Defective adhesion in tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells

CD8(+) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are defective in cytolysis due to tumor-induced inhibition of proximal TCR-mediated signaling, a defect that is relieved upon purification and brief culture. We show in this study that frequency of conjugation in vitro of nonlytic TIL with tumor cells is low in comparison with their lytic counterparts, and the strength of interaction and duration of conjugation are also reduced. Previous reports show that p56(lck) activation is required for TCR-initiated LFA-1 avidity up-regulation, raising the question: is low LFA-1 avidity the basis of reduced TIL conjugation frequency? When stimulated with phorbol ester, nonlytic TIL bind purified ICAM-1 equivalently as lytic TIL, suggesting that LFA-1 can be activated if proximal TCR signaling is bypassed. However, when treated with phorbol ester, the conjugation frequency of nonlytic TIL does not increase. CD2 and CD8 also mediate T cell adhesion to cognate target cells and are both expressed at lower levels in nonlytic TIL in addition to being excluded from the immune synapse formed upon conjugation. Collectively, these results imply that adhesion defects in nonlytic TIL result from a combination of decreased cell surface levels of adhesion molecules, deficient LFA-1 activation, and the failure to recruit essential adhesion receptors to the membrane contact site formed with cognate target cells.     

Defective proximal TCR signaling inhibits CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte lytic function

CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are severely deficient in cytolysis, a defect that may permit tumor escape from immune-mediated destruction. Because lytic function is dependent upon TCR signaling, we have tested the hypothesis that primary TIL have defective signaling by analysis of the localization and activation status of TIL proteins important in TCR-mediated signaling. Upon conjugate formation with cognate target cells in vitro, TIL do not recruit granzyme B+ granules, the microtubule-organizing center, F-actin, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein, nor proline rich tyrosine kinase-2 to the target cell contact site. In addition, TIL do not flux calcium nor demonstrate proximal tyrosine kinase activity, deficiencies likely to underlie failure to fully activate the lytic machinery. Confocal microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer analyses demonstrate that TIL are triggered by conjugate formation in that the TCR, p56lck, CD3zeta, LFA-1, lipid rafts, ZAP70, and linker for activation of T cells localize at the TIL:tumor cell contact site, and CD43 and CD45 are excluded. However, proximal TCR signaling is blocked upon conjugate formation because the inhibitory motif of p56lck is rapidly phosphorylated (Y505) and COOH-terminal Src kinase is recruited to the contact site, while Src homology 2 domain-containing protein phosphatase 2 is cytoplasmic. Our data support a novel mechanism explaining how tumor-induced inactivation of proximal TCR signaling regulates lytic function of antitumor T cells.     

Protocadherin-18 is a novel differentiation marker and an inhibitory signaling receptor for CD8+ effector memory T cells

CD8(+) tumor infiltrating T cells (TIL) lack effector-phase functions due to defective proximal TCR-mediated signaling previously shown to result from inactivation of p56(lck) kinase. We identify a novel interacting partner for p56(lck) in nonlytic TIL, Protocadherin-18 ('pcdh18'), and show that pcdh18 is transcribed upon in vitro or in vivo activation of all CD8(+) central memory T cells (CD44(+)CD62L(hi)CD127(+)) coincident with conversion into effector memory cells (CD44(+)CD62L(lo)CD127(+)). Expression of pcdh18 in primary CD8(+) effector cells induces the phenotype of nonlytic TIL: defective proximal TCR signaling, cytokine secretion, and cytolysis, and enhanced AICD. pcdh18 contains a motif (centered at Y842) shared with src kinases (QGQYQP) that is required for the inhibitory phenotype. Thus, pcdh18 is a novel activation marker of CD8(+) memory T cells that can function as an inhibitory signaling receptor and restrict the effector phase.     

Tumor-induced disruption of proximal TCR-mediated signal transduction in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes inactivates antitumor effector phase

The presence in cancer tissue of Ag-specific, activated tumor infiltrating CD8(+) T cells proves that tumors express Ags capable of eliciting immune response. Therefore, in general, tumor escape from immune-mediated clearance is not attributable to immunological ignorance. However, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are defective in effector phase function, demonstrating tumor-induced immune suppression that likely underlies tumor escape. Since exocytosis of lytic granules is dependent upon TCR-mediated signal transduction, it is a reasonable contention that tumors may induce defective signal transduction in tumor infiltrating T cells. In this review, we consider the biochemical basis for antitumor T cell dysfunction, focusing on the role of inhibitory signaling receptors in restricting TCR-mediated signaling in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.     

