Three-cell-type clusters of T cells with antigen-presenting cells best explain the epitope linkage and noncognate requirements of the in vivo cytolytic response

Helper Requirements for Generation of Effector CTL to Islet β Cell Antigens

We have dissected the helper requirements for converting a tolerogenic CD8 T cell response into one capable of causing destruction of the pancreatic islets. Injection of naive OVA-specific CD8 T cells into transgenic mice expressing OVA in the pancreas only resulted in islet destruction when activated CD4 Th cells were coinjected. This requirement for activated CD4 T cell help for induction of primary CD8 T cell-mediated immunity to tissue Ags contrasts recent reports suggesting that help is only important for CTL memory. Our findings show that signaling of CD40 on the dendritic cell presenting to CD8 T cells is important, but not sufficient, for induction of diabetes. Furthermore, once helpers are activated, they need not recognize Ag on the dendritic cells they license. This provides insight into the helper requirements for adoptive transfer immunotherapy of tumors and suggests key points for inhibition of CTL-mediated autoimmunity.

A complicated relationship: fulfilling the interactive needs of the T lymphocyte and the dendritic cell

T cells recognize antigenic peptides displayed on the surface of MHC-bearing antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and with sufficient costimulation become activated. However, the ability of an APC (even bearing the correct peptide) to initiate and fulfill the requirements for T cell activation is not easily achieved. Naive T cells use multiple copies of a single receptor to survey the vast array of peptides presented on an APC, and require multiple receptor engagements to initiate T cell activation. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized cells with optimal capabilities for priming naive CD4+ T cells. Activation occurs, after initial antigen recognition by T cells, followed by a rapid dialogue between the T cells and the DCs. The resulting changes in both the cytoskeleton and the expression or regulation of cell-surface molecules on both cell types act to further strengthen engagement. In this report, we review the fundamentals of CD4+ T helper cell : DC interactions and discuss recent data concerning the molecular characteristics of this engagement.

Against the self: dendritic cells versus cancer

The role of host defense in cancer is highly variable. Although there are cases where spontaneous cures of cancer appear to be mediated by immunologic mechanisms, malignant disease generally progresses even in patients where tumor-specific immunity can be demonstrated. It is apparent that there are complex interactions between tumor cells and dendritic cells, the dominant antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. Through their inhibitory actions upon dendritic cells, tumor cells can negatively regulate priming of tumor-specific immunity. Recent work has also shown that dendritic cells have direct cytotoxic effects upon tumor cells. These interactions may impact on the efficacy of current strategies using dendritic cell-based vaccines for tumor immunotherapy.

Administration of superantigens protects mice from lethal Listeria monocytogenes infection by enhancing cytotoxic T cells

Superantigens stimulate T-cell-receptor Vbeta-selective T-cell proliferation accompanying the release of cytokines, which may eventually protect the host from microbial infections. We investigated here whether superantigens can rescue the host from lethal bacterial infection. Mice were pretreated with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) 1 and 2 days before bacterial infection, and the mortality of infected mice was assessed. SEB pretreatment protected mice from lethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes but not from lethal infection with Streptococcus pyogenes. This enhanced protection was also observed upon pretreatment with recombinant streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A. Furthermore, L. monocytogenes-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) due to type 1 helper T (Th1) cells and the cytotoxicity of CD8(+) T cells were significantly enhanced after SEB administration and bacterial infection. Depletion of either CD4(+) T cells or CD8(+) T cells in SEB-pretreated mice completely abolished this protection. This phenomenon was ascribed to the elimination of L. monocytogenes-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). It was found that CD4(+) T cells contributed to the induction of the CTL populations. Furthermore, SEB pretreatment of heat-killed L. monocytogenes-immunized mice enhanced the protection from challenge of L. monocytogenes. Taken together, these results indicated that administrations of superantigens protected mice from infection with L. monocytogenes, which was dependent on the enhanced L. monocytogenes-specific CTL activity in the presence of CD4(+) T cells, and superantigens exhibited adjuvant activity in the immunization against intracellular pathogens.

Multiple paths for activation of naive CD8+ T cells: CD4-independent help

CD8(+) CTLs play a pivotal role in immune responses against many viruses and tumors. Two models have been proposed. The "three-cell" model focuses on the role of CD4(+) T cells, proposing that help is only provided to CTLs by CD4(+) T cells that recognize Ag on the same APC. The sequential "two-cell" model proposes that CD4(+) T cells can first interact with APCs, which in turn activate naive CTLs. Although these models provide a general framework for the role of CD4(+) T cells in mediating help for CTLs, a number of issues are unresolved. We have investigated the induction of CTL responses using dendritic cells (DCs) to immunize mice against defined peptide Ags. We find that help is required for activation of naive CTLs when DCs are used as APCs, regardless of the origin or MHC class I restriction of the peptides we studied in this system. However, CD8(+) T cells can provide self-help if they are present at a sufficiently high precursor frequency. The important variable is the total number of T cells responding, because class II-knockout DCs pulsed with two noncompeting peptides are effective in priming.

The allogeneic response and tumor immunity

The strong allogeneic response to donor MHC molecules in transplantation and the weak response to tumor antigens represent two important and divergent but potentially interactive immune responses. A patient's response to allogeneic MHC molecules might promote an effective T-cell response to self MHC-restricted tumor peptides and the possibilities for this are discussed here. These allogeneic responses might successfully be harnessed to promote the immune eradication of metastatic cancer.

