佐剂CpG-ODN与重组HBsAg疫苗联合免疫乙型肝炎病毒转基因小鼠的免疫应答研究

目的 以CpG-ODN为佐剂与重组HBsAg(rHBsAg)疫苗合用,研究其对乙型肝炎病毒转基因(HBV Tg)小鼠模型的免疫应答效果.方法 40只HBV Tg小鼠随机分为4组,每组小鼠分别注射rHBsAg疫苗(单用rHBsAg组)、rHBsAg疫苗+CpG-ODN(试验组)、rIFNα-2b(IFN组)、生理盐水(对照组).经多次免疫HBV转基因小鼠,于免疫前、后不同时间采血,动态观察各组小鼠血清中HBsAg量、抗-HBs阳性率和HBV DNA的变化,检测肝组织中HBsAg的表达.检测免疫小鼠的外周血T淋巴细胞亚群和白细胞介素2(IL-2)、IL-12(p70)以及γ干扰素(IFN-γ)的含量,分别检测免疫小鼠的脾细胞增殖和细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)杀伤功能并计算各组小鼠肝组织活性指数(HAI).结果 rHBsAg组和rHBsAg+CpG组在免疫小鼠后2周100%诱导抗-HBs;rHBsAg+CpG组能显著降低血清中的HBsAg量或使HBsAg转阴,rHBsAg+CpG组肝组织中HBsAg的表达量与血清中一样降低,并降低血清中HBV DNA的拷贝数.rHBsAg组的CD3+、CD4+、CD8+细胞在T细胞中所占百分比,IL-2、IL-12(p70)和IFN-γ的含量以及淋巴细胞特异性增殖和杀伤效应均明显高于对照组(P＜0.05).rHBsAg+CpG组与rHBsAg组比较,免疫小鼠产生更强的HBV特异性细胞应答(P＜0.05),且以Th1型细胞免疫应答为主.在rHBsAg+CpG组肝组织中出现大量淋巴细胞,肝脏的HAI在4个组中最高.结论 CpG-ODN作为佐剂可以增强重组HBsAg疫苗诱导HBV转基因小鼠产生抗病毒免疫应答,重组HBsAg疫苗辅以CpG ODN可作为免疫治疗慢性HBV感染的可行性途经.     

壳聚糖盐酸盐稳定乳液的制备及免疫效果分析

为了解决油乳佐剂在诱导细胞免疫方面的不足,引入正电荷的壳聚糖盐以稳定乳液,从而提升细胞免疫应答。本研究选取卵清蛋白为模式抗原,分别制备了单抗原疫苗、商品佐剂疫苗和乳液疫苗,表征了乳液的粒径、电势及抗原吸附率等参数。通过肌肉注射免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测免疫后抗体和细胞因子的分泌水平、淋巴细胞的活化水平以评价乳液的免疫效果。结果显示壳聚糖盐酸盐可有效稳定乳液,其粒径在600 nm左右,荷正电并对抗原吸附率达90%以上。免疫动物后,该乳液可有效提升血清特异性抗体水平并增强IL-4的分泌,显著提高抗原特异性CD8⁺T细胞的比例,提升细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic T lymphocyte, CTL)表面活化分子的表达水平,诱导高效的细胞免疫应答。此外,乳液能够有效提高记忆T细胞(CD44⁺CD62L⁺)的水平。综上所述,以壳聚糖盐酸盐稳定的乳液为佐剂能有效提升体液及细胞免疫效果,并有望起长期保护作用。     

