CD28以外的T细胞协同刺激分子及其功能

CD28是协同TCR诱导T细胞产生高水平IL－2,促进T细胞生存及防止T细胞凋亡的主要协同刺激分子,但并非所有的T细胞均表达CD28,提示T细胞活化尚有其它协同刺激途径的存在。最近研究表明,其它一些协同刺激分子,如4－1BB、OX40、ICOS、LFA－1等在不同的T细胞亚群和T细胞活化的不同阶段,呈现不同的表达和介导不同的生物学功能。     

CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞发挥效应的分子机制

调节性T细胞是一群具有免疫调节(或免疫抑制)作用的细胞,Foxp3 CD4 CD25 调节性T细胞约占CD4 T细胞的5%￣15%,主要是CD4 CD8-CD25-单阳性胸腺细胞在胸腺的自然选择过程中产生的,也可以通过外周诱导而产生。它通过细胞接触依赖机制和抑制性细胞因子依赖机制主动抑制自身免疫T细胞的活化,维持自稳状态。现对Foxp3 CD4 CD25 T细胞群的一些特征性分子在其效应机制中的作用进行综述。     

B7家族成员反向信号调控的研究进展

共刺激分子免疫球蛋白家族—B7家族成员与CD28家族成员之间相互作用向T细胞传递共刺激信号,在T细胞充分活化和功能发挥中发挥了重要的功能。近几年研究表明,部分B7家族成员向T细胞传递免疫信号的同时,也向表达B7分子的抗原提呈细胞传递反向信号,增强或抑制了抗原提呈细胞的功能,并进一步在维持T细胞免疫和T细胞耐受中发挥重要的功能。     

B7家族的新成员

T细胞的活化需要共刺激分子和其受体及特异性抗原与T细胞受体的双信号作用。B7家族成员是重要的共刺激分子,除B7－1和B7－2,新近又发现了一些新成员：B7RP－1（又名B7h,GL50或ICOSL）为鼠ICOS（inducible costimulator,CD28家族的第三位成员）的配体,其人的同源物命名为B7－2（也称为GL50或ICOSL）,它对TG细胞生长及细胞因子产生的共刺激作用已明显,B7－H1（也称PD－1L）,B7H3是一类不与ICOS结合的B7家族新成员。现已证实。现已证实,这些分子与其受体之间的作用在T细胞增殖及发挥效应中扮演重要角色,它们在许多疾病中的作用也引起学者的普遍关注。     

共刺激分子对全身炎症反应综合征中细胞因子的影响

目的:探讨全身炎症反应综合征(SIRS)中相关共刺激分子的表达及其调控因素,并对共刺激分子在全身炎症反应综合征发展及治疗中的作用及机制进行初步探究.方法:腹腔注射脂多糖(LPS)建立全身炎症反应综合征的小鼠动物模型后,将BALB/c模型小鼠随机分为生理盐水(NS)、LPS、CD28+LPS三组,进行脾淋巴细胞的分离,通过RT-PCR、ELISA等方法检测共刺激分子在不同组别中的表达.结果:经CD28活化型单克隆抗体(CD28mAb)刺激后的BALB/c小鼠组中共刺激分子CD40配体(CD40L)、杀伤性T细胞相关抗原-4(CTLA-4)的表达量较生理盐水组明显增高.结论:共刺激分子CD28对于全身炎症反应综合征有促进的作用.     