Rapid Lytic Granule Convergence to the MTOC in Natural Killer Cells Is Dependent on Dynein But Not Cytolytic Commitment

Natural killer cells are lymphocytes specialized to participate in host defense through their innate ability to mediate cytotoxicity by secreting the contents of preformed secretory lysosomes (lytic granules) directly onto a target cell. This form of directed secretion requires the formation of an immunological synapse and occurs stepwise with actin reorganization preceding microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) polarization to the synapse. Because MTOC polarization to the synapse is required for polarization of lytic granules, we attempted to define their interrelationship. We found that compared with the time required for MTOC polarization, lytic granules converged to the MTOC rapidly. The MTOC-directed movement of lytic granules was independent of actin and microtubule reorganization, dependent on dynein motor function, occurred before MTOC polarization, and did not require a commitment to cytotoxicity. This defines a novel paradigm for rapid MTOC-directed transport as a prerequisite for directed secretion, one that may prepare, but not commit cells for precision secretory function.     

CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are primed for Fas-mediated activation-induced cell death but are not apoptotic in situ

Induction of Fas-mediated activation-induced cell death in antitumor T cells has been hypothesized to permit tumor escape from immune destruction. Several laboratories have proposed that expression of Fas ligand (L) by tumor is the basis for this form of T cell tolerance. In this study, we characterized murine tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) for activation status, cell cycle status, level of apoptosis, cytokine secretion, and proliferative capacity. TILs express multiple activation markers (circa CD69, CD95L, CD122, and LFA-1) and contain IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNAs, but are neither cycling nor apoptotic in situ. In addition, TIL are dramatically suppressed in proliferative response and do not secrete IL-2 and IFN-gamma. However, upon purification and activation in vitro, TIL secrete high levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, enter S phase, and then die by Fas-mediated apoptosis. Activation by injection of anti-TCR Ab or IL-2 into tumor-bearing mice induced TIL entrance into S phase preceding apoptosis, showing that TIL have functional TCR-mediated signal transduction in situ. Our data demonstrate that TIL, not tumor, express both Fas and FasL, are arrested in G(1), do not secrete cytokine in situ, and, upon activation in vitro and in vivo, rapidly die by activation-induced cell death.     

Alternative antigen receptor (TCR) signaling in T cells derived from ZAP-70-deficient patients expressing high levels of Syk

ZAP-70-deficient patients present with nonfunctional CD4+ T cells in the periphery. We find that a subset of primary ZAP-70-deficient T cells, expressing high levels of the related protein-tyrosine kinase Syk, can proliferate in vitro. These cells (denoted herein as Syk(hi)/ZAP-70(-) T cells) provide a unique model in which the contribution of Syk to TCR-mediated responses can be explored in a nontransformed background. Importantly, CD3-induced responses, such as tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular substrates (LAT, SLP76, and PLC-gamma1), as well as calcium mobilization, which are defective in T cells expressing neither ZAP-70 nor Syk, are observed in Syk(hi)/ZAP-70(-) T cells. However, Syk(hi)/ZAP-70(-) T cells differ from control T cells with respect to the T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-mediated activation of the MAPK cascades: extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity and recruitment of the JNK and p38 stress-related MAPK pathways are diminished. This distinct phenotype of Syk(hi)/ZAP-70(-) T cells is associated with a profound decrease in CD3-mediated interleukin 2 secretion and proliferation relative to control T cells. Thus, ZAP-70 and Syk appear to play distinct roles in transducing a TCR-mediated signal.     

Signal transduction pathways in mast cell granule-mediated endothelial cell activation