戊型肝炎病毒重组颗粒性蛋白疫苗在小鼠体内诱导的免疫应答研究

HEV 239是福建省医学分子病毒学研究中心实验室研制的一种戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）重组颗粒性蛋白疫苗,该文旨在研究HEV239蛋白疫苗在小鼠体内诱导产生特异性免疫应答的情况.将5μg HEV 239蛋白疫苗（239-Pro）、加铝佐剂疫苗（239-Vac）或加弗氏佐剂疫苗（239-CFA）肌肉注射免疫BALB/c鼠3次,第8周检测鼠血清抗HEV抗体及其亚类,同时用ELISPOT方法检测细胞毒性T细胞（CTL）应答.结果显示：239-Vac诱导的抗体滴度与239-CFA相当,高于无佐剂的239-Pro.239-Vac诱导的抗体中,IgG1/IgG2a比值显著高于239-CFA和239-Pro,主要为Th2型应答.除239-CFA之外,239-Vac和239-Pro也可诱导出一定的HEV抗原特异性I型Tc应答.提示：重组抗原HEV 239能诱导良好的抗体应答及一定的Tc1应答.     

HIV-1复合多表位-p24嵌合基因重组鸡痘病毒疫苗的构建及小鼠免疫原性

将HIV-1 p24基因插入至人工设计的复合多表位基因MEG中, 获得嵌合基因MEGp24; 将MEGp24插入到转移载体pUTA2复合启动子ATI-P7.5×20下游, 构建出鸡痘病毒重组转移质粒; 经转染和BrdU加压筛选, 以基因组PCR和Western blot法筛选出重组病毒; 将重组病毒大量制备并纯化后, 分别于0, 14, 42天肌肉注射免疫BALB/c小鼠; 第3次免疫后一周, 采集小鼠全血与脾脏, 分离血清并无菌制备脾淋巴细胞, ELISA法检测小鼠血清HIV-1抗体、脾细胞培养上清中Th1类细胞因子IFN-α和IL-2的含量, 流式细胞仪测定CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T淋巴细胞亚类数量, 乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法检测脾特异性CTL杀伤活性. 结果表明, 重组病毒刺激小鼠产生HIV-1特异性抗体, 出现T细胞亚类数量增加, 产生针对HIV-1 H-2^d限制性CTL表位的特异性靶细胞杀伤作用, 同时免疫小鼠脾细胞在HIV-1抗原肽的刺激下分泌Th1类细胞因子的水平大幅增加. 研究提示多表位嵌合基因重组FPV疫苗具有良好的免疫原性, 可诱导小鼠产生HIV-1特异性细胞和体液免疫应答.     

Th1类细胞因子对pHCV—C重组体诱生免疫应答的增强作用

为了探索Th1类细胞因子IL 2和IL 12对含丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV)核心 (C)基因重组体诱生的免疫应答的增强作用 ,本文构建了包含HCVC基因片段的重组质粒pHCV C ,将其单独或与Th1类细胞因子表达质粒 pIL 2或pIL 12共免疫BALB/c小鼠 ,ELISA法检测免疫小鼠血清中的HCVC特异性抗体滴度 ;以pHCV C转染SP2 / 0细胞 ,经筛选稳定表达HCVC抗原者 (SP2 / 0 HCV C)为靶细胞 ,51Cr释放试验检测细胞毒T淋巴细胞 (CTLs)的体外特异性杀伤功能。结果发现 ,pIL 2能够增加 pHCV C诱导的抗体产生 ,对CTLs的杀伤作用增强却不明显 ;而 pIL 12对 pHCV C诱导的抗体和细胞免疫应答均有增强作用 (p <0 .0 5 )。由此推断 ,佐以Th1类细胞因子 ,不仅可以增强基因疫苗诱生的免疫应答强度 ,而且可能使机体对基因疫苗的免疫应答朝着有利于优先诱导CTLs免疫应答清除病原体的方向发展。     

重组铜绿假单胞菌外毒素结构域Ia片段的佐剂功效研究

采用分子克隆技术,将铜绿假单胞菌PA103株编码的外毒素结构域Ia(Domain Ia)的基因重组于原核表达载体pET-42b( )上,构建了pET-EPA103蛋白表达载体。转化感受态大肠杆菌DE3。经IPTG诱导表达,初步纯化表达蛋白,用以免疫BALB／c纯系小鼠。制备小鼠脾淋巴细胞悬液,经刀豆素A(ConA)刺激后,用MTT比色法检测特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应。通过rEPA皮下注射BALB／c小鼠耳廓,诱导小鼠迟发型过敏反应(DTH)。采用特异性淋巴细胞增殖反应和DTH试验来检测pET-EPA103表达蛋白所引起的小鼠细胞免疫应答水平,淋巴细胞增殖情况与DTH均可间接反映细胞免疫应答水平,进而评价重组铜绿假单胞菌外毒素(rEPA)Domain Ia蛋白片段的佐剂功效。     

