Induction of homotypic T cell adhesion by triggering of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1α (CD11a): differential effects on resting and activated T cells

Pharmacodynamic monitoring of calcineurin inhibition therapy: principles, performance, and perspectives

The calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) cyclosporin A and tacrolimus are immunosuppressive drugs used extensively in allograft recipients. These drugs show large interindividual pharmacokinetic variation and are associated with severe adverse affects, including nephrotoxicity and cardiovascular disease. In current practice, CNIs are combined with other immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids and mycophenolate mofetil. Dosage is titrated based on blood concentration measurement. For further optimization of calcineurin (CN) inhibition therapy, new monitoring strategies are required. Pharmacodynamic-monitoring strategies constitute novel approaches for optimization of CNIs therapy. This review focuses on the general aspects of immunosuppressive drug pharmacodynamic monitoring and describes the methodologies used for monitoring CN inhibition therapy. Two different types of pharmacodynamic-monitoring strategies can be distinguished: (1) enzymatic strategies, which monitor inhibition of drug-target enzyme activity, and (2) immunologic strategies, which measure cellular responsiveness after in vitro simulated immunologic responses. Enzymatic tests are drug type-specific markers in which CN activity is directly determined. Immunologic strategies measure immune responsiveness at several levels, such as mRNA transcripts (intracellular) concentrations/excretion of cytokines, expression of surface activation markers, and cell proliferation. This review also discusses analytical issues and clinical experience with these techniques. The call for new methodologies to evaluate immunosuppressive therapy has led to the development of a large variety of pharmacodynamic-monitoring strategies. The first reports of their clinical relevance are available, but further understanding of the analytical and clinical variables involved are required for the development of accurate, reproducible, and clinically relevant markers.

T cell activation and the cytoskeleton: you can't have one without the other

More than a quarter of a century has passed since the observation that T cells rapidly polarize their actin and microtubule cytoskeletal systems toward antigen-presenting cells during activation. Since this initial discovery, several receptors on T cells (e.g., T cell receptor [TCR], co-receptors, integrins, and chemokine receptors) have been identified to regulate these two cytoskeletal networks through complex signaling pathways, which are still being elucidated. There is now an undeniable body of biochemical, pharmacological, and genetic evidence indicating that regulators of actin and microtubule dynamics are crucial for T cell activation and effector functions. In fact, the actin cytoskeleton participates in the initial clustering of TCR-major histocompatibility complex or peptide complexes, formation and stabilization of the immune synapse, integrin-mediated adhesion, and receptor sequestration, whereas both the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons regulate the establishment of cell polarity, cell migration, and directed secretion of cytokines and cytolytic granules. Over the past several years, we have begun to more thoroughly understand the contributions of specific actin-regulatory and actin-nucleating proteins that govern these processes. Herein, we discuss our current understanding of how activating receptors on T lymphocytes regulate the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons, and how in turn, these distinct but integrated cytoskeletal networks coordinate T cell immune responses.

Beta2 integrins separate graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia effects

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Migration of donor-derived T cells into GVHD target organs plays an essential role in the development of GVHD. beta2 integrins are critically important for leukocyte extravasation through vascular endothelia and for T-cell activation. We asked whether CD18-deficient T cells would induce less GVHD while sparing the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. In murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation models, we found that recipients of CD18-/- donor T cells had significantly less GVHD morbidity and mortality compared with recipients of wild-type (WT) donor T cells. Analysis of alloreactivity showed that CD18-/- and WT T cells had comparable activation, expansion, and cytokine production in vivo. Reduced GVHD was associated with a significant decrease in donor T-cell infiltration of recipient intestine and with an overall decrease in pathologic scores in intestine and liver. Finally, we found that the in vivo GVL effect of CD18-/- donor T cells was largely preserved, because mortality of the recipients who received transplants of CD18-/- T cells plus tumor cells was greatly delayed or prevented. Our data suggest that strategies to target beta2 integrin have clinical potential to alleviate or prevent GVHD while sparing GVL activity.

