技术资料

PURPOSE: Immunotherapy holds promise as a new strategy for the eradication of residual cells in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Leukaemic antigen presenting cells (APCs) combining optimal antigen presentation and tumour antigenicity could be used as potent T cell activators. For clinical purposes it is desirable to culture APCs under serum-free conditions. Therefore,we compared morphological,immunophenotypical and functional outcome of the serum-free culture of AML-APCs to their serum-enriched culture. METHODS: AML blasts (n=19) were cultured in the presence of either a cytokine mix or calcium ionophore (CI) for 14 and 2 days,respectively,in FCS-containing medium (FCS),StemSpan serum-free medium (SP) and CellGro serum-free medium (CG). After culture relative yields were calculated and immunophenotypic analysis of APC markers was performed. The mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) was used to determine T cell stimulating capacity. RESULTS: Serum-free culture of AML-APCs resulted in comparable morphology,relative yields and immunophenotype to serum-enriched culture. By comparing both serum-free media we observed a trend towards a more mature phenotype of CI-cultured AML-APCs in SP. MLR showed that serum-free cultured cells have equal T cell stimulatory capacity in comparison with serum-enriched culture. CONCLUSION: These data show that the serum-free culture of AML-APCs is feasible and that these APCs are comparable to serum-enriched cultured AML-APCs with regard to morphological,immunophenotypical and functional characteristics. These AML-APCs are suitable for the development of active specific immunisation protocols which meet the criteria for good clinical practise (GCP). View Publication

In early life,a high susceptibility to infectious diseases as well as a poor capacity to respond to vaccines are generally observed as compared with observations in adults. The mechanisms underlying immune immaturity have not been fully elucidated and could be due to the immaturity of the T/B cell responses and/or to a defect in the nature and quality of Ag presentation by the APC. This prompted us to phenotypically and functionally characterize early life murine dendritic cells (DC) purified from spleens of 7-day-old mice. We showed that neonatal CD11c(+) DC express levels of costimulatory molecules and MHC molecules similar to those of adult DC and are able to fully maturate after LPS activation. Furthermore,we demonstrated that neonatal DC can efficiently take up,process,and present Ag to T cells in vitro and induce specific CTL responses in vivo. Although a reduced number of these cells was observed in the spleen of neonatal mice as compared with adults,this study clearly shows that neonatal DC have full functional capacity and may well prime Ag-specific naive T cells in vivo. View Publication

Two distinct dendritic cell (DC) subpopulations have been evidenced in mice on the basis of their differential CD8alpha expression and their localization in lymphoid organs. Several reports suggest that CD8alpha(+) and CD8alpha(-) DC subsets could be functionally different. In this study,using a panel of MHC class I- and/or class II-restricted peptides,we analyzed CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses obtained after i.v. injection of freshly purified peptide-pulsed DC subsets. First,we showed that both DC subsets efficiently induce specific CTL responses and Th1 cytokine production in the absence of CD4(+) T cell priming. Second,we showed that in vivo activation of CD4(+) T cells by CD8alpha(+) or CD8alpha(-) DC,injected i.v.,leads to a nonpolarized Th response with production of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines. The CD8alpha(-) subset induced a higher production of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10 than the CD8alpha(+) subset. However,IL-5 was produced by CD4(+) T cells activated by both DC subsets. When both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were primed by DC injected i.v.,a similar pattern of cytokines was observed,but,under these conditions,Th1 cytokines were mainly produced by CD8(+) T cells,while Th2 cytokines were produced by CD4(+) T cells. Thus,this study clearly shows that CD4(+) T cell responses do not influence the development of specific CD8(+) T cell cytotoxic responses induced either by CD8alpha(+) or CD8alpha(-) DC subsets. View Publication

The molecular and cellular requirements for the development of different populations of human dendritic cells (DC) were studied. Conditions were defined that support DC production from lymphoid progenitors but that fail to induce DC formation from peripheral monocytes. The production of these lymphoid-related DC was severely blocked when hematopoietic progenitors overexpressed Ik7,a mutant dominant-negative Ikaros protein. In contrast,Ik7 did not block the formation of DC in conditions supporting the development of monocyte-derived DC. Furthermore,Ik7 did not block the formation of monocyte/macrophages and enhanced granulopoiesis. One of the molecular mechanisms mediated by Ik7 appears to be down-regulation of the flt3-receptor mRNA. Thus,distinct signals control the formation of DC demonstrating that some aspects of DC diversity are determined in part by distinct molecular cues at the hematopoietic level. (Blood. 2000;95:128-137) View Publication

