation rate. DNase I protection assays show Fab-E box physically interacts with one half-site of the E box. Additional DNA target sites of Fab-E box were identified by DNase I protection assays. A compilation of these binding sites indicates that the recognition elements for Fab-E box binding include a half-site of the E box, CAW, with an 8 bp consensus sequence identified as YNYYCAWW. Thus, the DNA determinants for Fab-E box recognition extend beyond one-half site of the E box sequence, with preferences for pyrimidines and A+T-rich sequences in the 5' and 3' outer regions of the binding site, respectively. Apparent dissociation constants of Fab-E box for a subset of these target DNA sequences are 5-10-fold greater than the DNA-binding affinity of the antibody with the E box site. Therefore, these results identify important DNA specificity determinants for high-affinity binding by Fab-E box.

Inhibition of T cell and promotion of natural killer cell development by the dominant negative helix loop helix factor Id3.

Bipotential T/natural killer (NK) progenitor cells are present in the human thymus. Despite their bipotential capacity, these progenitors develop predominantly to T cells in the thymus. The mechanisms controlling this developmental choice are unknown. Here we present evidence that a member(s) of the family of basic helix loop helix (bHLH) transcription factors determines lineage specification of NK/T cell progenitors. The natural dominant negative HLH factor Id3, which blocks transcriptional activity of a number of known bHLH factors, was expressed in CD34+ progenitor cells by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Constitutive expression of Id3 completely blocks development of CD34+ cells into T cells in a fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC). In contrast, development into NK cells in an FTOC is enhanced. Thus, the activity of a bHLH transcription factor is necessary for T lineage differentiation of bipotential precursors, in the absence of which a default pathway leading to NK cell development is chosen. Our results identify a molecular switch for lineage specification in early lymphoid precursors of humans.

Ig S gamma-specific DNA binding protein SNAP is related to the helix-loop-helix transcription factor E47.

SNAP, a DNA-binding protein, is specific for the S gamma switch regions. Two E-2 box consensus binding motifs are located within the SNAP recognition site. Direct- and competition-binding analyses demonstrate that a truncated form of the E47 transcription factor, E47S, is capable of specific interactions with the SNAP binding motif. The methylation interference pattern for E47S binding on the pl.S gamma 3.A.1 probe was similar to that previously obtained for SNAP binding activity and was also related to that found for E47S on the microE5 probe. The interaction of purified E47S with the SNAP recognition motif was cooperative and formed complexes which migrated more slowly than the E47S homodimer complex. SNAP is distinguished from full-length E47 homodimers, found in BCF-1, by its migration position in the gel shift assay, differences in the competition-binding results and its unique reactivity with anti-E47 antibodies. SNAP is related to E47 as judged by a similar methylation interference pattern on S gamma 3 A site DNA and by its reactivity with anti-E47 mAb. The anti-E47 antibodies block SNAP binding to its cognate site, whereas anti-E47 antibodies supershift E47 homodimers bound to the microE5 recognition site. Thus, SNAP may be a hetero-oligomeric species containing E47 or highly related proteins.