Interleukin 2 and its receptors: recent advances and new immunological functions

Mucosal delivery of murine interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 by recombinant strains of Lactococcus lactis coexpressing antigen and cytokine

Lactococcus lactis is a nonpathogenic and noncolonizing bacterium which is being developed as a vaccine delivery vehicle for immunization by mucosal routes. To determine whether lactococci can also deliver cytokines to the immune system, we have constructed novel constitutive expression strains of L. lactis which accumulate a test antigen, tetanus toxin fragment C (TTFC), within the cytoplasmic compartment and also secrete either murine interleukin-2 (IL-2) or IL-6. When mice were immunized intranasally with various different expression strains of L. lactis, the anti-TTFC antibody titers increased more rapidly and were substantially higher in mice immunized with the bacterial strains which secreted IL-2 or IL-6 in addition to their production of TTFC. This adjuvant effect was lost when the recombinant strains of L. lactis were killed by pretreatment with mitomycin C and could therefore be attributed to the secretion of IL-2 or IL-6 by the recombinant lactococci. These results provide the first example of the use of a cytokine-secreting, noninvasive experimental bacterial vaccine vector to enhance immune responses to a coexpressed heterologous antigen and point the way to experiments which will test the possible therapeutic efficacy of this mode of cytokine delivery.

Requirement of the IL-2 receptor beta chain for the development of Vgamma3 dendritic epidermal T cells

Vgamma3 TCR cells develop in the fetal thymus and migrate to the skin as dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC). Fetal Vgamma3 thymocytes differentiate from immature heat stable antigen (HSA)high cells to mature HSAlow cells and the latter subset predominantly expresses IL-2 receptor beta chain (IL-2Rbeta). In this study, the role of IL-2Rbeta in the development of Vgamma3 cells was determined in IL-2Rbeta-deficient mice. There was a moderate reduction of mature HSAlow Vgamma3 thymocytes in IL-2Rbeta-deficient mice. Small numbers of Vgamma3 DETC were detected in the fetal skin of IL-2Rbeta-deficient mice, but they were absent in newborn and adult mice. These results suggest that IL-2Rbeta may transduce the crucial signal for survival and/or expansion of Vgama3 cells in the fetal thymus and in the fetal skin. In normal mice, IL-15 but not IL-2 mRNA was expressed in the fetal epidermis and exogenous addition of low concentration of IL-15 to fetal skin organ culture induced proliferation of Vgamma3 DETC. The dependence of fetal Vgamma3 DETC on the expression of IL-2Rbeta and the presence of IL-15 mRNA in the fetal epidermis imply an essential role of IL-15 signaling through IL-2Rbeta in the selective localization of this gammadelta T cell subpopulation in the skin.

Signal transduction during NK cell activation: balancing opposing forces

Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the basic signaling mechanisms regulating NK cell activation. Advances have been fueled in part by the molecular characterization of specific activating receptors (e.g., the Fc gamma RIII multi-subunit complex) and inhibitory receptors (e.g., novel MHC-recognizing inhibitory receptors). However, certain aspects of these analyses are complicated by the heterogeneous nature of the receptor-ligand interactions utilized during the development of a cytotoxic response. Future advances will depend in part on the further molecular characterization of the involved receptors and second messengers and on the development of experimental models for genetically manipulating the signaling elements. It will remain important to understand both activating and inhibitory signaling pathways as the emerging theme is that the balance of these two opposing forces determines the functional outcome of an NK cells interaction with its target.

A Role for Perforin in Activation-Induced Cell Death

The granule exocytosis pathway of T cell cytotoxicity is absent in mice whose perforin gene has been ablated by targeted mutagenesis. The ability of activated naive T cells to undergo apoptosis in vitro following reaggregation of the TCR complex with anti-TCR mAbs via a Fas-independent pathway was found to be defective in the absence of perforin. Protection from death was most marked in CD8+ T cells. In wild-type cells, perforin was expressed at the same time that apoptosis occurred, and blockade of perforin expression by either incubation with perforin antisense oligonucleotides or with anti-IL-2 Abs resulted in increased viability of activated T cells. The role of perforin was not via perforin-dependent fratricidal killing. The results suggest a model in which perforin acts internally to cause a form of activation-induced T cell death distinct from that caused by members of the TNFR superfamily.

