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It has recently been shown that interleukin (IL)-21 is produced by Th17 cells,functions as an autocrine growth factor for Th17 cells,and plays critical roles in autoimmune diseases. In this study,we investigated the differentiation and characteristics of IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells by intracellular staining. Unexpectedly,we found that under Th17-polarizing conditions,the majority of IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells did not produce IL-17A and -17F. We also found that IL-6 and -21 potently induced the development of IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells without the induction of IL-4,IFN-gamma,IL-17A,or IL-17F production. On the other hand,TGF-beta inhibited IL-6- and IL-21-induced development of IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells. IL-2 enhanced the development of IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells under Th17-polarizing conditions. Finally,IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells exhibited a stable phenotype of IL-21 production in the presence of IL-6,but retained the potential to produce IL-4 under Th2-polarizing conditions and IL-17A under Th17-polarizing conditions. These results suggest that IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells exhibit distinct characteristics from Th17 cells and develop preferentially in an IL-6-rich environment devoid of TGF-beta,and that IL-21 functions as an autocrine growth factor for IL-21-producing CD4(+) T cells. View Publication

T-bet and STAT4 play critical roles in helper T cell differentiation,especially for Th1 cells. However,it is still unknown about the relative importance and redundancy of T-bet and STAT4 for Th1 differentiation. It is also unknown about their independent role of T-bet and STAT4 in the regulation of allergic airway inflammation. In this study,we addressed these issues by comparing T-bet-deficient (T-bet(-/-)) mice,STAT4(-/-) mice,and T-bet- and STAT4-double-deficient (T-bet(-/-)STAT4(-/-)) mice on the same genetic background. Th1 differentiation was severely decreased in T-bet(-/-) mice and STAT4(-/-) mice as compared with that in wild-type mice,but Th1 differentiation was still observed in T-bet(-/-) mice and STAT4(-/-) mice. However,Th1 cells were hardly detected in T-bet(-/-)STAT4(-/-) mice. In contrast,the maintenance of Th17 cells was enhanced in T-bet(-/-) mice but was reduced in STAT4(-/-) mice and T-bet(-/-)STAT4(-/-) mice. In vivo,Ag-induced eosinophil and neutrophil recruitment into the airways was enhanced in T-bet(-/-) mice but was attenuated in STAT4(-/-) mice and T-bet(-/-)STAT4(-/-) mice. Ag-induced IL-17 production in the airways was also diminished in STAT4(-/-) mice and T-bet(-/-)STAT4(-/-) mice. These results indicate that STAT4 not only plays an indispensable role in T-bet-independent Th1 differentiation but also is involved in the maintenance of Th17 cells and the enhancement of allergic airway inflammation. View Publication

We identify the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 25 (TNFRSF25)/TNFSF15 pair as critical trigger for allergic lung inflammation,which is a cardinal feature of asthma. TNFRSF25 (TNFR25) signals are required to exert T helper cell 2 (Th2) effector function in Th2-polarized CD4 cells and co-stimulate interleukin (IL)-13 production by glycosphingolipid-activated NKT cells. In vivo,antibody blockade of TNFSF15 (TL1A),which is the ligand for TNFR25,inhibits lung inflammation and production of Th2 cytokines such as IL-13,even when administered days after airway antigen exposure. Similarly,blockade of TNFR25 by a dominant-negative (DN) transgene,DN TNFR25,confers resistance to lung inflammation in mice. Allergic lung inflammation-resistant,NKT-deficient mice become susceptible upon adoptive transfer of wild-type NKT cells,but not after transfer of DN TNFR25 transgenic NKT cells. The TNFR25/TL1A pair appears to provide an early signal for Th2 cytokine production in the lung,and therefore may be a drug target in attempts to attenuate lung inflammation in asthmatics. View Publication

