Mast cells are essential intermediaries in regulatory T-cell tolerance

Contrary to the proinflammatory role of mast cells in allergic disorders, the results obtained in this study establish that mast cells are essential in CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (T(Reg))-cell-dependent peripheral tolerance. Here we confirm that tolerant allografts, which are sustained owing to the immunosuppressive effects of T(Reg) cells, acquire a unique genetic signature dominated by the expression of mast-cell-gene products. We also show that mast cells are crucial for allograft tolerance, through the inability to induce tolerance in mast-cell-deficient mice. High levels of interleukin (IL)-9--a mast cell growth and activation factor--are produced by activated T(Reg) cells, and IL-9 production seems important in mast cell recruitment to, and activation in, tolerant tissue. Our data indicate that IL-9 represents the functional link through which activated T(Reg) cells recruit and activate mast cells to mediate regional immune suppression, because neutralization of IL-9 greatly accelerates allograft rejection in tolerant mice. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis clearly demonstrates the existence of this novel T(Reg)-IL-9-mast cell relationship within tolerant allografts.     

Reciprocal developmental pathways for the generation of pathogenic effector TH17 and regulatory T cells

On activation, T cells undergo distinct developmental pathways, attaining specialized properties and effector functions. T-helper (T(H)) cells are traditionally thought to differentiate into T(H)1 and T(H)2 cell subsets. T(H)1 cells are necessary to clear intracellular pathogens and T(H)2 cells are important for clearing extracellular organisms. Recently, a subset of interleukin (IL)-17-producing T (T(H)17) cells distinct from T(H)1 or T(H)2 cells has been described and shown to have a crucial role in the induction of autoimmune tissue injury. In contrast, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (T(reg)) cells inhibit autoimmunity and protect against tissue injury. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a critical differentiation factor for the generation of T(reg) cells. Here we show, using mice with a reporter introduced into the endogenous Foxp3 locus, that IL-6, an acute phase protein induced during inflammation, completely inhibits the generation of Foxp3+ T(reg) cells induced by TGF-beta. We also demonstrate that IL-23 is not the differentiation factor for the generation of T(H)17 cells. Instead, IL-6 and TGF-beta together induce the differentiation of pathogenic T(H)17 cells from naive T cells. Our data demonstrate a dichotomy in the generation of pathogenic (T(H)17) T cells that induce autoimmunity and regulatory (Foxp3+) T cells that inhibit autoimmune tissue injury.     

IL-21 initiates an alternative pathway to induce proinflammatory T(H)17 cells

On activation, naive T cells differentiate into effector T-cell subsets with specific cytokine phenotypes and specialized effector functions. Recently a subset of T cells, distinct from T helper (T(H))1 and T(H)2 cells, producing interleukin (IL)-17 (T(H)17) was defined and seems to have a crucial role in mediating autoimmunity and inducing tissue inflammation. We and others have shown that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and IL-6 together induce the differentiation of T(H)17 cells, in which IL-6 has a pivotal function in dictating whether T cells differentiate into Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) or T(H)17 cells. Whereas TGF-beta induces Foxp3 and generates T(reg) cells, IL-6 inhibits the generation of T(reg) cells and induces the production of IL-17, suggesting a reciprocal developmental pathway for T(H)17 and T(reg) cells. Here we show that IL-6-deficient (Il6-/-) mice do not develop a T(H)17 response and their peripheral repertoire is dominated by Foxp3+ T(reg) cells. However, deletion of T(reg) cells leads to the reappearance of T(H)17 cells in Il6-/- mice, suggesting an additional pathway by which T(H)17 cells might be generated in vivo. We show that an IL-2 cytokine family member, IL-21, cooperates with TGF-beta to induce T(H)17 cells in naive Il6-/- T cells and that IL-21-receptor-deficient T cells are defective in generating a T(H)17 response.     

Rejection of transplantable AKR leukaemia cells following MHC DNA-mediated cell transformation

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules can function as specific target antigens in T-cell-mediated cytotoxity. In addition, T cells can kill target cells through non-MHC antigens, for example, virally infected cells, if the target and effector cells express the same MHC class I antigens. Consequently, quantitative and/or qualitative variations in the expression of the H-2/HLA antigens on the target cells could interfere with MHC-restricted immune reactions. We have reported that the AKR leukaemia cell line K36.16, a subline of K36 (ref. 3), on which the H-2Kk antigen cannot be detected, is resistant to T-cell lysis and grows very easily in AKR mice. Other AKR tumour cell lines, like 369, which have a relatively large amount of H-2Kk on their surface, are easily killed by T cells in vitro and require a much larger inoculum to grow in vivo. Monoclonal antibodies against H-2Kk, but not against H-2Dk, prevented the killing by T cells. This suggests that some tumour cells grow in vivo because tumour-associated antigen(s) cannot be recognized efficiently by the host's immune system, due to the absence of MHC molecules which would function as restriction elements for T-cell cytotoxicity. We have tested this hypothesis by introducing the H-2Kk gene into the H-2Kk-deficient AKR tumour cell line K36.16 and have now demonstrated directly the biological relevance of H-2Kk antigen expression in the regulation of the in vivo growth of this tumour cell line.     