CD18 in monogenic and polygenic inflammatory processes of the skin

The beta 2 integrin family (CD11/CD18) of leukocyte adhesion molecules plays a key role in inflammation. Absence of the common chain (CD18) leads to leukocyte adhesion deficiency-1 (LAD1) in humans. We here summarize data of two genetically defined mice models of beta 2 integrin deficiency, one with a CD18 null mutation (CD18-/-), and the other one with a hypomorphic CD18 mutation (CD18hypo). Firstly, we focus on the underlying mechanism of a severely impaired wound healing in CD18-/- mice, outlining a scenario in which a defective extravasation and phagocytosis of CD18-/- neutrophils results in delayed myofibroblast-dependent wound contraction owing to a deficient transforming growth factor-beta 1 release. Based on this, we have identified a potential therapy that fully rescued the impaired wound healing in CD18-/- mice. Secondly, we expand on a CD18hyp0 PL/J mouse model closely resembling human psoriasis. Apart from common clinical and pathophysiological features, this psoriasiform dermatitis also depends on the presence of activated CD4+ T cells. We here recapitulate the influence of a reduced CD18 gene expression on T-cell function, also with regard to CD18 gene-dose effects, and its contribution to the pathogenesis of this disease. Taken together, these unique features make this model a valuable tool for investigations into the pathogenesis of human psoriasis--including its polygenic base--and future preclinical studies.

Stress as an endogenous adjuvant: augmentation of the immunization phase of cell-mediated immunity

Stress is thought to be immunosuppressive but paradoxically exacerbates inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We initially showed that acute stress enhances skin immunity. Such immunoenhancement could promote immunoprotection in case of wounding, infection or vaccination but could also exacerbate immunopathological diseases. Here we identify the molecular and cellular mediators of the immunoenhancing effects of acute stress. Compared with non-stressed mice, acutely stressed animals showed significantly greater pinna swelling and leukocyte infiltration, and up-regulated macrophage chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-3alpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IFN-gamma, but not IL-4 gene expression at the site of primary antigen exposure. Stressed animals also showed enhanced maturation and trafficking of dendritic cells (DCs) from skin to lymph nodes (LNs), higher numbers of activated macrophages in skin and LNs, increased T cell activation in LNs, and enhanced recruitment of surveillance T cells to skin. These findings show that important interactive components of innate (DCs and macrophages) and adaptive (surveillance T cells) immunity are mediators of the stress-induced enhancement of a primary immune response. Such enhancement during primary immunization may induce a long-term increase in immunologic memory resulting in subsequent augmentation of the immune response during secondary antigen exposure. Thus, the evolutionarily adaptive fight-or-flight stress response may protectively prepare the immune system for impending danger (e.g. infection and wounding by a predator), but may also contribute to stress-induced exacerbation of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

CD4+ T cell-associated pathophysiology critically depends on CD18 gene dose effects in a murine model of psoriasis

In a CD18 hypomorphic polygenic PL/J mouse model, the severe reduction of CD18 (beta(2) integrin) to 2-16% of wild-type levels leads to the development of a psoriasiform skin disease. In this study, we analyzed the influence of reduced CD18 gene expression on T cell function, and its contribution to the pathogenesis of this disease. Both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were significantly increased in the skin of affected CD18 hypomorphic mice. But only depletion of CD4(+) T cells, and not the removal of CD8(+) T cells, resulted in a complete clearance of the psoriasiform dermatitis. This indicates a central role of CD4(+) T cells in the pathogenesis of this disorder, further supported by the detection of several Th1-like cytokines released predominantly by CD4(+) T cells. In contrast to the CD18 hypomorphic mice, CD18 null mutants of the same strain did not develop the psoriasiform dermatitis. This is in part due to a lack of T cell emigration from dermal blood vessels, as experimental allergic contact dermatitis could be induced in CD18 hypomorphic and wild-type mice, but not in CD18 null mutants. Hence, 2-16% of CD18 gene expression is obviously sufficient for T cell emigration driving the inflammatory phenotype in CD18 hypomorphic mice. Our data suggest that the pathogenic involvement of CD4(+) T cells depends on a gene dose effect with a reduced expression of the CD18 protein in PL/J mice. This murine inflammatory skin model may also have relevance for human polygenic inflammatory diseases.