We have generated rat monoclonal antibodies specific for the mouse eotaxin receptor,C-C chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3). Several anti-CCR3 mAbs proved to be useful for in vivo depletion of CCR3-expressing cells and immunofluorescent staining. In vivo CCR3 mAbs of the IgG2b isotype substantially depleted blood eosinophil levels in Nippostrongyus brasiliensis-infected mice. Repeated anti-CCR3 mAb treatment in these mice significantly reduced tissue eosinophilia in the lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Flow cytometry revealed that mCCR3 was expressed on eosinophils but not on stem cells,dendritic cells,or cells from the thymus,lymph node,or spleen of normal mice. Unlike human Th2 cells,mouse Th2 cells did not express detectable levels of CCR3 nor did they give a measurable response to eotaxin. None of the mAbs were antagonists or agonists of CCR3 calcium mobilization. To our knowledge,the antibodies described here are the first mAbs reported to be specific for mouse eosinophils and to be readily applicable for the detection,isolation,and in vivo depletion of eosinophils. View Publication

Granulomas are innate sequestration responses that can be modified by superimposed acquired immune mechanisms. The present study examined the innate stage of pulmonary granuloma responses to bead-immobilized Th1- and Th2-inducing pathogen antigens (Ags),Mycobacteria bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) and Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg Ags (SEA). Compared to a nonpathogen Ag,PPD and SEA bead elicited larger lesions with the former showing accelerated inflammation. Temporal analyses of cytokine and chemokine transcripts showed all Ag beads induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA but indicated biased interleukin (IL)-1,IL-6,and IL-12 expression with PPD challenge. All beads elicited comparable levels of CXCL9,CXL10,CCL2,CCL17,and CCL22 mRNA,but PPD beads caused biased CXCL2 CXCL5,CCL3,and CCL4 expression whereas both pathogen Ags induced CCL7. Immunohistochemical,electron microscopic,and flow cytometric analyses showed that Ag beads mobilized CD11c+ dendritic cells (DCs) of comparable maturation. Transfer of DCs from PPD Ag-challenged lungs conferred a Th1 anamnestic cytokine response in recipients. Surprisingly,transfer of DCs from the helminth SEA-challenged lungs did not confer the expected Th2 response,but instead rendered recipients incapable of Ag-elicited IL-4 production. These results provide in vivo evidence that lung DCs recruited under inflammatory conditions favor Th1 responses and alternative mechanisms are required for Th2 commitment. View Publication

Prior experimental strategies to induce transplantation tolerance have focused largely on modifying adaptive immunity. However,less is known concerning the role of innate immune signaling in the induction of transplantation tolerance. Using a highly immunogenic murine skin transplant model that resists transplantation tolerance induction when innate immunity is preserved,we show that absence of MyD88,a key innate Toll like receptor signal adaptor,abrogates this resistance and facilitates inducible allograft acceptance. In our model,absence of MyD88 impairs inflammatory dendritic cell responses that reduce T cell activation. This effect increases T cell susceptibility to suppression mediated by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells. Therefore,this study provides evidence that absence of MyD88 promotes inducible allograft acceptance and implies that inhibiting innate immunity may be a potential,clinically relevant strategy to facilitate transplantation tolerance. View Publication

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HdI) could potentially improve the differentiation of leukemic dendritic cells (DC). Therefore,bone marrow samples from 100 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were cultured in the cytokines TNF-alpha,GM-CSF,c-kit ligand,and fetal liver tyrosine kinase 3 ligand,with or without IL-3 and -4 and after administration of HdI valproic acid (VAL),suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA),isobutyramid,or trichostatin A. Among the tested samples,25 were positive for the chromosomal translocation t(12;21),encoding the fusion gene translocation ETS-like leukemia/acute myeloid leukemia 1 (TEL/AML1). SAHA increased CD83 expression of TEL/AML1-positive blasts in conditions without ILs,and SAHA and VAL increased the number of CD86(+)80(-) cells in the presence of ILs. VAL and isobutyramid supported the allostimulatory capacities of TEL/AML1-positive,leukemic DC; VAL and SAHA reduced those of TEL/AML1-negative DC. Cytotoxic T cells sensitized with leukemic DC produced more IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha upon presentation of the TEL/AML1 peptide. They also induced the cytotoxic lysis of nondifferentiated blasts,which was enhanced when TEL/AML1-positive DC had developed after addition of VAL or SAHA. Therefore,the use of HdI in the differentiation of leukemic DC from patients with TEL/AML1-positive ALL is recommended. View Publication

