人白细胞介素－2的两个部分拮抗剂

通过定点诱变技术得到6个生物活性剧烈下降的人白细胞介素-2(IL-2)突变体,其中两个突变体即15Val-IL-2和126Asp-IL-2可以在一定浓度范围内使IL-2的生物效应降低.在对高亲和力IL-2受体(IL-2R)的竞争抑制实验中,15Val-IL-2和126Asp-IL-2又表现了一定的竞争能力.这些结果表明15Val-IL-2和126Asp-IL-2的部分拮抗天然IL-2的作用.结合IL-2二级结构分析及对IL-2与IL-2R相互作用的已有认识,可认为15Val-IL-2和126Asp-IL-2的部分拮抗作用产生的原因在于替换残基在空间上对IL-2与IL-2R βγ亚基结合微环境的轻微扰动,干扰了IL-2有关残基与IL-2R βγ亚基的结合,但尚不能完全阻止其与IL-2R βγ亚基的结合.     

126Gln是人白细胞介素-2与其受体γ亚基结合的残基

人白细胞介素-2(IL-2)的126Gln是一个保守氨基酸,将126Gln突变为Asp后,测定了这一突变体与白细胞介素-2受体(IL-2R)不同亚基组合的结合能力,结果表明,突变体 126Asp-IL-2与 IL-2Rα βγ复合体可表现出较高的亲和力,与 IL-2 α,β复合体亲和力正常,而与 IL-2Rβγ复合体不具备亲和力.由此证实126Gln是人 IL-2与 IL-2Rγ亚基结合的残基.     

人白细胞介素-2结构与镇痛功能关系的研究

免疫调节因子白细胞介素-2(IL-2)具有中枢镇痛功能。实验采用基因定位突变技术,获得系列IL-2突变体,并测定其免疫学活性和镇痛能力,发现无免疫学活性的IL-2突变体20Leu-IL-2仍具有中枢镇痛能力,而44Leu-IL-2,45 Val-IL-2虽保留了免疫学活性,但其镇痛能力显著性下降或消失,阿片受体拮抗剂纳洛酮能够阻断IL-2的中枢镇痛作用,而不能影响IL-2对CTLL-2细胞的增殖作用。抗内源性阿片肽血清与IL-2能发生明显的交叉反应。实验结果提示,IL-2分子是通过由第45位Tyr残基及空间上相近的Phe残基等组成的镇痛功能位点与阿片受体相结合而发挥镇痛效应。     

白细胞介素－2镇痛功能位点的研究

白细胞介素-2(IL-2)是重要的免疫调节因子,近来发现还有中枢镇痛作用,用不同IL-2突变体测定其对大鼠痛阈的影响,发现完全丧失免疫刺激作用的20Leu-IL-2(20Asp→Leu)仍能显著提高大鼠的痛阈,其作用强度与天然IL-2无显著差异,而另一突变体45Val-IL-2(45Tyr→Val)虽保留免疫学活性却不能提高大鼠的痛阈.这些结果证明IL-2分子中具有镇痛作用与具有免疫作用的功能位点是相互独立的;IL-2分子中第45位Tyr对IL-2镇痛作用的发挥起重要作用.     

IL—2部分拮抗剂可用于IL—2突变体对受体亚基结合能…

用定点突变法分别得到了两个人白细胞介素－２（ＩＬ－２）的部分拮抗剂１５Ｖａｌ－ＩＬ－２和１２６Ａｓｐ－ＩＬ－２以及一个为ＩＬ－２受体ａ亚基结合缺陷型的突变体６２Ｌｅｕ－ＩＬ－２,当将１５Ｖａｌ－ＩＬ－２或１２６Ａｓｐ－ＩＬ－２与６２Ｌｅｕ－Ｉｌ－２共同保温时,６２Ｌｅｕ－ＩＬ－２的活性受到明显抑制,对此现象机理的分析表明１５Ｖａｌ－ＩＬ－２或１２６Ａｓｐ－ＩＬ－２可用于ＩＬ－２受体亚基结合缺陷型突     

