Evidence that brain capillary endothelial cells can be infected with murine leukaemia retrovirus, LP-BM5

Some mice infected with murine leukaemia retrovirus, LP-BM5 including ecotropic, mink cell focus-inducing murine leukaemia virus, and a replication-defective genome, have been reported to show weakness, ataxia, or selective deficits in spatial learning after developing an immunodeficiency syndrome similar to human AIDS. In the central nervous system, astrocytes and microglial cells have been shown to be infected by this virus. We present here findings that the ecotropic virus and defective genome can infect murine brain capillary endothelial cells, and infected endothelial cells show an impaired function as target cells against myelin basic protein (MBP) specific T cell clone.

T-T cellular interaction between CD4-CD8- regulatory T cells and T cell clones presenting TCR peptide. Its implication for TCR vaccination against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Regulatory T cells recognizing TCR determinants presumably play a critical role in the control of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a prototype tissue-specific autoimmune disease. This study was initiated to determine whether regulatory T cells can be induced against a V beta 17a CDR2 peptide (residues 50-68) in SJL/J mice. Although the TCR peptide showed regulatory effects in vivo, the presence of T cells specific for the peptide could not be proven with conventional proliferation assays. Unexpectedly, in the presence of myelin basic protein-specific T clone cells (Tcc), the sensitized spleen cells vigorously proliferated in response to the TCR peptide. The subsequent experiment showed that this was due to the outstanding capability of the Tcc as APC for the exogenous TCR peptide. Using the Tcc as APC, we were able to establish V beta 17a50-68-specific T cell lines from in vivo primed spleen cells. The line cells were MHC class I restricted and dominated by T cells with a distinct surface phenotype (CD4-CD8-V beta 17a+). Presentation of the peptide by the Tcc was inhibited by treatment with gelonin that could block a MHC class I presentation pathway. The ability of T cells to present the TCR peptide was not related to their Ag specificity, but correlated with the expression levels of MHC class I molecules and adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and B7-1 on their surface. The TCR peptide-specific T cells produced a soluble mediator(s) that is inhibitory for T cell activation and were protective against actively induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These results show that V beta 17a50-68 vaccination induces regulatory CD4-CD8- T cells that could interact with T cells presenting relevant TCR fragments.

T-T cellular interaction between CD4-CD8- regulatory T cells and T cell clones presenting TCR peptide. Its implication for TCR vaccination against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Regulatory T cells recognizing TCR determinants presumably play a critical role in the control of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a prototype tissue-specific autoimmune disease. This study was initiated to determine whether regulatory T cells can be induced against a V beta 17a CDR2 peptide (residues 50-68) in SJL/J mice. Although the TCR peptide showed regulatory effects in vivo, the presence of T cells specific for the peptide could not be proven with conventional proliferation assays. Unexpectedly, in the presence of myelin basic protein-specific T clone cells (Tcc), the sensitized spleen cells vigorously proliferated in response to the TCR peptide. The subsequent experiment showed that this was due to the outstanding capability of the Tcc as APC for the exogenous TCR peptide. Using the Tcc as APC, we were able to establish V beta 17a50-68-specific T cell lines from in vivo primed spleen cells. The line cells were MHC class I restricted and dominated by T cells with a distinct surface phenotype (CD4-CD8-V beta 17a+). Presentation of the peptide by the Tcc was inhibited by treatment with gelonin that could block a MHC class I presentation pathway. The ability of T cells to present the TCR peptide was not related to their Ag specificity, but correlated with the expression levels of MHC class I molecules and adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and B7-1 on their surface. The TCR peptide-specific T cells produced a soluble mediator(s) that is inhibitory for T cell activation and were protective against actively induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These results show that V beta 17a50-68 vaccination induces regulatory CD4-CD8- T cells that could interact with T cells presenting relevant TCR fragments.

Significantly increased frequency of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele in elderly non-demented leprosy patients

Apolipoprotein E (apo E) genotypes in 350 leprosy patients were examined and compared with those of 870 age-matched controls. The allelic frequencies of the apo E gene did not differ between demented patients with leprosy and controls. However, the frequency of apo E epsilon 4 allele was significantly higher in non-demented leprosy patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Of special interest is that the prevalence of E3/4 genotype in non-demented leprosy patients increased significantly with age, being 14.1%, 24.4%, and 28.3% in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, respectively (P < 0.05). These data suggest that apo E epsilon 4 is not a risk factor for senile dementia in elderly leprosy patients, and there exist factors to overcome the risk of apo E4 in leprosy patients.