The circulating common gamma chain (CD132) in inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by T cell activation. Activated T cells shed interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) in a soluble form. A positive correlation between sIL-2Ralpha (CD25) and disease activity is well documented in IBD, whereas IL-2Rgamma (CD132) has not been investigated in this respect. Sera from 42 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 34 with Crohn's disease (CD), 31 healthy volunteers, and 12 patients with infectious enterocolitis were obtained.

METHODS

Disease activity was scored according to a semiquantitative score for UC and CD. sIL-2R alpha chain and gamma chain were assessed by sandwich ELISA techniques using monoclonal antibodies specific for CD25 and CD132, respectively.

RESULTS

The concentration of IL-2Ralpha chain (CD25) was found to be median 3.8 ng/ml in healthy volunteers versus 7.0 ng/ml in UC patients (p < 0.001), and 9.6 ng/ml in CD patients (p < 0.001). With respect to IL-2Rgamma (CD132), significantly higher amounts were found in CD patients: 6.6 ng/ml as compared with healthy controls <1.0 ng/ml (p < 0.004). A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant correlation between alpha chain and disease activity in CD (p < 0.001), and further significantly higher gamma chain levels were found in active CD (p = 0.03). For UC patients, a statistically significant increase of the alpha chain with increasing disease activity (p < 0.01) was observed, whereas no significant changes of the gamma chain levels were found (p > 0.05). A difference of gamma chain levels were found between CD and UC in moderate and severe disease activity (p < 0.05). Further analyses revealed that mesalazine did not influence the IL-2Ralpha or -gamma concentration either in UC or in CD patients.

CONCLUSION

An increased circulating level of the soluble common gamma chain (CD132) seems to be found in CD, and an overlap exists between CD and UC.

Interleukin-2 stimulation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of p120-Cbl and CrkL and formation of multimolecular signaling complexes in T lymphocytes and natural killer cells

Interleukin (IL)-2, a major growth and differentiation factor for T lymphocytes, was found to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of the proto-oncogene products p120-Cbl and CrkL in IL-2-dependent cell lines. We established that, in unstimulated lymphocytes, the Src homology 2 (SH2) and SH3 domain-containing protein Grb2 and the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, associate constitutively with Cbl via their SH3 domains. Furthermore, IL-2 stimulation increased the level of interaction of phosphorylated Cbl with the p85 SH2 domains, and we provide evidence that the preformed Cbl-Grb2 complex recruits the phosphorylated p52 Shc adaptor protein. In addition, we demonstrate that the SH2-SH3-SH3 adaptor protein CrkL is tyrosine-phosphorylated in an IL-2-dependent manner and, via its SH2 domain, associates with a large proportion of phosphorylated Cbl. We also show that p85 is preassociated with the CrkL SH3 domain. Furthermore, the association of CrkL and p85 is increased after IL-2 treatment by a mechanism involving intermediary tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins that remain to be identified. Our results show that CrkL associates independently with Cbl or p85 and suggest that it also participates in larger complexes containing Cbl and p85. Although the precise roles of Cbl and CrkL remain to be elucidated, their tyrosine phosphorylation, in addition to the multiple protein interactions described here, strongly suggest that Cbl and CrkL may play pivotal roles in the early steps of IL-2 signal transduction.

