Long-term production and culture of clones of human T-lymphocytes

Culture of blood T lymphocytes collected from normal individuals and cancer patients were carried out in presence of T cell growth factor (TCGF); these cultures presented cytotoxic activity directed against different targets (lectin activated cells, autologous cancer cells, antibody coated cells and K 562). In order to study separately the different effector subpopulations, isolation of single cultured cells were performed with the help of a micropipette under microscope and monoclonal cultures were carried out in presence of TCGF. In the preliminary cytotoxic assays performed in the clones: (1) a marked activity directed against lectin targets was observed in many clones and (2) an important N K activity was exhibited by the clone 45 B9 (65% of the tested cells lysed human lymphoma K 562 cells).     

Survival of docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells in vitro depends on phenotype alterations and continuity of drug exposure

We evaluated in vitro the effect of paclitaxel and docetaxel on PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancer cell lines to understand better the downstream events in drug-induced tumor cell death. Taxane treatments of DU-145 cells induced rapid cell death by apoptosis, but in PC-3 cells, treatments achieved growth arrest, followed by extensive karyokinesis resulting in multinucleation, giant-cell formation and delayed cell death. To determine if the giant multinucleated cells were able to produce proliferating and drug-resistant survivors, we first delineated the kinetics of drug activity and cytotoxic dose range. Analysis of both lines by colorimetric and cell viability assays demonstrated improved cytotoxicity of taxanes applied continuously. Selected doses and schedules of docetaxel were used to induce giant multinucleated cells that gave rise to docetaxel-resistant survivors, which remained sensitive to paclitaxel and other chemotherapeutics. Growth and morphology of the recovered clones was similar to parental cells. The resistant phenotype of these clones determined by immunofluorescence and immunoblot was associated with transient expression of the β-tubulin IV isoform and was independent of P-glycoprotein, bcl-2 and bcl-xL. Resistant clones will be useful to model progression of resistance to taxanes and to identify unknown and clinically important molecular mechanisms of cell death and resistance. Received 15 March 2002; received after revision 25 April 2002; accepted 27 May 2002     

PD-L1在人子宫颈癌细胞异常表达并促T细胞凋亡

目的 探讨人子宫颈癌中负性协同刺激分子PD-L1的表达和它与肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞的关系以及PD-L1融合蛋白促宫颈癌患者外周血活化T细胞凋亡的作用.方法 采用免疫组化S-P法检测67例宫颈癌组织及20例正常宫颈组织中PD-L1的表达,分析PD-L1同临床病理特征的相关性,免疫荧光观察肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞数量,TUNEL法检测T细胞凋亡,体外实验将PD-L1融合蛋白细胞加入PHA刺激活化的宫颈癌患者外周血T细胞中共同培养,流式细胞术分析T细胞凋亡率和CD8+/CD4+T细胞比例.结论 正常子宫颈组织不表达PD-L1;宫颈癌组织中PD-L1的表达率为70％.宫颈癌PD-L1的表达与宫颈癌浸润深度相关(P＜0.05).PD-L1阳性病例肿瘤局部浸润淋巴细胞存在凋亡且CD8+T细胞数量明显减少;PD-L1融合蛋白组T细胞凋亡率明显高于抗PD-1组和空白对照组T细胞,分别为32.7％、18.3％和17.9％;CD8+T/CD4+T细胞的比值低于加入抗PD-1组和空白对照组,分别为0.864、0.894和0 907.结论 PD-L1在子宫颈癌中高表达且与肿瘤浸润程度及肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞数量减少有关,PD-L1能促进活化的T细胞尤其是CD8+T细胞的凋亡.     

