Abolition of specific immune response defect by immunization with dendritic cells

Murine cytotoxic T (Tc)-cell responses to various antigens are controlled by immune response (Ir) genes mapping in the major histocompatibility complex (H-2). The genes responsible are those encoding the class I and class II H-2 antigens. The H-2 I-Ab mutant mouse strain bm12 differs from its strain of origin, C57BL/6 (H-2b), only in three amino acids in the I-A beta bm12 class II H-2 molecule. As a consequence, female bm12 mice are Tc-cell nonresponders to the male antigen H-Y and do not reject H-Y disparate skin grafts. We now report that bm12 mice generate strong H-Y-specific Tc cells following priming in vivo and restimulation in vitro with male bm12 dendritic cells (DC). Female bm12 mice primed with male DC also reject male skin grafts. Furthermore, we demonstrate that only responder cell populations containing a mixture of L3T4+ (T-helper (Th) phenotype) and Lyt 2+ (Tc phenotype) T lymphocytes generate H-Y-specific Tc cells. These data imply an essential role for Th cells, activated by DC as antigen-presenting cells (APC), in changing H-Y-nonresponder bm12 mice into H-Y responders. Priming and restimulation with DC allows the triggering of a T-cell repertoire not demonstrable by the usual modes of immunization. This principle might be used to overcome other specific immune response defects.     

Differentiation in vitro of Lyt 2+ thymocytes from embryonic Lyt 2- precursors

In mice, the thymus is regarded as being the primary anatomical site for the generation of immunologically competent T lymphocytes. Such cells comprise approximately 20% of the cells in the thymus and share with T lymphocytes from peripheral lymphoid tissues certain phenotypic properties defined by anti-Lyt antibodies. Thus, most immunocompetent T cells are either Lyt 1+2+ or Lyt 1+2- with the former cells being restricted to recognizing antigen in association with class I (H-2K, D) major histocompatability complex (MHC) products and the latter to class II (H-21) MHC products. Although evidence suggests that Lyt 1+2+ cells are generated from Lyt 1+2- precursor the independent development of two separate Lyt-defined lineages of thymocytes could not be ruled out. Here, the acquisition of Lyt 2 antigen by Lyt 2- cells from late embryonic and early postnatal thymuses is directly demonstrated. Furthermore, by combining cell cycle and Lyt phenotype analysis on a flow microfluorometer, the role of cell division in this differentiation process has been investigated.     

Autoimmune diabetes as a consequence of locally produced interleukin-2.

During cell differentiation in the thymus, self-reactive T cells can be generated. The majority of these seem to be deleted after intrathymic encounter with the relevant autoantigen. As all self antigens are unlikely to be present in the thymus, some autoreactive T cells may escape censorship. Here we study the fate of these cells using transgenic mice expressing the class I molecule H-2Kb (Kb) in the insulin-producing beta-cells of the pancreas. These mice were crossed with mice transgenic for genes encoding a Kb-specific T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) which could be detected using a clonotype-specific monoclonal antibody. Although T cells expressing the highest level of transgenic TCR were deleted intrathymically in double-transgenic mice, Kb-specific T cells were detected in the periphery. These cells caused the rejection of Kb-expressing skin grafts, but ignored islet Kb antigens even after priming. But when double-transgenic mice were crossed with transgenic mice expressing the lymphokine interleukin-2 in the pancreatic beta-cells, there was a rapid onset of diabetes. These results indicate that autoreactive T cells that ignore self antigens may cause autoimmune diabetes when provided with exogenous 'help' in the form of interleukin-2.     

Positive and negative selection of an antigen receptor on T cells in transgenic mice

The T-cell repertoire found in the periphery is thought to be shaped by two developmental events in the thymus that involve the antigen receptors of T lymphocytes. First, interactions between T cells and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules select a T-cell repertoire skewed towards recognition of antigens in the context of self-MHC molecules. In addition, T cells that react strongly to self-MHC molecules are eliminated by a process called self-tolerance. We have recently described transgenic mice expressing the alpha beta T-cell receptor from the cytotoxic T lymphocyte 2C (ref. 11). The clone 2C was derived from a BALB.B (H-2b) anti-BALB/c (H-2d) mixed lymphocyte culture and is specific for the Ld class I MHC antigen. In transgenic H-2b mice, a large fraction of T cells in the periphery expressed the 2C T-cell receptor. These T cells were predominantly CD4-CD8+ and were able to specifically lyse target cells bearing Ld. We now report that in the periphery of transgenic mice expressing Ld, functional T cells bearing the 2C T-cell receptor were deleted. This elimination of autoreactive T cells appears to take place at or before the CD4+CD8+ stage in thymocyte development. In addition, we report that in H-2s mice, a non-autoreactive target haplotype, large numbers of CD8+ T cells bearing the 2C T-cell receptor were not found, providing strong evidence for the positive selection of the 2C T-cell receptor specificity by H-2b molecules.     