Three-cell interactions in T cell-mediated suppression? A mathematical analysis of its quantitative implications

Aiming to further our understanding of T cell-mediated suppression, we investigate the plausibility of the hypothesis that regulatory T cells suppress other T cells (target cells), while both cells are conjugated with one APC. We use a mathematical model to analyze the proliferation inhibition scored during in vitro suppression assays. This model is a radical simplification of cell culture reality, assuming that thymidine incorporation is proportional to the number of target cells that would instantaneously form conjugates with APCs that are free of regulatory cells. According to this model the inhibition index should be mainly determined by the number of regulatory cells per APC and should be insensitive to the number of target cells. We reanalyzed several published data sets, confirming this expectation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the instantaneous inhibition index has an absolute limit as a function of the number of regulatory cells per APC. By calculating this limit we find that the model can explain the data under two non-mutually exclusive conditions. First, only approximately 15% of APCs used in the suppression assays form conjugates with T cells. Second, the growth of the regulatory cell population depends on the target cells, such that the number of regulatory cells per APC increases when they are cocultured with target cells and overcomes its limit. However, if neither of these testable conditions is fulfilled, then one could conclude that suppression in vitro does not require the formation of multicellular conjugates.

Rapid peptide turnover and inefficient presentation of exogenous antigen critically limit the activation of self-reactive CTL by dendritic cells

This study evaluated to what extent presentation of exogenously acquired self-Ags via MHC class I molecules on DC might contribute to the activation of self-reactive CTL and subsequent development of autoimmune disease. We show here by using the rat insulin promotor lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein model of autoimmune diabetes that the activation of self-reactive CTL by DC after uptake of exogenous Ag is very limited, first by the short half-life of MHC class I-associated peptides on DC in vitro and in vivo, and second by the rather inefficient MHC class I presentation of cell-associated self-Ags by DC. These two mechanisms are probably crucial in establishing high thresholds for the induction of self-reactive CTL that prevent autoimmune sequelae after release of sequestered and previously immunologically ignored tissue Ags.

Modelling T-cell-mediated suppression dependent on interactions in multicellular conjugates

Tolerance to peripheral body antigens involves multiple mechanisms, namely T-cell-mediated suppression of potentially autoimmune cells. Recent in vivo and in vitro evidence indicates that regulatory T cells suppress the response of effector T cells by a mechanism that requires the simultaneous conjugation of regulatory and effector T cells with the same antigen-presenting cell (APC). Despite this strong requirement, it is not yet clear what happens while both cells are conjugated. Several hypotheses are discussed in the literature. Suppression may result from simple competition of regulatory and effector cells for activation resources on the APC; regulatory T cells may deliver an inhibitory signal to effector T cells in the same conjugate; or effector T cells may acquire the regulatory phenotype during their interaction with regulatory T cells. The present article tries to further our understanding of T-cell-mediated suppression, and to narrow-down the number of candidate mechanisms. We propose the first general formalism describing the formation of multicellular conjugates of T cells and APCs. Using this formalism we derive three particular models, representing alternative mechanisms of T-cell-mediated suppression. For each model, we make phase plane and bifurcation analysis, and identify their pros and cons in terms of the relationship with the large body of experimental observations on T-cell-mediated suppression. We argue that accounting for the quantitative details of adoptive transfers of tolerance requires models with bistable regimes in which either regulatory cells or effectors cells dominate the steady state. From this analysis, we conclude that the most plausible mechanism of T-cell-mediated suppression requires that regulatory T cells actively inhibit the growth of effector T cells, and that the maintenance of the population of regulatory T cells is dependent on the effector T cells. The regulatory T cell population may depend on a growth factor produced by effector T cells and/or on a continuous differentiation of effector cells to the regulatory phenotype.

Efficient induction of peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by LPS-activated spleen cells

Lipopolysaccharides of gram-negative bacteria are potent activators of B cells, dendritic cells and monocytes/macrophages. We have investigated the use of LPS-activated spleen cells as antigen-presenting cells to induce CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo that are reactive to MHC class I binding peptides. Compared with resting spleen cells, CTL induction was more efficient and less variable for different peptides with LPS-activated spleen cells. Cytotoxic responses were specific for the immunized peptides and contained high affinity CD8+ T cells. The removal of dendritic cells and monocytes/macrophages by Sephadex G10 column did not show profound effects on CTL induction, indicating that B-cell blasts were largely responsible. This easily accessible method should facilitate the screening of MHC class I binding peptides to determine whether or not the host's T-cell repertoire contains reactive T cells.

Anergic T cells as active regulators of the immune response

T cell anergy is one of the mechanisms leading to the establishment and maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Recent data from our and other laboratories indicate that anergic T cells are not functionally inert but in fact are capable of regulating the immune response in an active manner. In this review, we describe our viewpoint on how anergic self-reactive T cells could contribute to regulation of the immune response.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses elicited to Wilms' tumor gene WT1 product by DNA vaccination

We recently have reported that Wilms' tumor gene WT1 is highly expressed not only in leukemias but also in various types of solid tumors and that WT1 protein is a novel tumor antigen against which cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can be elicited by immunization with 9-mer WT1 peptides capable of binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. In the present study, plasmid DNA encoding murine full-length WT1 protein was injected intramuscularly into C57BL/6 mice. The mice vaccinated with the WT1 plasmid DNA elicited CTLs against the WT1 protein, and the CTLs specifically killed WT1-expressing tumor cells in a MHC class I-restricted manner. Furthermore, the vaccinated mice rejected the challenges of WT1-expressing tumor cells and survived with no signs of autoimmunity caused by the CTLs. These results demonstrated that vaccination with the WT1 plasmid DNA can elicit CTL responses specific for the WT1 protein, resulting in the acquisition of rejection activity against challenges of WT1-expressing tumor cells. This WT1 DNA vaccination may find clinical application for various types of solid tumors as well as leukemias.