Blocking of lectin-like adhesion molecules on pulmonary cells inhibits lung sarcoma L-1 colonization in BALB/c-mice

Adhesion and inhibition experiments with pulmonary cells of BALB/c-mouse origin and syngeneic sarcoma L-1 cells indicated that L-fucose specific lectin-like adhesion molecules, presumably situated on pulmonary cell surfaces are (at least partly) responsible for the specificity of this cell-cell interaction. Addition of specific sugars and glycoconjugates (L-fucose and fucoidan, respectively) to the incubation medium evidently inhibited the adhesion process as quantified using radiolabelled tumor cells. Unspecific carbohydrates (e.g. D-galactose) did not affect the cellular interaction. In vivo, repeated administration of fucoidan (but not of unspecific glycoconjugates) significantly inhibited the settling of metastatic sarcoma L-1 cells in the lungs of BALB/c-mice. Therefore, when lectin-like adhesion molecules on pulmonary cells were blocked with competitive glycoconjugates, tumor cell colonization of the lung could be significantly inhibited.     

Blocking of lectin-like adhesion molecules on pulmonary cells inhibits lung sarcoma L-1 colonization in BALB/c-mice

Summary Adhesion and inhibition experiments with pulmonary cells of BALB/c-mouse origin and syngeneic sarcoma L-1 cells indicated that L-fucose specific lectin-like adhesion molecules, presumably situated on pulmonary cell surfaces are (at least partly) responsible for the specificity of this cell-cell interaction. Addition of specific sugars and glycoconjugates (L-fucose and fucoidan, respectively) to the incubation medium evidently inhibited the adhesion process as quantified using radiolabelled tumor cells. Unspecific carbohydrates (e.g. D-galactose) did not affect the cellular interaction. In vivo, repeated administration of fucoidan (but not of unspecific glycoconjugates) significantly inhibited the settling of metastatic sarcoma L-1 cells in the lungs of BALB/c-mice. Therefore, when lectin-like adhesion molecules on pulmonary cells were blocked with competitive glycoconjugates, tumor cell colonization of the lung could be significantly inhibited.     

Cytotoxicity of mouse peritoneal cells after alloimmunization]

CBA Mice were immunized by two intraperitoneal injections of 30 X 10(6) DBA/2 or C57BL/6 spleen cells at days--12 and--2. Peritoneal cell population was obtained at day zero by washing the peritoneal cavity of Mice. Adherent cells were then separated using a 2 hrs. incubation in "Falcon" plates followed by washing. This macrophage-rich peritoneal cell population was found nonspecifically cytotoxic against 51Cr labeled tumoral target cells: P815 X DBA/2 mastocytoma cells, EL4 X C57BL/L lymphoma cells and spontaneous lymphoma AKR cells (same H--2k as CBA). This adherent peritoneal cell cytoxicity was demonstrated after 24 hrs. incubation with the target cells. It was found in nonspecific combination as well as when using target cells syngeneic to the donor. These findings suggest that adherent peritoneal cell cytotoxicity could be at least partly due to macrophages and result from factor (s) released by sensitized lymphocytes in vivo in the same way as has been previously demonstrated in vitro.     

Immune aging and autoimmunity

Age is an important risk for autoimmunity, and many autoimmune diseases preferentially occur in the second half of adulthood when immune competence has declined and thymic T cell generation has ceased. Many tolerance checkpoints have to fail for an autoimmune disease to develop, and several of those are susceptible to the immune aging process. Homeostatic T cell proliferation which is mainly responsible for T cell replenishment during adulthood can lead to the selection of T cells with increased affinity to self- or neoantigens and enhanced growth and survival properties. These cells can acquire a memory-like phenotype, in particular under lymphopenic conditions. Accumulation of end-differentiated effector T cells, either specific for self-antigen or for latent viruses, have a low activation threshold due to the expression of signaling and regulatory molecules and generate an inflammatory environment with their ability to be cytotoxic and to produce excessive amounts of cytokines and thereby inducing or amplifying autoimmune responses.     

