技术资料

Bispecific antibodies directed against tumor-associated target antigens and to surface receptors mediating T-cell activation,such as the TCR/CD3 complex and the costimulatory receptor CD28,are capable of mediating T-cell activation resulting in tumor cell killing. In this study,we used the B-cell-associated antigens CD19 and CD20 as target structures on human leukemic cells. We found that a combination of bispecific antibody fragments (bsFab2) with target x CD3 and target x CD28 specificity induces vigorous autologous T-cell activation and killing of malignant cells in peripheral blood and bone marrow cultures from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and follicular lymphoma. The bsFab2 targeting CD20 were considerably more effective than those binding to CD19. The colony-forming capacity of treated bone marrow was impaired due to large amounts of tumor necrosis factor alpha produced during bsFab2-induced T-cell activation. Neutralizing tumor necrosis factor alpha antibodies were found to reverse this negative effect without affecting T-cell activation and tumor cell killing. CD20 x CD28 bsFab2,when used alone rather than in combination,markedly improved the recognition of leukemic cells by allogeneic T cells. Therefore,these reagents may be capable of enhancing the immunogenicity of leukemic cells in general and,in particular,of increasing the antileukemic activity of allogeneic donor buffy coat cells in relapsed bone marrow transplanted patients. View Publication

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are critical for the formation,maintenance,and resolution of bacterial abscesses. However,the mechanisms that regulate PMN survival and proliferation during the evolution of an abscess are not well defined. Using a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus abscess formation within a cutaneous wound,combined with real-time imaging of genetically tagged PMNs,we observed that a high bacterial burden elicited a sustained mobilization of PMNs from the bone marrow to the infected wound,where their lifespan was markedly extended. A continuous rise in wound PMN number,which was not accounted for by trafficking from the bone marrow or by prolonged survival,was correlated with the homing of c-kit(+)-progenitor cells from the blood to the wound,where they proliferated and formed mature PMNs. Furthermore,by blocking their recruitment with an antibody to c-kit,which severely limited the proliferation of mature PMNs in the wound and shortened mouse survival,we confirmed that progenitor cells are not only important contributors to PMN expansion in the wound,but are also functionally important for immune protection. We conclude that the abscess environment provides a niche capable of regulating PMN survival and local proliferation of bone marrow-derived c-kit(+)-progenitor cells. View Publication

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a homodimeric transmembrane mucin on leukocytes. During inflammation,reversible interactions of PSGL-1 with selectins mediate leukocyte rolling on vascular surfaces. The transmembrane domain of PSGL-1 is required for dimerization,and the cytoplasmic domain propagates signals that activate β(2) integrins to slow rolling on integrin ligands. Leukocytes from knock-in ΔCD" mice express a truncated PSGL-1 that lacks the cytoplasmic domain. Unexpectedly� View Publication

Mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL)-dependent necroptosis is thought to be implicated in the death of mycobacteria-infected macrophages,reportedly allowing escape and dissemination of the microorganism. Given the consequent interest in developing inhibitors of necroptosis to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection,we used human pharmacologic and murine genetic models to definitively establish the pathophysiological role of necroptosis in Mtb infection. We observed that Mtb infection of macrophages remodeled the intracellular signaling landscape by upregulating MLKL,TNFR1,and ZBP1,whilst downregulating cIAP1,thereby establishing a strong pro-necroptotic milieu. However,blocking necroptosis either by deleting Mlkl or inhibiting RIPK1 had no effect on the survival of infected human or murine macrophages. Consistent with this,MLKL-deficiency or treatment of humanized mice with the RIPK1 inhibitor Nec-1s did not impact on disease outcomes in vivo,with mice displaying lung histopathology and bacterial burdens indistinguishable from controls. Therefore,although the necroptotic pathway is primed by Mtb infection,macrophage necroptosis is ultimately restricted to mitigate disease pathogenesis. We identified cFLIP upregulation that may promote caspase 8-mediated degradation of CYLD,and other necrosome components,as a possible mechanism abrogating Mtb's capacity to coopt necroptotic signaling. Variability in the capacity of these mechanisms to interfere with necroptosis may influence disease severity and could explain the heterogeneity of Mtb infection and disease. View Publication