Immunostimulatory DNA-based vaccines induce cytotoxic lymphocyte activity by a T-helper cell-independent mechanism

Immunostimulatory DNA sequences (ISS) contain unmethylated CpG dinucleotides within a defined motif. Immunization with ISS-based vaccines has been shown to induce high antigen-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) activity and a Th1-biased immune response. We have developed a novel ISS-based vaccine composed of ovalbumin (OVA) chemically conjugated to ISS-oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN). Protein-ISS conjugate (PIC) is more potent in priming CTL activity and Th1-biased immunity than other ISS-based vaccines. Cytotoxic lymphocyte activation by ISS-ODN-based vaccines is preserved in both CD4-/- and MHC class II-/- gene-deficient animals. Furthermore, PIC provides protection against a lethal burden of OVA-expressing tumor cells in a CD8+ cell-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that PIC acts through two unique mechanisms: T-helper-independent activation of CTL and facilitation of exogenous antigen presentation on MHC class I. This technology may have clinical applications in cancer therapy and in stimulating host defense in AIDS and chronic immunosuppression.

Dendritic cells need T cell help to prime cytotoxic T cell responses to strong antigens

Peptide-pulsed mouse dendritic cells (DC) primed peptide-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cell responses very effectively if they expressed minor histocompatibility antigens, which could stimulate a CD4+ T helper cell response. These DC could also prime most syngeneic mice, although there was no deliberate immunization for help (the DC were prepared in syngeneic mouse serum, to avoid any response to fetal calf serum antigens). In contrast, DC were unable to prime MHC class II-deficient mice for cytotoxic responses to the classical helper-dependent antigens Qa1a and HY. More strikingly, Balb.B DC failed to prime B6 MHC class II-deficient mice for cytotoxic responses to Balb minor antigens, even though these two strains differ at more than 40 minor histocompatibility loci. When peptide-pulsed DC were prepared without enzymes (used to release DC from lymphoid tissues), they failed to prime the majority of normal syngeneic mice, even though they expressed high levels of B7 and ICAM-1 co-stimulatory molecules, suggesting that help was provided by responses to antigens in the enzyme cocktail. The enzyme treatment itself did not provide signals that could substitute for help, since DC prepared with enzymes could not prime MHC class II-deficient mice. The observation that highly immunogenic minor-incompatible DC failed to prime MHC class II-deficient mice suggests that in the absence of inflammatory signals, even strong antigens cannot stimulate CD8+ T cell responses without help.

Impaired Ability of MHC Class II−/− Dendritic Cells to Provide Tumor Protection is Rescued by CD40 Ligation

The contribution of CD4+ T cells to dendritic cell (DC) activation and to the induction of CD8+ T cell responses in vivo was investigated using a model of antitumor immune responses. Immunization with peptide-loaded MHC class II-deficient (MHC class II−/−) DC induced the activation of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells and their accumulation in the lymph nodes and spleens of immunized mice. The accumulation induced by MHC class II−/− DC immunization was lower than the accumulation observed after immunization with MHC class II+/+ DC. Similarly, immunization with peptide-loaded, MHC class II−/− DC induced some degree of protection against tumor challenge, but this protection was lower than the protection achieved after immunization with MHC class II+/+ DC. Incubation with a membrane-associated form of CD40 ligand resulted in the up-regulation of costimulatory molecules on MHC class II−/− DC and fully rescued their ability to induce antitumor immunity. We conclude that CD4+ T cells play a critical role in the generation of antitumor immune responses through their capacity to induce the activation of DC via CD40/CD40 ligand interaction, and thus maximize CD8+ T cell responses.

Intrathymic deletion of MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic T cell precursors by constitutive cross-presentation of exogenous antigen

Cross-priming of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) is a potential hazard to self tolerance because it exposes naive T cells to tissue-specific self antigens in the context of co-stimulatory signals. Here we show that cross-presentation of exogenous material occurs constitutively within the thymus. Although efficient cross-presentation is a property of relatively few APC it results in thymocyte deletion both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that intrathymic cross-presentation can operate as an effective component of tolerance to circulating self antigens. The capacity of minor cell populations to mediate thymocyte deletion but not positive selection reflects an underlying difference in the biology of these two processes.

Alloimmunization for immune-based therapy and vaccine design against HIV/AIDS

Recent studies have demonstrated protective effects of alloimmunization in the SIV model. Here, Gene Shearer, Ligia Pinto and Mario Clerici raise the possibility that alloimmunization against a spectrum of HLA-disparate leukocytes be considered for immune-based therapy and as an AIDS vaccine.

