Interleukin 2 responses of lpr and normal L3T4-/Lyt-2- T cells induced by TPA plus A23187

The major population of cells that accumulate abnormally in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr lymphoid tissue is Thy-1+, L3T4-, and Lyt-2-. To clarify the functional potential of these cells, we examined their proliferation, interleukin 2 (IL 2) receptor expression, and IL 2 secretion by using as stimulants the combination of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-2-acetate and A23187 (a calcium ionophore). Although the lpr T cells were capable of responding to these stimulants, the nature of the response and of the concentrations of ligand required differed sharply from the responses of normal adult T cells, and of adult L3T4-Lyt-2- thymocytes. There was a strong similarity but not identity when responses of 16 day fetal thymocytes were compared with those of lpr L3T4-Lyt-2- cells. The unusual functional properties of the lpr cells, such as high A23187 dose requirement for maximal proliferation, low percentage of IL 2 receptor-expressing cells, and low levels of IL 2 secretion, suggested that these cells are arrested at a stage of development similar to that of 16-day fetal thymocytes and before adult L3T4-/Lyt-2- thymocytes.     

Growth and differentiation in vitro of the accumulating Lyt-2-/L3T4- subset in lpr mice

Mice bearing the recessive gene lpr develop an autoimmune syndrome associated with a massive lymphadenopathy, both of which are age and thymus dependent. The predominant accumulating cells in lymphoid tissue of lpr/lpr mice are Thy-1+ but express neither of the mature T cell markers, Lyt-2 or L3T4. We have purified this Lyt-2-/L3T4- subset and examined its phenotype. These cells are not actively cycling, do not express interleukin-2 (IL 2) receptors nor significant levels of antigen receptor, but do express the B cell marker B220. In vitro growth conditions were examined for the lpr Lyt-2-/L3T4- subset. By using a combination of phorbol ester and IL 2, these cells acquired transient expression of IL 2 receptors and grew in an IL 2-dependent manner. Furthermore, these proliferating cells underwent differentiation to a more mature T cell phenotype, with loss of cell surface B220 and acquisition, by a portion, of antigen receptor and Lyt-2. The possible parallels with normal T cell maturation are discussed.     

Molecular basis of elevated c-myb expression in the abnormal L3T4-, Lyt-2- T lymphocytes of autoimmune mice

The presence of the lpr/lpr genotype on a number of murine genetic backgrounds results in a systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease and lymphadenopathy. The T lymphocytes of these mice exhibit a variety of abnormalities; most pertinent to the present report is an abnormally high level of c-myb proto-oncogene mRNA. Since the c-myb protein is presumably the effector molecule that affects cellular functions, it is important to determine whether increased levels of this c-myb protein are produced. With the use of immunoprecipitation with an anti-v-myb reagent, we found high levels of c-myb protein in the lymph nodes of lpr mice. Detailed analysis showed that the c-myb protein is primarily expressed by an abnormal T lymphocyte population that does not express the mature T cell markers, L3T4 and Lyt-2. Analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that the c-myb proteins from normal thymocytes and from these L3T4-, Lyt-2-T cells are indistinguishable. DNA analysis with Southern hybridizations showed the lack of amplification, insertions, deletions, and rearrangements, which is in accord with results from the protein studies. Most interestingly, the c-myb gene in lpr L3T4-, Lyt-2- T cells is hypomethylated compared with normal controls. This suggests that a regulatory mechanism, rather than the structural alteration of the gene, is responsible for elevated expression of c-myb in these L3T4-, Lyt-2- cells.     