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that incubation of human endothelial cells with mast cell granules results in potentiation of lipopolysaccharide-induced production of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. AIMS: The objective of the present study was to identify candidate molecules and signal transduction pathways involved in the synergy between mast cell granules and lipopolysaccharide on endothelial cell activation. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with rat mast cell granules in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide, and IL-6 production was quantified. The status of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation, nuclear factor-kappaB translocation and intracellular calcium levels were determined to identify the mechanism of synergy between mast cell granules and lipopolysaccaride. RESULTS: Mast cell granules induced low levels of interleukin-6 production by endothelial cells, and this effect was markedly enhanced by lipopolysaccharide. The results revealed that both serine proteases and histamine present in mast cell granules were involved in this activation process. Mast cell granules increased intracellular calcium, and activated c-Jun amino-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. The combination of lipopolysaccharide and mast cell granules prolonged c-Jun amino-terminal kinase activity beyond the duration of induction by either stimulant alone and was entirely due to active proteases. However, both proteases and histamine contributed to calcium mobilization and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation. The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB proteins was of greater magnitude in endothelial cells treated with the combination of mast cell granules and lipopolysaccharide. CONCLUSIONS:Mast cell granule serine proteases and histamine can amplify lipopolysaccharide-induced endothelial cell activation, which involves calcium mobilization, mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and nuclear factor-kappaB translocation.     

Cross-talk with Ca(2+) influx does not underlie the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in cytotoxic T lymphocyte lytic granule exocytosis

One important mechanism cytotoxic T lymphocytes use to kill target cells is exocytosis of lytic granules that contain cytotoxic agents such as perforin and granzyme. Ca(2+) influx and activation of protein kinase C have been known for many years to be key signals for granule exocytosis. Recent work has suggested that activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) family, may be a third required signal. We surmised that the involvement of ERK in lytic granule exocytosis could be mediated through cross-talk with Ca(2+) influx, rather than constituting an independent signal. We tested this idea using TALL-104 human leukemic CTLs as a model system and discovered the following. 1) ERK inhibition caused a modest decrease in the amplitude of increases in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, but this effect cannot account for the profound inhibition of granule exocytosis. 2) Ca(2+) influx can activate ERK in TALL-104 cells, but this effect does not contribute to ERK activation stimulated by solid phase anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. We conclude that cross-talk between ERK signaling and Ca(2+) does not mediate the role of ERK in CTL lytic granule exocytosis.     

GD3-reactive antibodies can inhibit the lysis of autologous tumor cells by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

Summary GD3 is expressed in high concentrations on melanoma cells and may serve as a useful target antigen for mAb-mediated immunotherapy. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against GD3 stimulate cell-mediated immune responses against tumor cells in vitro and this activity may contribute to antitumor effects in patients with melanoma treated with GD3-reactive mAbs. In the present study the effects of GD3-reactive mAbs on autologous tumor cell lysis by a human melanoma-derived tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) population were examined. Unlike results reported for other GD3⁺ T cells isolated from melanoma patients, the tumor-specific lytic activity of the TIL line was inhibited by incubation with mAbs against GD3. Other melanoma-reactive mAbs, including those against GD2 and the high-molecular-weight melanoma-associated Ag, had no effect on the TIL lytic activity. Overall, these results indicate that mAbs against GD3 may have different effects on T cell/tumor cell interactions.     

Characterization of defective CD4-CD8- T cells in murine tumors generated independent of antigen specificity

Immune-based therapy confers limited benefits to hosts bearing late-stage tumors. Mounting evidence points to local suppression of T cell function as the most substantial barrier to effective antitumor immunity in hosts with large tumor burdens. Despite this, events responsible for locally defective T cells and immune suppression in tumors remain unclear. We describe in this study a predominant T cell population localized within two murine tumors that is characterized by expression of apoptotic markers and TCRalphabeta/CD3, but not CD4, CD8, or NK-associated markers. These defective cells resembled double negative (DN) T cells in lpr mice, harbored defects in the expression of T cell signaling molecules, and produced the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. Conditions known to increase or decrease the accumulation of lpr DN T cells had corresponding effects on local DN tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels and inversely impacted host survival. Adoptive transfer into s.c. tumors demonstrated that naive CD8(+) T cells were highly susceptible to becoming DN TIL, and local supplementation of tumors with nontumor Ag-bearing MHC class I-expressing fibroblasts decreased both this susceptibility and endogenous DN TIL levels. These findings identify a major defective T cell population with suppressive potential within tumors. The data also suggest that local T cell defectiveness is controlled by the tumor environment independent of cognate Ag specificity per se. Decreasing defective DN TIL levels by increasing noncognate peptide MHC class I availability, or modulating TCR or cytokine signaling may facilitate host survival by bolstering endogenous immunity to late-stage tumors, and may help improve therapeutic tumor vaccines.     