Nanobody-induced perturbation of LFA-1/L-plastin phosphorylation impairs MTOC docking, immune synapse formation and T cell activation

The T cell integrin receptor LFA-1 orchestrates adhesion between T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), resulting in formation of a contact zone known as the immune synapse (IS) which is supported by the cytoskeleton. L-plastin is a leukocyte-specific actin bundling protein that rapidly redistributes to the immune synapse following T cell–APC engagement. We used single domain antibodies (nanobodies, derived from camelid heavy-chain only antibodies) directed against functional and structural modules of L-plastin to investigate its contribution to formation of an immune synapse between Raji cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells or Jurkat T cells. Nanobodies that interact either with the EF hands or the actin binding domains of L-plastin both trapped L-plastin in an inactive conformation, causing perturbation of IS formation, MTOC docking towards the plasma membrane, T cell proliferation and IL-2 secretion. Both nanobodies delayed Ser⁵ phosphorylation of L-plastin which is required for enhanced bundling activity. Moreover, one nanobody delayed LFA-1 phosphorylation, reduced the association between LFA-1 and L-plastin and prevented LFA-1 enrichment at the IS. Our findings reveal subtle mechanistic details that are difficult to attain by conventional means and show that L-plastin contributes to immune synapse formation at distinct echelons.     

Immunity and cancer: suppressor effect on the cytotoxic activity of lymphoid cells from animals carrying syngeneic tumors]

When it is tested in vitro, the cytotoxic action of lymphocytes from mice bearing a syngeneic tumour (T2) vary with the age of the graft. At a time when it is very low, the lymphoid cells are cultivated for 3 days and then can be fractionated in two subpopulations on a glass bead column: a cytotoxic "non adherent" group of cells and an "adherent" group that inhibits the activity of the first group when it is added to it.     

Presence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in the sera of mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis

Summary The existence of antigens shared in common byT. cruzi and heart muscle cells is suggested by the presence of antibodies binding to the parasite surface in the serum of mice with autoimmune myocarditis induced by immunization with syngeneic heart antigens.     

Vitamin A and tumor immunity

Summary Intraperitoneal administration of vitamin A into the BALB/c mice inoculated with a syngeneic fibrosarcoma, Meth A, caused a remarkable augmentation of tumor rejection. A cell-depletion technique revealed that the primary effector cells responsible for the augmented rejection were Thy-1 positive, Lyt-1 negative, Lyt-2 positive lymphocytes, suggesting the involvement of cytotoxic lymphocytes.This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, and in part by a Grant-in-Aid for cancer research from the Fukuoka Cancer Society, Japan.We thank Mr M. Fujiki and Miss A. Maeda for excellent technical assistance.     

Silencing of RB1 but not of RB2/P130 induces cellular senescence and impairs the differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stem cells

Stem cell senescence is considered deleterious because it may impair tissue renewal and function. On the other hand, senescence may arrest the uncontrolled growth of transformed stem cells and protect organisms from cancer. This double function of senescence is strictly linked to the activity of genes that the control cell cycle such as the retinoblastoma proteins RB1, RB2/P130, and P107. We took advantage of the RNA interference technique to analyze the role of these proteins in the biology of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Cells lacking RB1 were prone to DNA damage. They showed elevated levels of p53 and p21^cip1 and increased regulation of RB2/P130 and P107 expression. These cells gradually adopted a senescent phenotype with impairment of self-renewal properties. No significant modification of cell growth was observed as it occurs in other cell types or systems. In cells with silenced RB2/P130, we detected a reduction of DNA damage along with a higher proliferation rate, an increase in clonogenic ability, and the diminution of apoptosis and senescence. Cells with silenced RB2/P130 were cultivated for extended periods of time without adopting a transformed phenotype. Of note, acute lowering of P107 did not induce relevant changes in the in vitro behavior of MSC. We also analyzed cell commitment and the osteo-chondro-adipogenic differentiation process of clones derived by MSC cultures. In all clones obtained from cells with silenced retinoblastoma genes, we observed a reduction in the ability to differentiate compared with the control clones. In summary, our data show evidence that the silencing of the expression of RB1 or RB2/P130 is not compensated by other gene family members, and this profoundly affects MSC functions.     