Injury induces the recruitment of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) that contribute to the repair and regeneration process. The behavior of BMDCs in injured tissue has a profound effect on repair,but the regulation of BMDC behavior is poorly understood. Aberrant recruitment/retention of these cells in wounds of diabetic patients and animal models is associated with chronic inflammation and impaired healing. BMD Gr-1(+)CD11b(+) cells function as immune suppressor cells and contribute significantly to tumor-induced neovascularization. Here we report that Gr-1(+)CD11b(+) cells also contribute to injury-induced neovascularization,but show altered recruitment/retention kinetics in the diabetic environment. Moreover,diabetic-derived Gr-1(+)CD11b(+) cells fail to stimulate neovascularization in vivo and have aberrant proliferative,chemotaxis,adhesion,and differentiation potential. Previously we demonstrated that gene transfer of HOXA3 to wounds of diabetic mice is taken up by and expressed by recruited BMDCs. This is associated with a suppressed inflammatory response,enhanced neovascularization,and accelerated wound healing. Here we show that sustained expression of Hoxa3 in diabetic-derived BMD Gr-1(+)CD11b(+) cells reverses their diabetic phenotype. These findings demonstrate that manipulation of adult stem/progenitor cells ex vivo could be used as a potential therapy in patients with impaired wound healing. View Publication

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vectors transduce rhesus blood cells poorly due to a species-specific block by TRIM5alpha and APOBEC3G,which target HIV-1 capsid and viral infectivity factor (Vif),respectively. We sought to develop a lentiviral vector capable of transducing both human and rhesus blood cells by combining components of both HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV),including SIV capsid (sCA) and SIV Vif. A chimeric HIV-1 vector including sCA (chiHIV) was superior to the conventional SIV in transducing a human blood cell line and superior to the conventional HIV-1 vector in transducing a rhesus blood cell line. Among human CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs),the chiHIV and HIV-1 vectors showed similar transduction efficiencies; in rhesus CD34(+) HSCs,the chiHIV vector yielded superior transduction rates. In in vivo competitive repopulation experiments with two rhesus macaques,the chiHIV vector demonstrated superior marking levels over the conventional HIV-1 vector in all blood lineages (first rhesus,15 to 30% versus 1 to 5%; second rhesus,7 to 15% versus 0.5 to 2%,respectively) 3 to 7 months postinfusion. In summary,we have developed an HIV-1-based lentiviral vector system that should allow comprehensive preclinical testing of HIV-1-based therapeutic vectors in the rhesus macaque model with eventual clinical application. View Publication

The transcription factor T-bet (Tbx21) is critical for Th1 polarization of CD4(+) T cells. Genetic deletion of Tbx21 can cause either exacerbation or attenuation of different autoimmune diseases in animal models. In the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse,genetic deletion of the Ifng or the Il12b (IL-12p40) genes,which are both critical Th1 cytokines,does not reduce the incidence of autoimmune diabetes. These results suggest that autoimmune diabetes in the NOD may not be a Th1-driven disease. However,we report that Tbx21 deficiency in the NOD mouse completely blocks insulitis and diabetes due to defects both in the initiation of the anti-islet immune response and in the function of CD4(+) effector T cells. We find defective priming of naive islet-reactive T cells by the innate immune system in Tbx21(-/-) animals. By contrast to naive cells,activated islet-reactive BDC2.5 TCR-transgenic T cells do not require Tbx21 in recipient animals for efficient adoptive transfer of diabetes. However,when these BDC2.5 TCR-transgenic effector cells lack Tbx21,they are less effective at entering the pancreas and promoting diabetes than Tbx21(+/+) cells. Tbx21(-/-) regulatory T cells function normally in vitro and diabetes can be restored in Tbx21(-/-) mice by reducing regulatory T cell numbers. Thus,the absence of diabetes in the NOD.Tbx21(-/-) is due to intrinsic defects in both T cells and cells of the innate immune system paired with the relative preservation of regulatory T cell function. View Publication

BCR/ABL kinase-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells display genomic instability leading to point mutations in various genes including bcr/abl and p53,eventually causing resistance to imatinib and malignant progression of the disease. Mismatch repair (MMR) is responsible for detecting misincorporated nucleotides,resulting in excision repair before point mutations occur and/or induction of apoptosis to avoid propagation of cells carrying excessive DNA lesions. To assess MMR activity in CML,we used an in vivo assay using the plasmid substrate containing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene corrupted by T:G mismatch in the start codon; therefore,MMR restores EGFP expression. The efficacy of MMR was reduced approximately 2-fold in BCR/ABL-positive cell lines and CD34(+) CML cells compared with normal counterparts. MMR was also challenged by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG),which generates O(6)-methylguanine and O(4)-methylthymine recognized by MMR system. Impaired MMR activity in leukemia cells was associated with better survival,accumulation of p53 but not of p73,and lack of activation of caspase 3 after MNNG treatment. In contrast,parental cells displayed accumulation of p53,p73,and activation of caspase 3,resulting in cell death. Ouabain-resistance test detecting mutations in the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase was used to investigate the effect of BCR/ABL kinase-mediated inhibition of MMR on mutagenesis. BCR/ABL-positive cells surviving the treatment with MNNG displayed approximately 15-fold higher mutation frequency than parental counterparts and predominantly G:C--textgreaterA:T and A:T--textgreaterG:C mutator phenotype typical for MNNG-induced unrepaired lesions. In conclusion,these results suggest that BCR/ABL kinase abrogates MMR activity to inhibit apoptosis and induce mutator phenotype. View Publication