Molecular models of two competitive inhibitors, IL-2delta2 and IL-2delta3, generated by alternative splicing of human interleukin-2

Molecular models of IL-2delta2 and IL-2delta3, two alternative splice variants of human IL-2 without exon 2 and 3, respectively, are described. These alternative splice variants attract particular interest as potential competitive inhibitors of the cytokine. Tertiary structure of IL-2 consists of four-helix bundle including helices A, B, C and D and a beta-pleated sheet. Exon 2 encodes the A-B loop (Asn30-Lys49 residues) linking helices A and B running in one direction. Rotation of the helix A around putative centre during the construction of IL-2delta2 model have not produced any significant changes in the hydrophobic core of IL-2 molecule. However, a large hole was formed on the surface of IL-2delta2 molecule instead of A-B loop in IL-2 fold. A high affinity IL-2 receptor is formed by combination of alpha, beta, and gamma(c) chains. Comparison of the model of the receptor bound IL-2 with the model of IL-2delta2 has shown that their beta-chain binding sites have minimum differences as distinct from alpha and gamma(c) chain-binding sites. Exon 3 encodes Ala50-Lys97 fragment which forms helices B and C with their short connecting loop. Model IL-2delta3 consists of helices A and D and long linking loop. This loop was composed of A-B and C-D loops which run in opposite directions in IL-2 structure and contain beta-strands making a beta-pleated sheet. Conformation of the linking loop relatively to helices A and D was stabilized by creation of a disulphide bond between cysteines 105 and 125. In addition, the hydrophobic residues of beta-sheet interact with the hydrophobic surface of A-D helical complex and close the latter from contacts with solution. Comparison of the model of IL-2 bound to receptor with IL-2delta3 model has shown that absence of helices B and C in IL-2delta3 model results in insignificant conformational changes only in residues interacting with gamma(c) chain of the receptor. The beta/gamma(c) heterodimer is an intermediate affinity receptor of IL-2. Most likely, both IL-2delta2 and IL-2delta3 are naturally occurring IL-2 antagonists since they keep the ability of binding with an intermediate affinity receptor of this cytokine and fail to engage the alpha chain of its high affinity receptor.

Proteolytic cleavage of CD25, the alpha subunit of the human T cell interleukin 2 receptor, by Der p 1, a major mite allergen with cysteine protease activity

Recent reports have indicated that the cysteine protease activity of Der p 1 may play a significant role in its ability to elicit IgE antibody responses, mainly through cleavage of membrane CD23 on B cells and interleukin (IL)-4 synthesis and secretion from mast cells and basophils. Here we demonstrate for the first time that Der p 1 also cleaves the alpha subunit of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R or CD25) from the surface of human peripheral blood T cells and, as a result, these cells show markedly diminished proliferation and interferon gamma secretion in response to potent stimulation by anti-CD3 antibody. Given that the IL-2R is pivotal for the propagation of Th1 cells, its cleavage by Der p 1 may consequently bias the immune response towards Th2 cells, thereby creating an allergic microenvironment.

Prostaglandin E2 Modulation of p59fyn Tyrosine Kinase in T Lymphocytes During Sepsis

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been implicated in the suppression of T cell IL-2 production and proliferation during burn and sepsis. The present study evaluated the potential intracellular mechanism of suppressed T cell responses by assessing the activation of p59fyn kinase in T cells from septic rats as well as the T cells incubated with PGE2. p59fyn is known to regulate T cell functions. Sepsis was induced in rats by implanting fecal pellets containing Escherichia coli (150 CFU) and Bacteroides fragilis (104 CFU) into the abdominal cavity. For the assessment of PGE2 role in sepsis, a group of septic rats were treated with indomethacin, which inhibits endogenous PGE2 synthesis. As assessed by immunoblotting or in vitro kinase assay, a more than 40% inhibition of p59fyn phosphorylation and kinase activity was observed in septic rat T cells compared with the T cells from sterile or control rats. A similar inhibition in p59fyn phosphorylation and kinase activity was observed in PGE2-treated T cells compared with the T cells incubated in the absence of PGE2. The septic-related suppression in p59fyn phosphorylation and kinase activity in T cells was prevented in rats treated with indomethacin. We observed that the inhibition in p59fyn activation in septic or PGE2-treated T cells was due primarily to a suppression in p59fyn phosphorylation and not due to alterations in p59fyn protein expression. These findings suggest that PGE2 released during sepsis could contribute to the sepsis-related suppression in T cell proliferation by attenuating p59fyn phosphorylation and its kinase activity.