The role of M cells in mucosal immunity

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the respiratory and digestive tracts are covered by a specialized epithelium, the follicle-associated epithelium, which includes M cells, which are specialized for the uptake and transcytosis of macromolecules and microorganisms. Following transcytosis, antigens are released to cells of the immune system in lymphoid aggregates beneath the epithelium where antigen processing and presentation and stimulation of specific B and T lymphocytes are achieved. Circulation of the lymphoid cells enables their homing to their original, and other, mucosal sites where they exert the effector function. Such a response may be dominated by secretory immunoglobulin A release and may include cytotoxic T lymphocyte action. Binding of particles to the apical M cell membrane may be nonspecific or due to specific interaction between molecules such as integrins and lectins. Exploiting the specific binding to M cells is an aim for mucosal vaccination, for example to increase the efficiency of uptake of an oral vaccine by its conjugation to an M-cell-specific molecule. Alternatively, an M-cell-specific live vector, such as attenuated Salmonella bacteria, may be used to deliver epitopes of other organisms. Mucosal vaccination efficiency may also be enhanced by a temporary increase in the number of M cells. Therefore, investigation of the properties and ontogeny of M cells must be pursued to allow the development of better mucosal vaccines for the future.     

Suppressor mechanisms in tumor immunity

There are many parallels between T cell-mediated suppression of tumor immunity and suppression of immune responses to haptens and polypeptides. We propose a cell interaction model which takes this into account and outlines a regulatory pathway for suppression of immunity to tumor antigens. Free antigen or antigen/antibody complexes trigger an inducer T cell subset, Tsi, which is tumor-specific. This cell activates a non-immune T cell population, pre Tse, to generate effector suppressor cells, Tse. The Tse are specific for either the idiotype of Tsi or for antigen complexed with a soluble factor made by the Tsi, but the suppression they mediate is antigenically nonspecific. Tumor antigen-specific suppressor factors, TsF, play a major role in the communication between different suppressor cells. Characterization of polyclonal and monoclonal factors produced by Tsi, called TsFi, indicates that they both bind to tumor antigen and contain tumor-specific (idiotypic?) determinants.     

Modulation of γδ T cell responses by TLR ligands

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are pattern-recognition receptors that recognize a broad variety of structurally conserved molecules derived from microbes. The recognition of TLR ligands functions as a primary sensor of the innate immune system, leading to subsequent indirect activation of the adaptive immunity as well as none-immune cells. However, TLR are also expressed by several T cell subsets, and the respective ligands can directly modulate their effector functions. The present review summarizes the recent findings of γδ T cell modulation by TLR ligands. TLR1/2/6, 3, and 5 ligands can act directly in combination with T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation to enhance cytokine/chemokine production of freshly isolated human γδ T cells. In contrast to human γδ T cells, murine and bovine γδ T cells can directly respond to TLR2 ligands with increased proliferation and cytokine production in a TCR-independent manner. Indirect stimulatory effects on IFN-γ production of human and murine γδ T cells via TLR-ligand activated dendritic cells have been described for TLR2, 3, 4, 7, and 9 ligands. In addition, TLR3 and 7 ligands indirectly increase tumor cell lysis by human γδ T cells, whereas ligation of TLR8 abolishes the suppressive activity of human tumor-infiltrating Vδ1 γδ T cells on αβ T cells and dendritic cells. Taken together, these data suggest that TLR-mediated signals received by γδ T cells enhance the initiation of adaptive immune responses during bacterial and viral infection directly or indirectly. Moreover, TLR ligands enhance cytotoxic tumor responses of γδ T cells and regulate the suppressive capacity of γδ T cells.     

Evolution of anti-Rh antibodies idiotypy in a blood donor over 9 years]

Anti-idiotypic sera were obtained in Rabbits immunized with Rh antibodies (isolated from the serum sample collected in 1974 from a Blood Donor). The sera agglutinate, at high titers, red cells coated with the immunizing antibodies and, at different titers, cells coated with antibodies from serum samples taken at other periods. Inhibition of hemagglutination of anti-idiotypic sera by different samples from the same Donor was complete with the immunizing serum and partial with other samples. These results show that idiotypes or idiotypic specificities appeared or disappeared during the period studied and represent the first observation on evolution of antibody idiotypy in Man.     

