Development and characterization of interleukin-2-independent antigen-specific human T cell clones that produce multiple lymphokines

Role of CD4 molecule in the induction of interleukin 2 and interleukin 2 receptor in class II major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen-specific T helper clones. T cell receptor/CD3 complex transmits CD4-dependent and CD4-independent signals

The CD4 molecule plays an essential role in antigen-induced activation of T helper (Th) cells, but its contribution to signal transduction events resulting in physiologic T cell function is ill defined. By utilizing anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize distinct epitopes of CD4, we have investigated the role of CD4 molecule in antigen-induced interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) alpha chain expression in class II major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen-specific human Th clones. Pretreatment of the Th clones with Leu3a resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of antigen-induced proliferative responses, inositol phosphate accumulation, increase in free cytoplasmic calcium ions ([Ca2+]i), IL-2 mRNA accumulation, IL-2 secretion, and membrane IL-2R expression. IL-2R mRNA accumulation, however, was unaffected even at highest Leu3a concentrations. Leu3a treatment did not affect bypass activation of T cells with PMA plus ionomycin or activation via CD2 molecule. The MAb OKT4, which binds another domain of CD4, was not inhibitory. These results suggest that after T cell antigen receptor-CD3 activation, IL-2 gene induction, IL-2 secretion, and membrane IL-2R expression are absolutely dependent upon participation of CD4 molecules, phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis, and increase in [Ca2+]i. The requirement for IL-2R gene induction, however, occurs independently of CD4 molecule participation and PI hydrolysis.

Requirement of the T cell receptor for antigen presentation by T lymphocytes. Effect of envelope glycoproteins of HIV-1 on antigen presentation by T cells

We have developed CD4+, tetanus antigen-specific T cell clones that proliferate in the presence of tetanus antigen and autologous irradiated peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) as antigen-presenting cells (APC). There have been several reports that T cells can present antigen themselves. We have used tetanus antigen-specific T cell clones to examine the effects of envelope glycoproteins of HIV-1 on processing and presentation of antigen to T cells. Cloned T cells were pre-incubated with soluble crude preparation of tetanus antigen for 4 h at 37 degrees C, irradiated, and used as APC (T-APC). These cells could present antigen, as assessed by the ability of the autologous cloned T cells to proliferate. Resting T cells and phytohaemagglutinin-activated T cell blasts from autologous PBL could not present tetanus antigen to the responder cloned T cells. Antigen presentation by T-APC was abrogated by treating cells with anti-HLA-DR but not by anti-HLA-DQ monoclonal antibodies; treatment of tetanus antigen-pulsed T-APC with anti-tetanus antibody also blocked the ability of these cells to induce proliferation in responder T cells. Antigen presentation by cloned T cells was by a chloroquine-resistant pathway. Pretreatment of T-APC with envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1, gp120, did not affect the proliferative responses of the responder T cells. These data suggest that gp120 does not inhibit the antigen-presenting function while suppressing antigen-specific responses.

Activated human T cells can present denatured antigen

The requirements for activated, Ia-positive human T cells to present antigen were examined. Although activated T cells could present allo-Ia antigens, activated T cells could not present native, soluble protein antigens. We have now shown that activated T cells can present denatured protein antigens to stimulate proliferation of antigen-specific T-cell lines. Since denatured antigen may represent a processed form of antigen, the data suggest that activated T cells can present antigen but may not be able to process antigen as efficiently as other presenting cells. We have also shown that antigen-specific T-cell lines, which are also Ia positive, are able to present antigen to themselves, if the antigen is in a denatured form. Autopresentation requires a critical minimal cell number to stimulate proliferation, even with denatured antigen. The ability of activated T cells to present antigen may reflect an important amplification or feedback mechanism of immune regulation.

Effect of the anti-thyroid drug methimazole on interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 levels in vitro

There is now good evidence that anti-thyroid drugs such as methimazole have immunomodulatory effects which may be important in the treatment of patients with Graves' disease, but the immunological mechanisms by which these agents act are not clear. This study has examined the effect of methimazole on four important soluble mediators of the immune response, interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) and B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF). When peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal subjects were stimulated with mitogens (phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A or pokeweed mitogen) in the presence of 10-100 mumol/l methimazole, there was an increase in IL-2 activity in the culture supernatants. This effect was apparent between 24 and 60 h: enhanced proliferation of T-cells was also seen in methimazole-supplemented cultures. There was no effect of the drug on IL-2 receptor expression or on IL-1 and gamma-IFN production. BCDF was increased by methimazole in one of three experiments with pokeweed mitogen but not in three experiments with concanavalin A. These results suggest that the enhancement of mitogen-stimulated T-cell proliferation in vitro with methimazole is due to an increase in the IL-2 available to the T-cells in these cultures. Thus the in-vivo immunological effects of these drugs are likely to be complex since they may have at least two, possibly related, actions on the intrathyroidal lymphoid infiltrate, namely inhibiting oxygen radical generation and increasing IL-2 levels.

Production and characterization of cloned T-cell hybridomas that are responsive to Rickettsia conorii antigens

T-cell hybridomas produced by the fusion of Rickettsia conorii immune T cells to the AKR thymoma BW 5147 produced interleukin-2 when stimulated with the antigens of three different R. conorii strains. One cloned hybridoma responded only to R. conorii antigens, whereas a second and third cloned hybridoma also responded to the antigens of Rickettsia rickettsii Sheila Smith and Rickettsia sibirica 246, respectively. Antigen responses required antigen-presenting cells, and this interaction was major histocompatibility complex restricted. Fluorescence-activated cell-sorter analysis demonstrated that all three hybridomas were of the Thy-1.2+, Lyt-2- phenotype and that two of the three were L3T4+. These data demonstrated the presence of an antigenic epitope that is R. conorii species specific and other epitopes that are common to various members of the spotted fever group which can stimulate interleukin-2 production by T-cell hybridomas.

Activated human T cells can present alloantigens but cannot present soluble antigens

Human T cells, when activated by antigen or mitogen, express Ia antigens. We have examined the capacity of activated T cells to stimulate autologous and allogeneic T cells and their ability to present soluble antigen. Interleukin 2-dependent T-cell lines (TCL), free of accessory cells, were used for antigen-presenting cells. These activated T cells were potent stimulators in an autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), more so than autologous irradiated non-T mononuclear cells. Activated T cells were also able to stimulate proliferation of allogeneic T cells in the absence of any other accessory cells, and this stimulation was blocked by anti-Ia antibodies. Resting unstimulated T cells were unable to stimulate autologous or allogeneic responses. Thus, activated T cells were able to present self antigens and alloantigens. However, activated T cells could not present soluble antigens to autologous T cells or to antigen-specific TCL even if exogenous interleukin 1 was added to cultures. The ability of activated T cells to stimulate an AMLR in vitro may reflect an important immunologic amplification mechanism in vivo. The ability of activated T cells to present alloantigens but not soluble antigens suggests an inability to process antigen, and this may provide further insights into the complexities of antigen presentation.