Cytotoxic T Cell Responses to DNA Vaccination: Dependence on Antigen Presentation via Class II MHC

This study was designed to test whether cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses to DNA vaccination are dependent upon MHC class II-restricted priming of CD4+ T cells. Because DNA vaccination may directly transfect dendritic cells, and dendritic cells may be capable of directly stimulating CD8+ T cell responses, such priming might be unnecessary. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6 mice were immunized intramuscularly or intradermally with DNA encoding either whole OVA, a class I (Kb)-restricted peptide epitope of OVA (amino acids 257–264, SIINFEKL), or this class I-restricted epitope plus the adjacent class II (I-Ab)-restricted epitope of OVA (amino acids 265–280, TEWTSSNVMEERKIKV). Very low to negligible CTL responses were observed in mice vaccinated with the SIINFEKL construct, whereas mice vaccinated with the SIINFEKLTEWTSSNVMEERKIKV or with the complete OVA construct made equally robust CTL responses. These responses were sensitive to blocking by anti-CD8 mAb and were shown to be SIINFEKL-specific by using SIINFEKL peptide-pulsed EL-4 cells as targets. To ensure that the generation of these CTL responses was indeed dependent upon CD4+ T cell help, mice were depleted of either CD4+ or CD8+ cells before immunization. Depletion of CD4+ cells completely abrogated the CTL response to OVA DNA, as did depletion of CD8+ cells. Thus, we conclude that the CTL response to both intramuscular and intradermal DNA vaccination is highly dependent upon the generation of CD4+ T cell help via a class II MHC-dependent pathway. These results will be relevant for the construction of minimal-epitope vaccines for DNA immunization.

Induction of MHC-class I restricted human suppressor T cells by peptide priming in vitro

The induction of regulatory T cells may offer an effective means for specific immunosuppression of autoimmune disease and allograft rejection. The existence of suppressor T cells has been previously documented, yet their mechanism of action remains poorly characterized. Our studies demonstrate that T suppressor (Ts) cell lines can be generated by in vitro immunization of human PBMCs, with synthetic peptides or soluble proteins coupled to beads. Such Ts cells express the CD8+CD28- phenotype and show the following characteristics: (a) antigen specificity and restriction by self MHC Class I molecules; (b) limited TCR V beta gene usage; (c) ability to inhibit antigen-specific, MHC Class II restricted, Th proliferative responses; and (d) capacity to downregulate and/or inhibit the upregulation by Th of CD40, CD80, and CD86 molecules on APCs. The inhibitory activity of Ts on Th proliferation requires the tripartite interaction between Th, Ts, and APCs and results from inefficient costimulation of Th.

Immunodominance in the CTL Response Against Minor Histocompatibility Antigens: Interference Between Responding T Cells, Rather than with Presentation of Epitopes

We have investigated mechanisms involved in immunodominance of the CTL response of C57BL/6 (B6) mice against cells of BALB.B origin. This transplantation barrier consists of at least 40 minor histocompatibility (H) Ags. Insufficient presentation of nondominant epitopes in the presence of dominant epitopes was investigated as a possible mechanism for immunodominance. Ag presentation was assessed by recognition of dendritic cells of BALB.B origin, MLC restimulatory capacity, and quantification of cell surface presentation by peptide elution from intact cells. Cells from BALB.B mice, which fail to elicit CTL against nondominant epitopes, presented nondominant epitopes to a similar extent as cells from minor H congenic mice; the latter do elicit CTL against nondominant minor H Ags. Nevertheless, presentation of nondominant and dominant epitopes by the same APC appeared to be an important factor for immunodominance to occur, since simultaneous immunization with the epitopes on separate cells elicited CTL against both types of epitopes. This suggested that immunodominance is determined in the interaction between different responding T cells and the APC. Support for this was obtained in an in vitro model in which the CTL response against a nondominant epitope was inhibited by the concomitant response against a dominant epitope. This study suggests that immunodominance in the CTL response against certain minor H Ags results from interference between T cell responses and not from insufficient presentation of peptide epitopes. The study also provides an in vitro model for further investigations of the immunodominance phenomenon.

Bystander suppression of murine collagen-induced arthritis by long-term nasal administration of a self type II collagen peptide

Oral and more recently nasal tolerance have attracted attention as potential treatments of autoimmune disease. Arthritis induced by bovine type II collagen (CII) is a widely used animal model of rheumatoid arthritis, which is here used to investigate the efficacy of nasal treatment by a short peptide. The peptide spans residues 707-721 (designated p707), an epitope of mouse CII that is most strongly recognized after immunization of mice with this self-protein. The treatment was partially effective, but almost only when the peptide was administered in large doses over a prolonged period. Mice immunized with bovine CII respond mainly to other peptides, located in the CB11 fragment around amino acid residues 256-270. The tolerance effect therefore results from intramolecular suppression, between epitopes located in different parts of this large protein.

A conditioned dendritic cell can be a temporal bridge between a CD4+ T-helper and a T-killer cell

To generate an immune response, antigen-specific T-helper and T-killer cells must find each other and, because they cannot detect each other's presence, they are brought together by an antigen-loaded dendritic cell that displays antigens to both. This three-cell interaction, however, seems nearly impossible because all three cell types are rare and migratory. Here we provide a potential solution to this conundrum. We found that the three cells need not meet simultaneously but that the helper cell can first engage and 'condition' the dendritic cell, which then becomes empowered to stimulate a killer cell. The first step (help) can be bypassed by modulation of the surface molecule CD40, or by viral infection of dendritic cells. These results may explain the long-standing paradoxical observation that responses to some viruses are helper-independent, and they evoke the possibility that dendritic cells may take on different functions in response to different conditioning signals.