Purification and properties of cytoplasmic granules from cytotoxic rat LGL tumors

To evaluate the role of NK cell granules in the lytic activity of NK cells, cytoplasmic granules of rat NK tumors were purified by centrifugation of the cell homogenates in a Percoll gradient. Analysis of such gradients showed a band of light-scattering material near the bottom of the tube; assay of gradient fractions for lytic activity against SRBC showed a potent lytic activity giving a sharp peak in this region. Complete lysis of SRBC was achieved with less than 1 microgram/ml protein of the most active fractions. Examination in the electron microscope showed that a pool of fractions containing lytic activity consisted of pure cytoplasmic granules showing similar morphology to those found in the LGL tumors. The lytic band was associated with a peak in the activity of four different lysosomal enzymes. Analysis of Percoll gradient fractions showed that marker enzymes for mitochondria, plasma membrane, and cytosol were well separated from this activity peak. Analysis of the Percoll gradient fractions by SDS gel electrophoresis showed that this granule fraction was free of contamination of proteins from other parts of the gradient. The granules contained major protein bands of 62, 58, 30, 29, and 28 kilodaltons. In addition to protein, the purified granule fractions contain hexose and uronic acid, but no nucleic acids or phospholipids were detected in chemical assays. Major amounts of chymotryptic, tryptic, and elastase activities were not present, nor were peroxidase or lysozyme activities detectable in substantial amounts. These data show that NK tumor cell cytoplasmic granules contain a potent lytic activity and have biochemical properties that distinguish them from granules present in granulocytes and mast cells.     

Unique murine tumor-associated antigens identified by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes

Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were cultured from multiple methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas under four different conditions: either low-dose (10 U/ml) or high-dose (1000 U/ml) rIL-2 was used with Ag stimulation by irradiated autologous tumor and splenocytes starting either at day 1 or day 10 of culture. TIL grown from four antigenically distinct sarcomas in low-dose rIL-2 were specifically lytic in vitro to their tumor of origin in 13 of 15 (87%) lytic cultures whereas only 8 of 28 (29%) lytic TIL cultures grown in high-dose rIL-2 showed specificity. TIL cultured in low-dose rIL-2 with Ag stimulation on day 1 of culture proliferated at a rate equal to TIL grown in high-dose rIL-2 and maintained their specificity for over 3 mo in culture. Cytolysis by specific TIL was MHC-restricted. TIL with in vitro specificity were therapeutically effective in eliminating established micrometastases in murine models. These investigations demonstrate that CTL derived from tumor-bearing mice can be used to define unique tumor-associated Ag on at least four different sarcomas and may be valuable in studies of the biologic nature of these Ag and in the adoptive immunotherapy of tumors.     

Defective granule exocytosis in Rab27a-deficient lymphocytes from Ashen mice

Because mutations in Rab27a have been linked to immune defects in humans, we have examined cytotoxic lymphocyte function in ashen mice, which contain a splicing mutation in Rab27a. Ashen cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) showed a >90% reduction in lytic activity on Fas-negative target cells compared with control C3H CTLs, and ashen natural killer cell activity was likewise diminished. Although their granule-mediated cytotoxicity pathway is profoundly defective, ashen CTLs displayed a normal FasL-Fas cytotoxicity pathway. The CD4/8 phenotype of ashen T cells and their proliferative responses were similar to controls. Ashen CTLs had normal levels of perforin and granzymes A and B and normal-appearing perforin-positive granules, which polarized upon interaction of the CTLs with anti-CD3-coated beads. However, rapid anti-CD3-induced granule secretion was drastically defective in both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells from ashen mice. This defect in exocytosis was not observed in the constitutive pathway, as T cell receptor-stimulated interferon-gamma secretion was normal. Based on these results and our demonstration that Rab27a colocalizes with granzyme B-positive granules and is undetectable in ashen CTLs, we conclude that Rab27a is required for a late step in granule exocytosis, compatible with current models of Rab protein function in vesicle docking and fusion.     

Localized cdc42 activation,detected using a novel assay,mediates microtubule organizing center positioning in endothelial cells in response to fluid shear stress

Fluid flow regulates morphology, physiology, and pathophysiology of vascular endothelial cells (reviewed in Ref. 1). The small GTPase Cdc42 mediates polarity in several systems including migrating cells and early embryos, which involve reorientation of the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and Golgi apparatus toward the direction of movement. Here, we show that Cdc42 is activated by fluid shear stress and that activation is a consequence of integrins binding to extracellular matrix. A novel fluorescence energy transfer assay to visualize Cdc42 activation in single cells shows that Cdc42 activity is polarized in the direction of flow. Localized activation of Cdc42 as well as the activity of Par6 and protein kinase Czeta direct the reorientation of the MTOC to a position on the downstream side of the nucleus relative to the direction of flow. Thus, shear-stimulated integrin dynamics induce polarized Cdc42 activity, which induces MTOC localization through the Par6-protein kinase Czeta complex.     

