Structurally related but functionally distinct yeast Sm D core small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle proteins

Spliceosome assembly during pre-mRNA splicing requires the correct positioning of the U1, U2, U4/U6, and U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) on the precursor mRNA. The structure and integrity of these snRNPs are maintained in part by the association of the snRNAs with core snRNP (Sm) proteins. The Sm proteins also play a pivotal role in metazoan snRNP biogenesis. We have characterized a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, SMD3, that encodes the core snRNP protein Smd3. The Smd3 protein is required for pre-mRNA splicing in vivo. Depletion of this protein from yeast cells affects the levels of U snRNAs and their cap modification, indicating that Smd3 is required for snRNP biogenesis. Smd3 is structurally and functionally distinct from the previously described yeast core polypeptide Smd1. Although Smd3 and Smd1 are both associated with the spliceosomal snRNPs, overexpression of one cannot compensate for the loss of the other. Thus, these two proteins have distinct functions. A pool of Smd3 exists in the yeast cytoplasm. This is consistent with the possibility that snRNP assembly in S. cerevisiae, as in metazoans, is initiated in the cytoplasm from a pool of RNA-free core snRNP protein complexes.

Locus-specific somatic hypermutation in germinal centre T cells

Somatic hypermutation and affinity-driven selection of active immunoglobulin genes occur in germinal centres (GCs), resulting in the generation of high-affinity memory B cells. In contrast, T lymphocytes do not require the germinal centre microenvironment to establish memory and the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) genes, though homologous to immunoglobulin genes, are believed to be incapable of hypermutation. Here we present direct evidence that the small population of antigen-specific T cells that are recruited into splenic GCs acquire mutations in the variable region of genes encoding TCR alpha-chains (V alpha) but not those of beta-chains. These locus-specific mutations reach frequencies comparable to mutated immunoglobulin VH exons recovered from the same site and exhibit similar substitution biases and DNA strand polarity. T cells bearing identical mutations appear in multiple GCs, raising the possibility that some cells bearing mutant TCRs may re-enter the peripheral lymphocyte pool.

Fractal analysis of trabecular patterns in projection radiographs. An assessment

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Fractal analysis of digitized images has been investigated in recent years as a potential measure of structural bone strength. Several technical issues associated with such measurements are assessed.

METHODS

In a series of experiments using a hand phantom, the effects of system noise and modulation transfer function on fractal dimension were explored. The authors evaluated a method for correcting the estimated power spectrum using a step-wedge image exposed and digitized under identical conditions as a reference.

RESULTS

System noise and modulation transfer function significantly affect estimated fractal dimension in bony regions computed from conventional radiographs.

CONCLUSIONS

Before conventional radiographs are used for fractal analysis in the clinical environment, many of the technical problems associated with this methodology must be addressed.

Lysophosphatidylcholine increases vascular superoxide anion production via protein kinase C activation

We tested the hypothesis that lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) could activate protein kinase C in intact vascular segments and sought to examine some of the physiological consequences of this activation. In segments of rabbit aorta, the patterns of protein phosphorylation determined by two-dimensional electrophoresis stimulated by lyso-PC and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) were similar. Activation of protein kinase C can stimulate superoxide anion (O2-) production in other tissues, and we found that lyso-PC-treated rabbit aortas produced twofold more O2- than control vessels. Calphostin C, a potent and specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, attenuated O2- production in lyso-PC-treated vessels but had no effect in control vessels. The effect of lyso-PC on O2- production was mimicked by TPA. In separate bioassay studies, release of the endothelium-derived vascular relaxing factor (EDRF) quantified by the response of detector vessels was markedly impaired after exposure of donor rabbit aortic segments to lyso-PC. After incubation with calphostin C, EDRF release in response to acetylcholine from lyso-PC-treated donor vessels was restored significantly. Thus, lyso-PC can activate protein kinase C in intact vessels, leading to an increase in O2- production. Activation of protein kinase C by lyso-PC may also play a role in altering the release of EDRF in response to acetylcholine. Increased O2- production in response to lyso-PC may have important consequences in the atherogenic process.