Normal development and function of CD8+ cells but markedly decreased helper cell activity in mice lacking CD4

T cells express T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) for the recognition of antigen in conjunction with the products of the major histocompatibility complex. They also express two key surface coreceptors, CD4 and CD8, which are involved in the interaction with their ligands. As CD4 is expressed on the early haemopoietic progenitor as well as the early thymic precursor cells, a role for CD4 in haemopoiesis and T-cell development is implicated. Thymocytes undergo a series of differentiation and selection steps to become mature CD4+8- or CD4-8+ (single positive) T cells. Studies of the role of CD4+ T cells in vivo have been based on adoptive transfer of selected or depleted lymphocytes, or in vivo treatment of thymectomized mice with monoclonal antibodies causing depletion of CD4+ T cells. In order to study the role of the CD4 molecule in the development and function of lymphocytes, we have disrupted the CD4 gene in embryonic stem cells by homologous recombination. Germ-line transmission of the mutation produces mutant mouse strains that do not express CD4 on the cell surface. In these mice, the development of CD8+ T cells and myeloid components is unaltered, indicating that expression of CD4 on progenitor cells and CD4+ CD8+ (double positive) thymocytes is not obligatory. Here we report that these mice have markedly decreased helper cell activity for antibody responses, although cytotoxic T-cell activity against viruses is in the normal range. This differential requirement for CD4+ helper T cells is important to our understanding of immune disorders including AIDS, in which CD4+ cells are reduced or absent.     

SH-SY5Y与U87细胞共培养条件性培养基可降低N-甲基-salsolinol介导THP-1细胞的凋亡

 神经免疫在帕金森病(PD)的致病机理中发挥重要的作用,PD 患者的外周血淋巴细胞的数量发生了变化,提示外周免疫系统在PD 的发生发展中发挥一定的作用。但是外周单核细胞(PBMC)在其中发挥的具体作用尚不清楚。外源性神经毒素(MPTP)类似物,内源性神经毒素(NMSal)可能是导致PD 发生的一种因素。研究采用NMSal 损伤的SH-SY5Y与U87 细胞共培养的条件性培养基培养外周单核细胞THP-1,探讨NMSal 损伤的多巴胺能神经元细胞对外周单核细胞的影响。结果表明,该条件性培养基可以降低NMSal 毒性诱导的THP-1 细胞的凋亡、氧化应激水平(MDA 和H₂O₂)、线粒体的损伤和凋亡相关蛋白FADD、Bax 和caspase3 的表达和活化水平。PD 病人中损伤的多巴胺能神经元与星形胶质细胞的相互作用可能会影响PBMC,进而影响PD 病情的进展。     

T-cell-expressed proprotein convertase furin is essential for maintenance of peripheral immune tolerance

Furin is one of seven proprotein convertase family members that promote proteolytic maturation of proproteins. It is induced in activated T cells and is reported to process a variety of substrates including the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 (refs 2-4), but the non-redundant functions of furin versus other proprotein convertases in T cells are unclear. Here we show that conditional deletion of furin in T cells allowed for normal T-cell development but impaired the function of regulatory and effector T cells, which produced less TGF-beta1. Furin-deficient T regulatory (Treg) cells were less protective in a T-cell transfer colitis model and failed to induce Foxp3 in normal T cells. Additionally, furin-deficient effector cells were inherently over-active and were resistant to suppressive activity of wild-type Treg cells. Thus, our results indicate that furin is indispensable in maintaining peripheral tolerance, which is due, at least in part, to its non-redundant, essential function in regulating TGF-beta1 production. Targeting furin has emerged as a strategy in malignant and infectious disease. Our results suggest that inhibiting furin might activate immune responses, but may result in a breakdown in peripheral tolerance.     