The immune dysregulatory compound mercuric chloride induces integrin-mediated T-lymphocyte adhesion

Exposure of Brown Norway rats to mercuric chloride induces systemic autoimmunity, involving T- and B-lymphocyte activation, (auto-)antibody production and multiorgan inflammation. Several divalent metal ions, such as Mg2+ and Mn2+, can activate binding of integrins to their ligands, thus causing lymphocyte adhesion. To test the hypothesis that Hg2+ acts in a similar way, we studied the effect of HgCl2 on integrin-mediated T-cell adhesion. HgCl2 induced cell-cell aggregation of human T lymphoblasts. Exposure of a human T-cell clone to HgCl2 for 1 hr enhanced, in a dose-dependent way, cell binding to fibronectin (FN) and to intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM) -1, -2 and -3. Furthermore, HgCl2 induced strong binding of Jurkat T cells to FN. These effects of HgCl2 were of similar magnitude as the effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or MnCl2. Studies using blocking antibodies indicated the involvement of CD11a in binding to ICAMs, and of CD49d, CD49e, and CD29 in binding to FN. Adhesion to FN induced by HgCl2 or by PMA, but not by MnCl2, was dependent on temperature and on extracellular Ca2+ or Mg2+. Addition of cytochalasin B enhanced synergistically the FN adhesion induced by MnCl2, whereas the effects of PMA and HgCl2 were not modified. These results indicate that Hg2+ is a potent activator of T-cell adhesion, mediated by several integrins and ligands. In contrast to the effect of MnCl2, HgCl2-induced cell adhesion probably involves an intracellular pathway. Activation of integrins by HgCl2 may play an important role in activation and migration of leucocytes involved in HgCl2-induced immune dysregulation in vivo.

LFA-1 to LFA-1 Signals Involve ζ-Associated Protein-70 (ZAP-70) Tyrosine Kinase: Relevance for Invasion and Migration of a T Cell Hybridoma

We previously showed that LFA-1-dependent in vitro invasion and in vivo migration of a T cell hybridoma was blocked in cells overexpressing a truncated dominant-negative ζ-associated protein (ZAP)-70. The truncated ZAP-70 also blocked LFA-1-dependent chemotaxis through ICAM-1-coated filters induced by 1 ng/ml stromal cell-derived factor-1, but not LFA-1-independent chemotaxis induced by 100 ng/ml stromal cell-derived factor-1. This suggested that LFA-1 engagement triggers a signal that amplifies a weak chemokine signal and that dominant-negative ZAP-70 blocks this LFA-1 signal. Here we show that cross-linking of part of the LFA-1 molecules with Abs causes activation of free LFA-1 molecules (not occupied by the Ab) on the same cell, which then bind to ICAM-2 on other cells. This causes cell aggregation that was also blocked by dominant-negative ZAP-70. Thus, an LFA-1 signal involving ZAP-70 activates other LFA-1 molecules, suggesting that the chemokine signal can be amplified by multiple cycles of LFA-1 activation. The chemokine and the LFA-1 signal were both blocked by a phospholipase C inhibitor and a calpain inhibitor, suggesting that one of the amplified signals is the phospholipase C-dependent activation of calpain. Finally, we show that both Src-homology 2 domains are required for inhibition of invasion, chemotaxis, and aggregation by the truncated ZAP-70, suggesting that ZAP-70 interacts with a phosphorylated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) sequence. Remarkably, this is not an ITAM in the TCR/CD3 complex because this is not expressed by this T cell hybridoma.