基于4-1BBL和CD3双信号的融合蛋白协同抗肿瘤作用研究

旨在研究4-1BBL/CD20融合蛋白增强抗CD3/抗CD20 diabody介导的特异性靶向杀伤活性。采用亲和层析法纯化本室构建的抗-CD3/抗-CD20 diabody和4-1BBL/CD20融合蛋白可溶性表达产物;采用calcein释放试验测定其介导的体外靶向杀伤活性;采用人B淋巴瘤细胞系Raji裸鼠移植瘤模型测定其介导的体内靶向杀伤活性。纯化4-1BBL/CD20融合蛋白在体外能增强抗-CD3/抗-CD20 diabody介导激活的T细胞杀伤Raji细胞;在人B淋巴瘤细胞系Raji裸鼠移植瘤模型联合人T淋巴细胞4-1BBL/CD20融合蛋白增强抗-CD3/抗-CD20 diabody高效抑制Raji细胞裸鼠移植瘤的生长,明显延长荷瘤裸鼠的生存时间。在体外和体内4-1BBL/CD20融合蛋白均能增强抗-CD3/抗-CD20 diabody介导激活的T细胞杀伤表达CD20抗原的肿增细胞,是一个有望用于B细胞恶性肿瘤临床治疗的特异性融合蛋白。     

协同刺激因子B7家族成员的抑制性受体与负向免疫调节

维持淋巴细胞的正常功能需要正负向协同刺激信号的同时参与。两种信号决定了T、B细胞对抗原特异性刺激的敏感性和应答方式。二者的平衡使机体在避免对自身抗原产生不适当反应的同时,又能对外来抗原显示足够强的应答能力。多年来有关协同信号的研究,对相关分子结构和功能的认识已大大深化,特别是其中的B7分子及其受体家族。该家族的负向调控作用是通过其抑制性受体来实现的。目前已发现3种抑制性受体：细胞毒性T细胞相关分子(CTLA-4)、程序性死亡分子(PD-1)和B、T细胞弱化因子(BTLA)。对其效应机制的研究,将对免疫调节以及自身免疫、肿瘤免疫和移植免疫产生深远影响。     

多糖调控T/B淋巴细胞免疫应答机制的研究进展

淋巴细胞是机体适应性免疫系统的重要组成,多糖对其刺激作用在生物医药领域受到广泛的关注。目前,大部分的相关研究仅限于多糖对淋巴细胞增殖及细胞因子或抗体表达水平的调控,系统的分子机制解析少见报道。综合多糖对淋巴细胞的免疫调节作用发现:活性多糖可同时刺激T/B细胞、也可选择性刺激T细胞或选择性刺激B细胞;多糖刺激T细胞免疫应答的信号通道主要为TCR/CD3→PTK→PI3-K→PKC/PLCγ→Ca2+→calcineurin→NFAT和TCR/CD3→PTK→MAPKs→AP-1;而刺激B细胞的信号通道主要包括TLR2/4→TRAF6→IKKc→NF-κB、TLR2/4→PTK→MAPKs→AP-1和IgM/CD79→PTK→MAPKs→AP-1。同时,归纳多糖刺激淋巴细胞活性的构效关系,旨在为相关领域的研究提供参考。     

人类免疫缺陷病毒1型慢性感染者B细胞表型分析及抗反转录病毒治疗的修复作用

人类免疫缺陷病毒1型（HIV-1）感染会造成严重的免疫功能损伤,除引起CD4＋ T细胞不断耗损和功能损伤外,体液免疫应答也受到损伤。本研究通过检测HIV-1慢性感染者和慢性感染治疗者外周血B细胞数目和亚群比例,以及活化、凋亡和共刺激分子的表达,探讨 HIV-1感染者中B细胞损伤及抗反转录病毒治疗（ART）对B细胞损伤的修复作用。结果显示,HIV-1慢性感染者外周血B细胞数目显著低于健康对照组,其中未成熟B细胞、初始B细胞、静息记忆B细胞和浆母细胞显著降低,而组织样记忆B细胞显著增加, ART可恢复初始B细胞和组织样记忆B细胞比例,但不能恢复静息记忆B细胞比例。与健康对照组相比, HIV-1感染者未成熟B细胞、初始B细胞、静息记忆B细胞和组织样记忆B细胞中CD38的表达上调;CD95的表达在所有B细胞亚群中均上调;而Bcl-2在初始B细胞、组织样记忆B细胞和浆母细胞中的表达显著降低;静息记忆B细胞和浆母细胞中PD-1的表达上调;共刺激分子CD40在所有B细胞亚群中的表达降低,而CD70的表达在未成熟B细胞以外的亚群中均显著下调。ART仅能部分修复以上分子的表达。结果表明, HIV-1感染引起B细胞及其亚群比例异常,B细胞表现为过度活化、易凋亡及与T细胞作用受损,ART不能完全修复B细胞损伤,有效的免疫干预策略亟待开发。     

CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞在CD46途径下诱导IL-10生成的研究

目的：炎症抑制因子IL—10在过敏及自身免疫性疾病的发生过程中有着重要意义,补体调节蛋白CD46作为一种新的T细胞活化辅助因子可以诱导CD4^＋T细胞生成IL-10。另外有研究表明,CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞（CD^4＋CD25^＋Tregs）作为一种重要的免疫抑制细胞可以通过促进周围细胞分泌IL-10,使其抑制作用得到放大。本研究探讨在CD46辅助刺激途径下,CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs诱导周围CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞产生IL-10的能力。方法：分离纯化CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs和CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞,采用CD3／CD46或CD3／CD28刺激,分别进行单独培养或按1：10的比例共培养,同时以CD4^＋T细胞组作为比较。用氚标记胸腺嘧啶核苷（3H-TdR）掺入法测定细胞增殖速率,ELISA方法测定各培养组上清IL10的水平。结果：在CD46或CD28刺激下,CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs／CIM＋CD25^＋T细胞共培养组、CD4^＋T细胞组的几-10水平均显著高于CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞单独培养组。在CD46刺激下,CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞组、CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs／CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞共培养组、CD4^＋T细胞组IL-10的水平均较CD28刺激下明显增高,各组细胞的增殖能力均较CD28刺激下显著降低。结论：在cD46或CD28刺激下,CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs均能够诱导CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞分泌IL-10,CD46作为一种新的T细胞共刺激分子,与传统的CD28分子相比,能够刺激IL-10分泌增加。本文阐述了CD46途径下CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs诱生IL-10的功能,进一步研究CD46途径下各类免疫细胞的活化反应,对于明确此途径下免疫细胞的功能改变与某些疾病发病机制的关系具有重要意义。     

Costimulation requirements of induced murine systemic autoimmune disease

Costimulation between T cells and APC is required for productive immune responses. A number of receptor/ligand pairs have been shown to mediate costimulation, including CD28/B7 molecules (CD80 and CD86), CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L, CD154), and LFA-1 (CD18)/ICAM-1 (CD54). T-B cell costimulation also plays a significant role in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Murine HgCl2-induced autoimmunity (mHgIA) is a T cell-dependent systemic autoimmune disease that shares a number of common pathogenic mechanisms with idiopathic lupus. In this report, the significance of costimulation in mHgIA is examined by attempting to induce disease in mice deficient in either CD40L, CD28, or ICAM-1. Unlike absence of ICAM-1, homozygous deficiencies in either CD40L or CD28 significantly reduced the development of mHgIA. CD40L displayed a gene dosage effect as heterozygous mice also showed reduction of autoantibody responses and immunopathology. Markers of T cell activation such as CD44 and CTLA-4 were associated with disease expression in wild-type and ICAM-1-deficient mice but not in CD40L- or CD28-deficient mice. Absence of CTLA-4 expression in CD40L-/- mice suggests that signaling via both CD28 and CD40L is important for T cell activation and subsequent autoimmunity in mHgIA. Attempts to circumvent the absence of CD40L by increasing CD28 signaling via agonistic Ab failed to elicit CTLA-4 expression. These findings indicate that breaking of self-tolerance in mHgIA requires signaling via both the CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40L pathways.     

4-1BB ligand, a member of the TNF family, is important for the generation of antiviral CD8 T cell responses.