Human leukemia K562 cell mutant (K562/OA200) selected for resistance to okadaic acid (protein phosphatase inhibitor) lacks protein kinase C-epsilon, exhibits multidrug resistance phenotype, and expresses drug pump P-glycoprotein

A human leukemia K562 cell mutant (K562/OA200) selected for resistance to okadaic acid (OA), an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A (PP1/PP2A), has been established. In wild type cells, the cytotoxicity of OA was associated with mitotic arrest and concentration- and time-dependent DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. The mutant was 100-fold more resistant to OA in terms of effects on these parameters. Although the synthesis of several proteins was altered, enzyme assay and immunoblot analysis indicated that the levels of PP1 and PP2A were unchanged in the mutant. Protein kinase C (PKC) assays and immunoblot analysis of calcium-dependent (cPKC) and calcium-independent (nPKC) isoforms revealed that nPKC-epsilon was strikingly absent in the mutant, which otherwise expressed in comparable amounts all other isotypes (cPKC-alpha, cPKC-beta, and nPKC-zeta) also present in the wild type. Northern blot analysis confirmed an absence of PKC-epsilon mRNA in the mutant cells. The OA200 cells were cross-resistant not only to another PP1/PP2A inhibitor, calyculin A, but also to structurally unrelated anticancer drugs (such as vinblastine and taxol) and furthermore, overexpressed the verapamil-sensitive drug pump P-glycoprotein at both the protein and mRNA levels. The mutant, however, was not cross-resistant to several PKC inhibitors tested including cardiotoxin, mastoparan, staurosporine, and an alkylphospholipid. Cardiotoxin, at a subtoxic concentration, enhanced by 6-fold vinblastine cytotoxicity in OA200 cells. These findings indicate that the multidrug resistance phenotype can be induced by cytotoxic agents other than conventional anticancer drugs, show that the development of multidrug resistance is not necessarily associated with increased cPKC activity, and identify certain PKC inhibitors that have potential as resistance modulators.

The E1 sequence of bovine adenovirus type 3 and complementation of human adenovirus type 5 E1A function in bovine cells

The bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV3) genome was sequenced from the left end to the HindIII site at 11%. This region comprises the entire E1 transcription unit including the open reading frames (ORF) for proteins homologous to the E1A, E1B proteins and protein IX of human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5). A portion of the BAV3 E1A protein showed significant homology with conserved region 3 (CR3), the principal transactivation region of Ad5 E1A. The BAV3 E1A protein also contains a consensus sequence known to be important for interaction with the cellular Rb protein but lacks most of the sequence corresponding to the second exon of Ad5 E1A. Promoter sequences for BAV3 E1B were not defined though the relevant region contains a 35-base pair repeat sequence. Two ORFs define the BAV3 E1B coding unit; one with regions homologous to sequences within the Ad5 E1B 19k protein, and an overlapping ORF with significant homology to the Ad5 E1B 55k protein. The encoded BAV3 E1B proteins of 157 and 420 amino acid residues (R) have predicted unmodified molecular weights of 17,393 and 46,734 respectively. Immediately following the E1B coding region there is a transcription unit containing an SP1 binding site and TATA box followed by an ORF which encodes a protein of 125R and predicted molecular weight of 13,706 with homology to protein IX of Ad5. Five concensus poly A addition sites are located in the 350 base pairs immediately following the protein IX coding region. The homology of sequences in the Ad5 E1A CR3 region and the corresponding BAV3 protein suggested that the BAV3 protein could transactivate certain Ad5 genes normally transactivated by the Ad5 E1A product. Evidence for this hypothesis was obtained in studies in which bovine cells in culture were coinfected with BAV3 and a human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) recombinant viral vector lacking the E1A region and having a lacZ reporter gene within the E3 region dependent on E1A for its expression. Coinfection resulted in the induction of beta-galactosidase activity and the increased expression of other Ad5 early (E2A 72k) and late (hexon) proteins.