Differential effects of anti-rat CD11b monoclonal antibodies on granulocyte adhesiveness

Four different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with rat CD11b (ED7, ED8, OX-42 and 1B6c) have been characterized for their ability to induce homotypic aggregation of granulocytes or to modify granulocyte adhesiveness triggered by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Cross-blocking experiments showed that these mAbs recognize at least three different epitopes on CD11b. OX-42 mAb recognizes an inhibitory epitope since the mAb inhibited homotypic aggregation of granulocytes and their adherence to plastic in the presence of PMA or fMLP. ED7 and ED8 induced homotypic aggregation of granulocytes which was blocked by OX-42 and anti-CD18 mAb (WT3) suggesting that CR3 itself is involved in the adhesion process. The aggregation was dependent on active cell metabolism, intact cytoskeleton, divalent cations and activation of tyrosine kinases sensitive to genistein. Staurosporine, okadaic acid and orthovanadate potentiated the aggregation. ED7 and ED8 potentiated homotypic aggregation and adhesion of granulocytes to plastic caused by fMLP, but inhibited granulocyte adhesion to plastic induced by PMA. 1B6c recognizes an epitope that transmits a proaggregatory signal upon binding of the mAb but only if the granulocytes are in contact with plastic or are activated by fMLP. In contrast, 1B6c inhibited granulocyte adhesion to plastic triggered by PMA or fMLP. These data suggest the existence of functionally different epitopes on rat CD11b and indicate that some anti-CD11b mAbs are able to functionally activate CR3.

A novel human monoclonal antibody rapidly induces homotypic cell aggregation and promotes antibody-secreting activity by human B lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9

A human monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated mNKES, was generated by fusing B cells isolated from an enlarged cervical lymph node of a patient with a carotid body tumor (CBT), with human myeloma cell line KR-12 (6TG). The reactivity of mNKES was tested by the indirect immunofluorescence method. The antigen defined by mNKES was expressed on Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines Raji, Daudi, and Ramos and on B lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9. In addition, mNKES reacted with T cells stimulated with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) obtained from normal healthy donors. However, mNKES did not react with normal resting human T, B, or adherent cells (monocytes/macrophages). When the reactivity of mNKES and mouse mAbs recognizing the human adhesion-associated antigen (CD10, CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD16, CD18, CD23, CD28, CD29, CD31, CD43, CD44, CD45RA, CD50, CD54, CD58, CD80, CD102, CD106, and HLA class I, and HLA class II antigen) with various cell lines was compared, mNKES reactivity was found to be unique, not resembling that of any of these mouse mAbs. Interestingly, mNKES specifically and rapidly (within 2 hr) induced homotypic cell aggregation of IM-9 cells. This mNKES-induced cell aggregation was completely blocked by the addition of EDTA and when incubated at 4 degrees C. The mAbs reactive with CD11a/CD18 (leukocyte function-associated antigen-1; LFA-1) and CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1; ICAM-1) completely blocked the IM-9 cell aggregation induced by mNKES, and induction of IM-9 cell aggregation by mNKES was significantly blocked in the presence of the protein kinase C inhibitors sphingosine and H-7 and completely blocked by cytochalasin B and cytochalasin D, which inhibit microfilament formation. Regarding biological function, IM-9 cells bearing surface IgG (sIgG) effectively promoted IgG-secreting activity underlying the homotypic cell aggregation induced by mNKES. The surface antigen recognized by mNKES has a molecular size of about 55 kDa, as determined by immunoblotting analysis. These findings indicate that mNKES recognizes a novel adhesion-associated antigen distinct from any previously reported adhesion-associated antigens in terms of pattern of cellular distribution and biological function and that mNKES is the first human mAb found that rapidly induces homotypic cell aggregation and effectively promotes the IgG-secreting activity of human B lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9.

A novel monoclonal antibody mNI-58A against the alpha-chain of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) blocks the homotypic cell aggregation and actively regulates morphological changes in the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated human monocyte-like cell line, U937