表面表达猪流行性腹泻病毒核蛋白蛋白的重组干酪乳杆菌诱导产生的免疫应答

为探讨表达猪流行性腹泻病毒(PEDV)核蛋白(N)基因的重组干酪乳杆菌口服免疫小鼠后诱导特异性免疫应答,本研究制备表达流行性腹泻病毒核蛋白的重组干酪乳杆菌,应用Western blotting、间接免疫荧光和全细胞ELISA鉴定目的蛋白的表达。然后用该重组干酪乳杆菌口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,分别测定了免疫后不同时间血清中特异性IgG、粪便中特异性的sIgA水平以及血清的中和活性;并测定免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖情况和细胞因子水平。结果显示,目的蛋白表达在细胞表面,可被阳性血清所识别。免疫小鼠后,可分别在血清中和粪便中检测到较高水平特异性IgG、sIgA(P<0.01),但血清并没有中和活性;淋巴细胞增殖试验和细胞因子测定结果显示,免疫组可产生明显的细胞免疫应答。结果表明,该重组干酪乳杆菌表达系统可诱导小鼠产生黏膜免疫应答和系统免疫应答,具有作为口服疫苗潜在的应用价值。     

HIV-2 gag-gp105嵌合基因DNA疫苗对小鼠的免疫原性研究

利用真核表达载体 pVAX1 构建 HIV-2 gag-gp105 嵌合基因的重组质粒 pVAX1gag-gp105,将其转入 BHK21细胞中,利用间接免疫荧光方法检测其表达情况。进一步分别将核酸疫苗质粒 pVAX1gag-gp105、对照组质粒pVAX1 和 PBS 溶液经肌肉注射免疫 BALB/c 小鼠,检测免疫小鼠脾 CD4 、CD8 T 细胞亚群的数量,脾特异性 CTL杀伤活性和血清抗体滴度。结果显示,重组核酸疫苗质粒 pVAX1gag-gp105 疫组小鼠脾 CD4 、CD8 T 细胞亚群的数值均比对照组高( P<0.01),脾特异性 CTL 杀伤活性与对照组相比差异极显著(P<0.01),血清抗体滴度显著高于对照组(P<0.01) 。以上结果表明,HIV-2 gag-gp105 嵌合基因 DNA 疫苗对 BALB/c 小鼠具有良好的体液和细胞免疫原性。     

不同佐剂对含S+PreS1融合抗原的乙型肝炎病毒颗粒疫苗免疫原性的影响

本研究在前期工作基础上,用CHO细胞表达的含PreS1+S融合抗原的新型基因工程HBV颗粒疫苗(HBSS1)与Al(OH)3、CpG及CpG+Al(OH)3等佐剂配伍,在Balb/C小鼠模型上研究不同佐剂对HBV颗粒疫苗肌肉注射后免疫应答的影响,主要包括抗体滴度、抗体亚型分类及特异性细胞免疫(γ-IFNELISpot检测)。结果表明:CpG佐剂结合HBSS1颗粒疫苗可快速诱导(单针免疫)高水平的抗PreS1及S抗体,IgG2a/IgG1比率1,同时可诱导较高抗原特异的细胞免疫应答;Al(OH)3+CpG双佐剂组一次免疫后可诱导产生最高的抗S抗体滴度(1:105),其产生的抗体亚类包括IgG1、IgG2a与IgG2b;在S抗原N端(13~49aa)存在优势CTL表位。结论:CpG佐剂结合HBSS1颗粒疫苗应是发展新型治疗性乙肝疫苗的较佳选项。     

