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Anderson RP. Emergence of an adaptive immune paradigm to explain celiac disease: a perspective on new evidence and implications for future interventions and diagnosis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2021; 18:75-91. [PMID: 34767744 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2021.2006636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent patient studies have shown that gluten-free diet is less effective in treating celiac disease than previously believed, and additionally patients remain vulnerable to gluten-induced acute symptoms and systemic cytokine release. Safe and effective pharmacological adjuncts to gluten-free diet are in preclinical and clinical development. Clear understanding of the pathogenesis of celiac disease is critical for drug target identification, establishing efficacy endpoints and to develop non-invasive biomarkers suitable to monitor and potentially diagnose celiac disease. AREAS COVERED The role and clinical effects of CD4+ T cells directed against deamidated gluten in the context of an "adaptive immune paradigm" are reviewed. Alternative hypotheses of gluten toxicity are discussed and contrasted. In the context of recent patient studies, implications of the adaptive immune paradigm for future strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat celiac disease are outlined. EXPERT OPINION Effective therapeutics for celiac disease are likely to be approved and necessitate a variety of new clinical instruments and tests to stratify patient need, monitor remission, and confirm diagnosis in uncertain cases. Sensitive assessments of CD4+ T cells specific for deamidated gluten are likely to play a central role in clinical management, and to facilitate research and pharmaceutical development.
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Kolawole EM, Lamb TJ, Evavold BD. Relationship of 2D Affinity to T Cell Functional Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7969. [PMID: 33120989 PMCID: PMC7662510 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are critical for a functioning adaptive immune response and a strong correlation exists between T cell responses and T cell receptor (TCR): peptide-loaded MHC (pMHC) binding. Studies that utilize pMHC tetramer, multimers, and assays of three-dimensional (3D) affinity have provided advancements in our understanding of T cell responses across different diseases. However, these technologies focus on higher affinity and avidity T cells while missing the lower affinity responders. Lower affinity TCRs in expanded polyclonal populations almost always constitute a significant proportion of the response with cells mediating different effector functions associated with variation in the proportion of high and low affinity T cells. Since lower affinity T cells expand and are functional, a fully inclusive view of T cell responses is required to accurately interpret the role of affinity for adaptive T cell immunity. For example, low affinity T cells are capable of inducing autoimmune disease and T cells with an intermediate affinity have been shown to exhibit an optimal anti-tumor response. Here, we focus on how affinity of the TCR may relate to T cell phenotype and provide examples where 2D affinity influences functional outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brian D. Evavold
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, 15 N Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (E.M.K.); (T.J.L.)
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Miller ML, McIntosh CM, Williams JB, Wang Y, Hollinger MK, Isaad NJ, Moon JJ, Gajewski TF, Chong AS, Alegre ML. Distinct Graft-Specific TCR Avidity Profiles during Acute Rejection and Tolerance. Cell Rep 2018; 24:2112-2126. [PMID: 30134172 PMCID: PMC6142813 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms implicated in robust transplantation tolerance at the cellular level can be broadly categorized into those that inhibit alloreactive T cells intrinsically (clonal deletion and dysfunction) or extrinsically through regulation. Here, we investigated whether additional population-level mechanisms control T cells by examining whether therapeutically induced peripheral transplantation tolerance could influence T cell populations' avidity for alloantigens. Whereas T cells with high avidity preferentially accumulated during acute rejection of allografts, the alloreactive T cells in tolerant recipients retained a low-avidity profile, comparable to naive mice despite evidence of activation. These contrasting avidity profiles upon productive versus tolerogenic stimulation were durable and persisted upon alloantigen re-encounter in the absence of any immunosuppression. Thus, peripheral transplantation tolerance involves control of alloreactive T cells at the population level, in addition to the individual cell level. Controlling expansion or eliminating high-affinity, donor-specific T cells long term may be desirable to achieve robust transplantation tolerance in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Miller
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Christine M McIntosh
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jason B Williams
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Maile K Hollinger
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Noel J Isaad
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - James J Moon
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Thomas F Gajewski
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Anita S Chong
- Department of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Maria-Luisa Alegre
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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Dolton G, Zervoudi E, Rius C, Wall A, Thomas HL, Fuller A, Yeo L, Legut M, Wheeler S, Attaf M, Chudakov DM, Choy E, Peakman M, Sewell AK. Optimized Peptide-MHC Multimer Protocols for Detection and Isolation of Autoimmune T-Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1378. [PMID: 30008714 PMCID: PMC6034003 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide–MHC (pMHC) multimers have become the “gold standard” for the detection and isolation of antigen-specific T-cells but recent evidence shows that normal use of these reagents can miss fully functional T-cells that bear T-cell receptors (TCRs) with low affinity for cognate antigen. This issue is particularly pronounced for anticancer and autoimmune T-cells as self-reactive T-cell populations are enriched for low-affinity TCRs due to the removal of cells with higher affinity receptors by immune tolerance mechanisms. Here, we stained a wide variety of self-reactive human T-cells using regular pMHC staining and an optimized technique that included: (i) protein kinase inhibitor (PKI), to prevent TCR triggering and internalization, and (ii) anti-fluorochrome antibody, to reduce reagent dissociation during washing steps. Lymphocytes derived from the peripheral blood of type 1 diabetes patients were stained with pMHC multimers made with epitopes from preproinsulin (PPI), insulin-β chain, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), or glucose-6-phospate catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP) presented by disease-risk allelles HLA A*02:01 or HLA*24:02. Samples from ankylosing spondylitis patients were stained with a multimerized epitope from vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor 1 (VIPR1) presented by HLA B*27:05. Optimized procedures stained an average of 40.5-fold (p = 0.01, range between 1.4 and 198) more cells than could be detected without the inclusion of PKI and cross-linking anti-fluorochrome antibody. Higher order pMHC dextramers recovered more cells than pMHC tetramers in parallel assays, and standard staining protocols with pMHC tetramers routinely recovered less cells than functional assays. HLA A*02:01-restricted PPI-specific and HLA B*27:05-restricted VIPR1-specific T-cell clones generated using the optimized procedure could not be stained by standard pMHC tetramer staining. However, these clones responded well to exogenously supplied peptide and endogenously processed and presented epitopes. We also showed that anti-fluorochrome antibody-conjugated magnetic beads enhanced staining of self-reactive T-cells that could not be stained using standard protocols, thus enabling rapid ex vivo isolation of autoimmune T-cells. We, therefore, conclude that regular pMHC tetramer staining is generally unsuitable for recovering self-reactive T-cells from clinical samples and recommend the use of the optimized protocols described herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry Dolton