4-1BB (CD137) is a costimulatory molecule expressed on activated T cells and interacts with 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) on APCs. To investigate the role of 4-1BB costimulation for the development of primary immune responses, 4-1BBL-deficient (4-1BBL-/-) mice were infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). 4-1BBL-/- mice were able to generate CTL and eliminate acute LCMV infection with normal kinetics, but CD8 T cell expansion was 2- to 3-fold lower than in wild-type (+/+) mice. In the same mice, virus-specific CD4 Th and B cell responses were minimally affected, indicating that 4-1BB costimulation preferentially affects CD8 T cell responses. This result contrasts with our earlier work with CD40L-deficient (CD40L-/-) mice, in which the CD8 T cell response was unaffected and the CD4 T cell response was markedly impaired. When both 4-1BBL- and B7-dependent signals were absent, CD8 T cell expansion was further reduced, resulting in lower CTL activity and impairing their ability to clear LCMV. Altogether, these results indicate that T cells have distinct costimulatory requirements: optimal CD8 responses require 4-1BBL-dependent interactions, whereas CD4 responses are minimally affected by 4-1BB costimulation, but require CD40-CD40L and B7-dependent interactions.     

The roles of CD28 and CD40 ligand in T cell activation and tolerance

Costimulation of T cell activation involves both the B7:CD28 as well as the CD40 ligand (CD40L):CD40 pathway. To determine the importance of these pathways to in vitro and in vivo T cell activation, a direct comparison was made of the responses of TCR transgenic T cells lacking either CD28 or CD40L. In vitro, CD28-/- T cells showed a greater reduction in proliferative responses to Ag than did CD40L-/- T cells. The absence of CD28 resulted in defective Th2 responses, whereas CD40L-/- T cells were defective in Th1 development. In vivo, CD28-/- T cells failed to expand upon immunization, whereas CD40L-/- T cells could not sustain a response. These results suggest that CD28 is critical for initiating T cell responses, whereas CD40L is required for sustained Th1 responses. The different functional roles of these costimulatory pathways may explain why blocking B7:CD28 and CD40L:CD40 interactions has an additive effect in inhibiting T cell responses.     

Toll-like receptor agonists synergize with CD40L to induce either proliferation or plasma cell differentiation of mouse B cells

In a classical dogma, pathogens are sensed (via recognition of Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs)) by innate immune cells that in turn activate adaptive immune cells. However, recent data showed that TLRs (Toll Like Receptors), the most characterized class of Pattern Recognition Receptors, are also expressed by adaptive immune B cells. B cells play an important role in protective immunity essentially by differentiating into antibody-secreting cells (ASC). This differentiation requires at least two signals: the recognition of an antigen by the B cell specific receptor (BCR) and a T cell co-stimulatory signal provided mainly by CD154/CD40L acting on CD40. In order to better understand interactions of innate and adaptive B cell stimulatory signals, we evaluated the outcome of combinations of TLRs, BCR and/or CD40 stimulation. For this purpose, mouse spleen B cells were activated with synthetic TLR agonists, recombinant mouse CD40L and agonist anti-BCR antibodies. As expected, TLR agonists induced mouse B cell proliferation and activation or differentiation into ASC. Interestingly, addition of CD40 signal to TLR agonists stimulated either B cell proliferation and activation (TLR3, TLR4, and TLR9) or differentiation into ASC (TLR1/2, TLR2/6, TLR4 and TLR7). Addition of a BCR signal to CD40L and either TLR3 or TLR9 agonists did not induce differentiation into ASC, which could be interpreted as an entrance into the memory pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest that PAMPs synergize with signals from adaptive immunity to regulate B lymphocyte fate during humoral immune response.     