CpG ODN增强rHBsAg疫苗对小鼠免疫应答影响的研究

通过CpG寡核苷酸(CpG ODN)与重组HBsAg蛋白疫苗(rHBsAg)联合免疫C57BL/6BL/6小鼠,观察CpG ODN对小鼠免疫状况的影响。试验分对照、乙肝疫苗以及用乙肝疫苗加CpG三组,MTT法分别进行HBsAg特异性刺激淋巴细胞转化试验、HBsAg特异性刺激细胞毒性T细胞杀伤试验、自然杀伤细胞非特异性杀伤试验,以及ConA刺激淋巴细胞转化试验;ELISA测定HBsAb、INF-γ、IL-12和IL-4结果中,疫苗加CpG组抗原特异性转化试验指数为4.05±0.31;疫苗加CpG组抗原特异性CTL率为82.27±22.64,在统计学上差异显著(P<0.05);而HBsAb、INF-γ、IL-12的结果分别为51.85±14.41、802.25±104.25和373.62±66.58,与对照组及疫苗组比较,差异显著(P<0.05)。CpG ODN能作为一种新的免疫佐剂更好地增强重组乙肝表面抗原蛋白疫苗诱导小鼠产生高效的体液和细胞免疫应答。     

Priming MHC-I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to exogenous hepatitis B surface antigen is CD4+ T cell dependent.

MHC-I (Ld)-restricted, S28-39-specific CTL responses are efficiently primed in H-2d BALB/c mice injected with low doses of native hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) lipoprotein particles without adjuvants. Priming of this CTL response by exogenous HBsAg required CD4+ T cell "help" and IL-12: this CTL response could be neither induced in mice depleted of CD4+ T cells by in vivo Ab treatment, nor in (CD4+ T cell-competent or CD4+ T cell-depleted) IL-12-unresponsive STAT4-/- knockout BALB/c mice. Codelivery of oligonucleotides (ODN) with immunostimulating CpG sequences (ISS) with exogenous HBsAg reconstituted the CTL response to exogenous HBsAg in CD4+ T cell-depleted normal mice and in CD4+ T cell-competent and CD4+ T cell-depleted STAT4-/- BALB/c mice. Injection (by different routes) of "naked" pCI/S plasmid DNA encoding HBsAg into IL-12-responsive or -unresponsive BALB/c mice efficiently primed the MHC-I-restricted, HBsAg-specific CTL response. CTL priming was not detectable when CD4+ T cell-depleted animals were subjected to genetic immunization. In vivo priming of the well-characterized CD8+ CTL response to HBsAg in "high responder" BALB/c mice either by exogenous surface lipoprotein particles or by DNA vaccination is thus CD4+ T cell dependent. CTL priming by exogenous HBsAg, but not by genetic immunization, is IL-12 dependent. The dependence of CTL priming by exogenous HBsAg on CD4+ T cells can be overcome by codelivering ODN with ISS motifs, and this "adjuvants effect" operates efficiently in IL-12-unresponsive mice. The data characterize a feature of the adjuvant effect of ISS-containing ODN on CTL priming that may be of major interest for the design of CTL-stimulating vaccines with efficacy in immunodeficiency conditions.     

Identification of oncofetal antigen/immature laminin receptor protein epitopes that activate BALB/c mouse OFA/iLRP-specific effector and regulatory T cell clones