Differential Activation of T Cells by Natural Antigen Peptide Analogues: Influence on Autoimmune and Alloimmune In Vivo T Cell Responses

Recent studies using synthetic altered peptide ligands (Analogues) have led to the fine dissection of TCR-mediated T cell functions elicited by Ag recognition. Certain Analogues behave as full agonists of the antigenic peptide while others are partial agonists in that they only trigger selected T cell functions. Additionally, peptide Analogues can behave as antagonists by inhibiting functions of T cell clones when coincubated with the wild-type peptide. In fetal thymic organ cultures, synthetic altered peptide ligands can impact T cell repertoire selection. However, the influence of naturally occurring peptide Analogues on T cell immunity in vivo remains hypothetical. We previously reported that, in B10.A mice, immunogenicity and tolerogenicity of the self-MHC class I peptide, Ld 61-80, were influenced by the presentation of a cross-reactive self-peptide, Kk 61-80. Here, we show that Kk 61-80 self-peptide represents a partial agonist of Ld 61-80 in that it induced the proliferation but not the lymphokine production of Ld 61-80-primed T cells. Next, we showed that presentation of Kk 61-80 Analogue peptide mediated T cell tolerance toward Ld 61-80 self-peptide. Alternatively, when Ld protein represented an alloantigen displayed on transplanted cells, immunization with Kk 61-80 Analogue sensitized recipient mice to Ld 61-80 peptide, thus inducing potent immune responses to donor cells. These results show that the presentation of natural Analogue peptides may represent an essential component of T cell responses involved in autoimmunity and transplant rejection.

Cytokine adjuvants: lessons from the past--guidelines for the future?

Formulation of vaccines has for the most part relied on simple adjuvants which are able to enhance the immune response to the immunogen. Cytokines are an attractive alternative to conventional preparations, and have been tested in a number of different systems. However, experience has indicated that there are a number of guidelines that must be followed. The dose of cytokine administered is critical for optimal effect. Too little will have no effect, and too much will have undesirable side effects. For instance, at high doses IL-2 can induce autoimmune disease and interferon gamma can have a suppressive effect. Cytokines may also have to be administered at the same site or even to the same cell as the antigen for optimal effect. Conjugation or molecular chimerization of antigens and cytokines can achieve this effect efficiently. Formulation of cytokine with antigen may overcome any detrimental effect that the antigen may have. Should the antigen have any suppressive epitopes or have a direct effect on essential intracellular mechanisms, cytokines may be used to overcome these effects. In some cases, Th1 or Th2 cytokines have been used to enhance a protective Th1 or Th2 response. However, the paradigm does not always hold, and Th1 cytokines can enhance Th2 responses, or have no overall effect on phenotype. Further, in some host species, there is evidence that there may be no Th1/Th2 dichotomy. The most important aspect of using cytokines as adjuvants is in ensuring that there is a balanced response.

Major histocompatibility complex class I presentation of exogenously acquired minor alloantigens initiates skin allograft rejection

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules present peptides from endogenous proteins. However, in some cases class I-restricted peptides can also derive from exogenous antigens. This MHC class I exogenous presentation could be involved in minor histocompatibility antigen (mHAg)-disparate allograft rejection when donor alloantigens are not expressed in graft antigen-presenting cells (APC) that initiate the rejection mechanism. Here we addressed this question by using a skin graft experimental model where donors (H-2b or H-2d Tg beta-gal mice) expressed the mHAg like beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) in keratinocytes but not in Langerhans' cells (LC) which have an APC function. Rejection of Tg beta-gal skin by a beta-gal-specific CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector mechanism should require presentation by donor and/or recipient LC of MHC class I-restricted peptides of exogenous beta-gal shed by keratinocytes. Indeed, our results showed that 1) H-2b Tg beta-gal skin was rejected by H-2bxs and H-2bxd recipients; 2) rejection was mediated by beta-gal-specific CD8+ CTL effectors; and 3) H-2bxd mice having rejected H-2b Tg beta-gal skin generated beta-gal-specific CTL restricted by H-2b and H-2d class I molecules and rejected subsequently grafted H-2d Tg beta-gal skin in an accelerated fashion, demonstrating that recipient LC have presented exogenous beta-gal-derived MHC class I epitopes. These results lead to the conclusion that MHC class I exogenous presentation of donor mHAg can initiate allograft rejection.

Induction of a CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte response by cross-priming requires cognate CD4+ T cell help

Class I-restricted presentation is usually associated with cytoplasmic degradation of cellular proteins and is often considered inaccessible to exogenous antigens. Nonetheless, certain exogenous elements can gain entry into this so-called endogenous pathway by a mechanism termed cross-presentation. This is known to be effective for class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) cross-priming directed against a variety of exogenous tumor, viral, and minor transplantation antigens. The related effect of cross-tolerance can also effectively eliminate responses to selected self components. In both cases, this presentation appears to require the active involvement of a bone marrow-derived antigen presenting cell (APC). Here, we show that CTL induction by cross-priming with cell-associated ovalbumin requires the active involvement of CD4+ helper T cells. Importantly, this CD4+ population is only effective when both the helper and CTL determinants are recognized on the same APC. Moreover, we would argue that the cognitive nature of this event suggests that the CD4+ T cell actively modifies the APC, converting it into an effective stimulator for the successful priming of the CTL precursor.

CD8+ effector cells responding to residual class I antigens, with help from CD4+ cells stimulated indirectly, cause rejection of "major histocompatibility complex-deficient" skin grafts

BACKGROUND

Skin grafts from mice that are deficient in the expression of both class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens are rejected rapidly by normal recipients.