白细胞介素—2中枢镇痛作用途径的作用

抗ＩＬ－２受体α亚基的单克隆抗体不能阻断ＩＬ－２的中枢镇痛作用,以及丧失与ＩＬ－２受体β亚基结合能力的ＩＬ－２突变体仍具有提高大鼠阈的能力,这表明ＩＬ－２的中枢镇痛作用并不是通过ＩＬ－２受体所介导,亦表示ＩＬ－２的免疫和镇痛作用是通过不同的受体途径实现的。     

白细胞介素－2中枢镇痛作用途径的探讨

抗ＩＬ－２受体α亚基的单克隆抗体不能阻断ＩＬ－２的中枢镇痛作用,以及丧失与ＩＬ－２受体β亚基结合能力的ＩＬ－２突变体仍具有提高大鼠痛阈的能力,这表明ＩＬ－２的中枢镇痛作用并不是通过ＩＬ－２受体所介导,亦表示ＩＬ－２的免疫和镇痛作用是通过不同的受体途径实现的。加之内源性阿片肽与ＩＬ－２分子有着共同的抗原决定基和结构相似性,提示ＩＬ－２可以与阿片受体直接结合产生中枢镇痛效应。从放射免疫法测定的ＩＬ－２侧脑室注射后不同时间大鼠脑内不同核团的内源性阿片肽含量,推测ＩＬ－２的中枢镇痛作用可能还与弓状核、室旁核、蓝斑等核团的β－ＥＰ和ＬＥＫ有关。     

白细胞介素－2分子α螺旋B中的活性相关区域

根据人白细胞介素－２（ＩＬ－２）ａ螺旋Ｂ中氨基酸残基的空间分布选择性地突变了一些氨基酸残基,结果发现．５７Ｇｌｎ→Ｇｌｎ,６２Ｇｌｎ→Ｌｅｕ,６２Ｇｌｎ→Ａｒｇ和６５Ｐｒｏ→Ａｒｇ这些替换均使ＩＬ－２活性显著降低或丧失,而６３Ｌｅｕ→Ｓｅｒ或６４Ｌｙｓ→Ａｌａ对ＩＬ－２活性影响不大。从受体竞争抑制结合实验结果可知,上述不表现活性的突变体也同时丧失了与高亲和力受体的结合能力,这说明α螺旋Ｂ中这些位点对ＩＬ－２与受体结合有贡献,事实上,那些直接与受体β、γ亚基结合的残基所在螺旋为Ａ、Ｄ螺旋而非α螺旋Ｂ,由此我们认为α螺旋Ｂ虽不直接参与与受体β、γ亚基结合,但它在空间结构上对ＩＬ－２与受体β、γ亚基的结合产生了有利的影响,而５７Ｇｌｎ、６２Ｇｌｎ、６５Ｐｒｏ等残基则在此过程中发挥重要作用。     

白细胞介素－2活化DNA结合因子的研究

用凝胶阻滞分析的方法, 发现鼠T淋巴细胞系CTLL-2在白细胞介素-2(IL-2)刺激下可活化一个DNA结合因子, 它与γ-干扰素活化序列(GAS)专一性结合, 命名这个DNA结合因子为白细胞介素-2活化核因子(IL-2-NAF).IL-2-NAF的活化非常迅速, 不需要新的蛋白质合成, 并且它的活化程度随着IL-2刺激细胞的时间的不同而发生相应的变化. 进一步研究表明, IL-2-NAF的活化过程是通过酪氨酸激酶的信号传递途径, 并且它本身的酪氨酸残基也被磷酸化, 酪氨酸残基的磷酸化为其结合DNA所必需. IL-4、γ-IFN刺激CTLL-2细胞不活化与GAS专一性结合的因子. 而在Hut-102细胞中, IL-2、IL-4均可活化GAS结合因子, 但活化程度较弱.     