TCR repertoire to proteolipid protein (PLP) in multiple sclerosis (MS): homologies between PLP-specific T cells and MS-associated T cells in TCR junctional sequences

In the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune T cells reactive with proteolipid protein (PLP) may play a crucial role. We determined 23 TCR beta-chain sequences of limiting dilution T cel lines (TCL) selected against a synthetic peptide, PLP 95-116, 105-124 or 139-155, from the peripheral blood of three Japanese MS patients with the DR2,w15 haplotype (TI, SK and OK). Fourteen sequences were originated from TI, seven from SK and two from OK. The PLP-reactive TCL utilized various Vbeta and Jbeta gene segments, but there was significant bias in the Vbeta and Jbeta usage. Overutilization of the Vbeta2 family and dominant usage of the Jbeta2.5 subfamily was seen in PLP 105-124-reactive and 95-116-reactive TCL respectively. More remarkably, a majority of the TCL were found to express beta-chain CDR3 motifs that appear to be unique to MS brain infiltrates. In contrast, these motifs were only rarely seen in control TCR sequences from peripheral blood or from a TCL selected against tetanus toxoid. In several cases, the betaCDR3 homologies between the PLP-reactive T cells and MS brain T cells were extensive, owing to the shared motifs in combination with the surrounding amino acid identities. These results indicate that PLP-specific T cells may be involved in the immunopathology of MS.

Neurotransmitter synthesis by SN6 cell lines, a family of hybrid cell lines of embryonic septal origin

Previously, we reported the presence of multiple neurotransmitters in subclones of SN6, a septal cholinergic hybrid cell line. To obtain information concerning the functionality of these transmitters, we measured transmitter contents, activities of transmitter-producing enzymes, and the effect of serum-free culture medium in two different batches (SN6.1.6 and SN6.10.2.2) and two subclones of the SN6 cell line (SN6.2a and SN6.1b). Except for SN6.1b, SN6 cell lines and subclones had basically the same neurotransmitter characteristics. Among the transmitters, only acetylcholine seemed to be functional. Monoamine oxidase was missing and activity of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase was diminished in SN6 cell lines. Even in serum-containing medium, SN6.1b had a more mature morphology than the other cell lines, and it contained choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholine but not tyrosine hydroxylase or catecholamines. Similar characteristics were acquired by the mother cell line in response to serum-free conditions. Thus, SN6.1b is the most mature of these central cholinergic neuronal cell lines, at least with regard to neurotransmitter profiles.

[A view for understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis]

There are 2 hypotheses for understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), viral and autoimmune ones. Although antibodies to many viruses are elevated, an MS-specific virus has not been found and none of conventional viruses has been definitely located in MS lesions. Thus, viruses, if involved, seem to be indirect. Autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) has represented main aspects of MS such as inflammatory demyelinating plaques, spontaneous onset, remission and relapse. This was proven by transgenic mice that express T cell receptor genes of myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific encephalitogenic T cells (Goverman et al, 1993). The animals developed spontaneous EAE and relapsed when kept in the conventional condition. Otherwise, it was necessary to inject bacterial antigens, when they were kept in an SPF condition. We have shown that MBP89-101 specific encephalitogenic T cell clones are polyreactive (Kozovska et al, submitted). In MS, T cell responses to MBP and proteolipid protein (PLP) have been studied and certain T cell immunodominant regions are suggested. Some of the MHC-class II-restricted and MBP peptide-specific T cell clones responded to several viral antigens (Wucherpfenning and Strominger, 1995). Thus, it is highly probable that autoaggressive T cells are polyreactive and activated by viral and other antigens. I believe that this is the central mechanism operating in MS. Before reaching this conclusion, we must show that the MBP- or PLP-specific polyreactive T cells are indeed encephalitogenic. In order to prove this, we must establish an animal model, humanized mice.