METHODS

To determine the mechanism of this rejection, MHC-deficient skin grafts were placed on recipients with different degrees of antigenic disparity and on recipients depleted of selected T cell subpopulations. In addition, the recipient's T cells were examined in vitro for their responses before and after graft rejection.

RESULTS

The results indicate that (1) CD4+ cells provide help for this rejection by recognizing donor antigens presented by recipient class II antigens, and (2) CD8+ cells can participate as effector cells, recognizing residual class I antigens expressed by the MHC-deficient grafts.

CONCLUSIONS

The primary conclusion from these studies is that the supposedly MHC-deficient mice actually do have sufficient class I antigen expression to cause skin graft rejection. This finding prevents the use of these mice to answer definitively the question of whether grafts entirely lacking MHC antigens would be rejected. However, these studies do illustrate two important (although previously recognized) features of allogeneic skin graft rejection: (1) that rejection can be initiated by help provided entirely through the indirect pathway, and (2) that help provided through the indirect pathway is available for effector T cells sensitized directly by donor cells. However, the results from these and other studies suggest that indirect effector mechanisms would probably be able to destroy truly MHC-deficient grafts under some circumstances.

The immune response: the afferent arm

The key to understanding afferent immunity is the mechanism of activation of T lymphocytes by specialized antigen presenting cells, which bind antigenic peptide to Class II major histocompatibility molecules, and stimulate T cells via Signal 1 (antigen) and Signal 2 (costimulation). The best studied costimulatory pathway is the interaction of B7-1 or B7-2 ligand molecules on antigen presenting cells with CD28 or CTLA-4 receptors on T cells. T cell signaling occurs through the T cell receptor-CD3 complex and is augmented by cosignaling via CD4, CD8, and CD45. The activation of T cells to alloantigen occurs by either a direct pathway of recognition of allogenic major histocompatibility molecules (with or without an associated endogenous peptide), or by an indirect pathway of recognition of processed donor alloantigens via recipient antigen presenting cells. Afferent immunity on the musculoskeletal system is of special interest because of the absence of viable donor antigen presenting cells in processed grafts that makes them susceptible to the indirect pathway of alloantigen recognition.

A three-cell cluster hypothesis for noncognate T-B collaboration via direct T cell recognition of allogeneic dendritic cells

In this article, we propose that T cell help for B cells can occur via an unusual three-cell cluster, with recipient CD4+ T helper cells interacting via direct allorecognition with donor dendritic cell class II MHC antigens, recipient B cells interacting with MHC class I (or any other) antigen on the donor dendritic cell surface, and noncognate (i.e., antigen nonspecific) T-B collaboration. In this noncognate pathway, antigen processing by B cells is not required and T cell help is potent because of the high precursor T cell frequency for direct recognition of allogeneic class II MHC molecules. The data supporting this hypothesis are: 1. LEW rat strain recipients of interstitial dendritic cell-free (DAxLEW)F1 kidney allografts were shown to have no detectable antibody to donor class I MHC antigens at day 7 after grafting. By contrast, LEW recipients of normal (DAxLEW)F1 kidneys had strong antibody responses. 2. Consistent wih important role for donor dendritic cells in the early antibody response to donor class I MHC antigens was the finding that it was dependent on donor class II MHC antigens. PVG recipients, previously immunized with pure DA RT1.B class II MHC antigens, had virtually no antibody response to the class I MHC antigens of DA kidney allografts. 3. We confirmed the low and high responder status of PVG and LEW rats, respectively, to DA class I antigens by studying antibody responses to pure DA class I antigens. However, PVG and LEW recipients of DA kidney allografts did not differ in their antibody response to the donor DA class I MHC antigens. This is consistent with this response not requiring the processing and presentation of DA class I antigen by PVG recipients. 4. LEW recipients of interstitial dendritic cell-free (DAxLEW)F1 kidney allografts did eventually develop a strong antibody response to DA class I antigens, but this was delayed by several weeks. That this delayed antibody response was probably mediated by conventional T-B collaboration and that T help was rate limiting in this situation, was demonstrated by immunizing LEW recipients with a DA class I peptide. This markedly accelerated the kinetics of the antibody response to the dendritic cell-free (DAxLEW)F1 kidneys.

MHC expression in nonlymphoid tissues of the developing embryo: strongest class I or class II expression in separate populations of potential antigen-presenting cells in the skin, lung, gut, and inter-organ connective tissue

We define expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens in the nonlymphoid tissues of the developing rat. Antibodies to class I heavy and light chains (b2-m), and to class II MHC proteins were used. Strongest MHC expression was by individual cells in the skin, lung, gut, and inter-organ connective tissue. The class I+ and class II+ cells were distinct populations, differing in morphology, distribution, and expression of macrophage-associated antigens. A nonimmunologic role for MHC proteins in development has been proposed. Yet the distributions and antigenic profiles lead us to emphasize immunologic functions that may be served by the early presence of MHC+ cells outside the forming lymphoid organs. Potential contributions to establishment of extrathymic or maternal/fetal tolerance are discussed. Localization of strongest MHC expression to individual connective tissue cells of the developing organs, rather than parenchymal cells, is of clinical relevance to transplantation of fetal tissue.