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated mNI-58A, was produced by immunizing mice with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocyte-like cell line, U937. The antigen defined by mNI-58A was widely expressed on various lymphoid cells and all cell lines examined except the erythroid cell line, K562. When the reactive patterns between mNI-58A and the mAbs to various human differentiation antigens (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD16, CD18, CD23, CD28, CD29, CD31, CD43, CD44, CD45RA, CD50, CD54, CD58, CD80, CD102, CD106, HLA-class I and-class II antigen) were compared, that of mNI-58A was found to be similar to those of the leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) mAbs. Using a competitive immunofluorescence binding assay it was found that the preincubation with one of the CD11a mAbs, 2F12 completely blocked the subsequent binding of mNI-58A. mNI-58A prevented the homotypic cell aggregation of the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated U937 cells (referred to as PMA-U937) and PMA-activated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cell lines, B-85 and Mann. mNI-58A markedly induced the spread formation of the PMA-U937 cells following this blocking of the homotypic cell aggregation, whereas 2F12 did not under the same condition. The spread formation induced by mNI-58A was completely blocked by cytochalasin B (CyB), cytochalasin D (CyD), cycloheximide (CHX) or protein kinase C inhibitors, sphingosine and H-7. The U937 cells markedly adhered to the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and also to the extracellular matrix protein, fibronectin, but mNI-58A did not enhance or block these adhesion process. mNI-58A precipitated two glycoproteins with molecular weight 180 kDa and 95 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis, which were identical to the LFA-alpha (CD11a) and beta (CD18) chains of leukocyte integrin precipitated by the CD11a mAbs, respectively. Sequential immunoprecipitation studies using the CD11a mAb (2F12) also indicate that mNI-58A recognizes an epitope on the alpha-chain of the LFA-1 molecule. The ability of mNI-58A to block the PMA-U937 cells and to induce the spread formation of these cells suggests that mNI-58A is a novel mAb reacting with an epitope on the alpha-chain of LFA-1 different from those recognized with the existing CD11a mAbs.

LFA-1 subunit expression in ulcerative colitis patients

The adhesion molecule, lymphocyte function associated antigen (LFA-1) consisting of two subunits, CD11a and CD18, mediates lymphocyte migration into tissue and cell effector functions. Previous observations showed no differences in LFA-1 expression by circulating lymphocytes between inflammatory bowel disease patients and controls. The aim of the present work was to study subsets of circulating LFA-1+ lymphocytes in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients versus healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 16 UC patients and 10 healthy volunteers. The percentages of CD11alo, CD11ahi, CD18lo, CD18hi T and B cells, as well as Cd25 expression on these cells were studied using double staining with monoclonal antibodies and panning procedures. The percentage of CD11hi and CD18hi T cells was significantly decreased in quiescent UC patients as compared to active disease patients and healthy controls (P < 0.05). The majority of CD25+ T cells were expressing CD11a and CD18 with low density. A detectable percentage, 2% (range 1-6%), of CD11ahiCD25+ (but not CD18hiCD25+) was found in UC patients with moderate to severe disease, but not in those with inactive UC to healthy controls. In conclusion, the percentage of CD11ahi+ and CD18hi+ T cells is decreased in peripheral blood of quiescent UC patients, which is probably associated with the effect of specific treatment. The percentage of CD11ahi+IL-2R alpha+ T cells is increased in peripheral blood of patients with active (moderate and severe) UC, which most likely reflects a sustained T-cell activation due to a persistent inflammatory process.

A peptide derived from the intercellular adhesion molecule-2 regulates the avidity of the leukocyte integrins CD11b/CD18 and CD11c/CD18

beta 2 integrin (CD11a,b,c/CD18)-mediated cell adhesion is required for many leukocyte functions. Under normal circumstances, the integrins are nonadhesive, and become adhesive for their cell surface ligands, the intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs), or soluble ligands such as fibrinogen and iC3b, when leukocytes are activated. Recently, we defined a peptide derived from ICAM-2, which specifically binds to purified CD11a/CD18. Furthermore, this peptide strongly induces T cell aggregation mainly mediated by CD11a/CD18-ICAM-1 interaction, and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. In the present study, we show that the same ICAM-2 peptide also avidly binds to purified CD11b/CD18, but not to CD11c/CD18. This binding can be blocked by the CD11b antibody OKM10. The peptide strongly stimulates CD11b/CD18-ICAM-1-mediated cell aggregations of the monocytic cell lines THP-1 and U937. The aggregations are energy and divalent cation-dependent. The ICAM-2 peptide also induces CD11b/CD18 and CD11c/CD18-mediated binding of THP-1 cells to fibrinogen and iC3b coated on plastic. These findings indicate that in addition to induction of CD11a/CD18-mediated cell adhesion, the ICAM-2 peptide may also serve as a "trigger" for high avidity ligand binding of other beta 2 integrins.