Capacity of purified Lyt-2+ T cells to mount primary proliferative and cytotoxic responses to Ia- tumour cells

Allogeneic gene products of the major histocompatibility complex, the HLA complex in man and the H-2 complex in mice, induce T lymphocytes to exert powerful mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML). In mice, the subset of T cells carrying the L3T4 surface antigen but lacking the Lyt-2 antigen responds predominantly to H-2 class II (Ia) differences whereas the L3T4- Lyt-2+ subset reacts to class I (K/D) differences. For primary responses the stimulus for MLR and CML appears to be controlled by Ia+ cells of the macrophage/dendritic cell lineages, for both L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ cells. The finding that Ia+ cells are required for responses involving Lyt-2+ cells has been taken to imply that triggering of these cells is controlled by Ia-restricted L3T4+ cells. Lyt-2+ cells have thus come to be regarded as crippled cells which are heavily dependent on 'help' from other T cells. This well-entrenched view is challenged by evidence presented here that purified Lyt-2+ cells can give high primary responses to certain Ia- tumour cells in vitro.     

Absence of growth by most receptor-expressing fetal thymocytes in the presence of interleukin-2

The growth of mature T cells is regulated by receptors for interleukin-2 (IL-2) and by IL-2 itself. Binding of antigen to T-cell antigen receptors induces the expression of IL-2 receptors, and binding of IL-2 to these receptors induces transferrin receptor expression and is sufficient to promote the growth of T cells for several days. However, nothing is known about the growth requirements of pre-T cells. We have therefore studied the dividing population of T-cell precursors which carry the Thy-1 surface antigen, but lack surface antigens Ly2 and L3T4; these cells are present in 14-day-old embryonic thymus. If the thymus is removed at this stage and placed in organ culture, all lymphocyte subpopulations normally present in thymuses of adult mice develop in vitro, that is, the nonfunctional Ly2+, L3T4+ population and the functional Ly2+, L3T4- and Ly2-, L3T4+ populations. We now report that, in contrast to their progeny, the early Ly2-, L3T4- cells express large amounts of IL-2 receptors, but most of them do not grow in IL-2-containing media outside the thymus. In contrast to dividing mature T cells, most fetal thymocytes express low amounts of transferrin receptors.     

Cytotoxic T-cell response to H-Y in 'non-responder' CBA mice

Murine cytotoxic T-cell (Tc cell) responses to various antigens are controlled by immune response genes (Ir) mapping in the major histocompatibility complex (H-2). Both helper T cells, controlled by I region-coded genes, and Tc cells, controlled by K/D antigens, are necessary for a positive response. An H-2-restricted Tc-cell response to the male specific minor transplantation antigen (H-Y) can be elicited in B10 (H-2b) female mice primed with syngeneic male spleen cells intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intravenously (i.v.), or by skin grafting followed by restimulation in vitro in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLR) with male cells. CBA (H-2k) mice do not respond by these routes of in vivo priming, and this was thought to be due to a lack of permissible Ir genes for helper function. However, we now report that subcutaneous hind-footpad (fp) immunisation of 'non-responder' CBA mice with syngeneic male cells changes them to responders, a result which argues against a generalised Ir gene-controlled helper defect.     

Positive selection of CD4-CD8+ T cells in the thymus of normal mice

The diversification of the repertoire of T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) specificities is influenced by at least two selection processes which occur in the thymus. One of these, termed 'negative selection', is required to install a state of tolerance to self-antigens in the T-cell repertoire and is often achieved by clonal deletion. The second type of selection operating in the thymus results in preferential differentiation of T cells that have restriction specificity for thymic major histocompatibility complex glycoproteins, but the mechanisms leading to this selective process are not yet clear. One model used to describe this 'positive selection' proposes that only those T cells with sufficient avidity for the MHC glycoproteins expressed in the thymus are allowed to acquire functional competence. Here we directly investigate the generation of TCR specificities by following the fate of developing V beta 17+ CD4-CD8+ T cells under conditions where one of the main class I-MHC molecules, either H-2K or H-2D, was specifically blocked by in vitro monoclonal antibody treatment. The results show that development of V beta 17+ CD4-CD8+ T cells in the SJL H-2s mouse strain is selectively abrogated by blocking class I-Ks molecules but is unaffected by blocking class I-Ds molecules. These data directly demonstrate that generation of CD4-CD8+ T cells expressing a particular TCR V beta segment can be correlated with the expression of a particular class I-MHC molecule, thereby providing evidence for positive selection.     