Removal of sialic acid from glycoconjugates on the surface of monocytes enhances their response to bacterial LPS. We tested the hypothesis that endogenous sialidase activity creates a permissive state for LPS-induced cytokine production in human monocyte-derived DCs. Of the four genetically distinct sialidases (Neu1-4),Neu1,Neu3,and Neu4 are expressed in human monocytes,but only Neu1 and Neu3 are up-regulated as cells differentiate into DCs. Neu1 and Neu3 are present on the surface of monocytes and DCs and are also present intracellularly. DCs contain a greater amount of sialic acid than monocytes,but the amount of sialic acid/mg total protein declines during differentiation to DCs. This relative hyposialylation of cells does not occur in mature DCs grown in the presence of zanamivir,a pharmacologic inhibitor of Neu3 but not Neu1,or DANA,an inhibitor of Neu1 and Neu3. Inhibition of sialidase activity during differentiation to DCs causes no detectable change in cell viability or expression of DC surface markers. Differentiation of monocytes into DCs in the presence of zanamivir results in reduced LPS- induced expression of IL-6,IL-12p40,and TNF-α by mature DCs,demonstrating a role for Neu3 in cytokine production. A role for Neu3 is supported by inhibition of cytokine production by DANA in DCs from Neu1�?�/�?� and WT mice. We conclude that sialidase-mediated change in sialic acid content of specific cell surface glycoconjugates in DCs regulates LPS-induced cytokine production,thereby contributing to development of adaptive immune responses. View Publication

Long-chain bases are present in the oral cavity. Previously we determined that sphingosine,dihydrosphingosine,and phytosphingosine have potent antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens. Here,we determined the cytotoxicities of long-chain bases for oral cells,an important step in considering their potential as antimicrobial agents for oral infections. This information would clearly help in establishing prophylactic or therapeutic doses. To assess this,human oral gingival epithelial (GE) keratinocytes,oral gingival fibroblasts (GF),and dendritic cells (DC) were exposed to 10.0-640.0 μM long-chain bases and glycerol monolaurate (GML). The effects of long-chain bases on cell metabolism (conversion of resazurin to resorufin),membrane permeability (uptake of propidium iodide or SYTOX-Green),release of cellular contents (LDH),and cell morphology (confocal microscopy) were all determined. GE keratinocytes were more resistant to long-chain bases as compared to GF and DC,which were more susceptible. For DC,0.2-10.0 μM long-chain bases and GML were not cytotoxic; 40.0-80.0 μM long-chain bases,but not GML,were cytotoxic; and 80.0 μM long-chain bases induced cellular damage and death in less than 20 min. The LD50 of long-chain bases for GE keratinocytes,GF,and DC were considerably higher than their minimal inhibitory concentrations for oral pathogens,a finding important to pursuing their future potential in treating periodontal and oral infections. View Publication

In view of recent reports documenting pervasive translation outside of canonical protein-coding sequences,we wished to determine the proportion of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-associated peptides (MAPs) derived from non-canonical reading frames. Here we perform proteogenomic analyses of MAPs eluted from human B cells using high-throughput mass spectrometry to probe the six-frame translation of the B-cell transcriptome. We report that ∼ 10% of MAPs originate from allegedly noncoding genomic sequences or exonic out-of-frame translation. The biogenesis and properties of these 'cryptic MAPs' differ from those of conventional MAPs. Cryptic MAPs come from very short proteins with atypical C termini,and are coded by transcripts bearing long 3'UTRs enriched in destabilizing elements. Relative to conventional MAPs,cryptic MAPs display different MHC class I-binding preferences and harbour more genomic polymorphisms,some of which are immunogenic. Cryptic MAPs increase the complexity of the MAP repertoire and enhance the scope of CD8 T-cell immunosurveillance. View Publication