Feature information extraction from dynamic biospeckle

Dynamic biospeckle can be obtained from cultures of motile microorganisms by use of a hybrid opto-electronic system, and it carries feature information about the cultures. On the basis of theoretical analysis and experimental results we describe and discuss two techniques that process the signals derived from dynamic biospeckle. Experimental results on detection of space-time autocorrelation and analysis of histograms of subtraction between two speckle patterns are demonstrated. After extracting dynamic and statistical characteristics of the cultures of motile microorganisms, we show that with these techniques, real-time and insitu culture vitality monitoring and automatic culture identifications are possible.

Stage I clinical trial of gene therapy for hemophilia B

This paper describes the first human gene therapy trial for hemophilia B. Retroviruses were used to introduce human factor IX into autologous, primary human skin fibroblasts from the patients. Recombinant retroviral vector containing human FIX cDNA driven by viral LTR promoter (XL-IX) and double-copy retroviral vector driven by human cytomegalovirus enhancer-promoter (N2CMV-IX) were constructed. After the safety assessment, including soft-agar test, cell morphology observation, analysis of endotoxin, chromosome karyotype, allergic reaction test, nude mice test, routine pathological test, electromicroscopic analysis, and virus detection by PCR, etc., the engineered cells were pooled and embedded in collagen mixture, autologously injected into the patients respectively. The concentration of human FIX protein of Patient 1 increased from 71 ng/ml to 220 ng/ml, with a maximum level of 245 ng/ml. The expression of FIX has lasted for 6 months at the time of writing. The clotting activity also increased from 2.9% to 6.3%, his clinical symptoms have been alleviated obviously. The secretion rate of FIX for Patient 2 increased from 130 to 250 ng/ml, maintained at the level of 220 ng/ml for 5.5 months at the time of writing, but the clotting activity has not been increased steadily. There is no deleterious effect to be found in the two patients since the ex-vivo cells were implanted. The two patients are now under follow-up investigation. We suggested that retrovirus-mediated transfer of genes into skin fibroblasts, to be embedded in collagen and subcutaneously injected into patients, is a simple and effective approach for the gene therapy for hemophilia B.

[Effect of improving memory and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity by invigorating-qi and warming-yang recipe]

Invigorating-Qi and Warming-Yang (IQWY) had a good curative effect to some senile diseases such as senile dementia, senile hypomnesia etc. This experiment was designed for probing into the therapeutical mechanism of IQWY recipe. BALB/C pure bred mice were divided into five groups. Group I was taken per os of invigorating Qi (IQ), Group II warming Yang (WY), Group III IQWY drugs, Group IV was dysmnesia model, and Group V blank control group injected with normal saline only. All groups except Group V were injected scopolamine (5mg/kg) intraperitoneally to induce dysmnesia model after medication. IQ drug consisted of Codonopsis pilosula, Astragalus membranaceus, Poria cocos, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, WY drug of Cynomorium songoricum, Epimedium brevicornum and Cuscuta chinensis, while IQWY recipe consisted of both IQ and WY drugs. The results showed that IQ, WY and IQWY had an evident antagonistic action to Scopolamine induced dysmnesia mice, and could improve their memory. The erroneous times of the animal's reaction in Group I, II and III were less than those in Group IV, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity in the mice could be inhibited by IQ, WY and IQWY also. The activity in Group I, II and III was less than that in Group IV and V, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. The therapeutic mechanism of IQWY was in connection with its effect to M-cholinergic transmitters of central nervous system.

Immunogenicity in mice of tandem repeats of an epitope from herpes simplex gD protein when expressed by recombinant adenovirus vectors

The antigenic and immunogenic potential was examined of human adenovirus type 5 (Ad) recombinants carrying and expressing from one to four tandem repeats of a linear neutralizing epitope from the gD protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as a fusion with the beta-galactosidase protein. The fusion proteins produced by these Ad vectors in infected cell culture reacted with a herpes simplex virus (HSV) epitope-specific monoclonal antibody to a degree dependent on the number of epitope repeats in the protein. Mice immunized by intraperitoneal injection of the Ad vectors developed an anti-HSV immune response as measured by ELISA and by HSV-1 neutralization assays. The mean antibody titre induced by a single injection of the Ad vector increased with the number of epitope repeats expressed by the recombinant. Any animal that had developed a serum-neutralizing titre of at least 1:80 survived challenge with a normally lethal dose of HSV-2 administered by the intraperitoneal route. Recombinant vectors expressing four repeats of the HSV epitope were as effective in antibody induction and protection as an adenovirus vector carrying and expressing the entire HSV gD protein. These results suggest that the expression of tandem repeats of appropriate epitopic sequences by adenovirus vectors may provide a safe and effective method of immunizing against HSV infection.