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited bone marrow (BM) failure syndrome associated with mutations in telomerase genes and the acquisition of shortened telomeres in blood cells. To investigate the basis of the compromised hematopoiesis seen in DC,we analyzed cells from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) collections from 5 members of a family with autosomal dominant DC with a hTERC mutation. Premobilization BM samples were hypocellular,and percentages of CD34(+) cells in marrow and mPB collections were significantly below values for age-matched controls in 4 DC subjects. Directly clonogenic cells,although present at normal frequencies within the CD34(+) subset,were therefore absolutely decreased. In contrast,even the frequency of long-term culture-initiating cells within the CD34(+) DC mPB cells was decreased,and the telomere lengths of these cells were also markedly reduced. Nevertheless,the different lineages of mature cells were produced in normal numbers in vitro. These results suggest that marrow failure in DC is caused by a reduction in the ability of hematopoietic stem cells to sustain their numbers due to telomere impairment rather than a qualitative defect in their commitment to specific lineages or in the ability of their lineage-restricted progeny to execute normal differentiation programs. View Publication

We have generated mice null for IFN-beta and report the diverse consequences of IFN-beta for both the innate and adaptive arms of immunity. Despite no abnormalities in the proportional balance of CD4 and CD8 T cell populations in the peripheral blood,thymus,and spleen of IFN-beta-/- mice,activated lymph node and splenic T lymphocytes exhibit enhanced T cell proliferation and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha production,relative to IFN-beta+/+ mice. Notably,constitutive and induced expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha is reduced in the spleen and bone marrow (BM) macrophages,respectively,of IFN-beta-/- mice. We also observe an altered splenic architecture in IFN-beta-/- mice and a reduction in resident macrophages. We identify a potential defect in B cell maturation in IFN-beta-/- mice,associated with a decrease in B220+ve/high/CD43-ve BM-derived cells and a reduction in BP-1,IgM,and CD23 expression. Circulating IgM-,Mac-1-,and Gr-1-positive cells are also substantially decreased in IFN-beta-/- mice. The decrease in the numbers of circulating macrophages and granulocytes likely reflects defective maturation of primitive BM hematopoiesis in mice,shown by the reduction of colony-forming units,granulocyte-macrophage. We proceeded to evaluate the in vivo growth of malignant cells in the IFN-beta-/- background and give evidence that Lewis lung carcinoma-specific tumor growth is more aggressive in IFN-beta-/- mice. Taken altogether,our data suggest that,in addition to the direct growth-inhibitory effects on tumor cells,IFN-beta is required during different stages of maturation in the development of the immune system. View Publication

Transplantation of genetically corrected autologous hematopoietic stem cells is an attractive approach for the cure of sickle-cell disease and beta-thalassemia. Here,we infected human cord blood cells with a self-inactivating lentiviral vector encoding an anti-sickling betaA-T87Q-globin transgene and analyzed the transduced progeny produced over a 6-month period after transplantation of the infected cells directly into sublethally irradiated NOD/LtSz-scid/scid mice. Approximately half of the human erythroid and myeloid progenitors regenerated in the mice containing the transgene,and erythroid cells derived in vitro from these in vivo-regenerated cells produced high levels of betaA-T87Q-globin protein. Linker-mediated PCR analysis identified multiple transgene-positive clones in all mice analyzed with 2.1 +/- 0.1 integrated proviral copies per cell. Genomic sequencing of vector-containing fragments showed that 86% of the proviral inserts had occurred within genes,including several genes implicated in human leukemia. These findings indicate effective transduction of very primitive human cord blood cells with a candidate therapeutic lentiviral vector resulting in the long-term and robust,erythroid-specific production of therapeutically relevant levels of beta-globin protein. However,the frequency of proviral integration within genes that regulate hematopoiesis points to a need for additional safety modifications. View Publication

Primitive hematopoietic cells from several species are known to efflux both Hoechst 33342 and Rhodamine-123. We now show that murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) defined by long-term multilineage repopulation assays efflux both dyes variably according to their developmental or activation status. In day 14.5 murine fetal liver,very few HSCs efflux Hoechst 33342 efficiently,and they are thus not detected as side population" (SP) cells. HSCs in mouse fetal liver also fail to efflux Rhodamine-123. Both of these features are retained by most of the HSCs present until 4 weeks after birth but are reversed by 8 weeks of age or after a new HSC population is regenerated in adult mice that receive transplants with murine fetal liver cells. Activation of adult HSCs in vivo following 5-fluorouracil treatment� View Publication