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Efthalia Zervoudi
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Rius
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Wall
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah L Thomas
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Fuller
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lorraine Yeo
- Department of Immunobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mateusz Legut
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Wheeler
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Meriem Attaf
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Dmitriy M Chudakov
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Centre for Data-Intensive Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo, Russia.,Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ernest Choy
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Peakman
- Department of Immunobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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5
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Rius C, Attaf M, Tungatt K, Bianchi V, Legut M, Bovay A, Donia M, Thor Straten P, Peakman M, Svane IM, Ott S, Connor T, Szomolay B, Dolton G, Sewell AK. Peptide-MHC Class I Tetramers Can Fail To Detect Relevant Functional T Cell Clonotypes and Underestimate Antigen-Reactive T Cell Populations. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 200:2263-2279. [PMID: 29483360 PMCID: PMC5857646 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Peptide-MHC (pMHC) multimers, usually used as streptavidin-based tetramers, have transformed the study of Ag-specific T cells by allowing direct detection, phenotyping, and enumeration within polyclonal T cell populations. These reagents are now a standard part of the immunology toolkit and have been used in many thousands of published studies. Unfortunately, the TCR-affinity threshold required for staining with standard pMHC multimer protocols is higher than that required for efficient T cell activation. This discrepancy makes it possible for pMHC multimer staining to miss fully functional T cells, especially where low-affinity TCRs predominate, such as in MHC class II–restricted responses or those directed against self-antigens. Several recent, somewhat alarming, reports indicate that pMHC staining might fail to detect the majority of functional T cells and have prompted suggestions that T cell immunology has become biased toward the type of cells amenable to detection with multimeric pMHC. We use several viral- and tumor-specific pMHC reagents to compare populations of human T cells stained by standard pMHC protocols and optimized protocols that we have developed. Our results confirm that optimized protocols recover greater populations of T cells that include fully functional T cell clonotypes that cannot be stained by regular pMHC-staining protocols. These results highlight the importance of using optimized procedures that include the use of protein kinase inhibitor and Ab cross-linking during staining to maximize the recovery of Ag-specific T cells and serve to further highlight that many previous quantifications of T cell responses with pMHC reagents are likely to have considerably underestimated the size of the relevant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Rius
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Meriem Attaf
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Tungatt
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Bianchi
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Mateusz Legut
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Amandine Bovay
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom.,Department of Oncology and Ludwig Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital, Epalinges VD 1066, Switzerland
| | - Marco Donia
- Centre for Cancer Immune Therapy, Herlev University Hospital, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Per Thor Straten
- Centre for Cancer Immune Therapy, Herlev University Hospital, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Mark Peakman
- Department of Immunobiology, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- Centre for Cancer Immune Therapy, Herlev University Hospital, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Sascha Ott
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Connor
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom; and.,Cardiff University School of Biosciences, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Szomolay
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Garry Dolton
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom; .,Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom; and
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6
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Abana CO, Pilkinton MA, Gaudieri S, Chopra A, McDonnell WJ, Wanjalla C, Barnett L, Gangula R, Hager C, Jung DK, Engelhardt BG, Jagasia MH, Klenerman P, Phillips EJ, Koelle DM, Kalams SA, Mallal SA. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Epitope-Specific CD4 + T Cells Are Inflated in HIV + CMV + Subjects. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 199:3187-3201. [PMID: 28972094 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1700851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Select CMV epitopes drive life-long CD8+ T cell memory inflation, but the extent of CD4 memory inflation is poorly studied. CD4+ T cells specific for human CMV (HCMV) are elevated in HIV+ HCMV+ subjects. To determine whether HCMV epitope-specific CD4+ T cell memory inflation occurs during HIV infection, we used HLA-DR7 (DRB1*07:01) tetramers loaded with the glycoprotein B DYSNTHSTRYV (DYS) epitope to characterize circulating CD4+ T cells in coinfected HLA-DR7+ long-term nonprogressor HIV subjects with undetectable HCMV plasma viremia. DYS-specific CD4+ T cells were inflated among these HIV+ subjects compared with those from an HIV- HCMV+ HLA-DR7+ cohort or with HLA-DR7-restricted CD4+ T cells from the HIV-coinfected cohort that were specific for epitopes of HCMV phosphoprotein-65, tetanus toxoid precursor, EBV nuclear Ag 2, or HIV gag protein. Inflated DYS-specific CD4+ T cells consisted of effector memory or effector memory-RA+ subsets with restricted TCRβ usage and nearly monoclonal CDR3 containing novel conserved amino acids. Expression of this near-monoclonal TCR in a Jurkat cell-transfection system validated fine DYS specificity. Inflated cells were polyfunctional, not senescent, and displayed high ex vivo levels of granzyme B, CX3CR1, CD38, or HLA-DR but less often coexpressed CD38+ and HLA-DR+ The inflation mechanism did not involve apoptosis suppression, increased proliferation, or HIV gag cross-reactivity. Instead, the findings suggest that intermittent or chronic expression of epitopes, such as DYS, drive inflation of activated CD4+ T cells that home to endothelial cells and have the potential to mediate cytotoxicity and vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chike O Abana
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Mark A Pilkinton
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Silvana Gaudieri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232.,School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Abha Chopra
