技术资料

Background Progressive T cell decline in aged humans is associated with a deficiency of naive (TN) and central memory (TCM) T cells. We have previously reported increased tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?)-induced apoptosis in TN and TCM T cells in aged humans; however,the molecular basis of increased apoptosis remains to be defined. Since expression of TNF receptors (TNFRs) was reported to be comparable in young and aged,we investigated signaling events downstream of TNFRs to understand the molecular basis of increased TNF-?-induced apoptosis in aged TN and TCM CD8+ cells. Results The expression of TRAF-2 and RIP,phosphorylation of JNK,IKK?/?,and I?B?,and activation of NF-?B activation were significantly decreased in TN and TCM CD8+ cells from aged subjects as compared to young controls. Furthermore,expression of A20,Bcl-xL,cIAP1,and FLIP-L and FLIP-S was significantly decreased in TN and TCM CD8+ cells from aged subjects. Conclusions These data demonstrate that an impaired expression/function of molecules downstream TNFR signaling pathway that confer survival signals contribute to increased apoptosis of TN and TCM CD8+ cells in aged humans. View Publication

Recent compelling evidence indicates that Th17 confer host immunity against a variety of microbes,including extracellular and intracellular pathogens. Therefore,understanding mechanisms for the induction and activation of Ag-specific Th17 is important for the rational design of vaccines against pathogens. To study this,we employed an in vitro system in which influenza hemagglutinin (HA) 1 was delivered to dendritic cells (DCs) via Dectin-1 using anti-human Dectin-1 (hDectin-1)-HA1 recombinant fusion proteins. We found that healthy individuals maintained broad ranges of HA1-specific memory Th17 that were efficiently activated by DCs targeted with anti-hDectin-1-HA1. Nonetheless,these DCs were not able to induce a significant level of HA1-specific Th17 responses even in the presence of the Th17-promoting cytokines IL-1? and IL-6. We further found that the induction of surface IL-1R1 expression by signals via TCRs and common ?-chain receptors was essential for naive CD4(+) T cell differentiation into HA1-specific Th17. This process was dependent on MyD88,but not IL-1R-associated kinase 1/4. Thus,interruptions in STAT3 or MyD88 signaling led to substantially diminished HA1-specific Th17 induction. Taken together,the de novo generation of pathogen-specific human Th17 requires complex,but complementary,actions of multiple signals. Data from this study will help us design a new and effective vaccine strategy that can promote Th17-mediated immunity against microbial pathogens. View Publication

Abs have been shown to be protective in passive immunotherapy of tuberculous infection using mouse experimental models. In this study,we report on the properties of a novel human IgA1,constructed using a single-chain variable fragment clone (2E9),selected from an Ab phage library. The purified Ab monomer revealed high binding affinities for the mycobacterial ?-crystallin Ag and for the human Fc?RI (CD89) IgA receptor. Intranasal inoculations with 2E9IgA1 and recombinant mouse IFN-? significantly inhibited pulmonary H37Rv infection in mice transgenic for human CD89 but not in CD89-negative littermate controls,suggesting that binding to CD89 was necessary for the IgA-imparted passive protection. 2E9IgA1 added to human whole-blood or monocyte cultures inhibited luciferase-tagged H37Rv infection although not for all tested blood donors. Inhibition by 2E9IgA1 was synergistic with human rIFN-? in cultures of purified human monocytes but not in whole-blood cultures. The demonstration of the mandatory role of Fc?RI (CD89) for human IgA-mediated protection is important for understanding of the mechanisms involved and also for translation of this approach toward development of passive immunotherapy of tuberculosis. View Publication