Sites of B-cell activation in vivo

Novel techniques have made possible in situ analyses of the lymphocyte populations responding to antigen. In the spleen, antigen-specific T and B cells are first observed in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath. Following conjugate formation between specific T and B lymphocytes, B-cell proliferation and differentiation takes place in two distinct sites, the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath-associated foci and germinal centers.

[Changes in 6 trace elements during development of normal fetus vertebrae]

Six elements: calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium were detected in the central epiphyses of first lumber vertebrae in 60 normal aborted fetus, aging from 9 to 32 weeks, by method of AAS. Iron, copper, manganese and zinc reached to their high levels during 9-20 weeks, which were related to the formation of cartilage vertebrae. Calcium and magnesium, showed a significant relationship, and then gradually got to their high value after 16 weeks after ossification and remained at a constant level during later period. The data indicated that different elements should be given in different stage of fetus development.

Cobra venom cardiotoxin (cytotoxin) isoforms and neurotoxin: comparative potency of protein kinase C inhibition and cancer cell cytotoxicity and modes of enzyme inhibition

Effects of cobra cardiotoxin (cytotoxin) and its isoforms, and neurotoxin, on protein kinase C (PKC) and cancer cells were investigated. A positive correlation existed between hydrophobicities and activities of the toxins to inhibit PKC activity (assayed using phosphatidylserine vesicle, arachidonate monomer, and Triton/phosphatidylserine mixed micelle systems), phorbol ester binding to PKC, proliferation of several cancer cell lines, and phorbol ester-induced HL60 cell differentiation. Their relative hydrophobicities and activities, in a decreasing order, were cardiotoxin-1 approximately cardiotoxin-3 > cardiotoxin (a mixture of isoforms) > cardiotoxin-4 >> neurotoxin (inactive). Under the mixed micelle assay system (containing 0.3% Triton X-100, 8 mol % phosphatidylserine, 2 mol % diolein, and 200 microM CaCl2), cardiotoxin inhibited PKC competitively with respect to phosphatidylserine (apparent Ki of about 0.06 mol % or 2.5 microM), and in a mixed-type manner with respect to both diolein (apparent Ki of about 0.04 mol % or 1.7 microM) and Ca2+ (apparent Ki of about 2.9 microM). On the basis of findings that IC50 (approximately 0.3 microM) of cardiotoxin for inhibition of HL60 cell proliferation and differentiation was lower than its IC50 (9 microM) for PKC inhibition in vitro in the phosphatidylserine vesicle system and that PKC inhibition was the only known molecular mechanism of cardiotoxin, it was suggested that cardiotoxin might be highly membrane interacting and that the observed cellular effects of cardiotoxin might be mediated, in part, via PKC inhibition.

Beta/A4 domain of APP: antigenic differences between cell lines

The expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in olfactory neuroblasts has been examined with a panel of antibodies directed against varied regions of the APP molecule. The pattern of reactivity was compared to that in the transformed human glial cell line SVG, human cortical brain tissue, and in kidney epithelial 293 cells containing stably transfected and overexpressed human APP751. Antibodies directed against the C-terminus and extracellular domains of amyloid precursor protein (APP) react more strongly on immunoblot with transfected 293 cells and brain tissue than with olfactory neuroblasts (ON) or SVG cells. Antibodies directed against the beta/A4 region of APP show a contrasting pattern of reactivity, yielding greater reactivity with ON and SVG cells than with transfected 293 cells or brain tissue. Analysis of the APP transcripts using polymerase chain reaction indicates that ON and SVG both make predominantly APP770 and 751, as does the transfected 293 cell line. In the absence of any differences in APP transcripts among the cell lines, the difference in availability of the beta/A4 region appears likely to be due to posttranslational modification. These data therefore indicate that processing of APP varies among cell lines and thus may vary from tissue to tissue.