Polyisoprenyl glycolipids as targets of CD1-mediated T cell responses

T cells are well known to recognize peptide antigens presented by major histocompatibility (MHC) class I or class II molecules. More recently, the CD1 family of antigen-presenting molecules has been shown to present both mammalian and microbial glycolipid antigens for specific recognition by T cells. Human CD1c proteins mediate T cell recognition of polyisoprenyl glycolipids, evolutionarily conserved phosphoglycolipids, which function in glycan synthesis pathways. This family of antigenic molecules is particularly attractive for the study of the molecular features that control T cell recognition of self and foreign glycolipids because natural polyisoprenols from mammals, fungi, protozoa, mycobacteria and eubacteria differ in structure. Moreover, these naturally occurring structural differences can influence their recognition by CD1c-restricted T cells. This review of the structural diversity and evolutionary relationships of polyisoprenoid glycolipids emphasizes those features of polyisoprenyl glycolipid biosynthesis that are relevant to their functions as targets of CD1-mediated T cell responses. Received 16 March 2001; received after revision 19 April 2001; accepted 23 April 2001     

Small,novel proteins from the mistletoe <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoradendron tomentosum</Emphasis> exhibit highly selective cytotoxicity to human breast cancer cells

Four novel proteins (phoratoxins C–F) have been isolated from the North American mistletoe Phoradendron tomentosum. The amino acid sequences of these phoratoxins were determined unambiguously using a combination of Edman degradation and trypsin enzymatic digestion, and by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry sequencing. Phoratoxins C, E and F consist of 46 amino acid residues; and phoratoxin D of 41. All proteins had six cysteines, similar to the earlier described phoratoxins A and B, which are thionins. The cytotoxicity of each protein was evaluated in a human cell line panel that represented several cytotoxic drug-resistance mechanisms. For the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀ values) of the different cell lines in the panel, correlation with those of standard drugs was low. The most potent cytotoxic phoratoxin C was further tested on primary cultures of human tumor cells from patients. The solid tumor samples from breast cancer cells were 18 times more sensitive to phoratoxin C than the tested hematological tumor samples. Received 30 September 2002; received after revision 28 October 2002; accepted 7 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

What's new in the field of cancer vaccines?

The observation that in some cases tumors undergo spontaneous regression concomitantly with autoimmune manifestations has been interpreted as an indication of the involvement of the immune system in tumor rejection. This raised the conceptual possibility that the immune system could be used against the tumor. However, since tumor cells are poorly immunogenic by themselves, early attempts to develop immune-based approaches for cancer therapy saw the use of tumor cells transduced with genes coding for cytokines or costimulatory molecules to enhance in vivo immunity. The identification of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-defined tumor associated antigens has allowed the development of new strategies for cancer immunotherapy. Novel adjuvants have been identified, and different modes of antigen delivery were devised which aim at inducing efficient CTL responses in patients. This review will discuss some of what is currently considered as relevant aspects of antitumor immunization.Received 19 July 2002; received after revision 11 December 2002; accepted 13 December 2002     

Chemotherapy and immunotherapy of malignant glioma: molecular mechanisms and clinical perspectives

Despite the considerable progress in modern tumor therapy, the prognosis for patients with glioblastoma, the most frequent malignant brain tumor, has not been substantially improved. Although cytoreductive surgery and radiotherapy are the mainstays of treatment for malignant glioma at present, novel cytotoxic drugs and immunotherapeutic approaches hold great promise as effective weapons against these malignancies. Thus, great efforts are being made to enhance antitumoral efficacy by combining various cytotoxic agents, by novel routes of drug administration, or by combining anticancer drugs and immune modulators. Immunotherapeutic approaches include cytotoxic cytokines, targeted antibodies, and vaccination strategies. However, the success of most of these experimental therapies is prevented by the marked molecular resistance of glioma cells to diverse cytotoxic agents or by glioma-associated immunosuppression. One promising experimental strategy to target glioma is the employment of death ligands such as CD95 (Fas/Apo1) ligand or Apo2 ligand (TRAIL). Specific proapoptotic approaches may overcome many of the obvious obstacles to a satisfactory management of malignant brain tumors. Received 8 March 1999; received after revision 27 May 1999; accepted 14 June 1999