Further Analysis of Interleukin-2 Receptor Subunit Expression on the Different Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Subsets

We have investigated the expression of the three components of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2Rα, IL-2Rβ, and IL-2Rγ) on the surface of the various peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subsets by flow cytometry analysis. The PBMC were immediately isolated (ficoll) from blood collected on heparin as anticoagulant. The three IL-2R components are absent or only marginally detectable on CD4 T lymphocytes. No expression of the IL-2R chains is found for the B lymphocytes. In most donors, the three chains are not detectable on CD8 T lymphocytes, but for a few of them, IL-2Rβ or IL-2Rγ are clearly expressed. CD56 high (IL-2Rα+) and CD56 low (IL-2Rα−) natural killer (NK) cells express IL-2Rβ, but not IL-2Rγ. IL-2Rγ is expressed by monocytes of all donors although with variable intensity. When blood is collected on other anticoagulants or when cells are isolated 1 day after collection, IL-2Rα, IL-2Rβ, and IL-2Rγ are largely expressed on the surface of most PBMC. This observation provides a possible explanation for divergent data previously reported on IL-2R expression. Finally, we show that IL-2Rγ, which is not detectable on the cell surface of lymphocytes, is nevertheless expressed and stored as an intracellular component. This result is in agreement with the constitutive expression of the IL-2Rγ gene and suggests a specific regulatory mechanism for IL-2Rγ membrane translocation.

Further Analysis of Interleukin-2 Receptor Subunit Expression on the Different Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Subsets

We have investigated the expression of the three components of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2Rα, IL-2Rβ, and IL-2Rγ) on the surface of the various peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subsets by flow cytometry analysis. The PBMC were immediately isolated (ficoll) from blood collected on heparin as anticoagulant. The three IL-2R components are absent or only marginally detectable on CD4 T lymphocytes. No expression of the IL-2R chains is found for the B lymphocytes. In most donors, the three chains are not detectable on CD8 T lymphocytes, but for a few of them, IL-2Rβ or IL-2Rγ are clearly expressed. CD56 high (IL-2Rα+) and CD56 low (IL-2Rα−) natural killer (NK) cells express IL-2Rβ, but not IL-2Rγ. IL-2Rγ is expressed by monocytes of all donors although with variable intensity. When blood is collected on other anticoagulants or when cells are isolated 1 day after collection, IL-2Rα, IL-2Rβ, and IL-2Rγ are largely expressed on the surface of most PBMC. This observation provides a possible explanation for divergent data previously reported on IL-2R expression. Finally, we show that IL-2Rγ, which is not detectable on the cell surface of lymphocytes, is nevertheless expressed and stored as an intracellular component. This result is in agreement with the constitutive expression of the IL-2Rγ gene and suggests a specific regulatory mechanism for IL-2Rγ membrane translocation.

Interaction of STAT5 dimers on two low affinity binding sites mediates interleukin 2 (IL-2) stimulation of IL-2 receptor alpha gene transcription

Stimulation of the interleukin 2 receptor alpha (IL-2Ralpha) gene by IL-2 is important for the proliferation of antigen-activated T lymphocytes. IL-2 regulates IL-2Ralpha transcription via a conserved 51-nucleotide IL-2 responsive enhancer. Mouse enhancer function depends on cooperative activity of three distinct sites. Two of these are weak binding sites for IL-2-activated STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription) proteins, and mutational analysis indicates that binding of STAT5 to both sites is required for IL-2 responsiveness of the enhancer. The STAT5 dimers interact to form a STAT5 tetramer. The efficiency of tetramerization depends on the relative rotational orientation of the two STAT motifs on the DNA helix. STAT5 tetramerization on enhancer mutants correlates well with the IL-2 responsiveness of these mutants. This provides strong evidence that interactions between STAT dimers binding to a pair of weak binding sites play a biological role by controlling the activity of a well characterized, complex cytokine-responsive enhancer.

