Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity effector cells lack Ia antigens.

Surface immunoglobulin (sIg)-positive and sIg-negative subpopulations of macrophage-depleted murine splenic lymphocytes were obtained by Sephadex anti-Fab immunoabsorbent fractionation. These lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed for the presence of Thy 1 and Ia alloantigens and also for Fc receptors by fluorescence microscopy. Concurrently, these lymphocyte subpopulations were studied for effector cell activity in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Effector cells mediating ADCC were contained in the sIg-negative lymphocyte subpopulation and sIg-positive lymphocytes did not mediate cytotoxicity. The majority of sIg-positive lymphocytes were found to bear Ia antigens and Fc receptors, and these cell surface structures were associated in that treatment of these cells with anti-Ia sera inhibited binding of complexed immunoglobulin to Fc receptors. In contrast, most sIg-negative, Thy 1-negative lymphocytes lacked Ia Antigens, and the Fc receptors detected on such cells were not blocked by anti-Ia sera. In addition, a small subpopulation of sIg-negative, Ia antigen-positive, Fc receptor-positive lymphocytes was found. Elimination of this subpopulation of Ia antigen-positive cells from sIg-negative lymphocytes, by treatment with anti-Ia serum and complement, did not diminish ADCC effector cell activity in the resultant cell population when compared with untreated sIg-negative lymphocytes. Thus, in murine spleen, nonphagocytic mononuclear cells that lack both sIg and Ia antigens were shown to mediate ADCC.     

The expression of Ia antigens on immunocompetent cells in the guinea pig. II. Ia antigens on macrophages.

Only 15 to 25% of purified oil-induced guinea pig macrophages could be lysed by treatment with anti-Ia serum and C. Those cells remaining alive after treatment were not damaged and were metabolically active since they readily phagocytized latex beads. However, the "Ia-negative" macrophages were markedly deficient in their ability to present protein antigens to immune T lymphocytes and to function as stimulator cells when mixed with allogeneic T cells in the mixed leukocyte reaction. It thus appears that Ia antigens are expressed on a subpopulation of macrophages and that this subpopulation plays a critical role in the activation of T cell proliferation to soluble protein antigens and to alloantigens.     

Isolation and characterization of murine Ia antigens

The isolation and characterization of Ia antigens from both lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells was attempted by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of radiolabeled, NP-40 solubilized, and anti-Ia precipitated lysates. The profiles obtained indicate that membrane proteins with a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 can be isolated from peripheral B but not from peripheral T cells. Ia antigens cannot be immunoprecipitated from cortisone-resistant thymocytes, total thymocytes, allogeneically activated T cells, Con A stimulated T cells, and anti-Ig immunoadsorbent purified T cells. Ia antigens seem to comprise only 1%–2% of labeled splenic intracellular and membrane-associated proteins. They differ from H-2 antigens and immunoglobulin H and L chains with respect to size and serological reactivity. Ia antigens cannot be found to be secreted from lymph node cells or splenocytes into the extracellular incubation media. Tissue distribution studies indicate that Ia antigens are present on macrophages, fetal liver cells, epidermal cells, and bone marrow cells. They have not been found on such tumor cells as myelomas, teratomas, and lymphocytic leukemias.     

A role for Ia antigens in thymocyte binding by macrophages

To investigate the membrane structures involved in cellular interactions between thymocytes and macrophages, the relative ability of different murine macrophage populations to spontaneously bind thymocytes was compared. Macrophages derived from the spleen or thymus bound three to four times the number of thymocytes than macrophages from peripheral blood, peritoneum, or bone marrow. This reflects differences both in the number of macrophages binding thymocytes and in the number of thymocytes bound per macrophage. The extent of binding seems to positively correlate with the number of Ia-positive macrophages contained in these populations, as based on previously published values. This was confirmed by showing that elimination of splenic Ia-positive macrophages with anti-Ia and complement treatment dramatically reduced thymocyte binding. In addition, mouse peritoneal washout macrophages incubated for several days with supernatant fluid from concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells, which induce Ia-antigen expression, exhibited a marked increase in the number of macrophages that bound thymocytes and the number of thymocytes bound per macrophage. To determine if Ia antigens were directly involved in binding, spleen, thymus, or Ia-induced peritoneal macrophages were treated with a monoclonal anti-Ia antibody prior to the addition of thymocytes. Treatment with anti-Ia reduced binding by around 50%, whereas treatment with anti-H-2D antibody had no effect. Monoclonal anti-I-A and anti-I-E antibody treatments of macrophages both inhibited thymocyte binding to similar extents, and treatment of macrophages with both reagents together reduced thymocyte binding by 80%. These results indicate that thymocyte binding is in part dependent on macrophage Ia expression.     