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Wyatt J McDonnell
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Celestine Wanjalla
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Louise Barnett
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Rama Gangula
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Cindy Hager
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Dae K Jung
- Stem Cell Transplantation, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Brian G Engelhardt
- Stem Cell Transplantation, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Madan H Jagasia
- Stem Cell Transplantation, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom; and
| | - Elizabeth J Phillips
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232.,Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - David M Koelle
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Spyros A Kalams
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Simon A Mallal
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232; .,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232.,Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
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7
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Holland CJ, Dolton G, Scurr M, Ladell K, Schauenburg AJ, Miners K, Madura F, Sewell AK, Price DA, Cole DK, Godkin AJ. Enhanced Detection of Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cells Using Altered Peptide Flanking Residue Peptide-MHC Class II Multimers. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2015; 195:5827-36. [PMID: 26553072 PMCID: PMC4671089 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fluorochrome-conjugated peptide-MHC (pMHC) class I multimers are staple components of the immunologist's toolbox, enabling reliable quantification and analysis of Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells irrespective of functional outputs. In contrast, widespread use of the equivalent pMHC class II (pMHC-II) reagents has been hindered by intrinsically weaker TCR affinities for pMHC-II, a lack of cooperative binding between the TCR and CD4 coreceptor, and a low frequency of Ag-specific CD4(+) T cell populations in the peripheral blood. In this study, we show that peptide flanking regions, extending beyond the central nonamer core of MHC-II-bound peptides, can enhance TCR-pMHC-II binding and T cell activation without loss of specificity. Consistent with these findings, pMHC-II multimers incorporating peptide flanking residue modifications proved superior for the ex vivo detection, characterization, and manipulation of Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells, highlighting an unappreciated feature of TCR-pMHC-II interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Holland
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Garry Dolton
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Martin Scurr
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Andrea J Schauenburg
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Kelly Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Florian Madura
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Andrew K Sewell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - David K Cole
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and
| | - Andrew J Godkin
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom; and Department of Integrated Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, Wales, United Kingdom
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Hood JD, Zarnitsyna VI, Zhu C, Evavold BD. Regulatory and T Effector Cells Have Overlapping Low to High Ranges in TCR Affinities for Self during Demyelinating Disease. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:4162-70. [PMID: 26385521 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Having regulatory T cells (Tregs) with the same Ag specificity as the responding conventional T cells is thought to be important in maintaining peripheral tolerance. It has been demonstrated that during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis there are myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)--specific Tregs that infiltrate into the CNS. However, the affinity of naturally occurring polyclonal Tregs for any self-antigen, let alone MOG, has not been analyzed in the periphery or at the site of autoimmune disease. Utilizing the highly sensitive micropipette adhesion frequency assay, which allows one to determine on a single-cell basis the affinity and frequency of polyclonal Ag-specific T cells directly ex vivo, we demonstrate that at peak disease MOG-specific Tregs were progressively enriched in the draining cervical lymph nodes and CNS as compared with spleen. These frequencies were greater than the frequencies measured by tetramer analysis, indicative of the large fraction of lower affinity T cells that comprise the MOG-specific conventional T cell (Tconv) and Treg response. Of interest, the self-reactive CD4(+) Tconvs and Tregs displayed overlapping affinities for MOG in the periphery, yet in the CNS, the site of neuroinflammation, Tconvs skew toward higher affinities. Most of the MOG-specific Tregs in the CNS possessed the methylation signature associated with thymic-derived Tregs. These findings indicate that thymic-derived Treg affinity range matches that of their Tconvs in the periphery and suggest a change in TCR affinity as a potential mechanism for autoimmune progression and escape from immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Hood
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | | | - Cheng Zhu
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - Brian D Evavold
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322;
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9
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Shoda H, Fujio K, Sakurai K, Ishigaki K, Nagafuchi Y, Shibuya M, Sumitomo S, Okamura T, Yamamoto K. Autoantigen BiP-Derived HLA-DR4 Epitopes Differentially Recognized by Effector and Regulatory T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 67:1171-81. [PMID: 25778936 DOI: 10.1002/art.39054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The balance between effector and regulatory CD4+ T cells plays a key role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to examine whether the RA autoantigen BiP has epitopes for both effector and regulatory immunities. METHODS The proliferation and cytokine secretion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HLA-DR4-positive RA patients in response to BiP-derived peptides were examined by (3)H-thymidine uptake and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As a mouse therapeutic model, a BiP-derived peptide was administered orally to mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). RESULTS Among the peptides examined, BiP(336-355) induced the strongest proliferation of PBMCs from RA patients, but not from healthy donors. The proliferation of PBMCs in response to BiP(336-355) showed a correlation with clinical RA activity and serum anti-BiP/citrullinated BiP antibodies. In contrast, BiP(456-475) induced interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion from CD25-positive PBMCs obtained from RA patients and healthy donors without inducing cell proliferation, and it actively suppressed the BiP(336-355)-induced proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion by PBMCs. Oral administration of BiP(456-475) to mice with CIA reduced the severity of arthritis and T cell proliferation and increased the secretion of IL-10 from T cells as well as the number of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. CONCLUSION Effector and regulatory T cells recognized different BiP epitopes. The deviated balance toward BiP-specific effector T cells in RA may be associated with disease activity; therefore, BiP-specific effector or regulatory T cells could be a target of new RA therapies.