During tumor development in mice and humans, oncofetal Ag/immature laminin receptor (OFA/iLRP)-specific Th1, CTL, and IL-10-secreting T (Ts) cells are induced. The presence of too many Ts or too few effector T cells appears to predict a poor prognosis. We established clones of OFA/iLRP-specific splenic Th1, CTL, and Ts cells from the OFA/iLRP+ MCA1315 fibrosarcoma-bearing BALB/c mice or from BALB/c mice vaccinated with 1 or 10 microg of rOFA/iLRP. The MCA1315 tumor cell-reactive T cell clones were characterized as to surface Ag phenotype, cytokine secretion profile, and specificity for OFA/iLRP presented by syngeneic splenic APC. OFA/iLRP-specific Th1 and Ts clones were established from all mice. OFA/iLRP-specific CTL could be established from all mice except for mice immunized with 10 microg of rOFA/iLRP. Analysis of the proliferation profile of the OFA/iLRP-specific clones to overlapping OFA/iLRP 12-mer peptides that spanned the OFA/iLRP protein sequence defined the epitopes to which the T cell clones responded. There was a similar spatial distribution of the epitopes to which the two types of CD8 T cell clones responded. The nonapeptide epitopes of the Ts clones were located between aa 36 and 147 of OFA/iLRP, while the epitopes of the CTL clones were located between aa 52 and 163. Even though the CTL and Ts epitopes shared part of the protein, all of the CD8 CTL epitopes were distinct and separable from those of CD8 Ts cells.     

T-cell responses induced by the parenteral injection of antigen-modified syngeneic cells. II. Mechanisms, specificity, and cellular analysis of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP)-specific cytolytic response priming by intravenous versus subcutaneous injection with TNP-modified syngeneic cells

We have examined the underlying mechanisms accounting for the enhanced in vitro TNP-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response following the parenteral injection of syngeneic hapten-modified lymphoid cells. Augmented CTL activity noted following parenteral injection (iv vs sc) of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol-modified syngeneic spleen cells (TNP-SC) is most apparent when limiting numbers of TNP-modified stimulator cells are used in the in vitro sensitization phase. Enhanced CTL responses seen following sc and iv priming is due to distinct mechanisms. Spleen and lymph node (LN) cells from sc primed mice were found to contain significant levels of radioresistant helper activity upon coculture with either viable normal spleen cells in bulk culture or with thymocytes as the source of precursor CTLs in a limiting dilution assay. The helper activity was found to be mediated by a Lyt 1+2- T cells. In addition, Lyt 2-depleted spleen and LN cells from sc primed BALB/c mice could restore the ability of tolerant spleen cells from 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-injected BALB/c mice to generate TNP-specific CTLs. Conversely, Lyt 2-depleted spleen and LN cells from iv primed mice provided no measurable helper activity either in bulk culture or in the limiting dilution assay and did not restore the ability of TNBS-tolerant BALB/c spleen cells to generate TNP-specific CTLs. CTL priming via the iv route was found to be completely antigen specific as iv injection of either 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)- or fluorescein isothiocyanatel (FITC)-modified cells caused no enhanced CTL activity. Priming via the sc route exhibited a unique specificity pattern as it was shown that sc injection of both TNP-SC and DNP-SC, but not FITC-SC, resulted in enhanced TNP-specific CTL responses. CTL T-helper (Th)-cell induction via the sc route was correlated with (1) the presence of H-2 I region determinants on the inducer cells as the sc injection of TNP-modified erythrocytes led to no enhanced CTL responses or CTL Th activity (while iv injection of TNP-erythrocytes did lead to enhanced CTL responses without detectable helper activity) and (2) the detection of both hapten-specific T-cell proliferation and Interleukin 2 (IL-2) production upon restimulation in culture. We conclude that the sc injection of TNP-SC leads preferentially to an increase of specific Lyt 1+ helper activity, while iv injection leads preferentially to an apparent expansion of Lyt 2+ prelytic effector CTLs.     