Antigen-specific Lyt-2+ cytolytic T lymphocytes from mice infected with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes

In vitro expanded T cell lines were used to determine whether antigen-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes are generated after infection with the intracellular bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes. Spleen cells from infected mice were cultured in the presence of syngeneic accessory cells, listerial antigen, and interleukin 2 containing supernatants. Cell lines were greater than 98% Thy-1+, L3T4-, Lyt-2+. Bone-marrow macrophages were used as target cells in two in vitro cytolytic assay systems. The Lyt-2+ T cells killed bone marrow macrophages only when infected with L. monocytogenes as assessed in a 4-hr 51Cr release assay and in an 18-hr neutral red uptake assay. Cytolysis was blocked by anti-LFA-1 and anti-Lyt-2 monoclonal antibodies. These cytolytic T cells produced interferon-gamma after co-stimulation with antigen, accessory cells, and recombinant interleukin 2. Bone marrow macrophages infected with Mycobacterium bovis were not killed by T cells from L. monocytogenes-infected mice but by T cell lines from M. bovis-infected mice, indicating that cytolysis was antigen specific. L. monocytogenes-infected target cells of different haplotype were lysed by the Lyt-2+ T cells. By using a low cell density split culture system, antigen-specific, H-2-restricted cytolytic T cells could be identified. These findings demonstrate that during infection with intracellular bacteria, Lyt-2+ T cells with cytolytic activity are generated that may be involved in antibacterial protection.     

Class II antigen-specific murine cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). I. Analysis of bulk populations and establishment of Lyt-2+L3T4- and Lyt-2-L3T4+ bulk CTL lines

Murine allogeneic cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs), including long-term bulk CTL lines, were induced in I-region-incompatible combinations of strains in vitro in order to study the phenotypes of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen-specific CTLs, as well as the possible functional involvement of accessory cell interaction molecules such as Lyt-2 and L3T4. This report shows that class II-specific allogeneic CTL populations consist of two types of T cells. Lyt-2+L3T4- (2+4-) and Lyt-2-L3T4+ (2-4+), in variable proportions depending on the strain combination, that in vitro bulk CTL lines with each of these phenotypes can be established, that the killing function of 2-4+ CTL is sensitive to the blocking effect of anti-L3T4 antibodies, suggesting functional involvement of this molecule in the CTL-target interaction, that anti-Lyt-2 antibodies fail to block killing by 2+4- cells, suggesting that such CTLs do not utilize this molecule in their killing function, and that while I-A-specific CTLs of both phenotypes are detectable, 2-4+ cells could not be detected among I-E-specific CTL populations.     

Isolation of a thymus-homing Lyt-2-, L3T4- T-cell line from mouse spleen

We have selectively isolated and transformed a population of T-cell-receptor+, Lyt-2-, L3T4- cytotoxic T cells from mouse spleen following stimulation in vivo with a radiation leukemia virus-induced thymoma, C6VL/1. The two sublines analyzed here were found to induce tumors with primarily thymic involvement and one of these has been shown to have specific homing capacity for the thymus. Properties displayed by this cell line are evidence that T cells do exist in peripheral lymphoid tissue which can traffic back to the thymus and that Lyt-2-, L3T4- immature T cells can enter peripheral lymphoid organs.     

Expression of L3T4 molecules on Lyt-2+, class II-restricted antigen-specific T suppressor lymphocytes

Three bovine serum albumin-specific Lyt-2⁺ T suppressor (Ts) cell clones from CBA/J mice have been analyzed with regard to expression of L3T4 molecules. All three Ts-cell clones can be stained with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to L3T4. Tested for the two clones restricted to recognition of E^k determinants, antigen-specific proliferation on antigen-presenting cells, but not the proliferation induced by conditioned medium can be inhibited by L314-specific mAb. In a similar way, Ts-cell cytolytic effector functions can be blocked by L3T4-specific mAb. Thus L3T4 structures seem to play a role in Ts-cell functions. Furthermore, the data support the view that L3T4 expression can be a property of class II-restricted T cells irrespective of their Lyt phenotype.     