Analysis of proteolipid protein (PLP)-specific T cells in multiple sclerosis: identification of PLP 95-116 as an HLA-DR2,w15-associated determinant

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a putative autoimmune disease that is linked with HLA-DR2,w15. Proteolipid protein (PLP) is a candidate autoantigen in MS, but the disease-associated epitopes have not been determined. Using overlapping and non-overlapping PLP peptides, we have studied the T cell response to the major hydrophilic domain PLP 85-159 in the peripheral blood of MS and healthy subjects (HS). Short-term T cell lines (TCL) were selected against each peptide using microwell plates and the frequency of peptide-specific TCL was estimated. PLP 95-116-specific TCL were most efficiently generated and the frequency was significantly higher in MS compared with HS (P < 0.05). When compared between DR2,w15+ and DR2,w15- MS, TCL frequency to PLP 95-116 was significantly higher in DR2,w15+ MS (P < 0.005) and TCL reactive to the overlapping peptide 105-124 were also increased in DR2,w15+ MS (P < 0.025). Using DR gene-transfected L cells, we could show that the DRB1*1501 product of the DR2 haplotype presents PLP 95-116 to TCL selected against the peptide. These results imply that PLP 95-116 represents a major epitope for the DR2,w15+ MS.

Secretion kinetics of Alzheimer's amyloid beta-protein differs from secreted beta-amyloid precursor protein

Amyloid beta-protein (A beta) and secreted beta-amyloid precursor protein (sAPP), derived from beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP), are normally released by cultured mammalian cells. We investigated by pulse-chase analysis the secretion kinetics of these two APP derivatives using mouse cholinergic SN49 cell lines stably transfected with mouse APP695 cDNA. After both A beta and sAPP peaked at about the second hour, sAPP decreased with a half-life of approximately 5 hours, but A beta remained almost unchanged for at least 14 hours. These results indicate that A beta is more stable than sAPP in the SN49 conditioned medium.

Demonstration of interleukin-3 receptor-associated antigen in the central nervous system

We previously reported that interleukin-3 (IL-3) acts as a neurotrophic factor for cholinergic neurons. However, it has not yet been determined whether the action is derived from the interaction of IL-3 with IL-3 receptors. As the first step to study IL-3 receptors in the central nervous system, we examined the presence and localization of IL-3 receptor-associated antigen (IL-3RAA) in mouse and rat brain. Immunohistochemically, IL-3RAA, which is closely involved both in the IL-3 binding to IL-3 receptors and the tyrosine phosphorylation in the signal transduction for IL-3 in hematopoietic cells, was demonstrated in neurons throughout the brain. This was confirmed in primary cultured neurons and neuronal cell lines by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. The staining intensity varied among regions and the most intense immunoreactivity for IL-3RAA was found in large neurons in the magnocellular basal nuclei, pyramidal cells in the cerebral cortex, and neuronal cells in some nuclei of the brainstem. Not only cholinergic cell lines derived from the septal region but also other neuronal cell lines exhibited IL-3RAA immunoreactivity by flow cytometry. Therefore, we conclude that IL-3RAA is present in a wide variety of neurons in the brain including cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. Western blot analysis revealed that the candidates for IL-3RAA are 145, 100, and 50 kDa proteins both in neuronal and IL-3-dependent cell lines.

Neurotrophic effect of hematopoietic cytokines on cholinergic and other neurons in vitro

We examined the effects of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and other hematopoietic cytokines on the neurotransmitters, neurite formation, and differentiation in cholinergic and other types of neurons. IL-3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin (Epo) elevated choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in septal cholinergic cell line SN6 as well as in primary cultured septal neurons without increasing protein contents of the cells. These effects were dose-dependent and the optimal doses were not different from those for blood cells. IL-3 had neurite-promoting activity but GM-CSF had no such effect. Both IL-3 and GM-CSF decreased intracellular acetylcholine concentration, and elevated glutamic acid decarboxylase and intracellular GABA in septal neuronal cultures. Epo elevated monoamines in PC12 cells. These effects are thought to result from direct action through their specific receptors in neurons, because (i) anti-IL-3-receptor antibody abolished the ChAT activity in septal neurons increased by IL-3; (ii) mRNA and immunoreactivity for beta subunits of IL-3 receptors were expressed in septal cholinergic neurons and (iii) presence of receptors for GM-CSF and Epo in neurons has been reported. Our observation and others strongly support that neural-immune interactions are important not only in the defense mechanism in the nervous system but also in the development, differentiation and function of neurons.

