Interleukin 5 is a differentiation factor for cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Th2 Cytokines (Interleukin-5 and -9) Polymorphism Affects the Response to Anti-TNF Treatment in Polish Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease that belongs to the spondyloarthritis family. IL-5 and IL-9 belong to the group of Th2 cytokines of anti-inflammatory nature. Polymorphisms in their coding genes have been so far associated with various inflammatory diseases, but there are no reports regarding their involvement in AS pathogenesis to date. The purpose of the study was to investigate relationships between IL5 and IL9 genetic variants with AS susceptibility, clinical parameters as well as response to therapy with TNF inhibitors. In total 170 patients receiving anti-TNF therapy and 218 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The genotyping of IL5 rs2069812 (A > G) and IL9 rs2069885 (G > A) single nucleotide polymorphisms was performed using the Real-Time PCR method based on LightSNiP kits assays. The present study demonstrated significant relationships between IL5 rs2069812 and IL9 rs2069885 polymorphisms and response to anti-TNF therapy. Presence of the IL5 rs2069812 A allele in patients positively correlated with better response to treatment (p = 0.022). With regard to IL9 rs2069885, patients carrying the A allele displayed better outcomes in anti-TNF therapy (p = 0.046). In addition, IL5 rs2069812 A and IL9 rs2069885 A alleles were associated with lower CRP and VAS values. The obtained results may indicate a significant role for IL-5 and IL-9 in the course of AS and response to anti-TNF therapy.

Evaluation of Different Stabilizers and Inactivating Compounds for the Enhancement of Vero Cell Rabies Vaccine Stability and Immunogenicity: In Vitro Study

Inactivation of rabies virus is essential for rabies vaccine preparation where the inactivating compound that is currently recommended for rabies vaccine preparation is β-propiolactone (β-PL). This compound is considered better than phenol and formalin but it is expensive and potentially carcinogenic. Data revealed that Ascorbic acid (AA) with cupric ions could yield complete and irreversible inactivation of rabies virus without adversely affecting its antigenicity. Additionally, the results of testing the vaccine potency with the selected inactivating compounds were comparable (P<0.05), and ED50 was higher than the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The use of HemaGel (plasma substitute) for testing vaccine stabilization was compared with the currently used vaccine stabilizers (human albumin and lactose). HemaGel yielded better stability than the other tested stabilizers. Monitoring of cellular and humoral immune responses indicated that both the total IgG level against rabies vaccine and the IFN and IL5 levels obtained with the HemaGel-stabilized vaccines were higher than those obtained with human albumin- and lactose-stabilized vaccine candidates.

Fusogenic membrane glycoprotein-mediated tumour cell fusion activates human dendritic cells for enhanced IL-12 production and T-cell priming

Fusogenic membrane glycoproteins (FMG) are a family of viral genes that, when expressed in tumour cells, trigger extensive cell to cell fusion and subsequent cell death. Gene therapy approaches using FMG are also potentially immunogenic, since syncitia generated ex vivo can be therapeutic as antitumour vaccines in murine models. This study has addressed the mechanisms responsible for the immunogenicity of FMG-mediated cell death, and its applicability to human immune priming. We show that fusion of human Mel888 melanoma cells following transfection with FMG can reverse the suppressive effects of Mel888 on dendritic cells (DC) phenotype, and potentiate IL-12 production by DC on activation in a cell contact-dependent manner. DC loaded with fusing, but not intact, tumour cells primed a naive, tumour-specific cytotoxic T-cell response, which was MHC class I-restricted and associated with production of high levels of IFNgamma and, later, IL-5. Fusing cells were an effective source of antigen for DC cross-priming and presentation of the melanoma-specific antigen gp100 to a specific T-cell clone. These data show, in a human system, that FMG represent an immunogenic, as well as cytotoxic, gene therapy for cancer, reversing the inhibitory effects of tumour cells on DC to potentiate IL-12 production and naive T-cell priming.