Efficacy of synthetic vaccines in the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Comparison of the costimulating support provided by helper T cells and lipoamino acid

Synthetic vaccines that specifically induce active immunity mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are of great interest considering the central role of these cells in immune responses against intracellular antigens. The influence of specific T helper (Th) cell recruitment and of the potent immunostimulating lipoamino acid tripalmitoyl-S-glycerylcysteine (P3C) on CTL mediated immunity induced by CTL epitopes was analysed and compared. Synthetic peptides that represent CTL epitopes were found to be inefficient for CTL priming. However, when combined with peptides that contain Th cell epitopes, with proteins that carry multiple Th cell epitopes or with P3C, efficient priming of CTL was obtained. The costimulating support by P3C and proteins resulted in high cytolytic activities already after 9 days whereas, in the case of single helper epitopes, incubation periods of about 4 weeks were required. The effects of P3C and helper epitopes were additive.

Indirect recognition by helper cells can induce donor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo

In vitro studies have revealed that help for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) induction can be mediated through several pathways, including direct recognition of allogenic class II antigens by CD4+ cells, direct recognition of allogeneic class I antigens by "CD4-independent" CD8+ cells, and "indirect" recognition of peptides of alloantigens presented in association with self class II molecules. Whereas good evidence for the two direct pathways is available in vivo, there is relatively little evidence to show that indirect recognition can initiate graft rejection. This study examined the role of indirect allorecognition during the generation of CTLs in mice as they rejected major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-deficient skin after depletion of CD8+ T cells in vivo. Recipients were depleted of CD8+ T cells by in vivo treatment with anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody and then grafted with allogeneic skin lacking MHC class II antigens. The mice rejected the skin grafts rapidly. Although flow cytometry showed marked depletion of CD8+ T cells in these mice, we found that (a) CD8+ CTLs were generated and sensitized to MHC class I antigens of the donor; (b) the generation of the CD8+ CTLs required the help in vivo of CD4+ cells, as well as priming with the allogeneic skin graft; and (c) the CD4+ T helper cells were sensitized indirectly to donor peptides presented in association with class II antigens on recipient antigen-presenting cells. These results provide evidence that indirect recognition can provide effective help for CTL induction during graft rejection, even when the cytotoxic T cells are sensitized by determinants expressed only on the donor graft.

T-cell-T-cell collaboration in allograft responses

T-cell-T-cell collaboration in allogeneic responses traditionally has been viewed as the requirement for CD4+ T helper cells in the activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. In this regard, the role of the CD4+ T cell is primarily to provide growth factors, such as interleukin-2, on which the CD8+ T cell is dependent. However, expanding information concerning the function of T-cell subsets, and the roles of antigen-presenting cells and cytokines in regulating immune responses, requires that the basic tenets of T-cell interactions be re-evaluated.

Murine CD8+ T suppressors against mycobacterial 65-kDa antigen compete for IL-2 and show lack of major histocompatibility complex-imposed restriction specificity in antigen recognition

The mechanism of antigen-specific suppression and reasons for aberrant major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II restriction mediated by CD8+ T cells was investigated in a previously reported murine model of immunosuppression, generated by intraperitoneal priming with Mycobacterium vaccae. Both the CD4+ T helper cells (Th) and CD8+ T suppressor cell (Ts) of M. vaccae-primed mice recognized the 65-kDa antigen of the bacillus, presented by I-A and I-E, respectively. The CD8+ Ts could inhibit non-antigen-specific proliferation of primed CD4+ T cells induced by the exogenously added interleukin (IL)-2 (concanavalin A-stimulated culture supernatant). For inhibition, the Ts had to be activated by the 65-kDa antigen. The degree of inhibition was dependent upon the amount of added IL-2 and the relative numbers of primed CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. On incubation with antigen-presenting cells, and the 65-kDa antigen, the primed CD8+ T cells absorbed IL-2 as efficiently as primed CD4+ T cells. Based on this, it was concluded that the primed CD8+ T cells induced suppression by competition for IL-2. Employing the same model, the MHC restriction of recognition of the suppressor epitope of the 65-kDa antigen by the CD8+ Ts was investigated. The epitopes presented by diverse MHC class II molecules, such as self I-A, I-E and even allogeneic I-E were similar, because they were recognized by the same population of primed CD8+ Ts. Further, immunization of C57BL/6 mice with Ltk-cells expressing H-2 DkKk alloantigens, stimulated CD8+ T cells capable of recognizing M.vaccae 65-kDa antigen. Based on these data, it was proposed that recognition of the suppressor epitope of the 65-kDa antigen by the primed CD8+ Ts exhibits lack of restriction specificity imposed by MHC diversity.

Collaboration of helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are major effector cells in response to viral infections and in allograft rejection and are implicated in many other immunological reactions. Efficient induction of cytotoxic activity in these cells in many but not all cases depends upon helper T and antigen-presenting cells so that at least three different cell types have to work together. Here we present an in vitro model for the helper T cell-dependent induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes which allows the investigation of the collaboration of helper and cytotoxic T cells. First results demonstrate that linkage of helper and killer epitopes on the surface of one antigen-presenting cell is a prerequisite for productive interaction between the two T cells that results in induction of cytolytic activity. T helper 1 and T helper 2 cells are equally efficient. The crucial roles of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in this process were confirmed. Activated CD4 cells can influence cytotoxic T lymphocytes in such a way that they produce interferon-gamma independent from recognition of cognate peptide. The possibility of direct T-T contacts mediated by adhesion molecules that promote collaboration of the two cells is discussed.