新型基因重组白细胞介素-2的研究开发

本文根据IL- 2基因定点突变研究所提供的有关IL- 2结构和功能重要信息 ,特别是某些关键氨基酸残基的改变对IL- 2生物活性影响 ,探讨了IL- 2和IL- 2受体相互作用关系、新型IL- 2的研制方法和变异IL -2作用机制 ,并提出设计新型天然IL -2单位点到多位点突变的策略 ,从而指导研制更有效或毒副作用降低的新型IL- 2类似物。     

Direct regulation of IL-2 by curcumin

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a crucial growth factor for both regulatory and effector T cells. Thus, IL-2 plays a critical role in the stimulation and suppression of immune responses. Recently, anti-IL-2 antibodies (Abs) have been shown to possess strong IL-2 modulatory activities by affecting the interaction between IL-2 and IL-2 receptors. In this study, we screened an herbal library to identify a compound that regulates IL-2, which resulted in the identification of curcumin as a direct binder and inhibitor of IL-2. Curcumin is a phytochemical with well-known anti-cancer properties. In this study, curcumin mimicked or altered the binding pattern of anti-IL-2 Abs against IL-2 and remarkably inhibited the interaction of recombinant IL-2 with the IL-2 receptor α, CD25. Interestingly, curcumin neutralized the biological activities of IL-2 both in vitro and in vivo. In this report, we elucidated the unsolved mechanism of the anti-cancer effect of curcumin by identifying IL-2 as a direct molecular target. Curcumin, as a small molecule IL-2 modulator, has the potential to be used to treat IL-2 related pathologic conditions.     

126Gln is the residue of human IL-2 binding to IL-2R γ subunit

The 126Gln of human interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a conserved amino acid residue. After substitution of 126Gln with Asp, the binding abilities of this mutant to different composites of IL-2 receptor (R) subunits have been determined. Results show that 126AspIL-2 has higher affinity to IL-2R α β γ complex and normal affinity to IL-2R α β complex, but loses its binding ability to IL-2R β γ complex, demonstrating that the 126Gln is the residue of human IL-2 which binds to IL-2R γ subunit. Project supported by the “863” Project of China.     

Murine interleukin-2 receptor subunits differentially detected with anti-interleukin-2 monoclonal antibodies

Cross-linking of radioiodinated interleukin-2 to murine CTLL-2 cells enabled detection of 70 kDa, 85 kDa and 105 kDa complexes of IL-2 and its binding proteins under the high-affinity binding condition. A series of anti-interleukin-2 monoclonal antibodies (L15, L20, L23, L34, and L61) were tested for their activity to immunoprecipitate these cross-linked complexes. L61, which had strong neutralizing activity, precipitated only the 70 kDa complex. L15, L20, and L34, which also had neutralizing activity, precipitated not only the 70 kDa complex but also the 85 kDa complex. L23, which had practically no neutralizing activity, precipitated the 105 kDa complex as well as the 85 kDa complex. These results suggest that there are at least three distinct receptor binding sites for each receptor subunit on the interleukin-2 molecule, which are discernible by these monoclonal antibodies and that the 105 kDa complex may play a significant role in the formation of the high-affinity receptor complex and the signal transduction.     

Purified Protein from Salmonella typhimurium Inhibits the Interleukin-2 Response of Murine Splenic T-Lymphocytes Activated with Anti-CD3 Antibody

Previously, we demonstrated that the immunosuppression induced by a purified preparation of Salmonella typhimurium-derived inhibitor of T-cell proliferation (STI) can be observed in terms of suppression of the proliferation of murine spleen cells stimulated with a mitogenic lectin. In the present study, I observed that STI inhibited the interleukin-2 (IL-2) response of purified murine splenic T lymphocytes stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody. The flow cytometric analysis of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression on T cells showed that STI specifically suppressed the expression of IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ. Furthermore, when the IL-2-dependent T-cell line CTLL-2 was incubated with STI, the growth of CTLL-2 cells was significantly inhibited. These results suggest that the target cells for STI are T cells themselves, and that the suppression of T-cell proliferation induced by STI might involve a defect in the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) function of T cells.     

Utilization of the beta and gamma chains of the IL-2 receptor by the novel cytokine IL-15.