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10
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Bowerman NA, Falta MT, Mack DG, Wehrmann F, Crawford F, Mroz MM, Maier LA, Kappler JW, Fontenot AP. Identification of multiple public TCR repertoires in chronic beryllium disease. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:4571-80. [PMID: 24719461 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is a granulomatous lung disease characterized by the accumulation of beryllium (Be)-specific CD4(+) T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage. These expanded CD4(+) T cells are composed of oligoclonal T cell subsets, suggesting their recruitment to the lung in response to conventional Ag. In the current study, we noted that all bronchoalveolar lavage-derived T cell lines from HLA-DP2-expressing CBD patients contained an expansion of Be-responsive Vβ5.1(+) CD4(+) T cells. Using Be-loaded HLA-DP2-peptide tetramers, the majority of tetramer-binding T cells also expressed Vβ5.1 with a highly conserved CDR3β motif. Interestingly, Be-specific, Vβ5.1-expressing CD4(+) T cells displayed differential HLA-DP2-peptide tetramer staining intensity, and sequence analysis of the distinct tetramer-binding subsets showed that the two populations differed by a single conserved amino acid in the CDR3β motif. TCR Vα-chain analysis of purified Vβ5.1(+) CD4(+) T cells based on differential tetramer-binding intensity showed differing TCR Vα-chain pairing requirements, with the high-affinity population having promiscuous Vα-chain pairing and the low-affinity subset requiring restricted Vα-chain usage. Importantly, disease severity, as measured by loss of lung function, was inversely correlated with the frequency of tetramer-binding CD4(+) T cells in the lung. Our findings suggest the presence of a dominant Be-specific, Vβ5.1-expressing public T cell repertoire in the lungs of HLA-DP2-expressing CBD patients using promiscuous Vα-chain pairing to recognize an identical HLA-DP2-peptide/Be complex. Importantly, the inverse relationship between expansion of CD4(+) T cells expressing these public TCRs and disease severity suggests a pathogenic role for these T cells in CBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A Bowerman
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
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11
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Borchers S, Ogonek J, Varanasi PR, Tischer S, Bremm M, Eiz-Vesper B, Koehl U, Weissinger EM. Multimer monitoring of CMV-specific T cells in research and in clinical applications. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2013; 78:201-12. [PMID: 24331953 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2013.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Multimer monitoring has become a standard technique for detection of antigen-specific T cells. The term "multimer" refers to a group of reagents based on the multimerisation of molecules in order to raise avidity and thus stabilize binding to their ligand. Multimers for detection of antigen-specific T-cell responses are based on major histocompatibility complex class I peptide complexes. Multimer staining enables fast and direct visualization of antigen-specific T cells; thus, it is widely applied to assess antiviral immunity, e.g., monitor patients in vaccination trials or confirm purity of cell products for adoptive transfer. Assessment of T-cell immunity against persistent pathogens like cytomegalovirus (CMV) is of major importance in immunosuppressed patients. Recent advancements of multimers facilitate reversible labeling and allow isolation of epitope-specific T cells for adoptive transfer. Here, we give an overview on the different multimers and their applications, with an emphasis on CMV-specific T-cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Borchers
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partnerside Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Justyna Ogonek
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany.
| | - Pavankumar R Varanasi
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partnerside Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Sabine Tischer
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, MHH, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Melanie Bremm
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Britta Eiz-Vesper
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; Institute of Transfusion Medicine, MHH, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, MHH, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Eva M Weissinger
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partnerside Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
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Marrack P, Kappler JW. Do MHCII-presented neoantigens drive type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases? Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2012; 2:a007765. [PMID: 22951444 PMCID: PMC3426820 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a007765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The strong association between particular MHCII alleles and type 1 diabetes is not fully understood. Two ideas that have been considered for many years are that autoimmunity is driven by (1) low-affinity CD4(+) T cells that escape thymic negative selection and respond to certain autoantigen peptides that are particularly well presented by particular MHCII molecules, or (2) CD4(+) T cells responding to neoantigens that are absent in the thymus, but uniquely created in the target tissue in the periphery and presented by particular MHCII alleles. Here we discuss the recent structural data in favor of the second idea. We review studies suggesting that peptide antigens recognized by autoimmune T cells are uniquely proteolytically processed and/or posttranslationally modified in the target tissue, thus allowing these T cells to escape deletion in the thymus during T-cell development. We postulate that an encounter with these tissue-specific neoantigenic peptides presented by the particular susceptible MHCII alleles in the peripheral tissues when accompanied by the appropriate inflammatory milieu activates these T-cell escapees leading to the onset of autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippa Marrack
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health, University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80206, USA
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13
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Kimata M, Cullins DL, Brown ML, Brand DD, Rosloniec EF, Myers LK, Stuart JM, Kang AH. Characterization of inhibitory T cells induced by an analog of type II collagen in an HLA-DR1 humanized mouse model of autoimmune arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2012; 14:R107. [PMID: 22569209 PMCID: PMC3446484 DOI: 10.1186/ar3832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Revised: 02/22/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction We used DR1 transgenic mice and covalently linked DR1 multimers to characterize analog-specific inhibitory T cells in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Because of the low numbers of antigen-specific T cells in wild-type mice, functional T-cell studies in autoimmune arthritis have been challenging. The use of T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice has provided useful information, but such T cells may not represent the heterogeneous T-cell response that occurs in natural settings. Our focus was to develop tools to identify and characterize the population of immunoregulatory T cells induced in wild-type mice by an analog peptide of CII259-273, which contains amino acid substitutions at positions 263 (N) and 266 (D) (analog peptide A12). Methods DR1 multimers, developed by loading empty class II molecules with exogenous peptide, provide a method for visualizing antigen-specific T cells with flow cytometry. However, the low binding avidity of A12 for the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) made this strategy untenable. To overcome this problem, we generated DR1 multimers in which the analog peptide A12 was covalently linked, hoping that the low-avidity analog would occupy enough binding clefts to allow detection of the responsive T cells. Results Staining with the tetramer revealed that A12-specific T cells were readily detectable at 10 days after immunization. These CD4(+) T cells are a highly selective subset of the TCR repertoire and have a limited clonality. Analysis of cytokine expression showed that cells detected by tetramer (A12) expressed primarily suppressive cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10) in response to collagen, compared with control cells. Although they did not express Fox-p3, they were extremely effective in preventing and suppressing inflammatory arthritis. Conclusions In summary, our studies showed that the use of covalently linked multimers allows characterization of analog-specific T cells that are otherwise difficult to detect. The suppressive character of the analog-specific T-cell response suggests that these cells attenuate autoimmunity and differ significantly in phenotype from the inflammatory T cells predominantly found in arthritic joints. Such reagents will become powerful tools to study T-cell responses in RA patients in upcoming clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Kimata
- Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 956 Court Ave,, Room G326, Memphis TN 38163, USA
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Lee LF, Axtell R, Tu GH, Logronio K, Dilley J, Yu J, Rickert M, Han B, Evering W, Walker MG, Shi J, de Jong BA, Killestein J, Polman CH, Steinman L, Lin JC. IL-7 promotes T(H)1 development and serum IL-7 predicts clinical response to interferon-β in multiple sclerosis. Sci Transl Med 2012; 3:93ra68. [PMID: 21795588 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The interleukin-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) gene was identified as a top non-major histocompatibility complex-linked risk locus for multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, we showed that a T helper 1 (T(H)1)-driven, but not a T(H)17-driven, form of MS exhibited a good clinical response to interferon-β (IFN-β) therapy. We now demonstrate that high serum levels of IL-7, particularly when paired with low levels of IL-17F, predict responsiveness to IFN-β and hence a T(H)1-driven subtype of MS. We also show that although IL-7 signaling is neither necessary nor sufficient for the induction or expansion of T(H)17 cells, IL-7 can greatly enhance both human and mouse T(H)1 cell differentiation. IL-7 alone is sufficient to induce human T(H)1 differentiation in the absence of IL-12 or other cytokines. Furthermore, targeting IL-7/IL-7Rα is beneficial in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS. Mice treated with IL-7Rα-blocking antibodies before or after onset of paralysis exhibited reduced clinical signs of EAE, with reduction in peripheral naïve and activated T cells, whereas central memory T, regulatory T, B, and natural killer cell populations were largely spared. IL-7Rα antibody treatment markedly reduced lymphocyte infiltration into the central nervous system in mice with EAE. Thus, a serum profile of high IL-7 may signify a T(H)1-driven form of MS and may predict outcome in MS patients undergoing IFN-β therapy. Blockade of IL-7 and the IL-7Rα pathway may have therapeutic potential in MS and other autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Fen Lee
- Rinat, Pfizer Inc., South San Francisco, USA
| | - Robert Axtell
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jessica Yu
- Rinat, Pfizer Inc., South San Francisco, USA
| | | | - Bora Han
- Drug Safety R&D, Pfizer Inc., La Jolla, USA
| | | | | | - Jing Shi
- Walker Bioscience, Carlsbad, CA 92009, USA
| | - Brigit A de Jong
- Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Chris H Polman
- VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lawrence Steinman
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - John C Lin
- Rinat, Pfizer Inc., South San Francisco, USA
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Massilamany C, Upadhyaya B, Gangaplara A, Kuszynski C, Reddy J. Detection of autoreactive CD4 T cells using major histocompatibility complex class II dextramers. BMC Immunol 2011; 12:40. [PMID: 21767394 PMCID: PMC3151213 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2172-12-40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tetramers are useful tools to enumerate the frequencies of antigen-specific T cells. However, unlike CD8 T cells, CD4 T cells - especially self-reactive cells - are challenging to detect with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II tetramers because of low frequencies and low affinities of their T cell receptors to MHC-peptide complexes. Here, we report the use of fluorescent multimers, designated MHC dextramers that contain a large number of peptide-MHC complexes per reagent. RESULTS The utility of MHC dextramers was evaluated in three autoimmune disease models: 1) proteolipid protein (PLP) 139-151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in SJL/J (H-2s) mice; 2) myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57Bl/6 (H-2b) mice; and 3) cardiac myosin heavy chain (Myhc)-α 334-352-induced experimental autoimmune myocarditis in A/J (H-2a) mice. Flow cytometrically, we demonstrate that IAs/PLP 139-151, IAb/MOG 35-55 and IAk/Myhc-α 334-352 dextramers detect the antigen-sensitized cells with specificity, and with a detection sensitivity significantly higher than that achieved with conventional tetramers. Furthermore, we show that binding of dextramers, but not tetramers, is less dependent on the activation status of cells, permitting enumeration of antigen-specific cells ex vivo. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that MHC dextramers are useful tools to track the generation and functionalities of self-reactive CD4 cells in various experimental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandirasegaran Massilamany
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Bijaya Upadhyaya
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Arunakumar Gangaplara
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Charles Kuszynski
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Jay Reddy
- Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
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Maturation of human dendritic cells with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) reduces the number and function of regulatory T cells and enhances the ratio of antigen-specific effectors to regulatory T cells. Vaccine 2011; 29:4992-9. [PMID: 21569810 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.04.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2010] [Revised: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 04/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We compared the effects of yeast-treated human dendritic cells (DCs) with CD40L-matured human DCs for the induction of effector cells and the number and functionality of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). DCs were treated with yeast or CD40L and cocultured with isolated autologous CD4(+) T cells. CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) T cells isolated from the coculture of CD4(+) T cells plus yeast-treated DCs (yeast coculture) had a lower expression of FoxP3 and decreased suppressive function compared to CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(-) T cells isolated from the coculture of CD4(+) T cells plus CD40L-treated DCs (CD40L coculture). Also, compared to the CD40L coculture, the yeast coculture showed increases in the ratio of CD4(+)CD25(+) activated T cells to Tregs and in the production of Th1-related cytokines (IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and IL-6. In addition, yeast-treated DCs used as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) incubated with the tumor antigen CEA enhanced the proliferation of CEA-specific CD4(+) T cells compared to the use of CD40L-matured DCs used as APCs. This is the first study to report on the role of yeast-treated/matured human DCs in reducing Treg frequency and functionality and in enhancing effector to Treg ratios. These results provide an additional rationale for the use of yeast as a vector in cancer vaccines.
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Use of HLA-DR*08032/E7 and HLA-DR*0818/E7 tetramers in tracking of epitope-specific CD4+ T cells in active and convalescent tuberculosis patients compared with control donors. Immunobiology 2011; 216:947-60. [PMID: 21281984 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2011.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2010] [Revised: 01/02/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Comparative tracking of tetramer-positive and epitope-specific CD4(+) T cells in blood and other tissues from tuberculosis (TB) patients during TB development and treatment using control donor samples is not well characterized. In this study, a novel HLA-DR-restricted peptide E7 from the ESAT-6 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was used to prepare modified HLA-DR*08032/E7 tetramer (tetramer 1) and HLA-DR*0818/E7 tetramer (tetramer 2) to monitor a series of samples from TB patients and control donors. Tetramer staining showed that (1) by direct staining of single sample and flow cytometric analyses, detection of tetramer-positive CD4(+) T cells ranged from 0.1% to 8.8% (median 0.67% in tetramer 1 and 0.5% in tetramer 2), 0.1 to 10.7% (0.74% and 0.71%), 0.02 to 2.2% (0.25% and 0.25%), 0.02 to 0.48% (0.2% and 0.2%) and most at under 0-0.2% (0.2% and 0.16%) in the initial pulmonary TB (PTB) patients' blood, pleural fluid (PLF) of initial tuberculous pleuritis patients, non-TB patients' blood, healthy donors' blood and umbilical cord blood, respectively; significantly higher levels of CD4(+) T cells were detected in samples of TB patients than in three control donor groups; (2) by direct staining of time point TB samples and flow cytometric analyses, along with TB symptom amendment at day 60, tetramer-positive CD4(+) T cells began to decrease, until after 90-120 days, reached and kept at a relatively low even normal level about at 0.03-0.3%; (3) by enrichment approach, at least 10-fold increased memory tetramer-positive CD4(+) T cells were seen; (4) by in situ staining, tetramer-positive, IFN-γ-producing and/or TNF-α-producing CD4(+) T cells in the lymph node and lung granuloma and cavernous tissues of TB patients could be determined. Therefore, by further increasing the sample size tested to confirm the specificity and sensitivity of tetrameric molecules, it should be possible to develop them for use as research and diagnostic reagents.