Individual analysis of mice vaccinated against a weakly immunogenic self tumor-specific antigen reveals a correlation between CD8 T cell response and antitumor efficacy

The weakly immunogenic murine P1A Ag is a useful experimental model for the development of new vaccination strategies that could potentially be used against human tumors. An i.m. DNA-based immunization procedure, consisting of three inoculations with the P1A-coding pBKCMV-P1A plasmid at 10-day intervals, resulted in CTL generation in all treated BALB/c mice. Surprisingly, gene gun skin bombardment with the pBKCMV-P1A vector did not induce CTL, nor was it protective against a lethal challenge with the syngeneic P1A-positive J558 tumor cell line. To speed up the immunization procedure, we pretreated the tibialis anterior muscles with cardiotoxin, which induces degeneration of myocytes while sparing immature satellite cells. The high muscle-regenerative activity observable after cardiotoxin inoculation was associated with infiltration of inflammatory cells and expression of proinflammatory cytokines. A single pBKCMV-P1A plasmid inoculation in cardiotoxin-treated BALB/c mice allowed for sustained expansion of P1A-specific CTL and the induction of strong lytic activity in <2 wk. Cardiotoxin adjuvanticity could not be replaced by another muscle-degenerating substance, such as bupivacaine, or by MF59, a Th1 response-promoting adjuvant. Although this vaccination schedule failed to induce tumor rejection in all immunized mice, the analysis of CD8 T cell responses at an individual mouse level disclosed that the cytotoxic activity of P1A-specific CTL was correlated to the antitumor efficacy. These results highlight the critical need to identify reliable, specific immunological parameters that may predict success or failure of an immune response against cancer.     

Construction and characterization of a recombinant fowlpox virus containing HIV-1 multi-epitope-p24 chimeric gene in mice

The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is sweeping across the world. It is of great importance to figure out new ways to curb this disease. Epitope-based vaccine is one of these solutions. In this study, a chimeric gene was obtained by combination of a designed HIV-1 multi-epitope gene (MEG) and HIV-1 p24 gene. A recombinant plasmid pUTA2-MEGp24 was then constructed by inserting MEGp24 gene into the down-stream of the promoter (ATI-P7.5×20) of fowlpox virus (FPV) transfer vector pUTA2. The recombinant plasmid and wild-type FPV 282E4 strain were then co-transfected into CEF cells and homologous recombination occurred. A recombinant virus expressing HIV-1 protein MEGp24 was screened by genome PCR and Western blot assay. Large scale preparation and purification of the recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV) were then carried out. BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with the rFPV for three times on day 0, 14 and 42. Mice were executed and sampled one week after the third inoculation.Anti-HIV-1 antibody in serum and Th1 cytokines in the supernatant of cultured spleen cells were assayed by ELISA. The count of T lymphocyte subsets and the CTL activity of spleen lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, respectively. The results showed that HIV-1 specific antibody in serum and increased T lymphocyte subsets (CD4+ T, CD8+ T)were detected in the immunization group. CTL target-killing activity and higher secretion of Th1 cytokines (IFN-Y and IL-2) of spleen lymphocytes stimulated by H-2d-restricted CTL peptide were observed in immunized mice.We concluded that the rFPV may induce HIV-1 specific immunity especially cellular immunity in mice.     

alpha-Galactosylceramide can act as a nasal vaccine adjuvant inducing protective immune responses against viral infection and tumor

alpha-Galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) is a ligand of invariant Valpha14+ NKT cells and is presented by CD1d molecule on APC. NKT cells produce a large amount of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in response to alpha-GalCer-presented APC. In this study, we assessed whether alpha-GalCer could act as an effective nasal vaccine adjuvant for mucosal vaccine that would be capable of inducing systemic as well as mucosal immune responses. When alpha-GalCer was administered with OVA via the intranasal route to C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, significant OVA-specific mucosal secretory IgA, systemic IgG, and CTL responses were induced with mixed Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles seen in both strains of mice. Interestingly, as BALB/c mice were intranasally immunized with PR8 hemagglutinin Ag isolated from influenza virus A/PR/8/34 together with alpha-GalCer, significant protection was afforded against influenza viral infection. When alpha-GalCer was coimmunized with a replication-deficient live adenovirus to BALB/c mice, it significantly induced both humoral and cellular immune responses. In addition, intranasal administration of OVA with alpha-GalCer showed complete protection against EG7 tumor challenge in C57BL/6. The adjuvant effects induced by intranasal coadministration with alpha-GalCer were blocked in CD1d-/- mice, indicating that the immune responses were exclusively mediated by CD1d molecule on APC. Most interestingly, intranasally coadministered alpha-GalCer activated naive T cells and triggered them to differentiate into functional effector T cells when CFSE-labeled OT-1 cells were adoptively transferred into syngeneic mice. Overall, our results are the first to show that alpha-GalCer can act as a nasal vaccine adjuvant inducing protective immune responses against viral infections and tumors.     