Production of interleukin-3 by murine central nervous system neurons

We examined expression and production of interleukin-3 (IL-3) mRNA and IL-3 protein in mouse primary cultured neurons and glia by the reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction and a bioassay using an IL-3-dependent cell line. IL-3 mRNA was demonstrated mainly in hippocampal neurons but not in glia, while a small but definite production of bioactive IL-3 was detected in septal and hippocampal neuronal cultures. Thus, endogenous IL-3 might be produced by certain neurons in situ.

[Target antigens in neuroimmunological diseases]

Target antigens in neuroimmunological diseases were reviewed. These are; ple21 in limbic encephalitis; PCD17, CDR62, CDR34, and CZF in paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration; one of the anion transporters band 3 in chorea-acanthocytosis; visinin-like substance in cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR syndrome); myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP) in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; MBP, PLP and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in multiple sclerosis; glutamic acid decarboxylase in stiff-man syndrome; GM1 ganglioside in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; peripheral nerve K+ channel in Isaacs syndrome; synaptotagmin in Lambert-Eaton syndrome; acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis; GM1 ganglioside in Guillain-Barré syndrome; GQ1b ganglioside in Fisher syndrome; myelin-associated glycoprotein in IgM paraproteinemic neuropathy; HuD in paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy; and tRNA and HSP65 in polymyositis.

The decrement of muscarinic receptor-mediated calcium influx by overexpression of APP in a mouse cholinergic cell line

The effects of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) overexpressing on cell metabolisms of cholinergic neuronal hybridoma cell line (SN49) were examined. The cells stably overexpressing APP contained higher amount of GTP binding protein Go and cytosolic inactive protein kinase C epsilon, and showed less Ca2+ influx through muscarinic acetylcholine receptor ml compared to original and mock cells which had been transfected with a vector alone. The contents of sn-1, 2-diacylglycerol and cyclic AMP were also reduced in the APP transfectants, although the similar changes were observed in the mock cells. These findings strongly suggest that the overexpression of APP affect the transient receptor-mediated ion channel and calcium-related cell metabolisms in neuronal cells.

[Concentric sclerosis (Baló)]

Seventeen autopsy cases were collected in the Philippines. Mean age of onset 32.5 years, male/female ratio 1/2, no seasonal change, and the patients' occupation variable. A half had prodromal symptoms: mild fever, general malaise and headache. The disease was characterized by acute onset with behavioral changes, reticence, hemi- or quadriplegia with pyramidal signs, and incontinence. A quarter of patients had generalized seizure. There were no specific abnormalities in the routine blood examination, and CSF showed unexpectedly mild change. CT scan and MRI show diffuse or multifocal abnormalities in the centrum semiovale. They died of cerebral herniation or secondary infection. The brain was characterized by diffuse or multifocal necrotic and concentric demyelination in the cerebral white matter with marked gemistocytosis.

High expression on Kunitz-type protease inhibitor-containing substances in the cerebral vessels of patients with Down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) brains, from 19 gestational weeks to 50 years of age were studied by immunohistochemical methods with a polyclonal antibody against synthetic peptide comprising part of the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor (KPI) domain of Alzheimer disease amyloid precursor protein (APP), residues 301 to 323 of APP 770. In DS, positive KPI immunoreactivity was observed in early infancy and from child to adulthood on the tunica media of the arteries in the leptomeninges, cerebral cortex and white matter, but negative or little in controls. In DS with Alzheimer type dementia, KPI immunoreactivity in the arteries was reduced, but a gross granular reactivity was noted in neurons and glial cells. The high expression of KPI in DS vessels may be one of the predisposing factors to vascular diseases and amyloid deposition associated with DS.

Decreased beta-amyloid and increased abnormal Tau deposition in the brain of aged patients with leprosy

We examined the brains of 37 leprosy patients (mean age, 76.3 +/- 7.8 years), 5 patients with Alzheimer-type dementia (mean age, 79.0 +/- 9.5 years), and 23 age-matched non-dementia controls (mean age, 77.6 +/- 5.4 years). The frequency of beta-amyloid (A beta)-positive cases was lower (27.0%) in leprosy patients (n = 37) than in controls (47.8%; P = 0.05, Z = 1.49). When senile plaque subtypes were examined, type III (classical) plaques were significantly fewer (P < 0.05) in leprosy subjects compared with controls. Interestingly, neurofibrillary tangles in the temporal cortex were much more frequent in leprosy patients than in controls (P < 0.05). However, hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in leprosy patients were well preserved. These data indicate that 1) leprosy patients have a low risk of A beta deposition but a high risk of abnormal tau deposition, 2) abnormal tau deposition is unrelated to A beta deposition in leprosy, and 3) neuronal loss is unrelated to abnormal tau deposition. It is not clear at present whether the result is related to the disease process itself, antileprosy treatment, environmental factors, or the genetic background in leprosy patients.