Phenotypic identification of memory cytolytic T lymphocytes in a subset of Lyt-2+ cells

Murine peripheral Lyt-2+ T cells could be subdivided according to surface expression of the Pgp-1 glycoprotein into major (71%) Pgp-1- and minor (29%) Pgp-1+ subsets. A striking correlation was observed between Pgp-1 expression and enrichment for antigen-specific memory cytolytic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp). After immunization with the male minor transplantation antigen H-Y, virtually all the H-Y-specific CTLp were found in the minor Pgp-1+ subset of Lyt-2+ cells. In addition, after alloimmunization the frequency of allospecific CTLp resistant to inhibition by anti-Lyt-2 antibody was markedly enriched within the Pgp-1+ cells, suggesting an enrichment for CTLp bearing high avidity antigen receptors. Taken together, these data suggest that surface Pgp-1 expression is stably acquired at the time of primary antigenic stimulation by virgin T cells. As such, Pgp-1 represents an important marker for identifying a subset of Lyt-2+ T cells with the quantitative and qualitative properties of memory CTLp.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of a c-Src-like protein is increased in membranes of CD4- CD8- T lymphocytes from lpr/lpr mice.

Mice homozygous for the autosomal recessive lpr gene have a disorder that results in autoimmunity and massive accumulation of T lymphocytes lacking CD4 and CD8 surface markers. These abnormal T cells exhibit constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of a component of the CD3-T-cell receptor complex. We compared membrane tyrosine phosphorylation in lpr/lpr CD4- CD8- T cells and control T cells, lpr membranes exhibited a 7.3-fold increase (n = 16) in tyrosine phosphorylation of a 60-kilodalton protein. The increase was correlated with the Lpr but not the CD4- CD8- phenotype in that p60 phosphorylation was not increased in membranes from normal CD4- CD8- thymocytes. To identify the p60 in lpr cells, we examined the activity of several T-cell tyrosine-specific protein kinases. p56lck phosphorylation was only slightly increased in lpr membranes (2.2-fold; n = 16). Phorbol ester treatment of intact T cells before membrane isolation caused p56lck to migrate as pp60lck; however, pp60lck could be clearly distinguished from the pp60 in lpr cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The pp60 from lpr cells exhibited several isoforms at pH approximately 6.3 to 6.5. Although on two-dimensional gels pp60c-src had a pI (6.4 to 6.8) within a similar region, p60c-src mRNA, protein, and kinase activities were not increased in lpr cells. In addition, staphylococcal V8 proteolytic cleavage of the lpr pp60 isolated on two-dimensional gels yielded two major fragments, a pattern distinct from that of pp60c-src. However, by using an antiserum against the C-terminal sequence of c-Src and other related kinases, including p59fyn, the pp60 could be immunoprecipitated in greater amounts from lpr than from control T cells. When pp59(fyn) was selectively immunoprecipitated from T-cell membranes with specific antisera, its molecular weight, proteolytic cleavage pattern, and behavior on two-dimensional gels were identical to those of the pp60 from lpr cells. We conclude that p59(fyn) phosphorylation is increased in membranes from lpr/lpr CD4(-) CD8(-) T cells and that the increase is correlated with constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation and perhaps with the expansion of this unusual T-cell population.     

Up-regulation of interleukin 4 receptor expression on immature (Lyt-2-/L3T4-) thymocytes

In this report, the effect of interleukin 4 (IL-4) on the growth and differentiation of Lyt-2-/L3T4-(2-4-) thymocytes was investigated. It was found that these thymocytes proliferated extensively when cultured in the presence of IL-4 + phorbol myristate acetate without apparent differentiation to Lyt-2+ or L3T4+ cells. We also demonstrated that 2-4- thymocytes constitutively express a high affinity (dissociation constant of 20 to 40 pM) receptor for IL-4. Freshly isolated 2-4- thymocytes expressed on average about 100 IL-4 receptors per cell, but the number of receptors increased approximately 8-fold within 3 days after activation by IL-4 + phorbol myristate acetate. These findings suggest that IL-4 may play an important role in T cell ontogeny by promoting self-renewal of stem cells within the thymus.     