Ag-B-linked analogue of Ia antigens in the rat.

The reactions of Lewis rat lymphocyte membrane antigens with two alloantisera, BN anti-Lewis and BN anti-Fischer have been studied. Three lines of evidence indicated that these antisera reacted with cell surface antigens homologous to Ia antigens of the mouse. 1) After absorption with Lewis platelets, the antisera killed only 40 to 50% of Lewis spleen cells. The majority of such cells were shown to be Ig-positive B cells by the examination of reaction patterns on lymphocytes after separation on nylon wool into T cell- and B cell-enriched subpopulations. 2) SDS-PAGE analysis of solubilized Lewis spleen cell antigens precipitated with these antisera revealed that the platelet-absorbed antisera reacted with molecules comparable in size to mouse Ia antigens (mw approximately equals 35,000 and 28,000). The unabsorbed sera reacted with these molecules and with additional molecules corresponding in size to mouse K and D antigens (m.w. = 45,000). 3) Neither of these antisera killed significant numbers of spleen cells from the partially congenic strain F.BN (seventh backcross homozygotes), a Fischer rat to which the Ag-B.3 allele is being transferred by repetitive backcrossing, indicating that the genes coding for these Ia-like antigens in the rat are linked to the Ag-B locus.     

Ontogeny of human Ia antigens

Indirect immunofluorescence (IIP) staining of tissues from human fetuses (ages ranging from 8 to 32 weeks of intrauterine life) with monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to monomorphic determinants of Ia antigens and HLA-A,B,C antigens has shown that both types of antigens are already detectable in tissues of 8-week-old fetuses. Ia antigens and HLA-A,B,C antigens reach their almost-complete tissue distribution after 32 and 24 weeks of intrauterine life, respectively. The structure of Ia antigens synthesized by fetal thymus cells is similar to that of B-lymphoid cell-derived Ia antigens. Ia antigen-bearing thymic fetal cells can stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs). These reactions are blocked by monoclonal antibodies to monomorphic determinants of human Ia antigens and of HLA-A,B, antigens.     

Antigen-specific murine T-cell proliferation: role of macrophage surface Ia and factors.

The proliferation of Mycobacterium-primed murine lymph node T cells to purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD), as measured by the uptake of tritiated thymidine, requires the obligatory participiation of macrophages which stimulate the T cells either directly with antigen in association with cell surface Ia (I region-defined antigens), or indirectly by means of soluble factors. We have examined the possibility that this functional dichotomy is due to heterogeneity within the macrophage population. Since the maturation of macrophages from the precursor monocytes is associated with cell enlargement, macrophage subpopulations differing in developmental stage are obtained by cell fractionation according to size by velocity sedimentation. Nylon-wool-purified T cells which have been depleted of macrophages and B cells are stimulated with PPD either in a free form or bound to macrophages which have been incubated for a short time (i.e., pulsed) with PPD. We found that for PPD-pulsed macrophages, only the smallest (and probably the most immature) are capable of inducing T-cell proliferation. This antigen presentation function is mediated by cell surface Ia since it is abolished by pretreatment of the macrophages with anti-Ia serum and complement. On the other hand, all macrophages, irrespective of sensitivity to anti-Ia serum, secrete factors which will stimulate T-cell proliferation in the presence of free PPD. Thus the maturation of macrophages is accompanied by a shift from Ia-dependent to Ia-independent mechanisms of immunostimulation.     

Partial characterization of Ia antigens from murine lymphoid cells

Congenic anti-Ia antisera were used to bind radiolabelled Ia antigens from cells of various strains of mice of knownH-2 haplotype. The results indicate that Ia antigens are proteins of molecular weight 30,000 to 35,000 daltons. The Ia antigens are distinct from known H-2 antigens as judged by independent immunoprecipitation as well as by molecular weight. Ia antigens are synthesized by, and are present on the surface of lymphoid cells as evidenced by incorporation studies using³H-leucine and enzymatic radioiodination of cells, respectively. Tissue distribution of cell surface Ia suggests that Ia antigens are on B cells. Ia antigens were detected in the incubation media of³H-leucine labeled splenocytes suggesting that antigens may be secreted.     