Immunization with synthetic peptides containing a defined malaria epitope induces a highly diverse cytotoxic T lymphocyte response. Evidence that two peptide residues are buried in the MHC molecule.

In the present study, we have explored ways of inducing a CTL response to a previously defined H-2Kd MHC class I restricted epitope in the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium berghei, and studied in detail the fine specificity of the response. We found that the s.c. injection of a variety of synthetic peptides emulsified in Freund's adjuvant efficiently induced a specific CTL response in (BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1 (H-2d x H-2b) mice. In contrast, BALB/c mice responded only marginally, consistent with the possible requirement for a concomitant Th response that would be provided by the C57BL/6 strain. Similar to our previous observations in analyzing CTL clones from sporozoite-immunized mice, the CTL response induced by peptide immunization was in part cross-reactive with an epitope from the Plasmodium yoelii species. The minimal P. berghei CS epitope, the octapeptide PbCS 253-260, was studied in detail by the analysis of a series of variant CS peptides containing single Ala substitutions. The relative antigenic activity for each variant peptide was calculated for 28 different CTL clones. Overall, the response to this P. berghei CTL epitope appeared to be extremely diverse in terms of fine specificity. This was evident among the CTL derived from sporozoite-immunized mice, as well as among those from peptide-immunized animals. The heterogeneity found at the functional level correlates with the highly diverse TCR repertoire that we have found for the same series of CTL clones in a study that is reported separately. The relative competitor activity for each Ala-substituted peptide was also determined in a quantitative functional competition assay. For the residues (Tyr253 and Ile260) within the 8-mer CS peptide, substitution with Ala reduced competitor activity by at least 40-fold, and for two others the reduction was 5- to 10-fold. When the relative antigenic activity for each CTL/peptide combination was normalized to the relative competitor activity of the peptide, a striking pattern emerged. The two residues that most affected competitor activity showed no additional effect on recognition beyond that observed for competition. In marked contrast, Ala substitutions at the other five positions tested varied widely, depending on the CTL/peptide combination. This pattern not only supports a model whereby the Tyr253 and Ile260 residues anchor the peptide to the Kd molecule, but also implies that they are virtually inaccessible to the TCR.     

Cytolytic T lymphocytes from the BALB/c-H-2dm2 mouse recognize the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein and are restricted by class II MHC antigens.

BALB/c-H-2dm2 mice (H-2KdI-AdI-EdDd), a congenic strain of BALB/c mice, have a deletion of the class I MHC Ag, H-2Ld. This gene encodes the exclusive class I MHC-restricting gene product for vesicular stomatitis virus-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes. When dm2 mice were immunized with infectious vesicular stomatitis virus, a specific CTL response was generated. These CTL lysed VSV-infected targets that expressed Iad gene products, but not VSV-infected Iad- targets. The CTL were used initially as long term cytolytic lines; 13 CTL clones were derived by limit dilution. All of the clones expressed the phenotype CD3+, CD4+, CD8-; some clones expressed TCR that are members of the V beta 8 family, others did not. The clones were restricted by class II MHC Ag, both I-Ad and I-Ed serving as restricting elements for individual clones of the panel. All of the clones derived from dm2 mice were specific for the immunizing serotype, Indiana, of VSV and did not lyse syngeneic cells infected with VSV of the New Jersey serotype. Studies using defective interfering virus particles, UV light-inactivated virus, and purified micelles of the viral glycoprotein indicated that infectious virus was not required for sensitization of target cells for immune recognition by the class II MHC-restricted CTL clones. Additional studies using recombinant vaccinia virus vectors to sensitize targets confirmed the specificity of the clones for the viral glycoprotein. These studies also demonstrated a cryptic population of class II-restricted CTL in BALB/c lines specific for VSV G. Naturally occurring variant viruses and mutant viruses, selected for escape from neutralization by mAb, were used in an effort to map the determinant(s) recognized; on the basis of patterns of target cell lysis, three groups of epitopes recognized by the clones were defined. Therefore, in the absence of the class I MHC Ag required for a CTL response to VSV, dm2 mice generated CTL with the CD4+ phenotype that recognized different epitopes on the viral glycoprotein, and lysed cells in a class II-MHC restricted, Ag-specific manner.     