Comparative effects of protein phosphatase inhibitors (okadaic acid and calyculin A) on human leukemia HL60, HL60/ADR and K562 cells

Inhibitors of protein phosphatases 1/2A (okadaic acid and calyculin A) exhibited differential cytotoxicity toward three human leukemia cell lines, in an increasing order of resistance, HL60 less than HL60/ADR less than K562 cells. Cytotoxicity of the toxins was associated with marked mitotic arrest of the cells, characterized by chromatid scattering/overcondensation and abnormal mitotic spindles. In all cases, calyculin A was more potent than okadaic acid. Protein phosphorylation experiments in intact cells revealed that HL60/ADR, the adriamycin-resistant variant, showed a higher overall phosphorylation of nuclear proteins than the drug-sensitive parental HL60, and that phorbol ester (protein kinase C activator) and calyculin A appeared to more specifically stimulate phosphorylation of p66 and p60, respectively. It was suggested that the toxins might be useful in delineating mechanisms underlying certain properties of cancer cells (such as multidrug resistance, mitosis and differentiation) related to protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation reactions.

Membrane interactions of mastoparan analogues related to their differential effects on protein kinase C, Na, K-ATPase and HL60 cells

Membrane interactions of tetradecapeptide toxin mastoparan (MP) and analogues (MP-3, MP-X and polistes MP), as indicated by inhibition of various enzymatic and cellular activities, were investigated. MP-3 was found to be the least active in inhibiting protein kinase C (PKC; activated by phosphatidylserine vesicles, synaptosomal membranes or phorbol ester), synaptosomal membrane Na,K-ATPase and proliferation and viability of leukemia HL60 cells. MP-3, however, was as active as others in inhibiting PKC activated by arachidonate monomers and phorbol ester binding. The unique properties of MP-3, the [des-Ile1-Asn2]-analogue of MP, might be related to its low functional amphiphilicity compared to others and useful in further delineating biological activities associated with or regulated by membranes.

Galactose oxidation in the design of immunogenic vaccines

Potent immunological adjuvants are urgently required to complement recombinant and synthetic vaccines. However, it has not been possible to derive new principles for the design of vaccine adjuvants from knowledge of the mechanism of immunogenicity. Carbonyl-amino condensations, which are essential to the inductive interaction between antigen-presenting cells and T helper cells, were tested as a target for the enhancement of immune responses. Enzymic oxidation of cell-surface galactose to increase aminereactive carbonyl groups on murine lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells provided a potent, noninflammatory method of enhancing the immunogenicity of viral, bacterial, and protozoal subunit vaccines in mice.

Regulation by phorbol ester and protein kinase C inhibitors, and by a protein phosphatase inhibitor (okadaic acid), of P-glycoprotein phosphorylation and relationship to drug accumulation in multidrug-resistant human KB cells

Covalent modification by phosphorylation is a characteristic of the P-glycoproteins expressed in multidrug-resistant cells. This report describes analysis of P-glycoprotein phosphorylation in multidrug-resistant human KB-V1 cells and a study of the relationship of phosphorylation and drug accumulation. In isolated membranes, phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein by purified protein kinase C (PKC) was rapid, and time-dependent dephosphorylation was inhibited by okadaic acid, an inhibitor of type 1 and type 2A protein phosphatases. In 32P-labeled intact KB-V1 cells, P-glycoprotein phosphorylation was stimulated by both 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of PKC, and okadaic acid. Two-dimensional thin layer tryptic phosphopeptide maps indicated that the sites of phosphorylation were similar in control, TPA-treated, and okadaic acid-treated cells and that they corresponded to those phosphorylated by PKC in vitro. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, and the PKC-selective inhibitors calphostin C and the alkyl-lysophospholipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine, inhibited P-glycoprotein phosphorylation in vitro and in intact cells. Drug accumulation assays demonstrated that in KB-V1 cells TPA caused a decrease, whereas staurosporine and calphostin C caused an increase, in accumulation of [3H]vinblastine. These compounds did not significantly alter [3H]vinblastine levels in drug-sensitive KB-3 cells. These results suggest that PKC is chiefly responsible for P-glycoprotein phosphorylation in KB-V1 cells, that membrane-associated protein phosphatases 1 and 2A are active in dephosphorylation of P-glycoprotein, and that phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein may be an important mechanism for modulation of drug-pumping activity.