A novel anti-rat CD18 monoclonal antibody triggers lymphocyte homotypic aggregation and granulocyte adhesion to plastic: different intracellular signaling pathways in resting versus activated thymocytes

We have raised a monoclonal antibody (mAb), NG2B12, directed against rat CD18, capable of inducing lymphocyte homotypic adhesion and granulocyte adherence to plastic. NG2B12-induced aggregation is temperature sensitive and requires metabolic energy, an intact cytoskeleton and the presence of Mg2+, but is independent of protein synthesis. Ca2+ is not only dispensable but exerts a suppressive effect on the NG2B12-induced adhesion. The adhesion is readily observed in thymocytes and concanavalin A blasts of thymocytes and splenocytes but is very weak in resting spleen and lymph node cells. NG2B12 also enhances phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced aggregation in an additive fashion. The NG2B12-induced homotypic adhesion is mediated by LFA-1. mAb against ICAM-1 completely inhibited the induced adhesion of activated cells but inhibited only partially and in a time-dependent manner the adhesion of resting thymocytes. The activation of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A (as assessed by the use of okadaic acid) is necessary for the NG2B12-induced adhesion of both resting and activated thymocytes. In contrast, H-7 (an inhibitor of protein kinase C and A), substantially suppressed the adhesion of resting thymocytes, whereas W-7 (an inhibitor of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase) inhibited the adhesion of activated thymocytes. NG2B12 induces both adherence to plastic and homotypic aggregation of granulocytes; the events being blocked by anti-CD18 (WT.3) and anti-CD11b/CD11c (OX-42) mAb, augmented by okadaic acid and not modified by H-7 and W-7. Additionally, we have demonstrated that NG2B12 and PMA employ distinct intracellular signaling pathways in inducing adhesion of both thymocytes and granulocytes.

Signaling through the LFA-1 leucocyte integrin actively regulates intercellular adhesion and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in natural killer cells

The LFA-1 leucocyte integrin is known to participate in natural killer (NK) cytolytic activity, mediating effector target interactions. The possibility that LFA-1 may also play an active regulatory role in NK cells has been explored. To this end, we have employed a monoclonal antibody (HP1N) raised against recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-activated NK cells, which recognizes the alpha chain of the LFA-1 heterodimer (CD11a). In contrast to other anti-CD11a mAb the HP1N and its F(ab')2 fragment did not affect NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and triggered a strong homotypic adhesion of NK cells and other LFA-1+ cells. Cellular aggregation was inhibited by anti-CD18 mAb, anti-ICAM-1 mAb, and other anti-CD11a mAb. Remarkably, the HP1N mAb was also shown to induce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production from NK cells upon costimulation with anti-CD16 mAb. Such an effect appeared to be independent from homotypic adhesion since it took place in Mg(2+)-free medium, where NK cell aggregation was inhibited. Moreover, incubation with the HP1N mAb triggered a Ca2+ influx into the cytosol; this effect was clearly observed upon cross-linking of cell bound HP1N and was also substantiated with other anti LFA-1 (CD11a and CD18) mAb. Taken together these results indicate that the LFA-1 molecule is capable of transducing signals in NK cells, which regulate the intercellular interaction with its ligand, and enhance the activation via Fc gamma receptor type III.

Non-antigen signals for B-cell growth and differentiation to antibody secretion

Recently, significant progress had been made in understanding the T-B lymphocyte interactions that control humoral immunity. This review highlights experiments that demonstrate a central role for interactions between T-cell-B-cell-activating molecule (CD40 ligand) expressed on T cells and CD40 on B cells in B-cell activation and immunoglobulin isotype switching, both in vitro and in vivo.