Dual regulation of resistance against Toxoplasma gondii infection by Lyt-2+ and Lyt-1+, L3T4+ T cells in mice

Studies were performed to attempt to define the T cell subset responsible for resistance to Toxoplasma gondii. A temperature-sensitive mutant (ts-4) strain of T. gondii was used for immunization because it causes infection but does not persist in the host. Immunization with this strain induced marked resistance against lethal challenge infection with virulent strains of T. gondii in mice. The resistance could be transferred to normal recipient mice by i.v. injection of spleen cells from ts-4-immunized mice. Marked inhibition of cyst formation in the recipient mice was also noted. The protective activity of immune spleen cells was removed by pretreatment of the spleen cells with anti-Thy-1.2 and C, indicating that T cells are responsible for the observed protection. Pretreatment of immune spleen cells with anti-Lyt-2.2 and C completely ablated their protective effect; pretreatment with anti-Lyt-1.2 or anti-L3T4 and C had lesser effects on their ability to transfer resistance. The effect of anti-Lyt-1.2 was the same as that obtained with anti-L3T4. This suggested that one T cell subset that is partially responsible for protection has both Lyt-1.2 and L3T4 markers on the cell surface. These results indicate that there are substantial roles for both the Lyt-2+ and Lyt-1+, L3T4 T cell subsets in dual regulation of resistance against toxoplasma infection and that Lyt-2+ T cells are the principal mediator of the resistance.     

Frequency analysis of class I MHC-reactive Lyt-2+ and class II MHC-reactive L3T4+ IL 2-secreting T lymphocytes

The reactivity of Lyt-2+ or L3T4+ T cells stimulated with either mutant class I or class II MHC alloantigens was studied. Whereas stimulation with class I MHC antigens induced only Lyt-2+ T cells to proliferate and to secrete IL 2, stimulation with class II MHC alloantigens induced L3T4+ but not Lyt-2+ T cells. When the frequencies of precursors of IL 2-secreting T lymphocytes (IL 2TL-p) were determined by limiting dilution analyses, class I MHC-reactive Lyt-2+ T cells displayed frequencies (f = 1/200) as high in magnitude as those within class II MHC-reactive L3T4+ (f = 1/100). Clonally developing IL 2TL of either T cell subset were antigen-specific, as shown in split-culture experiments. Whereas L3T4+ helper TL could be induced to specific IL 2 secretion over a long time period (days 3 to 9), Lyt-2+ TL showed a marked time optimal on day 4; thereafter, the number of TL colonies inducible to secrete IL 2 decreased steadily. IL 2 production and IL 2TL-p frequencies of unseparated T responder cells were not the numerical superposition of the two individual T cell subsets (Lyt-2+ + L3T4+); the latter finding is likely to reflect regulatory influences of Lyt-2+ T cells on IL 2-secreting L3T4+ T cells.     

Induction and activity of class II-restricted, Lyt-2+ cytolytic T lymphocytes specific for the influenza H5 hemagglutinin

In influenza A virus infections, CTL are a significant component of the host immune response which limits viral replication and promotes recovery. To examine the CTL response to the influenza virus A/Ty/Ont/7732/66[H5N9], particularly the H5 hemagglutinin, a long term CTL line was generated from spleen cells of A/Ty/Ont-immune Balb/c [H-2d] mice secondarily stimulated in vitro with A/Ty/Cal/Hurst-2/71[H5N2]. This CTL line was highly specific for influenza viruses of the H5 subtype. From this line, clones were isolated by limiting dilution and shown to be H5 hemagglutinin-specific based on recognition of an H5 vaccinia virus recombinant (H5 Vac). The clones exhibited the classical CTL surface phenotype Lyt-1-2+L3T4-; however, unlike the typically class I-restricted Lyt-2+ CTL, they were restricted in antigen recognition by class II (I-E) MHC molecules based on target cell recognition and antibody blocking of cytotoxicity. The clones recognized both infectious and non-infectious A/Ty/Ont presented by class II+ target cells. In adoptive transfer studies to assess the biologic role of the clones in vivo, these class II-restricted clones did not appear to alter mortality. However, these cells significantly reduced both morbidity and virus titers in the lungs of infected animals at 5 days post-infection. Thus, in the immune response to this virus, class II-restricted Lyt-2+ CTL specific for the H5 hemagglutinin were readily generated and their biologic role in vivo involved viral clearance.     