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Sabatino JJ, Huang J, Zhu C, Evavold BD. High prevalence of low affinity peptide-MHC II tetramer-negative effectors during polyclonal CD4+ T cell responses. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 208:81-90. [PMID: 21220453 PMCID: PMC3023139 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20101574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Two-dimensional analysis reveals that peptide–MHC class II tetramers underestimate the frequency of cytokine-producing antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in polyclonal responses. T cell affinity for antigen initiates adaptive immunity. However, the contribution of low affinity cells to a response is unknown as it has not been possible to assess the entire affinity range of a polyclonal T cell repertoire. In this study, we used a highly sensitive two-dimensional binding assay to identify low affinity cells in polyclonal autoreactive and pathogen-reactive CD4+ T cell populations specific for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) antigens, respectively. Low affinity CD4+ T cells, below detection with peptide–major histocompatibility complex class II tetramers, were at least as frequent as high affinity responders and contributed significant effector cytokines in both primary antigen–specific responses. We further demonstrated that MOG- and LCMV-specific CD4+ T cells possessed similarly broad ranges in their affinities (>100-fold wide), only differing in the frequencies of low and high affinity cells. Thus, low as well as high affinity CD4+ T cells are critical effectors in autoimmune and pathogen-specific responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Sabatino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Cecconi V, Moro M, Del Mare S, Sidney J, Bachi A, Longhi R, Sette A, Protti MP, Dellabona P, Casorati G. The CD4+ T-cell epitope-binding register is a critical parameter when generating functional HLA-DR tetramers with promiscuous peptides. Eur J Immunol 2010; 40:1603-16. [PMID: 20306469 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200940123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Detection of CD4(+) T cells specific for tumor-associated antigens is critical to investigate the spontaneous tumor immunosurveillance and to monitor immunotherapy protocols in patients. We investigated the ability of HLA-DR 1101 multimers to detect CD4(+) T cells specific for three highly promiscuous MAGE-A3 derived peptides: MAGE-A3(191-205) (p39), MAGE-A3(281-295) (p57) and MAGE-A3(286-300) (p58). Tetramers stained specific CD4(+) T cells only when loaded with p39, although all peptides activated the specific T cells when presented by plastic-bound HLA-DR 1101 monomers. This suggested that tetramer staining ability was determined by the mode rather than the affinity of peptide binding to HLA-DR 1101. We hypothesized that peptides should bear a single P1 anchor residue to bind all arms of the multimer in a homogeneous register to generate peptide-HLA-DR conformers with maximal avidity. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that p39 contained one putative P1 anchor residue, whereas the other two peptides contained multiple ones. Designing p57 and p58 analogues containing a single anchor residue generated HLA-DR 1101 tetramers that stained specific CD4(+) T cells. Producing HLA-DR 1101 monomers linked with the optimized MAGE-A3 analogues, but not with the original epitopes, further improved tetramer efficiency. Optimization of CD4(+) T-cell epitope-binding registers is thus critical to generate functional HLA-DR tetramers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Cecconi
- Experimental Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
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Manipulating antigenic ligand strength to selectively target myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells in EAE. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2009; 5:176-88. [PMID: 19904613 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-009-9181-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2009] [Accepted: 10/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The development of antigen-specific therapies for the selective tolerization of autoreactive T cells remains the Holy Grail for the treatment of T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). This quest remains elusive, however, as the numerous antigen-specific strategies targeting myelin-specific T cells over the years have failed to result in clinical success. In this review, we revisit the antigen-based therapies used in the treatment of myelin-specific CD4+ T cells in the context of the functional avidity and the strength of signal of the encephalitogenic CD4+ T cell repertoire. In light of differences in activation thresholds, we propose that autoreactive T cells are not all equal, and therefore tolerance induction strategies must incorporate ligand strength in order to be successful in treating EAE and ultimately the human disease MS.