Monitoring of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses after dendritic cell-based immunotherapy using CFSE dye dilution analysis

CFSE dye dilution analysis and [3H] thymidine incorporation were used side by side to assess proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after vaccination of renal cell carcinoma patients (n=6) with antigen-loaded dendritic cells. Immune responses against the control antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were induced in all patients. While [3H] thymidine incorporation revealed a 4 to 977-fold increase in KLH-induced proliferation (mean: 209-fold), CFSE-labeling experiments demonstrated that the KLH-responsive population of postvaccination PBMCs represented 7-53% (mean: 23%). Combining CFSE-labeling with T-cell subset analysis confirmed the presence of CD4+ KLH-reactive T cells but also revealed a substantial population of CD8+ KLH-reactive T cells in one patient as well as minor populations of CD8+ KLH-reactive T cells in three other patients. Our data indicate that CFSE dye dilution analysis is a valuable tool for immune monitoring after dendritic cell vaccination.

The cyclopentenone prostaglandin PGA2 costimulates the maturation of human dendritic cells

OBJECTIVE

Dendritic cells (DCs), also referred to as the sentinels of the immune system, induce and coordinate important functions of immune surveillance. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a member of the eicosanoid family of arachidonic acid derivatives, is widely used to enhance the TNF-alpha-driven maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) both in basic research and in clinical settings. However, PGE2 is known to rapidly undergo nonenzymatic dehydration to produce PGA2, a member of the cyclopentenone PGs, which have been implicated in anti-inflammatory processes.

METHODS

In a side-by-side analysis we therefore compared the influence of PGE2 and PGA2 on the TNF-alpha-induced maturation of human moDCs. Phenotypic changes, migratory responses towards MIP-3beta, and T-cell responses induced by the differentially matured moDCs were assessed.

RESULTS

We found that PGA2 is nearly as potent as PGE2 in costimulating the TNF-alpha-induced phenotypic maturation of human moDCs. Both PGE2 and PGA2 further enhanced the migratory and T-cell-stimulatory capacity of TNF-alpha-treated moDCs. Maturation of moDCs with either PGE2 or PGA2 resulted in enhanced IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-5 production and repressed IL-10 production in allogeneic mixed leukocyte cultures. PGE2 was always more potent than PGA2.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that some of the effects attributed to PGE2 may in fact be mediated by its degradation product PGA2. This work also demonstrates that cyclopentenone PGs may have pro-inflammatory properties and that both PGE2 and PGA2 can contribute to the development of Th1-type immune responses.

T-helper-1 and T-helper-2 responses in psychiatric disorders

The expanding field of psychoneuroimmunology has markedly increased knowledge about the interference of the central nervous system and the immune system. Immunological abnormalities in psychiatric patients have been repeatedly described in the last century. Modern concepts of immunology and the growing knowledge of psychoneuroimmunology may help in understanding the distinct immunological mechanisms in psychiatric disorders. One of these concepts regarding the adaptive immune system is the discrimination between Th1-like cell-mediated and Th2-like antibody-related immune responses. This article systematically describes alterations of Th1- or Th2-specific parameters in the major psychiatric disorders schizophrenia, major depression, and Alzheimer's disease. There are several hints of associations of these two distinct arms of immune response with subgroups of schizophrenia and major depression. The immunological research in Alzheimer's disease has already led to a preclinical model of immunotherapy. Categorization of immune parameters may also help to identify a possible immune-related pathophysiology in psychotic and affective disorders, resulting in specific treatment strategies.

Biological and molecular characteristics of interleukin-5 and its receptor

Interleukin-5 (IL5) is a T cell-derived cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. It specifically controls the production, the activation and the localization of Eosinophils. The Eosinophils are the major cause of tissue damage resulting in the symptoms of asthma and related allergic disorders. T cells purified from bronchoalveolar lavage and peripheral blood of asthmatics secrete elevated amount of IL5. Therefore IL5 emerges to be an attractive target for the generation of new anti-allergic drugs. Agents which inhibit either the production or the activity of IL5 could be expected to ameliorate the pathological effects of the allergic response. A better understanding of the biology of IL5 and the regulation of its expression is, however, a prerequisite for the development of new therapeutic agents. This review covers the major biological, molecular and structural aspects of IL5 research since the identification of this cytokine ten years ago.