Inhibition of specific T-cell activation by monosaccharides is through their reactivity as aldehydes

The effect of monosaccharides on the inductive interaction between antigen-presenting cells and T cells was investigated in a human system. Some monosaccharides, but not others, were found to inhibit antigen-specific T-cell activation. Responses to mitogen were unaffected. In order for inhibition to occur, a high concentration (approximately 50 mM) of monosaccharide was necessary. The role of monosaccharide aldehyde groups in inhibition was investigated using the alpha-methyl pyranoside and the alditol forms of inhibitory monosaccharides. Unlike the native monosaccharides, these molecular configurations possess the ring structure and the open chain structure respectively but do not contain aldehydes. Together they represent all the molecular characteristics of both forms of the monosaccharide except the possession of aldehyde groups. These two molecular species produced no significant inhibition. Modified forms of the sugar moiety of ribofuranosidoadenine (adenosine) were also tested. The periodate oxidized form of the molecule in which the ribose bears two aldehyde groups, was a potent inhibitor of antigen-induced T-cell activation whereas periodate-oxidized, borohydride-reduced ribofuranosidoadenine, in which the ribose aldehydes are converted to alcohols, produced no inhibition. The former was shown to form Schiff bases with ligands on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as predicted whereas the latter did not. Periodate oxidized dextran, but not native dextran, was also inhibitory. Together these data show that inhibition of T-cell activation by sugars requires reactive aldehydes and this is consistent with the Schiff base model of specific antigen-presenting cell (APC)-T cell inductive interaction in which exogenous aldehydes and other carbonyl donors prevent the necessary formation of Schiff bases between cellular ligands.

Priming of influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes vivo by short synthetic peptides

Influenza virus-specific CTL were primed in vivo by immunization with short synthetic peptides representing major CTL epitopes from the nucleoprotein of type A influenza virus. The resultant CTL after in vitro boosting of primed spleen cells recognized both virus-infected and peptide-pulsed target cells. The requirement of CD4+ T cell activation was investigated in several ways. First the addition of helper epitopes to the CTL epitope did not enhance CTL generation, suggesting that helper activity was either not limiting or not required. However, in vivo depletion of CD4+ T cells completely inhibited the generation of CTL by peptide immunization. The inclusion of anti-CD4 in the in vitro restimulation with peptide also prevented the generation of CTL, whereas in vitro reactivation of virus immune spleen cells with peptide was not inhibited by anti-CD4. Thus there appears to be heterogeneity in the requirement of CD4+ T cell proliferation in CTL generation. One possibility is that virus infected cells can stimulate higher affinity T cells that are less helper T cell dependent.

Priming of influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes vivo by short synthetic peptides

Influenza virus-specific CTL were primed in vivo by immunization with short synthetic peptides representing major CTL epitopes from the nucleoprotein of type A influenza virus. The resultant CTL after in vitro boosting of primed spleen cells recognized both virus-infected and peptide-pulsed target cells. The requirement of CD4+ T cell activation was investigated in several ways. First the addition of helper epitopes to the CTL epitope did not enhance CTL generation, suggesting that helper activity was either not limiting or not required. However, in vivo depletion of CD4+ T cells completely inhibited the generation of CTL by peptide immunization. The inclusion of anti-CD4 in the in vitro restimulation with peptide also prevented the generation of CTL, whereas in vitro reactivation of virus immune spleen cells with peptide was not inhibited by anti-CD4. Thus there appears to be heterogeneity in the requirement of CD4+ T cell proliferation in CTL generation. One possibility is that virus infected cells can stimulate higher affinity T cells that are less helper T cell dependent.