Variable expression of Ia antigens on the vascular endothelium of mouse skin allografts

Ia antigens are membrane-bound glycoproteins that play a part in antigen recognition and subsequent cell-cell interactions in the immune response. In the mouse they are coded for by the I region of the major histocompatibility complex H-2 and have been demonstrated on B lymphocytes, monocytes, activated T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells, including Langerhans cells. Ia-like antigens have also been detected on the vascular endothelium in man and on epidermal keratinocytes in rats but expression on the latter cells was induced by a graft-versus-host reaction or by contact hypersensitivity. In the mouse, previous studies have suggested that Ia antigens in skin are restricted to epidermal Langerhans cells and it was thought that these were the targets for Ia-dependent rejection of skin allografts. The results presented here show that Ia antigens in mouse allografts are also present on the vascular endothelium but their expression is variable and dependent on the immunological status of the recipient. These findings suggest that vascular endothelial cells can act as targets in Ia-incompatible skin allograft rejection.     

Susceptibility of beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice to Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

The beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) protein associates with the products of the class I major histocompatibility (MHC) loci; this combination functions in the thymic development of and antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Mice in which the beta 2m gene has been disrupted by homologous recombination fail to express class I MHC gene products, and therefore lack CD8+ T cells and measurable cytotoxic T-cell responses. However, beta 2m- mice appear to have normal development of both CD4+ alpha/beta T-cell receptor (TCR+) and gamma/delta TCR+ T cells and are not overtly more susceptible than beta 2m+ mice to potential environmental agents of infection or to experimental viral infection. Here we show that beta 2m- mice suffer high parasitaemias and early death when infected with the obligate cytoplasmic protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite this increased susceptibility, the beta 2m- mice are more responsive than their beta 2m+ littermates in terms of lymphokine production, making higher levels of both interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in response to mitogen stimulation. In addition, the beta 2m- mice show essentially no inflammatory response in parasite-infected tissues. These results confirm previous experiments on mice depleted of CD8+ cells using antibody treatment in demonstrating the importance of CD8+ T cells in immune protection in T. cruzi infection. They also implicate CD8+ T cells and/or class I MHC molecules in regulation of lymphokine production and recruitment of inflammatory cells.     

Expression of murine H-2Kb histocompatibility antigen in cells transformed with cloned H-2 genes

Cosmids containing H-2 histocompatibility antigen genes of the H-2b haplotype have been isolated. One of these genes expresses a 45,000 molecular weight protein, indistinguishable from H-2Kb when introduced into mouse L cells. These H-2Kb transformed L cells can be killed by allospecific anti-H-2Kb cytotoxic T cells. Moreover, when infected with influenza virus, they can be killed by an H-2Kb-restricted, influenza virus-specific cytotoxic T cell line. These results show that expression of the H-2Kb gene product on the L-cell surface is sufficient to make it a target for specific T-cell killing.     

CD4+ murine T cells develop from CD8+ precursors in vivo

The adult murine thymus contains four subpopulations of thymocytes defined by the T-cell surface antigens CD4 (L3T4) (a marker of helper T cells) and CD8 (Lyt2) (a marker of cytotoxic/suppressor T cells): CD4+8- and CD4-8+ (single positives), CD4+8+ (double positives) and CD4-8- (double negatives). To understand how T cells develop in the thymus, it is important to determine the lineage relationships among these subpopulations. In particular, the status of double positives, which make up approximately 80% of the total thymocyte population, has long been controversial. Some purpose that double positives are 'dead-end cells' that all die in the thymus, perhaps because they have been rejected by some selection process. Others suggest that, although most double positives die in the thymus, some develop into the more mature single positives that leave the thymus. The experiments presented here show that repeated injections of anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies block the development of CD4+ cells, demonstrating that these cells develop from CD8+ precursors, probably double positive thymocytes, in vivo.     