We have recently cloned a novel cytokine, IL-15, with shared bioactivities but no sequence homology with IL-2. We found high affinity IL-15 binding to many cell types, including cells of non-lymphoid origin. Analysis of IL-15 interaction with subunits of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) revealed that the alpha subunit was not involved in IL-15 binding. We demonstrated directly in cells transfected with IL-2R subunits that both the beta and gamma chains are required for IL-15 binding and signaling. Hence, IL-15, like IL-2, IL-4 and IL-7, utilizes the common IL-2R gamma subunit found to be defective in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency in humans. IL-15 is the only cytokine other than IL-2 that has also been shown to share the beta signaling subunit of IL-2R. The differential ability of some cells to bind and respond to IL-2 and IL-15 implies the existence of an additional IL-15-specific component.     

Interleukin-2 carbohydrate recognition modulates CTLL-2 cell proliferation

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) specifically recognizes high-mannose type glycans with five or six mannosyl residues. To determine whether the carbohydrate recognition activity of IL-2 contributes to its physiological activity, the inhibitory effects of high-mannose type glycans on IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 cell proliferation were investigated. Man(5)GlcNAc(2)Asn added to CTLL-2 cell cultures inhibited not only phosphorylation of tyrosine kinases but also IL-2-dependent cell proliferation. We found that a complex of IL-2, IL-2 receptor alpha, beta, gamma subunits, and tyrosine kinases was formed in rhIL-2-stimulated CTLL-2 cells. Among the components of this complex, only the IL-2 receptor alpha subunit was stained with Galanthus nivalis agglutinin which specifically recognizes high-mannose type glycans. This staining was diminished after digestion of the glycans with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H or D, suggesting that at least a N-glycan containing Man(5)GlcNAc(2) is linked to the extracellular portion of the IL-2 receptor alpha subunit. Our findings indicate that IL-2 binds the IL-2 receptor alpha subunit through Man(5)GlcNAc(2) and a specific peptide sequence on the surface of CTLL-2 cells. When IL-2 binds to the IL-2Ralpha subunit, this may trigger formation of the high affinity complex of IL-2-IL-2Ralpha, -beta, and -gamma subunits, leading to cellular signaling.     

The IL-2 cytokine family in cancer immunotherapy

The use of cytokines from the IL-2 family (also called the common γ chain cytokine family) such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21 to activate the immune system of cancer patients is one of the most important areas of current cancer immunotherapy research. The infusion of IL-2 at low or high doses for multiple cycles in patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma was the first successful immunotherapy for cancer proving that the immune system could completely eradicate tumor cells under certain conditions. The initial clinical success observed in some IL-2-treated patients encouraged further efforts focused on developing and improving the application of other IL-2 family cytokines (IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21) that have unique biological effects playing important roles in the development, proliferation, and function of specific subsets of lymphocytes at different stages of differentiation with some overlapping effects with IL-2. IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21, as well as mutant forms or variants of IL-2, are now also being actively pursued in the clinic with some measured early successes. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the biology of the IL-2 cytokine family focusing on IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21. We discuss the similarities and differences between the signaling pathways mediated by these cytokines and their immunomodulatory effects on different subsets of immune cells. Current clinical application of IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21 either as single agents or in combination with other biological agents and the limitation and potential drawbacks of these cytokines for cancer immunotherapy are also described. Lastly, we discuss the future direction of research on these cytokines, such as the development of new cytokine mutants and variants for improving cytokine-based immunotherapy through differential binding to specific receptor subunits.     

TNF-alpha and IL-4 regulate expression of IL-13 receptor alpha2 on human fibroblasts

Two interleukin 13 receptors (IL-13Rs) have been identified as IL-13Ralpha1 and IL-13Ralpha2. IL-13Ralpha1 is composed of a heterodimer consisting of IL-13Ralpha1 and IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Ralpha) as a signaling subunit. In contrast, IL-13Ralpha2 is known as a decoy receptor for IL-13. In this study, we investigated the expression of IL-13Rs on human fibroblasts. IL-13Ralpha2 was significantly up-regulated after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and/or IL-4. In contrast, IL-13Ralpha1 was constitutively detectable and was not up-regulated. After the induction of IL-13alpha2 by IL-4, STAT6 phosphorylation through IL-13Ralpha1 by IL-13 was inhibited. We also detected large intracellular pools of IL-13Ralpha2 in fibroblasts quantitatively. Furthermore, mobilization of the IL-13Ralpha2 protein stores from the cytoplasm to the cell surface was prevented by an inhibitor of protein transport, brefeldin-A. These results indicate that TNF-alpha and IL-4 synergistically up-regulate the expression of IL-13Ralpha2 decoy receptor on human fibroblasts by inducing gene expression and mobilizing intracellular receptors, and thus may down-regulate the IL-13 signaling.     