Direct tumor lysis by NK cells uses a Ras-independent mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway

Destruction of tumor cells is a key function of lymphocytes, but the molecular processes driving it are unclear. Analysis of signal molecules indicated that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular regulated kinase 2 critically controlled lytic function in human NK cells. We now have evidence to indicate that target ligation triggers a Ras-independent MAPK pathway that is required for lysis of the ligated tumor cell. Target engagement caused NK cells to rapidly activate MAPK within 5 min, and PD098059 effectively blocked both MAPK activation and tumoricidal function in NK cells. Target engagement also rapidly activated Ras, detected as active Ras-GTP bound to GST-Raf-RBD, a GST fusion protein linked to the Raf protein fragment containing the Ras-GTP binding domain. However, Ras inactivation by pharmacological disruption with the farnesyl transferase inhibitor, FTI-277, had no adverse effect on the ability of NK cells to lyse tumor cells or to express MAPK activation upon target conjugation. Notably, MAPK inactivation with PD098059, but not Ras inactivation with FTI-277, could interfere with perforin and granzyme B polarization within NK cells toward the contacted target cell. Using vaccinia delivery of N17 Ras into NK cells, we demonstrated that IL-2 activated a Ras-dependent MAPK pathway, while target ligation used a Ras-independent MAPK pathway to trigger lysis in NK cells.     

Tumor-specific cytolysis by lymphocytes infiltrating human melanomas

Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were grown in IL-2 from single cell tumor suspensions of 14 human melanomas resected from 12 patients. As a function of time in culture, 4 of 14 TIL cultures eventually expressed highly specific cytolytic activity against fresh autologous melanoma targets in short term chromium release assays, failing to lyse multiple allogeneic tumors or autologous normal cells. These highly specific TIL were identified as CTL by phenotype (CD3+/CD4-/CD8+/Leu7-) and by function (lysis inhibited by antibodies directed against CD3 and MHC class I molecules). Cell separation experiments using immunomagnetic beads identified a highly tumor-specific CTL subpopulation within a nonspecific TIL culture, suggesting that the lytic activity of tumor-specific CTL may be diluted by the nonspecific killer activity present in heterogeneous TIL cultures. These studies provide evidence for specific MHC-restricted human immune responses against autologous tumor in cancer-bearing patients, and may be of importance to ongoing clinical trials using TIL in the immunotherapy of advanced malignancies.     

Remodelling of cortical actin where lytic granules dock at natural killer cell immune synapses revealed by super-resolution microscopy

Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that secrete lytic granules to directly kill virus-infected or transformed cells across an immune synapse. However, a major gap in understanding this process is in establishing how lytic granules pass through the mesh of cortical actin known to underlie the NK cell membrane. Research has been hampered by the resolution of conventional light microscopy, which is too low to resolve cortical actin during lytic granule secretion. Here we use two high-resolution imaging techniques to probe the synaptic organisation of NK cell receptors and filamentous (F)-actin. A combination of optical tweezers and live cell confocal microscopy reveals that microclusters of NKG2D assemble into a ring-shaped structure at the centre of intercellular synapses, where Vav1 and Grb2 also accumulate. Within this ring-shaped organisation of NK cell proteins, lytic granules accumulate for secretion. Using 3D-structured illumination microscopy (3D-SIM) to gain super-resolution of ~100 nm, cortical actin was detected in a central region of the NK cell synapse irrespective of whether activating or inhibitory signals dominate. Strikingly, the periodicity of the cortical actin mesh increased in specific domains at the synapse when the NK cell was activated. Two-colour super-resolution imaging revealed that lytic granules docked precisely in these domains which were also proximal to where the microtubule-organising centre (MTOC) polarised. Together, these data demonstrate that remodelling of the cortical actin mesh occurs at the central region of the cytolytic NK cell immune synapse. This is likely to occur for other types of cell secretion and also emphasises the importance of emerging super-resolution imaging technology for revealing new biology.