Progression of autoimmune diabetes driven by avidity maturation of a T-cell population

For unknown reasons, autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes develop after prolonged periods of inflammation of mononuclear cells in target tissues. Here we show that progression of pancreatic islet inflammation to overt diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice is driven by the 'avidity maturation' of a prevailing, pancreatic beta-cell-specific T-lymphocyte population carrying the CD8 antigen. This T-lymphocyte population recognizes two related peptides (NRP and NRP-A7) in the context of H-2Kd class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). As pre-diabetic NOD mice age, their islet-associated CD8+ T lymphocytes contain increasing numbers of NRP-A7-reactive cells, and these cells bind NRP-A7/H-2Kd tetramers with increased specificity, increased avidity and longer half-lives. Repeated treatment of pre-diabetic NOD mice with soluble NRP-A7 peptide blunts the avidity maturation of the NRP-A7-reactive CD8+ T-cell population by selectively deleting those clonotypes expressing T-cell receptors with the highest affinity and lowest dissociation rates for peptide-MHC binding. This inhibits the local production of T cells that are cytotoxic to beta cells, and halts the progression from severe insulitis to diabetes. We conclude that avidity maturation of pathogenic T-cell populations may be the key event in the progression of benign inflammation to overt disease in autoimmunity.     

Essential requirement for major histocompatibility complex recognition in T-cell tolerance induction

The induction of T-cell responses involves the recognition of extrinsic antigen in association with antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), in mice and man, with different T cells recognizing antigen in association with either class I (H-2K/D, HLA-A, B, C) or class II (Ia, HLA-D/DR) MHC antigens. However, the requirement of MHC recognition in the induction of immunological tolerance remains ill defined. With human T helper clones recognizing synthetic peptides of influenza haemagglutinin (HA-1), we have investigated the nature of antigen-induced stimulation, and antigen-induced antigen-specific unresponsiveness, immunological tolerance. Tolerance is not due to cell death, as the cells remain responsive to interleukin-2 and is associated with the loss of T3 antigen from the cell surface. Using monoclonal antibodies to the non-polymorphic regions of human class II antigens to inhibit the induction of T-cell tolerance we report here that induction of tolerance requires the recognition of MHC antigens.     

Thymic major histocompatibility complex antigens and the alpha beta T-cell receptor determine the CD4/CD8 phenotype of T cells

T-cell receptors and T-cell subsets were analysed in T-cell receptor transgenic mice expressing alpha and beta T-cell receptor genes isolated from a male-specific, H-2Db-restricted CD4-8+ T-cell clone. The results indicate that the specific interaction of the T-cell receptor on immature thymocytes with thymic major histocompatibility complex antigens determines the differentiation of CD4+8+ thymocytes into either CD4+8- or CD4-8+ mature T cells.     

MHC class I alloantigen specificity of Ly-49+ IL-2-activated natural killer cells.

The molecular basis of target cell recognition by CD3- natural killer (NK) cells is poorly understood, despite the ability of NK cells to lyse specific tumour cells. In general, target cell major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen expression correlates with resistance to NK cell-mediated lysis, possibly because NK cell-surface molecules engage MHC class I antigens and consequently deliver inhibitory signals. Natural killer cell allospecificity involves the MHC class I peptide-binding cleft, and further understanding of this allospecificity should provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of NK cell recognition. The Ly-49 cell surface molecular mechanisms of NK cell recognition. The Ly-49 cell surface molecule is expressed by 20% of CD3- NK cells in C57BL/6 mice (H-2b). Here we show that C57BL/6-derived, interleukin-2-activated NK cells expressing Ly-49 do not lyse target cells displaying H-2d or H-2k despite efficient spontaneous lysis by Ly-49- effector cells. This preferential resistance correlates with expression of target cell MHC class I antigens. Transfection and expression of H-2Dd, but not H-2Kd or H-2Ld, renders a susceptible target (H-2b) resistant to Ly-49+ effector cells. The transfected resistance is abrogated by monoclonal antibodies directed against Ly-49 or the alpha 1/alpha 2 domains of H-2Dd, suggesting that Ly-49 specifically interacts with the peptide-binding domains of the MHC class I alloantigen, H-2Dd. Inasmuch as Ly-49+ effector cells cannot be stimulated to lyse H-2Dd targets, our results indicate that NK cells may possess inhibitory receptors that specifically recognize MHC class I antigens.     