Generation of effector cytotoxic T cells from cytotoxic T cell precursors: role of soluble factors

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have long been recognized as playing a major role in the immune response to alloantigens and viral antigens as well as tumor antigens. The progress of the last decade in the identification and characterization of soluble factors involved in the regulation of the immune response has greatly improved our knowledge of the mechanisms of CTL activation and regulation. This review will summarize the data available in the literature regarding different lymphokines and their specific activity on CTL. In addition it will point out a few of the elements of the systems that hamper its full understanding and it will suggest possible directions for future research.

Anti-tumor effects of interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 against mouse B cell lymphoma and possible mechanisms of their action

We investigated the anti-tumor effects of recombinant mouse interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 by using a transplantable B cell lymphoma 38C13 cell line as a model. Daily local administration of either IL-4 or IL-5 produced moderate but significant inhibition of the rate of local tumor growth and prolongation of mean survival time (MST) in syngeneic C3H/HeJ mice; these anti-tumor effects appeared to plateau at low doses. Histopathologic and immuno-histochemical examination revealed necrotic changes in the cytokine-treated tumors, associated with infiltration of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. The infiltrating lymphocytes were found to be Thy-1.2+ T cells. To elucidate the importance of T cells, the rate of tumor growth and the MSTs were compared between athymic T cell-deficient BALB/c nude mice and immunocompetent C3H/HeJ mice. In the nude mice the transplanted tumor grew more rapidly and the MST was shorter than in the normal mice, suggesting a significant contribution of infiltrating T cells in the anti-tumor effects of the interleukins. Lastly, in vitro, growth inhibition of the 38C13 cells was observed in a dose-dependent manner at relatively high concentrations of either cytokine. Therefore, we conclude that both IL-4 and IL-5 have moderate anti-tumor effects against 38C13 B cell lymphoma both in vivo and in vitro, and that the observed in vivo anti-tumor effects are probably mediated both by tumoristatic action of infiltrating cells, such as eosinophils, macrophages and T lymphocytes, and by direct anti-proliferative action of the recombinant cytokines.

High-level production of murine interleukin-5 (IL-5) utilizing recombinant baculovirus expression. Purification of the rIL-5 and its use in assessing the biologic role of IL-5 glycosylation

We describe here a recombinant baculovirus expression system useful for high level production of murine recombinant interleukin-5 (rIL-5). In addition, we describe a single-step technique of purification of the rIL-5 from the baculovirus-infected Sf9 cell supernatants, using an anti-IL-5 affinity column. The baculovirus-derived rIL-5 has physical properties and functional activities in various lymphoid cell assays similar to those of natural T cell-derived IL-5 and reacts with anti-IL-5 antibodies. Finally, the rIL-5 is similar to natural T cell-derived IL-5 in manifesting heterogeneous glycosylation; however, glycosylation does not appear to be necessary for biologic function, at least in a lymphoid cell proliferation assay.

Effect of recombinant interleukin 5 on the generation of cytotoxic T cells (CTL)

The effect of recombinant human interleukin 5 (rhIL5) on the generation of CTL was investigated by using autologous EBV-transformed B cells as the target. Exogenous IL5 augmented the CTL generation, and its effect was most active at the concentration of 10 ng/ml, and when added at the late phase of culture in this system. IL5 augmented specific CTL activity rather than MHC nonrestricted CTL activity as detected with K562 and Daudi when compared to that augmented by IL2. IL5 did not increase the expression of p55 or p75 IL2R nor the responsiveness to IL2. Taken together with the finding that IL5 augmented the CTL activity even in the presence of cyclosporin A, the effect of IL5 on the CTL generation seems not to act through the IL2-IL2R system.