The role of "indirect" recognition in initiating rejection of skin grafts from major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice

In vitro studies have revealed several pathways by which T cells can respond to alloantigens, including CD4+ direct responses to allogeneic class II antigens, CD8+ direct responses to allogeneic class I antigens, and CD4+ "indirect" responses to peptides of alloantigens presented in association with responder class II molecules. In vivo studies of skin graft rejection, however, have so far provided clear evidence for the contribution of only the two direct pathways and not for indirect recognition. We have used major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice as donors to test the role of indirect recognition in rejection of skin grafts. Class II-deficient skin was always rejected without delay by normal recipients. Removal of recipient CD8+ cells (to leave the animals dependent on CD4+ function) or depletion of recipient CD4+ cells revealed that CD4+ cells were usually involved and sometimes absolutely required in this rapid rejection. Since the donor grafts lacked class II antigens, the CD4+ cells must have recognized donor antigens presented in association with recipient class II molecules. These results therefore indicate that indirect recognition can initiate rapid skin graft rejection.

Dominant reduced responsiveness controlled by H-2(Kb)Ab. A new pattern evoked by Thy-1 antigen and F liver antigen

In the most frequently used panel of H-2 recombinant strains, B10.A, B10.A(4R), B10.A(5R), and B10, inhibition of the immune response has hitherto mapped to H-2E. Inhibition of the responses to Thy-1 antigen and to F liver protein, as described here, maps in a novel pattern to H-2KbAb, and presumably to H-2Ab. Enhancement of the adoptively transferred anti-Thy-1 response by treatment with CD8-specific antibody suggests, very provisionally, that T cells with suppressive activity mediate the inhibition. The evolution of this new pattern, and of dominant reduced responsiveness in general, is discussed and its relevance to immunological diseases assessed. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for F-specific antibodies is introduced.

An exact comparison between the efficiency of two- and three-cell-type clusters in mediating helper activity

Adoptive transfer of anti-H-2Db-primed B cells combined with anti-minor histocompatibility antigen-primed T cells enables the effect of linked and unlinked alloantigen to be compared. Over an extensive dose range the unlinked antigen proved ineffective. In a previously described, exactly comparable system for assessing the same effect on cytotoxic T cell precursors, low doses of linked antigen had proved approximately equally effective, but high doses of unlinked antigen had proved effective. This contrast supports the hypothesis that whereas T-B collaboration is mediated by two-cell-type clusters, collaboration between T cells requires formation of three-cell-type clusters.

Specificity and in vitro transfer of the immunosuppressive effect of detergent-disrupted influenza virus vaccine

Primed murine splenocytes give an in vitro antibody response to influenza whole virus vaccine (WVV), as measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). When subunit vaccine (SV) of either influenza A or influenza B virus was added to in vitro splenocyte cultures stimulated with WVV, the EIA antibody response to homologous WVV was reduced. This reduction in antibody response was observed when SV was prepared using zwitterionic detergent (empigen BB), non-ionic detergent (triton-X-100) or cationic detergent cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB); it was found to be effected only by SV of strains of the same virus subtype--when SVs prepared from a heterotypic (H3N2) strain, an H1N1 strain and an influenza B strain were added to splenocyte cultures in the presence of WVV. When splenocytes from immunologically naive mice, exposed in vitro to SV, were transferred to secondary cultures of primed splenocytes, the antibody response to WVV in the secondary cultures was also reduced. Mechanisms that may suppress the in vitro antibody response are discussed.

Antigen processing: current issues, exceptional cases (Thy 1 alloantigen, MHC class-II-restricted cytolytic T cells), and implications for vaccine development

A dogmatic view of antigen processing is presented in outline, followed by a survey of unresolved issues in the subject. The activity of Thy 1 as an alloantigen, and allospecific MHC Class-II-restricted cytolytic T cells offer examples of exceptional cases of antigen presentation. Implications for the design of vaccines are drawn.

T cell interactions generated by synthetic peptides covalently linked to a carrier

We have attempted to extend the synthetic peptide-carrier bridge concept of T cell-B cell interaction to T cell-T cell interaction. DNA synthesis of human CD4 cells that were sensitized in vivo to a native streptococcal antigen (SA) was stimulated in vitro with synthetic peptides (SP) derived from the sequence of native SA. The SP were linked to tetanus toxoid (TT) as a carrier which was recognized by primed T cells. The uptake of [3H]thymidine was significantly greater when stimulated with covalently linked SP-TT than that with non-covalently mixed SP and TT. The TT- and SP-sensitized CD4 cells were then enriched and depleted by panning on TT- or SP-treated monocyte layers. When TT-enriched CD4 cells were reconstituted with SP-enriched cells, [3H]thymidine uptake was significantly greater with the linked SP-TT than with the mixed SP and TT. However, reconstitution of the TT-enriched with SP-depleted CD4 cells or the converse failed to increase significantly DNA synthesis by cells stimulated with the linked SP-TT. The production of interleukin 2 (IL 2) and expression of IL 2 receptors were then assayed to examine any difference in stimulation between TT and SP. Both IL2 and IL2 receptors were diminished and delayed when T cells were stimulated with SP as compared with TT. The results suggest that epitope-linked clusters of monocytes, TT-sensitized CD4 and SP-sensitized CD4 cells enable IL2 released by the TT-sensitized CD4 cells to stimulate the SP-sensitized CD4 cells that produce inadequate amounts of IL2. Indeed, addition of recombinant IL2 to T cells stimulated with mixed SP and TT induces an increase in DNA synthesis which becomes similar to that resulting from stimulation with the linked SP-TT.