Comparison of T-cell receptor diversity of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis versus controls

OBJECTIVE

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME; sometimes referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a chronic disease without laboratory test, detailed aetiological understanding or effective therapy. Its symptoms are diverse, but it is distinguished from other fatiguing illnesses by the experience of post-exertional malaise, the worsening of symptoms even after minor physical or mental exertion. Its frequent onset after infection suggests autoimmune involvement or that it arises from abnormal T-cell activation.

RESULTS

To test this hypothesis, we sequenced the genomic loci of α/δ, β and γ T-cell receptors (TCR) from 40 human blood samples from each of four groups: severely affected people with ME; mildly or moderately affected people with ME; people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, as disease controls; and, healthy controls. Seeking to automatically classify these individuals' samples by their TCR repertoires, we applied P-SVM, a machine learning method. However, despite working well on a simulated data set, this approach did not allow statistically significant partitioning of samples into the four subgroups. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that blood samples from people with ME frequently contain altered T-cell receptor diversity.

Violation of the 12/23 rule of genomic V(D)J recombination is common in lymphocytes

V(D)J genomic recombination joins single gene segments to encode an extensive repertoire of antigen receptor specificities in T and B lymphocytes. This process initiates with double-stranded breaks adjacent to conserved recombination signal sequences that contain either 12- or 23-nucleotide spacer regions. Only recombination between signal sequences with unequal spacers results in productive coding genes, a phenomenon known as the “12/23 rule.” Here we present two novel genomic tools that allow the capture and analysis of immune locus rearrangements from whole thymic and splenic tissues using second-generation sequencing. Further, we provide strong evidence that the 12/23 rule of genomic recombination is frequently violated under physiological conditions, resulting in unanticipated hybrid recombinations in ∼10% of Tcra excision circles. Hence, we demonstrate that strict adherence to the 12/23 rule is intrinsic neither to recombination signal sequences nor to the catalytic process of recombination and propose that nonclassical excision circles are liberated during the formation of antigen receptor diversity.

HLA-B27 Heavy Chain Homodimers Are Expressed in HLA-B27 Transgenic Rodent Models of Spondyloarthritis and Are Ligands for Paired Ig-Like Receptors

HLA-B27 transgenic rats and strains of HLA-B27-transgenic beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m)-deficient mice develop a multisystem inflammatory disease affecting the joints, skin, and bowel with strong similarity to human spondyloarthritis. We show that HLA-B27 transgenic mice and rats express HC10-reactive, beta(2)m-free HLA-B27 homodimers (B27(2)) and multimers, both intracellularly and at the cell surface of leukocytes, including rat dendritic cells. Fluorescent-labeled tetrameric complexes of HLA-B27 homodimers (B27(2) tetramers) bind to populations of lymphocytes, monocytes, and dendritic cells. The murine (and probably rat) paired Ig-like receptors (PIRs) are ligands for B27(2). Thus, B27(2) tetramers stain RBL cells transfected with murine activating PIR-A4 and inhibitory PIR-B receptors. Murine PIR-A and -B can be immunoprecipitated from the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line, and murine PIR-A can be immunoprecipitated from the J774.A1 line using B27(2). B27(2) tetramer staining corresponds to the distribution of PIR expression on lymphoid and myeloid cells and on murine macrophage cell lines. B27(2) can induce TNF-alpha release from the J774.A1 macrophage cell line. The binding of B27(2) to PIR is inhibited by HC10, an mAb that ameliorates arthritis in HLA-B27(+) beta(2)m(-/-) mice. The expression and PIR recognition of B27(2) could explain the pathogenesis of rodent spondyloarthritis.

Fully Functional HLA B27-Restricted CD4+as well as CD8+T Cell Responses in TCR Transgenic Mice

The strong association of HLA B27 with spondyloarthropathies contrasts strikingly with most autoimmune diseases, which are HLA class II associated and thought to be mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes. By introducing a human-derived HLA B27-restricted TCR into HLA B27 transgenic mice, we have obtained a functional TCR transgenic model, GRb, dependent on HLA B27 for response. Surprisingly, HLA B27 supported CD4+ as well as CD8+ T cell responses in vivo and in vitro. Further, HLA B27-restricted CD4+ T cells were capable of differentiation into a range of Th1 and Th2 T cell subsets with normal patterns of cytokine expression. The transgenic T cells were also able to enhance clearance of recombinant vaccinia virus containing influenza nucleoprotein in vivo. This is the first description of a human HLA class I-restricted TCR transgenic line. The existence of CD4+ MHC class I-restricted T cells has significant implications for immune regulation in autoimmunity and, in particular, in HLA B27-associated arthritis. We believe that this model provides a novel system for the study of unusual T cell behavior in vivo.

Evaluating precursor-directed biosynthesis towards novel erythromycins through in vitro studies on a bimodular polyketide synthase

BACKGROUND

Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) catalyse the biosynthesis of complex polyketides using a different set of enzymes for each successive cycle of chain extension. Directed biosynthesis starting from synthetic diketides is a potentially valuable route to novel polyketides. We have used a purified bimodular derivative of the erythromycin-producing polyketide synthase (DEBS 1-TE) to study chain extension starting from a variety of diketide analogues and, in some cases, from the alternative acyl-CoA thioester substrates.

RESULTS

Chain initiation in vitro by DEBS 1-TE module 2 using a synthetic diketide analogue as a substrate was tolerant of significant structural variation in the starter unit of the synthetic diketide, but other changes completely abolished activity. Interestingly, a racemic beta-keto diketide was found to be reduced in situ on the PKS and utilised in place of its more complex hydroxy analogue as a substrate for chain extension. The presence of a diketide analogue strongly inhibited chain initiation via the loading module. Significantly higher concentrations of diketide N-acetylcysteamine analogues than their corresponding acyl-CoA thioesters are required to achieve comparable yields of triketide lactones.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a broad range of variation in the starter residue is acceptable, the substrate specificity of module 2 of a typical modular PKS in vitro is relatively intolerant of changes at C-2 and C-3. This will restrict the usefulness of approaches to synthesise novel erythromycins using synthetic diketides in vivo. The use of synthetic beta-keto diketides in vivo deserves to be explored.