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Moon JJ, Chu HH, Hataye J, Pagán AJ, Pepper M, McLachlan JB, Zell T, Jenkins MK. Tracking epitope-specific T cells. Nat Protoc 2009; 4:565-81. [PMID: 19373228 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2009.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The tracking of antigen-specific T cells in vivo is a useful approach for the study of the adaptive immune response. This protocol describes how populations of T cells specific for a given peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) epitope can be tracked based solely on T-cell receptor (TCR) specificity as opposed to other indirect methods based on function. The methodology involves the adoptive transfer of TCR transgenic T cells with defined epitope specificity into histocompatible mice and the subsequent detection of these cells through the use of congenic or clonotypic markers. Alternatively, endogenous epitope-specific T cells can be tracked directly through the use of pMHC tetramers. Using magnetic bead-based enrichment and advanced multiparameter flow cytometry, populations as small as five epitope-specific T cells can be detected from the peripheral lymphoid organs of a mouse. The adoptive transfer procedure can be completed within 3 h, whereas analysis of epitope-specific cells from mice can be completed within 6 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Moon
- Department of Microbiology and Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
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Levin D, DiPaolo RJ, Brinster C, Revilleza MJR, Boyd LF, Teyton L, Natarajan K, Mage MG, Shevach EM, Margulies DH. Availability of autoantigenic epitopes controls phenotype, severity, and penetrance in TCR Tg autoimmune gastritis. Eur J Immunol 2009; 38:3339-53. [PMID: 19039784 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200838584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We examined TCR:MHC/peptide interactions and in vivo epitope availability to explore the Th1- or Th2-like phenotype of autoimmune disease in two TCR Tg mouse models of autoimmune gastritis (AIG). The TCR of strains A23 and A51 recognize distinct IA(d)-restricted peptides from the gastric parietal cell H/K-ATPase. Both peptides form extremely stable MHC/peptide (MHC/p) complexes. All A23 animals develop a Th1-like aggressive, inflammatory AIG early in life, while A51 mice develop indolent Th2-like AIG at 6-8 wk with incomplete penetrance. A51 T cells were more sensitive than A23 to low doses of soluble antigen and to MHC/p complexes. Staining with IA(d)/peptide tetramers was only detectable on previously activated T cells from A51. Thus, despite inducing a milder AIG, the A51 TCR displays a higher avidity for its cognate IA(d)/peptide. Nonetheless, in vivo proliferation of adoptively transferred A51 CFSE-labeled T cells in the gastric lymph node was relatively poor compared with A23 T cells. Also, DC from WT gastric lymph node, presenting processed antigen available in vivo, stimulated proliferation of A23 T cells better than A51. Thus, the autoimmune potential of these TCR in their respective Tg lines is strongly influenced by the availability of the peptide epitope, rather than by differential avidity for their respective MHC/p complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ditza Levin
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ort Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
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Wooldridge L, Lissina A, Cole DK, van den Berg HA, Price DA, Sewell AK. Tricks with tetramers: how to get the most from multimeric peptide-MHC. Immunology 2009; 126:147-64. [PMID: 19125886 PMCID: PMC2632693 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2008.02848.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2008] [Revised: 03/18/2008] [Accepted: 03/18/2008] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of fluorochrome-conjugated peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) multimers in conjunction with continuing advances in flow cytometry has transformed the study of antigen-specific T cells by enabling their visualization, enumeration, phenotypic characterization and isolation from ex vivo samples. Here, we bring together and discuss some of the 'tricks' that can be used to get the most out of pMHC multimers. These include: (1) simple procedures that can substantially enhance the staining intensity of cognate T cells with pMHC multimers; (2) the use of pMHC multimers to stain T cells with very-low-affinity T-cell receptor (TCR)/pMHC interactions, such as those that typically predominate in tumour-specific responses; and (3) the physical grading and clonotypic dissection of antigen-specific T cells based on the affinity of their cognate TCR using mutant pMHC multimers in conjunction with new approaches to the molecular analysis of TCR gene expression. We also examine how soluble pMHC can be used to examine T-cell activation, manipulate T-cell responses and study allogeneic and superantigen interactions with TCRs. Finally, we discuss the problems that arise with pMHC class II (pMHCII) multimers because of the low affinity of TCR/pMHCII interactions and lack of 'coreceptor help'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Wooldridge
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Henry Wellcome Building, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
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Matsushita T, Yanaba K, Bouaziz JD, Fujimoto M, Tedder TF. Regulatory B cells inhibit EAE initiation in mice while other B cells promote disease progression. J Clin Invest 2008; 118:3420-30. [PMID: 18802481 DOI: 10.1172/jci36030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 441] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2008] [Accepted: 07/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
EAE is a mouse T cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the CNS used to model the human condition MS. The contributions of B cells to EAE initiation and progression are unclear. In this study, we have shown that EAE disease initiation and progression are differentially influenced by the depletion of B cells from mice with otherwise intact immune systems. CD20 antibody-mediated B cell depletion before EAE induction substantially exacerbated disease symptoms and increased encephalitogenic T cell influx into the CNS. Increased symptom severity resulted from the depletion of a rare IL-10-producing CD1dhiCD5+ regulatory B cell subset (B10 cells), since the adoptive transfer of splenic B10 cells before EAE induction normalized EAE in B cell-depleted mice. While transfer of regulatory B10 cells was maximally effective during early EAE initiation, they had no obvious role during disease progression. Rather, B cell depletion during EAE disease progression dramatically suppressed symptoms. Specifically, B cells were required for the generation of CD4+ T cells specific for CNS autoantigen and the entry of encephalitogenic T cells into the CNS during disease progression. These results demonstrate reciprocal regulatory roles for B cells during EAE immunopathogenesis. The therapeutic effect of B cell depletion for the treatment of autoimmunity may therefore depend on the relative contributions and the timing of these opposing B cell activities during the course of disease initiation and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Matsushita
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Cecconi V, Moro M, Del Mare S, Dellabona P, Casorati G. Use of MHC class II tetramers to investigate CD4+T cell responses: Problems and solutions. Cytometry A 2008; 73:1010-8. [DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.20603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Malherbe L, Mark L, Fazilleau N, McHeyzer-Williams LJ, McHeyzer-Williams MG. Vaccine adjuvants alter TCR-based selection thresholds. Immunity 2008; 28:698-709. [PMID: 18450485 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2008.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2008] [Revised: 02/29/2008] [Accepted: 03/06/2008] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