In vivo imaging of Treg cells providing immune privilege to the haematopoietic stem-cell niche

Stem cells reside in a specialized regulatory microenvironment or niche, where they receive appropriate support for maintaining self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation capacity. The niche may also protect stem cells from environmental insults including cytotoxic chemotherapy and perhaps pathogenic immunity. The testis, hair follicle and placenta are all sites of residence for stem cells and are immune-suppressive environments, called immune-privileged sites, where multiple mechanisms cooperate to prevent immune attack, even enabling prolonged survival of foreign allografts without immunosuppression. We sought to determine if somatic stem-cell niches more broadly are immune-privileged sites by examining the haematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) niche in the bone marrow, a site where immune reactivity exists. We observed persistence of HSPCs from allogeneic donor mice (allo-HSPCs) in non-irradiated recipient mice for 30?days without immunosuppression with the same survival frequency compared to syngeneic HSPCs. These HSPCs were lost after the depletion of FoxP3 regulatory T (T(reg)) cells. High-resolution in vivo imaging over time demonstrated marked co-localization of HSPCs with T(reg) cells that accumulated on the endosteal surface in the calvarial and trabecular bone marrow. T(reg) cells seem to participate in creating a localized zone where HSPCs reside and where T(reg) cells are necessary for allo-HSPC persistence. In addition to processes supporting stem-cell function, the niche will provide a relative sanctuary from immune attack.     

黄芪多糖对P_（388）小鼠红细胞免疫促进作用的机制研究

研究了黄芪多糖（ＡＰＳ）对淋巴白血病Ｐ＿（３８８）小鼠红细胞膜功能的影响。研究结果表明，ＡＰＳ（１０～４０ｍｇ／ｋｇ）可显著增加Ｐ３８８小鼠红细胞免疫功能，显著升高红细胞Ｃ３ｂ受体花环率（ＲＢＣ—Ｃ３ｂＲＲ）、红细胞Ｃ３ｂ受体花环促进率（ＲＦＥＲ），同时可降低红细胞免疫复合物花环率（ＲＢ—ＩＣＲＲ）、红细胞Ｃ３ｂ。受体花环抑制率（ＲＦＩＲ）。研究结果还表明，ＡＰＳ增强淋巴白血病Ｐ３８８。小鼠红细胞免疫功能的机制与ＡＰＳ降低Ｐ３８８小鼠红细胞膜过氧化脂质（工ＰＯ）含量、抑制红细胞膜蛋白与收缩蛋白交联高聚物（ＨＭＰ）的形成、增加红细胞膜封闭度、唾液酸含量、增强红细胞膜超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）、过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）、钠，钾—三磷酸腺苷酶（Ｎａ＋，Ｋ＋－ＡＴＰａｓｅ）活性有关。     

谷氨酰胺对大强度跑台训练大鼠免疫功能影响的实验研究

目的:探讨补充谷氨酰胺对大强度跑台训练大鼠免疫功能的影响。方法:适应性训练后,30只6周龄健康雄性SD大鼠,随机分为安静组(C,6只),训练组(T,12只)和服药训练组(TG,12只)。进行6周大强度跑台训练,跑台坡度5°,前2周每周训练6d,每次训练25min,速度依次为20 m/min和24 m/min,后4周每天训练,速度和时间不变,分别为32 m/min和35min。训练期间每日给药前称体重,TG组大鼠按O.3g/kg.d剂量灌胃给药,C、T组喂以相同体重比例的自来水。最后一次训练12h后进行大鼠脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群CD4+、CD8+和脾细胞IL-2表达测定。结果:T组与C组比较,CD8+含量显著升高,CD4+/CD8+比值及IL-2表达显著下降;TG组与C组比较,CD8+含量显著下降,CD4+/CD8+及IL-2表达升高显著。结论:本该实验的大强度跑台训练造成大鼠免疫功能显著下降,而谷氨酰胺补充可明显改善大强度跑台训练造造成的大鼠免疫抑制,增强大鼠免疫功能。     

甲醛不同染毒剂量对小鼠免疫功能的影响

为了研究甲醛(formaldehyde,FA)染毒剂量对机体免疫功能的影响规律,小鼠分别以40、400 mg/kg剂量吸入FA 14 d后,接种传染性法氏囊疫苗(infectious bursal disease virus,IBDV),进行体重、脏器系数、淋巴细胞增殖能力、NK细胞活性、环磷酸腺苷(cyclic adenosine monophosphate,c AMP)和体液免疫水平的检测。结果为FA吸入40 mg/kg染毒小鼠体重下降最显著,肺脏的脏器系数极显著减小,NK细胞对靶细胞的杀伤能力显著下降,c AMP水平显著升高,IBDV特异性抗体水平受到显著抑制。结果表明FA吸入性染毒对肺脏损伤严重、抑制IBDV抗体水平;高剂量染毒与低剂量染毒相比其抑制机体产生体液免疫影响更大,导致免疫功能紊乱、产生较强的免疫毒性影响。