The expression of Ia antigens on immunocompetent cells in the guinea pig. III. Functional selection of Ia-negative T cells by in vitro culture.

In the present study we examined the expression of I-region-associated (Ia) antigens by guinea pig T lymphocytes stimulated in vitro with antigen-pulsed macrophages. Treatment of lymph node (LNL) or peritoneal exudate (PEL) T cells taken directly from immune animals with anti-Ia serum and complement (C) dramatically reduced their proliferative response to antigen-pulsed macrophages when determined on the 4th day of culture. In contrast, the response of immune T cells that had been selected by culture for a week with antigen-pulsed macrophages and restimulated in a second culture was not affected by anti-Ia and C treatment. This same result occurred with selected LNL or PEL that were initially treated before the selection culture with either normal serum or anti-Ia serum and C. LNL became resistant to anti-Ia serum and C treatment by 3 days of culture whereas antigen-specific PEL were still sensitive at that time. These results indicate that in an immune animal two antigen-specific T cell subpopulations are generated based on their sensitivity to anti-Ia serum and C treatment, but that only the resistant population is selected by in vitro culture. In addition, we demonstrated that the Ig-negative T cell population can only be activated by histocompatible antigen-pulsed macrophages.     

Murine thymocyte and splenocyte Ia antigens are indistinguishable by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Ia antigens have been found on the surface of B lymphocytes, macrophages, epidermal Langerhans cells and on certain transformed cells. Ia antigens have also been detected on the surface of thymocytes but the biosynthesis of these antigens by thymocytes has been difficult to demonstrate. We describe the labeling of murine thymocytes with 35S-methionine and the subsequent analysis of Ia antigens by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Cell elimination experiments demonstrated that the Ia antigens detected were not of B cell origin and were synthesized by a Thy-1-positive thymocyte. Ia antigens from thymocytes were found to be indistinguishable from spleen Ia preparations. Since T cell I region determinants have been postulated to be involved in cellular recognition phenomena, models addressing this recognition must allow for the observation that T and B cell I region molecules detected by antisera such as A. TH anti-A. TL are indistinguishable by two-dimensional gel analysis and are thus unlikely to be involved in the generation of specificity in recognition.     

Nature of the antigenic complex recognized by T lymphocytes. IV. Inhibition of antigen-specific T cell proliferation by antibodies to stimulator macrophage Ia antigens.

We have previously demonstrated that nonimmune guinea pig T lymphocytes could be specifically sensitized with TNP-modified allogeneic macrophages after eliminating the alloreactive T cells with bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) and light treatment. This procedure allowed the unique opportunity to use anti-Ia sera directed against the Ia antigens of only the stimulator macrophages or responder T cells to determine against which cell type anti-Ia would block TNP-specific stimulation. It was found that the TNP-specific DNA synthetic response of BUdR and light-treated T cells stimulated with TNP-modified allogeneic macrophages was totally eliminated by anti-Ia sera directed solely against the allogeneic stimulator macrophage. In contrast, anti-Ia sera directed only against the responder T cells had no effect on their response to TNP-modified allogeneic macrophages. These findings indicate that macrophage Ia antigens are required for efficient T cell-macrophage interactions and raise the possibility that T cell Ia antigens may not be required for collaboration with macrophages. This latter possibility was substantiated by experiments in which we show that treating T cells with anti-Ia sera and complement to remove the Ia-positive cells either before or after priming, or both, had no effect on their ability to be primed and restimulated with TNP-modified macrophages.     

Expression of murine Ia antigens during embryonic development.

An immunochemical analysis of the kinetics of appearance of Ia antigens during embryonic development was performed. Ia antigens first appear on the surface of embryonic cells 11 days postconception and their expression between days 11 and 16 of gestation is confined to the fetal liver. Ia antigen synthesis by fetal liver cells is detectable at day 14. Ia seems to precede Ig as a surface marker of embryonic liver cells, since Ig cannot be detected until day 16 of gestation. H-2 antigens may be immunoprecipitated from day 10 whole embryo cells. F9 primitive teratocarcinoma cells are Ia negative and H-2 negative.     

Tissue distribution of ia antigens: Ia on spermatozoa,macrophages, and epidermal cells

Direct cytotoxic tests and absorption studies demonstrated thatI-region associated antigens (Ia) are not restricted to lymphocytes. Ia was found on spermatozoa, macrophages, and on epidermal cells, whereas Ia was absent from brain, liver, kidney, and fibroblasts. The possible biological meaning of these observations is discussed.     