Mouse brain microglia express interleukin-15 and its multimeric receptor complex functionally coupled to Janus kinase activity

The cytokine, interleukin (IL)-15, and the T cell growth factor, IL-2, exhibit a similar spectrum of immune effects and share the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) subunits IL-2Rbeta and IL-2Rgamma for signaling in hematopoietic cells. Numerous neuroregulatory activities of IL-2 have been suggested, but its expression in the normal central nervous system (CNS) is apparently very low and regionally restricted. We show by RNA and protein detection that IL-15, its specific receptor molecule, IL-15Ralpha, and the signal-transducing receptor subunits, IL-2Rbeta and IL-2Rgamma, are constitutively present in various regions of the developing and adult mouse brain. We further demonstrate, also at the single-cell level, that IL-15 and the components for IL-15Ralpha/IL-2Rbetagamma receptors are expressed by microglia. Tyrosine phosphorylation data are presented showing that IL-15 signaling in microglia involves Janus kinase 1 activity. At doses of 0.1-10 ng/ml, IL-15 affected functional properties of these cells, such as the production of nitric oxide, and supported their growth in culture, suggestive of a role as an autocrine growth factor. Microglial IL-15 could thus play a pivotal role in the CNS and may participate in certain CNS and neuroendocrine functions previously ascribed to IL-2.

Elevated soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels found among kidney transplant recipients

Although previous studies have not demonstrated a clear correlation between interleukin (IL) 2 receptor levels and immunological events after transplantation, many still suggest that these levels have clinical utility. A total of 759 serial measurements of both IL-2R and creatinine were compared over time and correlated with rejection episodes, clinical course, and immunosuppression. The profiles for the 40 patients showed several patterns, including correlation with changes in creatinine levels or with renal dysfunction, peaks in the absence of clinical findings, and discordant IL-2R and creatinine levels. Wide baseline variations in IL-2R levels confounded comparison of mean values and definition of a statistically significant rise. While tending to correlate with immunological events, elevations in IL-2R also occurred in clinically normal patients. IL-2R appears to lack specificity for immunological events. Thus, we conclude that IL-2R measurement does not have clinical diagnostic utility for monitoring renal transplant recipients.

Interleukin-2 receptor beta and gamma chain dysregulation during the inhibition of CD4 T cell activation by human immunodeficiency virus-1 gp120

We have observed that CD4 T lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients marginally express interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) beta and IL-2R gamma chains which are essential for IL-2 signal transduction. To analyze this observation further, we studied the influence of gp120 on the cell surface expression of IL-2R beta and IL-2R gamma by purified CD4 lymphocytes in vitro. Cross-linking of the T cell receptors of these lymphocytes initiates entry into the cell cycle as measured by CD69 and CD71 cell surface expression and [3H]thymidine incorporation. It also induces the cell surface expression of IL-2R beta and IL-2R gamma. We have shown that treatment of the CD4 T lymphocytes with HIV-1 gp120 before anti-CD3 stimulation impedes cell cycle progression as measured by reduced CD71 expression and inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation. Furthermore, cell surface expression of IL-2R beta and IL-2R gamma subunits, which from the functional intermediate-affinity IL-2R, are significantly inhibited. More importantly, addition of exogenous IL-2 does not restore the proliferation of the CD4 T cells treated with gp120, suggesting that cells are anergic and/or that the remaining IL-2R are not functional. This is the first study of IL-2R beta and IL-2R gamma dysregulation in the context of HIV infection and shows that CD4 is also involved in IL-2R expression.