Polyclonal activation of the murine immune system by an antibody to IgD. X. Evidence that the precursors of IgG1-secreting cells are newly generated membrane IgD+B cells rather than the B cells that are initially activated by anti-IgD antibody

Injection of BALB/c mice with an affinity-purified goat antibody to mouse IgD (GaM delta) stimulates T cell-independent B cell activation as well as later T cell activation. Activated T cells then induce polyclonal differentiation of B cells into IgG1-secreting cells, which results in an approximately 100-fold increase in serum IgG1 level. It is not known whether the same B cells that are initially activated by GaM delta are the progenitors of the IgG1-secreting cells. To investigate this issue a system was developed in which CB20 mice, which are congenic to BALB/c mice but express Ig of the beta allotype rather than the BALB/c alpha allotype, were injected with GaM delta and simultaneously or subsequently also received BALB/c B cells. The IgG1 response generated by the donor BALB/c B cells was quantitated by an assay specific for IgG1 of the alpha allotype. Our experiments with this system indicate that: 1) BALB/c B cells transferred 2 days after CB20 mice were injected with GaM delta generate a much larger IgG1 response than do BALB/c B cells transferred simultaneously with GaM delta antibody; 2) B cells that express membrane IgD generate the great majority of this response; 3) differences in the magnitudes of the responses of BALB/c B cells transferred at different times after CB20 mice were injected with GaM delta antibody cannot be explained by differences in homing of the donor B cells to the host spleen or by short survival of donor BALB/c B cells after their transfer; and 4) the response made by donor BALB/c B cells transferred 2 days after CB20 mice were injected with GaM delta is proportionate to donor cell representation in the host spleen 1 day after their transfer, whereas the response made by donor cells transferred simultaneously with GaM delta is disproportionately small. These observations suggest that most of the IgG1 antibody made by GaM delta-injected mice is generated by newly produced, mIgD+ B cells that appear approximately 2 days after GaM delta injection, rather than by those B cells that are present in the spleen at the time of GaM delta injection, and support the view that signals that induce B cell secretion of Ig require an interaction with at least partially activated Th cells.     

The early IL-4 response to Leishmania major and the resulting Th2 cell maturation steering progressive disease in BALB/c mice are subject to the control of regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells

Susceptibility and development of Th2 cells in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major result from early IL-4 production by Vbeta4Valpha8 CD4+ T cells in response to the Leishmania homolog of mammalian RACK1 Ag. A role for CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the control of this early IL-4 production was investigated by depleting in vivo this regulatory T cell population. Depletion induced an increase in the early burst of IL-4 mRNA in the draining lymph nodes of BALB/c mice, and exacerbated the course of disease with higher levels of IL-4 mRNA and protein in their lymph nodes. We further showed that transfer of 10(7) BALB/c spleen cells that were depleted of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells rendered SCID mice susceptible to infection and allowed Th2 differentiation while SCID mice reconstituted with 10(7) control BALB/c spleen cells were resistant to infection with L. major and developed a Th1 response. Treatment with a mAb against IL-4 upon infection with L. major in SCID mice reconstituted with CD25-depleted spleen cells prevented the development of Th2 polarization and rendered them resistant to infection. These results demonstrate that CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells play a role in regulating the early IL-4 mRNA and the subsequent development of a Th2 response in this model of infection.