The distribution of Ia antigens on the surfaces of lymphocytes.

The distribution of Ia antigens was studied on murine spleen lymphocytes by an ultrastructural technique employing deep freeze-etched replicas. Ia antigens were labeled on cells from appropriate congenic and recombinant strains of mice by incubating the cells with FITC-conjugated anti-Iak antibody, followed by ferritin-coupled Fab anti-FITC. Ia antigens were detected predominantly on immunoglobulin (Ig)-bearing B lymphocytes. Antigens coded for by the entire Ik region were present on the surfaces of 95% of the positive cells (from B10.BR mice) in densely packed microclusters. Ia specificities coded for by the I-A and I-C subregions (on 4R and B10.HTT mice) exhibited a more variable pattern, with 30 to 35% of the labeled cells having sparsely distributed Ia antigens in relatively discrete microclusters. Binding of anti-Iak antibody at 37 degrees C led to patch formation but not to capping. Modulation of surface Ig left Ia antigens diffusely distributed on the cell surface, indicating that these two membrane proteins are independent molecules.     

Biochemical characterization of Ia antigens. I. Characterization of the 31K polypeptide associated with I-A subregion Ia antigens

Procedures are presented for the preparative isolation of murine Ia antigens directly from splenocyte detergent extracts with monoclonal immunoadsorbents. Utilizing these procedures, three Ia (I-A subregion) polypeptides (alpha, 31K, beta) were isolated and their m.w. and pI values characterized. Evidence is presented that indicates that: 1) the 31K polypeptide probably does not associate with the Ia alpha and beta chain complex during the Ia isolation procedure; 2) the 31K polypeptide is not tightly bound to the alpha/beta Ia complex and can be selectively removed by freezing and thawing and by washing the Ia-immunoadsorbent with buffers containing pyrrolidinone (a polar solvent); and (3) unlike the alpha and beta chains, the 31K polypeptide is not intrinsically radiolabeled with 3H fucose and 3H glucosamine, indicating that the 31K polypeptide either contains a carbohydrate structure that is different from that of the alpha and beta chains or it is not a glycopeptide. These data suggest that although Ia antigens are probably comprised of three polypeptides in the intact cell, only two (alpha and beta) are required to maintain alloantigenic determinants.     

Ia antigens in inbred rats and their relationship to the MLR phenotype.

Three different alloantisera were raised by using Ag-B/MLR disparate rats, and the cytotoxic activity remaining after absorption with erythrocytes to remove anti-Ag-B antibodies was examined. The alloantisera detected surface antigens present only on B cells and segregation studies demonstrated that the genes that code for these antigenic specificities were linked to the major histocompatibility complex. The reactivity of the alloantisera with splenic lymphocytes from a panel of strains representative of the currently known Ag-B groups showed that multiple specificities were present in two of the three antisera and that these specificities were shared by many inbred strains. The appropriate absorption studies showed, however, that each antiserum detected an unique specificity that was found only in those inbred strains that shared the same mixed lymphocyte reactivity (MLR) phenotype as the donor strain. The alloantiserum produced against the KGH strain inhibited the MLR reactions involving this strain only when it was used as the stimulating cell population. The antigens detected by the three alloantisera described here have the characteristics of Ia antigens, and they have tentatively been designated Ia.1 (ACI anti-KGH), Ia.3 (B3 anti-BN) and Ia.4 (MNR anti-DA).     

Sharing of Ia antigens between species. IV. Interspecies cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies directed against polymorphic mouse Ia determinants

The specificity of interspecies Ia cross-reactions has been analyzed by testing a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to mouse I-E and I-A antigens for reactivity with pig Ia antigens. Our earlier studies showed that mouse anti-I-E alloantisera recognized common determinants on Ia antigens of other species, whereas anti-I-A alloantisera showed much more limited cross-reactivity. These results were confirmed using a panel of 17 anti-I-E mAb, 10 of which were cytotoxic to pig cells. 2D gel electrophoretic analyses of precipitates with these mAb of 35S-labeled, NP40 solubilized pig cells revealed a limited set of protein spots that appeared to be identical to the subset of pig Ia antigens precipitated by A.TH anti-A.TL alloantiserum. Because the cross-reactive mouse sera were produced in mouse strains that do not express an I-E molecule (H-2b and H-2s), it was anticipated that the cross-reacting antibodies would be reactive with the monomorphic determinant of the I-E molecule, Ia.7. However, comparison of the reactivity of these mAb with pig cells and mouse cells revealed that the cross-reactivity on pig cells correlated not with Ia.7 but rather with detection of epitope(s) of the I-E molecule associated with inter-strain polymorphism. Anti-I-A cross-reactions were also detected, but were weaker and more limited. These findings may have implications for the evolution of Ia antigens in mammalian species.     