Rapidly proliferating glial cells isolated from adult mouse brain have a differentiative capacity in response to cyclic AMP

A glial cell line designated as B2 was generated from primary cultures of oligodendrocytes/astrocytes isolated from an adult BALB/c mouse brain and maintained for over 1 year. Phenotypic characteristics of B2 cells were investigated by immunolabeling with cell type-specific markers for oligodendrocytes (O4 and galactocerebroside (GalC)), astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)), and immature neuroectodermal cells (vimentin). When cultured in a serum-containing medium, B2 cells exhibited a bipolar or a tripolar process-bearing morphology and proliferated with a 24-28 h doubling time, without requirement of exogenous growth factors. Under this culture condition, vimentin was identified in all of the B2 cells, GFAP in 7%, and O4 and GalC in less than 1% of the cells. When cultured in a serum-free medium containing 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), B2 cells extended longer processes and 45% of the cells expressed cell type-specific markers for oligodendrocytes or astrocytes. GFAP was identified in 29% of B2 cells, O4 in 16%, and GalC in 6% of the cells, although, neither O4+GFAP+ nor GalC+GFAP+ cells were observed. B2 cells proliferated in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), but not to dbcAMP, forskolin (FK), or retinoic acid (RA). These results indicate that B2 cells are distinct from typical oligodendrocytes and astrocytes with respect to their great proliferative potential, and suggest that B2 cells, with a capacity to differentiate into oligodendrocytes and astrocytes in response to cyclic AMP, may represent a population of glial precursor cells in the adult mouse central nervous system (CNS).

Suppression of lymphocyte spontaneous proliferative response by proteolipid protein peptide in patients with HAM/TSP

To understand the immune mechanism suggested in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP), we investigated T cell response to proteolipid protein (PLP). Because of high autologous proliferative response (APR) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in culture, the lymphocyte proliferation assay was not useful in this disease. Unexpectedly, however, APR was profoundly (70-98%) suppressed in 6 of 9 cases when PLP peptide 105-124 was added in the culture. PLP peptide 85-104 or 145-159 also suppressed APR in a few cases. Time course study showed that the peptide-mediated suppression became apparent after day 4 in culture. The results can be interpreted as that suppressor cells recognizing the PLP peptides were present in the PBMC of HAM/TSP patients and suppressed the APR as the consequence of antigen specific response. This may indicate that a T cell response to certain PLP determinants is involved in the pathomechanism of HAM/TSP at least in part. Molecular mimicry between PLP and HTLV-I may account for the T cell sensitization to PLP in HAM/TSP.

Analysis of T cell antigen receptors of myelin basic protein specific T cells in SJL/J mice demonstrates an alpha chain CDR3 motif associated with encephalitogenic T cells

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal autoimmune disease mediated by CD4+ T cells. Analysis of TCR expression revealed that limited TCR elements (V beta 8.2, V alpha 2 or 4) were utilized by myelin basic protein (MBP) specific T cells in mice with H-2u haplotype and Lewis rats. The usage of a particular beta chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) motif has also been shown. However, it remains unclear to what extent these observations can be extrapolated. Here we studied the TCR sequences of MBP 89-101/I-A(s) specific T cell clones derived from SJL/J mice, using the polymerase chain reaction on reverse transcribed mRNA. Although the V beta usage was less restricted than in H-2u mice, they predominantly utilized V beta 17a and expressed LGG or related motifs in the V beta-D beta-J beta junctions. Furthermore, a single alpha chain rearrangement between V alpha 1.1 and J alpha BBM142 with no N region diversity was preferentially used. Concordantly, immunization with a peptide corresponding to the alpha chain CDR3 was found to significantly alter the clinical course of EAE. Comparison of the published TCR junctional regions demonstrates that the CDR3 motifs (LGG in beta chain, CA*R*NY motif in alpha chains) are expressed by other encephalitogenic clones. Notably, the CA*R*NY was conserved in PL/J mice clones that recognize a distinct MBP-MHC determinant. It suggests that an antigen-independent mechanism may contribute to conserving the alpha chain motif. The implications of these observations are discussed.