Cutting edge: a crucial role for B7-CD28 in transmitting T help from APC to CTL

Although APC activation via CD40-CD40L signaling plays a critical role in enabling CD4(+) T cells to provide the "help" necessary for cross-priming of naive CTL, it is unclear how this makes the APC competent for priming. We have investigated the roles of B7-1/B7-2 and their receptors [corrected] CD28/CTLA-4 in cross-priming of CD4-dependent CTL in vivo. We find that both CD28 and B7-1/B7-2 are required for CD40-activated APC to cross-prime CTL, and that priming by CD40-activated APC was prevented by blockade of CD28. Conversely, augmenting CD28 signals with an agonistic Ab bypassed the requirement for CD4(+) T help or CD40 activation. Interestingly, blockade of the negative regulatory B7 receptor CTLA-4 failed to prime CTL in the absence of T help. These results support a model in which activation-induced up-regulation of B7 molecules on APC leads to increased CD28 signaling and a commitment to cross-priming of CD4-dependent CTL.     

Expression and contribution of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) in the early immune response to Leishmania major infection.

CD28 interactions promote T cell responses, and whether B7-1 or B7-2 is utilized may influence Th cell subset development. CD28 blockade by CTLA-4Ig treatment or by targeted gene disruption has yielded different conclusions regarding the role of CD28 in the development of Th1 and Th2 cells following Leishmania major infection. In this study, we demonstrate that B7-mediated costimulation is required for the development of the early immune response following infection of resistant or susceptible mice. In contrast, CD28-/- BALB/c mice infected with L. major produce cytokines comparable to those of infected wild-type mice. Treatment of CD28-/- mice with CTLA-4Ig did not diminish this response, suggesting that a B7-independent pathway(s) contributes to the early immune response in these mice. In conventional BALB/c or C3H mice, B7-2 functions as the dominant costimulatory molecule in the initiation of early T cell activation following L. major infection, leading to IL-4 or IFN-gamma production, respectively. The preferential interaction of B7-2 with its ligand(s) in the induction of these responses correlates with its constitutive expression relative to that of B7-1. However, B7-1 can equally mediate costimulation for the production of either IL-4 or IFN-gamma when expressed at high levels. Thus, in leishmaniasis, costimulation involving B7-1 or B7-2 can result in the production of either Th1 or Th2 cytokines, rather than a preferential induction of one type of response.     

Murine B1 B cells require IL-5 for optimal T cell-dependent activation

T helper cell-driven activation of murine B cells has been shown to depend upon CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interactions and a defined set of cytokines. These observations are primarily based on the use of conventional B cells obtained from the spleen. Therefore, it is presently unclear whether all mature B cell subsets found in the mouse have an equal dependence upon CD40-CD40L interactions and use the same T cell-derived cytokines. The present study tested the response of splenic follicular and marginal zone as well as peritoneal B2 and B1 B cells to Th cell stimulation. Splenic and peritoneal B cell subsets were sort purified based on CD23 expression, and cultured with rCD40L and cytokines or Th2 cells. The results demonstrate that follicular, marginal zone, and peritoneal B2 B cells require CD40-CD40L interactions and preferentially use IL-4 for optimal proliferation, differentiation, and isotype switching. In contrast, peritoneal B1 B cells use IL-5 in conjunction with CD40-CD40L interactions for maximal Th cell-dependent responses. Furthermore, B1 B cells are capable of proliferating, differentiating, and isotype switching in the absence of CD40-CD40L interactions. B1 B cells are able to respond to Th2 clones in the presence of anti-CD40L mAb as well as to Th2 clones derived from CD40L(-/-) mice. The CD40-CD40L-independent response of B1 B cells is attributable to the presence of both IL-4 and IL-5, and may explain the residual Ab response to T cell-dependent Ags in CD40L- or CD40-deficient mice, and in X-linked hyper-IgM (X-HIM) patients.     

