Calcium release activity and metabolism of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in T cells. Modulation by novel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase inhibitors

Titanium Ions Promote Exogenous Calcium-Dependent Calcium Influx in Activated Jurkat T Cells: A Possible Mechanism to Explain Its Immunostimulatory Properties

Titanium and its alloys have been widely used in dental and orthopedic implants. Owing to the biotribocorrosion behavior of implants in simulated oral environment, Ti(IV) ions could be released into surrounding tissues. Current studies have found that Ti(IV) ions could affect the biological activities of immune cells in adjacent tissues and subsequently jeopardize the long-term performance of implant prostheses. However, the potential mechanism underlying its immunomodulatory properties remains unclear. Calcium signaling has been confirmed to be involved in regulation of lymphocyte immune function. Therefore, we hypothesize that Ti(IV) ions modulated T cell function through the change of intracellular calcium concentrations. This study is aimed at exploring the role of intracellular calcium responses in the modulatory effect of Ti(IV) ions on unactivated and phytohemagglutinin-activated Jurkat T cells. Here, we confirmed that Ti(IV) ions within a certain concentration range induced CD69 expression on both unactivated and activated T cells in our study. Additionally, the combined stimulation with Ti(IV) ions and PHA increased expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and RANKL. Furthermore, we found that treatment with Ti(IV) induced a transitory increase in the levels of [Ca²⁺]_i in activated Jurkat cells, dependent on the presence of exogenous calcium. Treatment with different doses of Ti(IV) for 24 h significantly increased the levels of [Ca²⁺]_i in the activated Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner, but had little effect in the unactivated cells. Treatment with Ti(IV) did not significantly affect the PLCγ1 activation and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) secretion in Jurkat cells. Taken together, these data indicated that Ti(IV) enhanced calcium influx during the T cell activation, independent of IP₃-mediated intracellular calcium release. Our work provides insights into the mechanism involved in the regulation of lymphocyte behaviors under the effect of Ti(IV) ions, which may help to develop therapeutic strategies for dental implant failures.

Partial T-cell activation and anergy induction by polyclonal antithymocyte globulin

BACKGROUND

Polyclonal antithymocyte globulins have been assumed to deplete or sequester immunocompetent T cells. We investigated the hypothesis that anti-human thymocyte globulin (ATGAM)-mediated immunosuppression is delivered via nondepletive, immunologically specific actions as a consequence of simultaneous engagement of multiple T cell receptors.

METHODS

Purified T cells obtained from healthy volunteers or renal transplant recipients receiving their first dose of ATGAM were evaluated for proliferative responses and cell-mediated lympholysis. ATGAM binding and receptor expression were determined by flow cytometry. Cytokines and ATGAM levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

ATGAM-treated T cells showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in vitro at concentrations comparable to those measured in patients. Effectors raised after ATGAM treatment failed to develop cytotoxicity. Supernatant interleukin (IL)-2 levels in ATGAM-treated cultures were significantly reduced (P<0.01 vs. control). IL-4 was not significantly altered. In vivo studies confirmed significant ATGAM-mediated inhibition of proliferative responses. Concanavalin A and OKT3-driven proliferation were reduced 30-60% by ATGAM. Flow cytometry showed that ATGAM recognized multiple cell surface receptors and resulted in markedly increased IL-2R and CD28 expression in the absence of proliferation, demonstrating partial T-cell activation. ATGAM synergized with phorbol myristate acetate to produce strong proliferation, which suggests that it provides a calcium-based signal resulting in anergy.

CONCLUSIONS

ATGAM recognizes and cross-links multiple cell surface receptors and costimulator molecules on human T cells. Simultaneous engagement by ATGAM in the context of allogeneic or mitogenic stimulation leads to partial T-cell activation and anergy.

D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate analogues modified at the 3-position inhibit phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

Several natural and unnatural inositol phosphates and analogues were analyzed for their ability to inhibit the in vitro phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity immunoprecipitated from a leukemic T cell line by a p85 monoclonal antibody. A 3-position ring-modified analogue of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3), L-chiro-inositol 2,3,5-trisphosphate (L-chiro-Ins(2,3,5)P3) and its phosphorothioate analogue, L-chiro-inositol 2,3,5-trisphosphorothioate, as well as the analogue benzene 1,2,4-trisphosphate induced reversible inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity, which correlated with decreased Vmax but unchanged Km values for PI 3-kinase. Other inositol phosphates, including D- and L-Ins(1,4,5)P3, D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, the enantiomers of myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, DL-myo-inositol 1,4,6-trisphosphate (DL-Ins(1,4,6)P3), and DL-scyllo-inositol 1,2,4-trisphosphate (DL-scyllo-Ins(1,2,4)P3), did not inhibit PI 3-kinase activity under identical conditions. L-chiro-Ins(2,3,5)P3 closely resembles Ins(1,4,5)P3 and D-Ins(1,4,6)P3 except for a difference in the orientation of a single hydroxyl group at either the equivalent 3-OH or 2-OH position of Ins(1,4,5)P3, respectively. Similarly, L-chiro-Ins(2,3,5)P3 resembles D-scyllo-Ins(1,2,4)P3, but has a different orientation of both the equivalent 3-OH and 2-OH positions. Since Ins(1,4,5)P3, DL-Ins(1,4,6)P3, and DL-scyllo-Ins(1,2,4)P3 did not inhibit PI 3-kinase activity, this suggests that the orientation of the two hydroxyl groups at the 2- and 3-positions plays a pivotal role in the inhibitory action of inositol phosphate analogues on PI 3-kinase activity. Thus, inositol phosphate analogues inter alia are shown for the first time to inhibit PI 3-kinase and may be useful tools for determining the function of PI 3-kinase and its substrate binding specificities.