Activated T cells in vivo and in vitro: divergence in expression of Tac and Ia antigens in the nonblastoid small T cells of inflammation and normal T cells activated in vitro

Elevated numbers of non-blastoid T cells expressing either the Tac or Ia antigens were found on separate cell populations in inflammatory synovial tissues and fluids of individuals with arthritis. Those synovial T cell preparations containing Tac+ cells exhibited marked proliferation upon the addition of IL 2 without concomitant mitogen stimulation; T cell eluates containing Ia+ but not Tac+ T cells did not show significantly increased levels of blastogenesis. Paired T cell preparations from blood had only minor increases in the number of Tac+ T cells and moderate increases in the number of Ia+ cells. The blood cells did not exhibit significant proliferation to IL 2. In contrast mitogen or allogeneic activation of T cells induced blastoid cells that expressed abundant per cell amount of Ia or Tac antigens. These blastoid cells resembled the small T cells of inflammation in having only very limited overlap between the population that bore Ia antigens and those with the Tac antigen; however, there was a preponderance of Tac-bearing cells.     

Lymphocytes express Ia antigens of foreign haplotype following treatment with neuraminidase

Evidence is presented which indicates that neuraminidase (NA) treatment of spleen cells both destroys old Ia antigens and reveals new Ia specificities which are not normally expressed by splenocytes. It was found that NA treatment unmasked alien I-A^k-like specificities on A.TH (I ^s ) spleen cells, and I^s-like antigens on A.TL (I ^k ) spleen cells. These conclusions were based on direct testing of NA-treated targets with a range of alloantisera and on cell-absorption experiments. Furthermore, the cellular distribution of NA-exposed antigens resembled that of convential Ia antigens, the new antigens being expressed on more than 90 percent of splenic B cells and a subpopulation of splenic T cells. However, although some of the antigens exposed by NA on A.TH cells appeared to resemble the Ia. 3 and 15 specificities, additional antigens were involved which did not correlate with any previously described Ia antigens.Sugar inhibition experiments demonstrated the NA-exposed antigens to be carbohydrate in nature, D-galactose being an effective inhibitor in these studies. The proportion of- and-linked D-galactose residues associated with the new antigens depended upon the target cell used and the anti-Ia serum tested. Furthermore, glycolipid extracts from lymphoid cells were shown to contain the NA-exposed antigens.Collectively, these results support the existence of carbohydrate-defined Ia antigens. The simplest interpretation of the findings is that NA clips off terminal sialic acid residues from carbohydrate-defined Ia antigens on the cell surface and exposes subterminal sugars which resemble antigens expressed by otherI-region haplotypes.     

Alloreactive T cells from individual soft agar colonies specific for guinea pig Ia antigens. II. Cellular and molecular requirements for optimal proliferative responses

We have investigated the cellular and molecular requirement for optimal proliferative responses of several alloreactive T cell lines that were derived from individual soft agar colonies and were specific for guinea pig Ia antigens. Optimal proliferation of several colonies was observed in cultures containing purified allogeneic macrophages and growth factor(s) present in supernatant fluids of Con A-activated T cells (Con A-S). Significant proliferative responses of these alloreactive T cell colonies were also routinely detected in cultures only supplemented with unfractionated irradiated allogeneic peritoneal exudate cell (PEC). The T cell component of the stimulator cell population was crucial for these responses by producing necessary growth factor(s) endogenously in the culture. Thus, 2 signals, allogeneic Ia antigens and growth factor(s), were required for optimal proliferative responses of these alloreactive T cell colonies. Furthermore, macrophage-associated Ia antigen was more efficient than B cell-associated Ia for these responses. The requirement for allogeneic Ia antigen was not absolute, since the colonies could easily be expanded when the cultures were supplemented with irradiated syngeneic PEC and the T cell mitogens, Con A or PHA. The effect of the mitogen was mediated via the T cells in the irradiated PEC, since removal of the T cells from these PEC markedly reduced the responses. Thus, it is likely that a nonspecific signal(s) presumably from T cells can promote proliferation of alloreactive T cell colonies in the absence of allogeneic Ia antigen. These results suggest 2 mechanisms of activation of these alloreactive T cells.