Triggering of murine NK cells by CD40 and CD86 (B7-2)

NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity is regulated by both triggering and inhibitory signals. The interaction between MHC class I molecules expressed on target cells and specific MHC class I-binding receptors expressed by NK cells generally leads to inhibition of lysis. We have shown recently that CD80 (B7-1) in mice and CD40 in humans trigger NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. In the present study, we show that murine CD40 and CD86 (B7-2) trigger murine NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro when expressed on tumor cells. Preincubation of the transfected cell lines with anti-CD40 F(ab')2 fragments or cytolytic T lymphocyte-associated Ag-4-Ig (CTLA-4-Ig) before the cytotoxic assay abolished the triggering effect. Furthermore, radiolabeled CD40- and B7-2-expressing cells were rapidly eliminated in vivo in an NK cell-dependent manner. NK cells from CD40 ligand (CD40L)-/- or CD28-/- mice were triggered by tumor cells transfected with CD40 and B7-2, respectively, and these transfectants were rapidly eliminated in vivo when inoculated into CD40L-/- and CD28-/- mice. This suggests that the CD40 and B7-2 molecules can interact with receptors on NK cells other than CD40L and CD28, respectively, and that these may account for some of the reactivities observed in the present study. Collectively, these data demonstrate that 1) costimulatory molecules, other than B7-1, can modulate NK cell responses in vitro, 2) they can also affect NK cell-dependent responses in vivo, and 3) parts of these reactions are independent of CD28 and CD40L.     

Paradoxical effect of reduced costimulation in T cell-mediated colitis

B7-1 and B7-2 play different roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, but this is controversial. We analyzed colitis induced by transfer of CD45RB(high)CD4(+) T cells to RAG(-/-) recipients lacking B7-1 and/or B7-2. Surprisingly, disease was greatly accelerated in RAG(-/-) recipients deficient for either B7-1 or B7-2, especially in the B7-2(-/-) recipients. This accelerated colitis induction correlated with increased T cell division in vivo and production of Th1 cytokines. Although colitis pathogenesis following T cell transfer was inhibited in the absence of CD40L expression, CD40-CD40L interactions were not required in the B7-2(-/-) RAG(-/-) recipients. In vitro priming by APCs lacking either B7-1 or B7-2 caused decreased IL-2 production, which led to decreased CTLA-4 expression, although T cells primed in this way could respond vigorously upon restimulation by producing increased IL-2 and proinflammatory cytokines. Consistent with this mechanism, we demonstrate that blocking IL-2 early after T cell transfer accelerated colitis. Our data therefore outline a mechanism whereby synergistic costimulation by B7-1 and B7-2 molecules during priming is required for optimal IL-2 production. The consequent inhibitory effect of full CTLA-4 expression, induced by IL-2, may slow colitis, even in the absence of regulatory T cells.     

TIRC7 deficiency causes in vitro and in vivo augmentation of T and B cell activation and cytokine response

The membrane protein T cell immune response cDNA 7 (TIRC7) was recently identified and was shown to play an important role in T cell activation. To characterize the function of TIRC7 in more detail, we generated TIRC7-deficient mice by gene targeting. We observed disturbed T and B cell function both in vitro and in vivo in TIRC7(-/-) mice. Histologically, primary and secondary lymphoid organs showed a mixture of hypo-, hyper-, and dysplastic changes of multiple lymphohemopoietic compartments. T cells from TIRC7(-/-) mice exhibited significantly increased proliferation and expression of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-4 in response to different stimuli. Resting T cells from TIRC7(-/-) mice exhibited decreased CD62L, but increased CD11a and CD44 expression, suggesting an in vivo expansion of memory/effector T cells. Remarkably, activated T cells from TIRC7(-/-) mice expressed lower levels of CTLA-4 in comparison with wild-type cells. B cells from TIRC7-deficient mice exhibited significantly higher in vitro proliferation following stimulation with anti-CD40 Ab or LPS plus IL-4. B cell hyperreactivity was reflected in vivo by elevated serum levels of various Ig classes and higher CD86 expression on B cells. Furthermore, TIRC7 deficiency resulted in an augmented delayed-type hypersensitivity response that was also reflected in increased mononuclear infiltration in the skin obtained from TIRC7-deficient mice food pads. In summary, the data strongly support an important role for TIRC7 in regulating both T and B cell responses.