Self-tolerance to transgenic gamma delta T cells by intrathymic inactivation

During their intrathymic differentiation, T lymphocytes expressing alpha beta T-cell receptors (TCR) are negatively and positively selected. This selection contributes to the establishment of self-tolerance and ensures that mature CD4+ and CD8+ cell populations are restricted by the self major histocompatibility complex. Little is known, however, about gamma delta T-cell development. To investigate whether selection operates in the establishment of the gamma delta T-cell class, we have generated transgenic mice using gamma- and delta-transgenes encoding a TCR that is specific for a product of a gene in the TL-region of the TLb haplotype. Similar numbers of thymocytes expressing the transgenic TCR were generated in mice of TLb and TLd haplotypes. But gamma delta thymocytes from TLb and TLd transgenic mice differed in cell size, TCR density and in their capacity to respond to TLb stimulator cells or interleukin-2 (IL-2). In contrast to gamma delta T cells from TLd transgenic mice, gamma delta T cells from TLb transgenic mice did not produce IL-2 and did not proliferate in response to TLb stimulator cells, but they did proliferate in the presence of exogenous IL-2. These results indicate that functional inactivation of self-antigen-specific T cells could contribute to the establishment of self-tolerance to thymic determinants.     

T-cell recognition of a chimaeric class II/class I MHC molecule and the role of L3T4

In addition to expressing clonally distributed antigen-specific and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted receptors, T cells also express non-clonally distributed surface molecules that are involved in T-cell function. Among the most intriguing of the latter are L3T4 and Lyt 2, which are expressed on individual T lymphocytes in striking, though not absolute, concordance with their restriction by either class II or class I MHC determinants, and which are thought to contribute to the overall avidity of T-cell interactions by binding to monomorphic determinants on class II and class I MHC molecules, respectively. To examine the ability of T cells to recognize a single class II domain in the absence of the remainder of the Ia molecule, as well as to evaluate the structural basis for the putative interaction of L3T4 with Ia, a recombinant class II/class I murine MHC gene was constructed and introduced into mouse L cells. Here we demonstrate that a subset of class II allospecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can specifically recognize and lyse L-cell transfectants expressing an isolated polymorphic A beta 1 domain, and that anti-L3T4 antibody can block such killing, a result inconsistent with the highly conserved membrane-proximal domains of Ia acting as unique target sites for L3T4 binding.     

Lower receptor avidity required for thymic clonal deletion than for effector T-cell function.

Clonal deletion in the thymus plays a major part in T-cell tolerance to self antigens. But the mechanism of negative selection, its fine specificity and the threshold of affinity and avidity remains unknown. We have now examined these aspects of negative selection with mice expressing a transgenic T-cell receptor with specificity for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein in association with the class I H-2Db molecule. These mice were rendered tolerant to LCMV by neonatal infection with mutant LCMVs bearing point mutations in the T-cell epitope recognized by the transgenic T-cell receptor. Variant LCMVs were also tested for their ability to elicit antiviral responses in transgenic mice in vivo and in vitro. Comparison in vivo revealed that a low-avidity receptor interaction, which was unable to induce effector T cells in the periphery, was still sufficient for clonal deletion in the thymus.     

Identity of cells that imprint H-2-restricted T-cell specificity in the thymus

The thymus has two important roles in controlling the specificity of T lymphocytes. First, T cells differentiating in the thymus are rendered tolerant of 'self' antigens, particularly antigens encoded by the major histocompatibility complex, the H-2 complex in mice. Second, the thymus imbues T cells with the property of H-2-restricted recognition of antigen, that is, the capacity of T cells to react with foreign antigens presented in association with self H-2 gene products. Until recently it has generally been assumed that self-tolerance and H-2-restricted specificity both reflect early T-cell contact with self H-2 determinants expressed on thymic epithelial cells. Recent evidence suggests, however, that intrathymic cells of the macrophage/dendritic cell (Mphi/DC) lineage also have a role in shaping T-cell specificity. In particular, it has been found that the tolerance to graft-type H-2 determinants which normally ensues when T cells differentiate in an H-2-different thymus fails to occur when the thymus is pretreated with deoxyguanosine (dGuo), a procedure that selectively destroys Mphi/DC but spares epithelial cells. In contrast to these findings on tolerance induction, evidence is presented here that dGuo-treated thymus grafts do imprint T cells with H--2-restricted specificity for antigen. It appears, therefore, that induction of tolerance and H--2 restriction are controlled by different cells in the thymus.