How T cell receptor (TCR) specificity evolves in vivo after protein vaccination is central to the development of helper T (Th) cell function. Most models of clonal selection in the Th cell compartment favor TCR affinity-based thresholds. Here, we demonstrated that depot-forming vaccine adjuvants did not require Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists to induce clonal dominance in antigen-specific Th cell responses. However, readily dispersible adjuvants using TLR-9 and TLR-4 agonists skewed TCR repertoire usage by increasing TCR selection thresholds and enhancing antigen-specific clonal expansion. In this manner, vaccine adjuvants control the local accumulation of Th cells expressing TCR with the highest peptide MHC class II binding. Clonal composition was altered by mechanisms that blocked the local propagation of clonotypes independently of antigen dose and not as a consequence of interclonal competition. This capacity of adjuvants to modify antigen-specific Th cell clonal composition has fundamental implications for the design of future protein subunit vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Malherbe
- Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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27
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Vollers SS, Stern LJ. Class II major histocompatibility complex tetramer staining: progress, problems, and prospects. Immunology 2008; 123:305-13. [PMID: 18251991 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2007.02801.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) tetramers in the detection and analysis of antigen-specific T cells has become more widespread since its introduction 11 years ago. Early challenges in the application of tetramer staining to CD4+ T cells centred around difficulties in the expression of various class II MHC allelic variants and the detection of low-frequency T cells in mixed populations. As many of the technical obstacles to class II MHC tetramer staining have been overcome, the focus has returned to uncertainties concerning how oligomer valency and T-cell receptor/MHC affinity affect tetramer binding. Such issues have become more important with an increase in the number of studies relying on direct ex vivo analysis of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. In this review we discuss which problems in class II MHC tetramer staining have been solved to date, and which matters remain to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina S Vollers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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28
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van Lierop MJC, den Hoed L, Houbiers J, Vencovsky J, Ruzickova S, Krystufkova O, van Schaardenburg M, van den Hoogen F, Vandooren B, Baeten D, De Keyser F, Sønderstrup G, Bos E, Boots AM. Endogenous HLA-DR-restricted presentation of the cartilage antigens human cartilage gp-39 and melanoma inhibitory activity in the inflamed rheumatoid joint. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 56:2150-9. [PMID: 17599744 DOI: 10.1002/art.22651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The cartilage proteins melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) and human cartilage gp-39 (HC gp-39) are candidate autoantigens in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study was undertaken to investigate the endogenous HLA-DR4-restricted presentation of these self proteins, in order to seek in vivo evidence in support of their potential immunologic role. METHODS MIA and HC gp-39 were assessed in synovial fluid (SF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and in synovial tissue (ST) by immunohistochemistry. Presentation by SF cells was investigated using specific, HLA-DR-restricted T cell hybridomas. RESULTS MIA and HC gp-39 were detected in RA SF and ST, as well as in specimens from patients with other forms of arthritis. When HC gp-39-specific and MIA-specific HLA-DR4-restricted T cell hybridomas raised in HLA-DR4-transgenic mice were incubated with RA SF cells as antigen-presenting cells in the presence of HC gp-39 or MIA peptides, the corresponding T cell hybridomas showed strong responses, which were blocked by anti-HLA-DR antibodies. Weaker but qualitatively similar responses were observed with exogenous protein, indicating uptake and processing of these antigens by SF cells. More importantly, without addition of peptide or protein, endogenous presentation of MIA and HC gp-39 was detected in SF cells from 53% and 80% of HLA-DRB1*0401-positive RA patients, respectively. In addition, SF cells from 3 of 10 patients with spondylarthritis exhibited endogenous HC gp-39 presentation. CONCLUSION These data indicate that immunodominant epitopes of MIA and HC gp-39 are actively presented in an HLA-DR-restricted manner in the inflamed RA joint. The question remains as to whether this leads to activation of autoreactive T cells, which could play a role in either the immunopathology or the immunomodulation of arthritis.
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Laugel B, van den Berg HA, Gostick E, Cole DK, Wooldridge L, Boulter J, Milicic A, Price DA, Sewell AK. Different T cell receptor affinity thresholds and CD8 coreceptor dependence govern cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation and tetramer binding properties. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:23799-810. [PMID: 17540778 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m700976200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells have evolved a unique system of ligand recognition involving an antigen T cell receptor (TCR) and a coreceptor that integrate stimuli provided by the engagement of peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) antigens. Here, we use altered pMHC class I (pMHCI) molecules with impaired CD8 binding (CD8-null) to quantify the contribution of coreceptor extracellular binding to (i) the engagement of soluble tetrameric pMHCI molecules, (ii) the kinetics of TCR/pMHCI interactions on live cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and (iii) the activation of CTLs by cell-surface antigenic determinants. Our data indicate that the CD8 coreceptor substantially enhances binding efficiency at suboptimal TCR/pMHCI affinities through effects on both association and dissociation rates. Interestingly, coreceptor requirements for efficient tetramer labeling of CTLs or for CTL activation by determinants displayed on the cell surface operated in different TCR/pMHCI affinity ranges. Wild-type and CD8-null pMHCI tetramers required monomeric affinities for cognate TCRs of KD < approximately 80 microM and approximately 35 microM, respectively, to label human CTLs at 37 degrees C. In contrast, activation by cellular pMHCI molecules was strictly dependent on CD8 binding only for TCR/pMHCI interactions with KD values >200 microM. Altogether, our data provide information on the binding interplay between CD8 and the TCR and support a model of CTL activation in which the extent of coreceptor dependence is inversely correlated to TCR/pMHCI affinity. In addition, the results reported here define the range of TCR/pMHCI affinities required for the detection of antigen-specific CTLs by flow cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Laugel
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
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Scriba TJ, Purbhoo M, Day CL, Robinson N, Fidler S, Fox J, Weber JN, Klenerman P, Sewell AK, Phillips RE. Ultrasensitive Detection and Phenotyping of CD4+ T Cells with Optimized HLA Class II Tetramer Staining. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2005; 175:6334-43. [PMID: 16272285 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.175.10.6334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
HLA class I tetramers have revolutionized the study of Ag-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Technical problems and the rarity of Ag-specific CD4+ Th cells have not allowed the potential of HLA class II tetramers to be fully realized. Here, we optimize HLA class II tetramer staining methods through the use of a comprehensive panel of HIV-, influenza-, CMV-, and tetanus toxoid-specific tetramers. We find rapid and efficient staining of DR1- and DR4-restricted CD4+ cell lines and clones and show that TCR internalization is not a requirement for immunological staining. We combine tetramer staining with magnetic bead enrichment to detect rare Ag-specific CD4+ T cells with frequencies as low as 1 in 250,000 (0.0004% of CD4+ cells) in human PBLs analyzed directly ex vivo. This ultrasensitive detection allowed phenotypic analysis of rare CD4+ T lymphocytes that had experienced diverse exposure to Ag during the course of viral infections. These cells would not be detectable with normal flow-cytometric techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Scriba
- The Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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