Neurotoxic consequences of central long-term administration of interleukin-2 in rats

Interleukin-2 is an immunoregulatory cytokine with several recently established CNS activities. Central effects of interleukin-2 include growth promotion for neuronal and glial cells as well as modulatory influences on neurotransmission and hormone release. However, little is known about the consequences in the CNS of chronically elevated levels of interleukin-2. Alterations in the interleukin-2/interleukin-2 receptor system are not only associated with CNS trauma, inflammation and certain neuropathologies; elevated interleukin-2 concentrations are especially induced during the therapeutic use of interleukin-2 in cancer treatments. In the present study, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) interleukin-2 infusions (5 15 U/h) were performed in Sprague Dawley rats for up to 14 days. Interleukin-2-treated animals showed significantly increased plasma levels of corticosterone indicating an hyperfunctioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis that lasted over the 14 day infusion period. Moreover, the performance of interleukin-2-treated animals in the Morris swim maze task was transiently impaired. Quantitative receptor autoradiographic analyses revealed changes in the binding levels of cholinergic M1 and M2 as well as dopaminergic D1 and D2 receptors in selected brain areas in which interleukin-2 was shown to modulate neurotransmission and which are enriched with interleukin-2 receptor expression. Decreased receptor binding levels were observed in the frontoparietal cortex (M2, D1, D2), hippocampal CA1 region (M1, M2) and the nucleus accumbens (D2). Histological and immunohistochemical examination of the brains of interleukin-2-treated animals revealed multiple alterations. Interleukin-2 treatment resulted in an intracranial accumulation of non-neural, MHC class II-positive cells as well as T and B lymphocytes within the infused brain hemisphere. Cellular infiltrates were associated with angiogenesis and the deposition of extracellular matrix material, such as fibronectin. Adjacent brain regions that were partly invaded and dislodged by the cellular masses were characterized by reactive astrogliosis, microglial activation, endothelial upregulation of adhesion molecules, myelin damage and neuronal loss. Together the data suggest that persistently elevated central levels of interleukin-2 can interfere with several CNS functions and may lead to nervous tissue injury. These findings could be relevant to CNS pathologies characterized by abnormal interleukin-2 production and to central responses to interleukin-2 treatments.

T cell proliferation in response to interleukins 2 and 7 requires p38MAP kinase activation

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a potent T cell mitogen. However, the signaling pathways by which IL-2 mediates its mitogenic effect are not fully understood. One of the members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, p42/44MAPK (ERK2/1), is known to be activated by IL-2. We have now investigated the response to IL-2 of two other members of the MAP kinase family, p54MAP kinase (stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK)) and p38MAP kinase (p38/Mpk2/CSBP/RK), which respond primarily to stressful and inflammatory stimuli (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1, and lipopolysaccharide). Here we show that IL-2, and another T cell growth factor, IL-7, activate both SAPK/JNK and p38MAP kinase. Furthermore, inhibition of p38MAP kinase activity with a specific pyrinidyl imidazole inhibitor SB203580 that prevents activation of its downstream effector, MAPK-activating protein kinase-2, correlated with suppression of IL-2- and IL-7-driven T cell proliferation. These data indicate that in T cells p38MAP kinase has a role in transducing the mitogenic signal.