Functional status of interleukin 2 receptors expressed by immature (Lyt-2-/L3T4-) thymocytes

A subpopulation of phenotypically immature (Lyt-2-/L3T4-) thymocytes express receptors for the polypeptide hormone interleukin 2 (IL 2); however, these cells do not proliferate in vitro in response to IL 2. In investigating this phenomenon in greater detail, we observed that the IL 2 receptors (IL 2-R) on freshly isolated immature thymocytes bound IL 2 with about fivefold lower affinity (Kd approximately 100 pM) than IL 2-R on activated mature T cells and T cell lines (Kd approximately 20 pM). Furthermore, in contrast to activated T cells, Lyt-2-/L3T4- thymocytes did not endocytose bound IL 2. When stimulated in short-term culture with a combination of phorbol ester (PMA) and calcium ionophore, Lyt-2-/L3T4- thymocytes proliferated in a largely IL 2-dependent fashion. IL 2-R expression on these activated cells initially disappeared (at 24 hr) and subsequently reappeared (at 48 to 72 hr). Reexpressed IL 2-R on activated thymocytes resembled those on mature T lymphocytes in that they bound IL 2 with high affinity (Kd = 15 to 25 pM) and were capable of endocytosing IL 2. Taken together, these data place certain constraints on the putative physiologic role of IL 2 in intrathymic growth regulation.     

Generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes in vitro. VIII. failure of anti-RS antisera to inhibit the generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes or cytolytic T lymphocyte activity.

Antibody reactive with "recognition structures" (RS) of mouse lymphoid cells for alloantigens (anti-RS) was prepared by immunization of F1 hybrid mice with parentalstrain lymphoid cells or with antibody produced in one parental strain against alloantigens of the other parental strain. Such antisera prevented generation of the "product of antigenic recognition" (PAR) that is produced within a few hours in cultures prepared with a mixture of lymphoid cells from genetically disparate mice. However, treatment of responding lymphoid cells with anti-RS sera and complement did not inhibit generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC). Treatment of cells obtained from MLC with anti-RS sera and complement failed to inhibit cytolytic activity of such cells for specific alloantigens.     

T cell lineages in the thymus of lpr/lpr mice. Evidence for parallel pathways of normal and abnormal T cell development

Autoimmune mice homozygous for the lpr/lpr (lpr) gene develop a profound lymphadenopathy resulting from the accumulation of immature Thy-1+ Lyt-2- L3T4- cells in peripheral lymphoid tissues. The source of these cells is not known although the presence of a thymus is necessary to manifest both the lymph node enlargement and the autoimmunity. For this reason and the fact that the abnormal lpr cell phenotypically resembles immature thymocytes, we studied the thymus in lpr mice. Adult lpr thymuses were found to contain an immature population phenotypically identical to the peripherally accumulating cells, including the expression of B220 and Pgp-1 antigens as well as the presence of surface T cell receptor molecules as defined by the antibody KJ16-133. Evidence is presented that some of these lpr precursor T cells are capable of intrathymic differentiation, whereas the vast majority are exported unchanged to the lymph nodes where a portion differentiate further into mature T cells. This lpr-specific lineage could be distinguished from a normal component of the lpr thymus by surface phenotype and immunohistology. The results suggest that the massive accumulation of cells in lpr lymph nodes is not so much the result of abnormal proliferation of T cells as abnormal intrathymic differentiation. In addition, a minor subpopulation of normal Lyt-2- L3T4- thymocytes was identified that resembles the phenotype of the lpr cell and similarly expresses surface T cell receptor molecules. The presence of two parallel lineages in the lpr thymus thus also provides insight into normal T cell development.