DNA immunization with in vivo electroporation is an efficient alternative protocol for the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Generation of mAb by DNA immunization is a novel approach to circumvent the following technical hurdles associated with problematic antigens: low abundance and protein instability and use of recombinant proteins that lack posttranslational modifications. This chapter describes the use of a DNA-based immunization protocol for the production of mAb against a house dust mite allergen,designated as Blo t 11,which is a paramyosin homologue found in Blomia tropicalis mites. The Blo t 11 cDNA fused at the N terminus to the sequence of a signal peptide was cloned into the pCI mammalian expression vector. The DNA construct was injected intramuscularly with in vivo electroporation into mice,and the specific antibody production in mice was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hybridomas were generated by fusing mouse splenocytes with myeloma cells using the ClonaCell-HY Hybridoma Cloning Kit. Six hybridoma clones secreting Blo t 11 mAb were successfully generated,and these mAb are useful reagents for immunoaffinity purification and immunoassays. View Publication

Most tumors grow in immunocompetent hosts despite expressing NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) such as the MHC class I chain-related genes A and B (MICA/B). However,their participation in tumor cell evasion is still not completely understood. Here we demonstrate that several human melanomas (cell lines and freshly isolated metastases) do not express MICA on the cell surface but have intracellular deposits of this NKG2DL. Susceptibility to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity correlated with the ratio of NKG2DLs to HLA class I molecules but not with the amounts of MICA on the cell surface of tumor cells. Transfection-mediated overexpression of MICA restored cell surface expression and resulted in an increased in vitro cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma secretion by human NK cells. In xenografted nude mice,these melanomas exhibited a delayed growth and extensive in vivo apoptosis. Retardation of tumor growth was due to NK cell-mediated antitumor activity against MICA-transfected tumors,given that this effect was not observed in NK cell-depleted mice. Also,mouse NK cells killed MICA-overexpressing melanomas in vitro. A mechanistic analysis revealed the retention of MICA in the endoplasmic reticulum,an effect that was associated with accumulation of endoH-sensitive (immature) forms of MICA,retrograde transport to the cytoplasm,and degradation by the proteasome. Our study identifies a novel strategy developed by melanoma cells to evade NK cell-mediated immune surveillance based on the intracellular sequestration of immature forms of MICA in the endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore,this tumor immune escape strategy can be overcome by gene therapy approaches aimed at overexpressing MICA on tumor cells. View Publication

Mef2c is a MADS (MCM1-agamous-deficient serum response factor) transcription factor best known for its role in muscle and cardiovascular development. A causal role of up-regulated MEF2C expression in myelomonocytic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has recently been demonstrated. Due to the pronounced monocytic component observed in Mef2c-induced AML,this study was designed to assess the importance of Mef2c in normal myeloid differentiation. Analysis of bone marrow (BM) cells manipulated to constitutively express Mef2c demonstrated increased monopoiesis at the expense of granulopoiesis,whereas BM isolated from Mef2c(Delta/-) mice showed reduced levels of monocytic differentiation in response to cytokines. Mechanistic studies showed that loss of Mef2c expression correlated with reduced levels of transcripts encoding c-Jun,but not PU.1,C/EBPalpha,or JunB transcription factors. Inhibiting Jun expression by short-interfering RNA impaired Mef2c-mediated inhibition of granulocyte development. Moreover,retroviral expression of c-Jun in BM cells promoted monocytic differentiation. The ability of Mef2c to modulate cell-fate decisions between monocyte and granulocyte differentiation,coupled with its functional sensitivity to extracellular stimuli,demonstrate an important role in immunity--and,consistent with findings of other myeloid transcription factors,a target of oncogenic lesions in AML. View Publication

Natural killer (NK) cells have been originally defined by their naturally occurring" effector function. However 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

Transcripts expressed in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have mechanistic and diagnostic importance in transplantation. We used microarrays to select CTL-associated transcripts (CATs) expressed in human CD4(+) CTL,CD8(+) CTL and NK cells,excluding transcripts expressed in B cells,monocytes and kidney. This generated three transcript sets: CD4(+)-associated,CD8(+)-associated and NK-associated. Surprisingly,many CATs were expressed in effector memory cells e.g. granzyme B/GZMB,interferon-gamma/IFNG. Transcript expression was very similar between CD4(+) and CD8(+) CTL. There were no transcripts highly selective for CD4(+) CTL or CD8(+) CTL: for example,cytotoxic molecule transcripts (perforin,granzymes,granulysin) were shared between CD8(+) CTL and CD4(+) CTL although expression remained higher in CD8(+) CTL. Transcripts that differentiated between CD8(+) CTL and CD4(+) CTL were primarily those shared between CD8(+) CTL and NK cells (e.g. NK receptors KLRC1,KLRC3,KLRD1,KLRK1). No transcripts could differentiate CD4(+) CTL from CD8(+) CTL but NK cell-associated transcripts could differentiate NK cells from CTL. This study serves as a foundation for the interpretation of CATs in rejecting allografts and highlights the extensive sharing of CATs among CD4(+) CTL,CD8(+) CTL and effector memory T cells. View Publication