Evidence that cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors suppress interleukin-2 release from murine splenocytes by interacting with a 'low-affinity' phosphodiesterase 4 conformer

1. We have investigated the suppressive effects of rolipram, RP 73401 (piclamilast) and other structurally diverse inhibitors of cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) on interleukin (IL)-2 generation from Balb/c mouse splenocytes exposed to the superantigen, Staphylococcocal enterotoxin-A (Staph. A). The purpose was to determine whether their potencies are more closely correlated with inhibition of PDE4 from CTLL cells, against which rolipram displays weak potency (low-affinity PDE4), or displacement of [3H]-(+/-)-rolipram from its high-affinity binding site (HARBS) in mouse brain cytosol. 2. RP 73401 (IC50 0.46 +/- 0.07 nM, n = 4) was a very potent inhibitor of Staph. A-induced IL-2 release from Balb/c mouse splenocytes, being > 1100 fold more potent than (+/-)-rolipram (IC50 540 +/- 67 nM, n = 3). 3. A close correlation (r = 0.95) was observed between suppression of IL-2 release by PDE inhibitors and inhibition of PDE4. In contrast, little correlation (r = 0.39) was observed between suppression of IL-2 release and their affinities for the high-affinity rolipram binding site (HARBS). 4. RP 73401 only inhibited partially (30-40%) Staph. A-induced incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into splenocyte DNA. The PDE3 inhibitor, siguazodan (10 microM), had little or no effect on IL-2 release or DNA synthesis. This concentration of siguazodan did not enhance the inhibitory action of RP 73401 on IL-2 release but potentiated its effect on DNA synthesis, increasing potency and efficacy. 5. Staph. A-induced DNA synthesis was only partially inhibited by anti-IL-2 neutralizing antibody, whereas dexamethazone (100 nM) and cyclosporine A (100 nM) completely blocked the response. 6. RP 73401 (IC50 6.3 +/- 1.9 nM, n = 4) was 140 fold more potent than rolipram (IC50 900 +/- 300 nM, n = 3) in inhibiting Staph. A-induced [3H]-thymidine incorporation into splenocyte DNA. 7. The results implicate a low-affinity form of PDE4 in the suppression of Staph. A-induced IL-2 release from murine splenocytes by PDE inhibitors. The data also indicate that mitogenic factors other than IL-2, whose elaboration or responses to which are regulated by PDE3 as well as PDE4, contribute to the superantigen-induced DNA synthesis.

Molecular role of TGF-beta, secreted from a new type of CD4+ suppressor T cell, NY4.2, in the prevention of autoimmune IDDM in NOD mice

A new type of CD4+ T cell clone (NY4.2) isolated from pancreatic islet-infiltrated lymphocytes of acutely diabetic non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice prevents the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in NOD mice, as well as the recurrence of autoimmune diabetes in syngeneic islet-transplanted NOD mice. It has been demonstrated that the cytokine TGF-beta, secreted from the cells of this clone, is the substance which prevents autoimmune IDDM. This investigation was initiated to determine the molecular role TGF-beta plays in the prevention of autoimmune IDDM by determining its effect on IL-2-induced signal transduction in Con A-activated NOD mouse splenocytes and HT-2 cells. First, we determined whether TGF-beta, secreted from NY4.2 T cells, inhibits IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation in HT-2 cells (IL-2-dependent T cell line) and NOD splenocytes. We found that TGF-beta suppresses IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation. Second, we determined whether TGF-beta inhibits the activation of Janus kinases (JAKs), as well as signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins, involved in an IL-2-induced signalling pathway that normally leads to the proliferation of T cells. We found that TGF-beta inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK1, JAK3, STAT3 and STAT5 in Con A blasts from NOD splenocytes and HT-2 cells. Third, we examined whether TGF-beta inhibits the cooperation between STAT proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), especially extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2). We found that TGF-beta inhibited the association of STAT3 and STAT5 with ERK2 in Con A blasts from NOD splenocytes and HT-2 cells. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that TGF-beta may interfere with signal transduction via inhibition of the IL-2-induced JAK/STAT pathway and inhibition of the association of STAT proteins with ERK2 in T cells from NOD splenocytes, resulting in the inhibition of IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation. TGF-beta-mediated suppression of T cell activation may be responsible for the prevention of effector T cell-mediated autoimmune IDDM in NOD mice by TGF-beta-producing CD4+ suppressor T cells.