Modulation of CLA, IL-12R, CD40L, and IL-2Ralpha expression and inhibition of IL-12- and IL-23-induced cytokine secretion by CNTO 1275

Cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 are implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. IL-12 causes differentiation of CD4+ T cells to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing T helper 1 (Th1) cells, while IL-23 induces differentiation to IL-17-producing pathogenic Th17 cells. The effects of the monoclonal antibody to IL-12/23 p40 subunit (CNTO 1275) on IL-12 receptor (IL-12R) expression, markers associated with skin homing, activation, and cytokine secretion were investigated in vitro using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors. PBMCs were activated in the presence or absence of recombinant human (rh) IL-12 or rhIL-23, with or without CNTO 1275. CNTO 1275 inhibited upregulation of CLA, IL-12R, IL-2Ralpha and CD40L expression and also inhibited IL-12- and IL-23-induced IFN-gamma, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-2, and IL-10 secretion. Thus, the therapeutic effect of CNTO 1275 may be attributed to the IL-12/23 neutralization, resulting in decreased expression of skin homing and activation markers, and IL-12- and IL-23-induced cytokine secretion.     

Gene transfer investigations of p56-LCK function in IL-2-dependent T-cell lines: implications for mechanisms of IL-2-signal transduction.

Recently, the SRC-like non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase p56-LCK has been shown to physically associate with the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2-R) complex and to undergo rapid elevations in its tyrosine kinase activity upon stimulation of T lymphocytes with IL-2. The functional significance of p56-LCK kinase activation for IL-2-mediated lymphocyte responses, however, has never been directly assessed. Using gene transfer approaches, we have achieved markedly elevated levels of p56-LCK kinase activity in the IL-2-dependent cytolytic T-cell line CTLL-2 and the helper line HT-2. CTLL-2 and HT-2 cells that were stably transfected with expression plasmids encoding either the normal human p56-LCK or a constitutively active version of the mouse p56-LCK kinase (LCK[Y505]) contained striking elevations in the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation on several proteins (34-36, 50-60, 62-68, 77-78, 104-110 kDa), as determined by immunoblot analysis using anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. CTLL-2 and HT-2 LCK- and LCK(Y505F)-transfected cells remained dependent on IL-2 for their growth and survival in culture despite the findings that (i) IL-2 specifically stimulated elevations in the activity of the endogenous p56-LCK in untransfected CTLL-2 cells without affecting the activities of the other SRC-like kinases in these cells (p59-FYN, p62-YES) and that (ii) IL-2-mediated regulation of p56-LCK correlated with IL-2-driven proliferation of these T cells. Specifically, no elevation in the proliferation (DNA synthesis) or growth of these T cells was found at any of the concentrations of IL-2 examined (0.01-25 U/ml), relative to untransfected and control transfected cells. Furthermore, when cultured in the absence of IL-2, transfected T cells whose relative levels of p56-LCK activity were elevated by approximately 20-50-fold died with the same kinetics as control cells and underwent apoptosis, as defined by uptake of trypan blue dye and DNA fragmentation assays, respectively. Taken together, these data indicate that while IL-2 can up-regulate the enzymatic activity of p56-LCK, elevated levels of p56-LCK tyrosine kinase activity are insufficient to stimulate IL-2-mediated pathways required for T-cell growth and survival. These findings thus imply the existence of other signal-transducing molecules, besides p56-LCK, that physically participate in IL-2R complexes and that are necessary for initiation of the biochemical events ultimately responsible for IL-2's pleiotropic actions on lymphocytes.