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) results in the dissemination of virus to gut-associated lymphoid tissue. Subsequently,HIV-1 mediates massive depletion of gut CD4+ T cells,which contributes to HIV-1-induced immune dysfunction. The migration of lymphocytes to gut-associated lymphoid tissue is mediated by integrin alpha4beta7. We demonstrate here that the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 bound to an activated form of alpha4beta7. This interaction was mediated by a tripeptide in the V2 loop of gp120,a peptide motif that mimics structures presented by the natural ligands of alpha4beta7. On CD4+ T cells,engagement of alpha4beta7 by gp120 resulted in rapid activation of LFA-1,the central integrin involved in the establishment of virological synapses,which facilitate efficient cell-to-cell spreading of HIV-1. View Publication

Germinal center (GC) responses to T-dependent Ags require effective collaboration between Th cells,activated B cells,and follicular dendritic cells within a highly organized microenvironment. Studies using gene-targeted mice have highlighted nonredundant molecules that are key for initiating and maintaining the GC niche,including the molecules of the ICOS,CD40,and lymphotoxin (LT) pathways. Signaling through ICOS has multiple consequences,including cytokine production,expression of CD40L on Th cells,and differentiation into CXCR5(+) follicular Th cells,all of which are important in the GC reaction. We have therefore taken advantage of ICOS(-/-) mice to dissect which downstream elements are required to initiate the formation of GC. In the context of a T-dependent immune response,we found that GC B cells from ICOS(-/-) mice express lower levels of LTalphabeta compared with wild-type GC B cells in vivo,and stimulation of ICOS on T cells induces LTalphabeta on B cells in vitro. Administration of agonistic anti-LTbeta receptor Ab was unable to restore the GC response in ICOS(-/-) mice,suggesting that additional input from another pathway is required for optimal GC generation. In contrast,treatment with agonistic anti-CD40 Ab in vivo recovered GC networks and restored LTalphabeta expression on GC B cells in ICOS(-/-) mice,and this effect was dependent on LTbeta receptor signaling. Collectively,these data demonstrate that ICOS activation is a prerequisite for the up-regulation of LTalphabeta on GC B cells in vivo and provide a model for cooperation between ICOS,CD40,and LT pathways in the context of the GC response. View Publication

Expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) ex vivo remains an important focus in fundamental and clinical research. The aim of this study was to determine whether the implementation of such expansion phase in a two-phase culture strategy prior to the induction of megakaryocyte (Mk) differentiation would increase the yield of Mks produced in cultures. Toward this end,we first characterized the functional properties of five cytokine cocktails to be tested in the expansion phase on the growth and differentiation kinetics of CD34+-enriched cells,and on their capacity to expand clonogenic progenitors in cultures. Three of these cocktails were chosen based on their reported ability to induce HPC expansion ex vivo,while the other two represented new cytokine combinations. These analyses revealed that none of the cocktails tested could prevent the differentiation of CD34+ cells and the rapid expansion of lineage-positive cells. Hence,we sought to determine the optimum length of time for the expansion phase that would lead to the best final Mk yields. Despite greater expansion of CD34+ cells and overall cell growth with a longer expansion phase,the optimal length for the expansion phase that provided greater Mk yield at near maximal purity was found to be 5 days. Under such settings,two functionally divergent cocktails were found to significantly increase the final yield of Mks. Surprisingly,these cocktails were either deprived of thrombopoietin or of stem cell factor,two cytokines known to favor megakaryopoiesis and HPC expansion,respectively. Based on these results,a short resource-efficient two-phase culture protocol for the production of Mks near purity (textgreater95%) from human CD34+ CB cells has been established. View Publication