State of the art; the hypereosinophilic syndromes

Many disease states such as parasitic infestations, malignancies, collagen vascular diseases, and allergies are associated with eosinophilia. The diagnosis of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) requires a persistent elevation in the total eosinophil count (greater than 1500/mm3) for over 6 months, associated organ damage and no detectable underlying cause. This review provides an updated summary of the cytokine cascade that controls eosinophil production and delineates our current understanding of the clinical features of hypereosinophilic states. We also examine the central role of T-lymphocyte activation in eosinophilia, and have attempted to integrate current treatment strategies for HES with the physiology of eosinophilopoiesis.

Effects of interleukins 1-7 on the proliferation of T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

We investigated the proliferative effects of interleukins 1-7 (IL-1 to -7) on leukemic cells from 10 patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Five patients had CD7+4-8-acute leukemia, one had CD5+ acute leukemia, and four had CD1+ acute leukemia. To examine the proliferative effect of each interleukin, 3H-TdR incorporation method was used. In the presence of IL-1, no increase in 3H-TdR incorporation was observed for any of the T-ALL cells. With IL-2, 3H-TdR incorporation increased in cells from 5 out of 10 T-ALL patients, including those with CD7+4-8-, CD5+, and CD1+ acute leukemia. In the presence of IL-3 or IL-6, 3H-TdR incorporation increased in cells from 2 out of 5 patients with CD7+4-8- acute leukemia. However, CD5+ or CD1+ acute leukemia cells were not stimulated by IL-3 or IL-6. With IL-4, 3H-TdR incorporation was increased in the cells from 2 out of 5 patients with CD7+4-8- acute leukemia and in the cells of 2 of those with CD1+ acute leukemia. IL-5 increased the 3H-TdR incorporation by cells from 2 out of 5 patients with CD7+4-8- acute leukemia and 1 patient with CD1+ acute leukemia. IL-7 increased 3H-TdR incorporation in cells from all five CD7+4-8- acute leukemia and 2 of those with CD5+ or CD1+ leukemia. No synergistic effect was found when IL-7 and other cytokines were added to cells from the 3 patients with CD7+4-8- acute leukemia who were tested.

Structural comparison of murine T-cell (B151K12)-derived T-cell-replacing factor (IL-5) with rIL-5: dimer formation is essential for the expression of biological activity

T-cell-replacing factor (TRF)/IL-5 is a T-cell-derived glycoprotein which has pleiotropic activity on lymphoid and myeloid cells. IL-5 polypeptide translated into Xenopus oocytes are heterogeneous in molecular size (40,000 to 60,000 under nonreducing conditions) and yields a monomeric form (Mr of 25,000 to 30,000) under reducing conditions (J. Immun., 140, 1175-1181, 1988). We purified T-cell-derived TRF and rIL-5 using anti-TRF/IL-5 antibody-coupled affinity column from supernatants of a T-cell hybridoma B151K12 and supernatants of HeLa cells, respectively, which had been transfected with murine IL-5 cDNA, and determined their partial N-terminal amino acid sequence (27 residues for B151-TRF and 13 residues for rIL-5). A single amino acid sequence of each sample obtained beginning from methionine that was identical to that predicted from IL-5 cDNA. This finding supports the notion that secreted B151-TRF polypeptide consists of 113 amino acids. Purified B151-TRF supported eosinophilopoiesis of human bone marrow cells as effective as mouse rIL-5 and human rIL-5. B151-TRF competitively inhibited 35S-labeled rIL-5 binding to target cells to the same extent at rIL-5. Treatment of purified rIL-5 and B151-TRF with reducing reagents such as 2-ME, sodium borohydride or dithiothreitol produced a monomeric form of IL-5 which did not exert a biological activity. Reduction and alkylation of rIL-5 caused the loss of binding to its target cells. These results strongly suggest that B151-TRF exists as a homodimer and its primary structure and secondary structures are identical to those of rIL-5. Moreover, the formation of inter-molecular disulfide bond(s) linked by two pairs of cystein residues is essential for the expression of the biological activity of mouse IL-5.