T-suppressors from tumor-bearing mice inhibit antitumor cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in monoculture]

The generation of specific antitumor cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) via 2-fold immunization in vivo and subsequent cultivation without tumor cells (in monoculture) was previously described. The spleen cells from B10 mice bearing progressively growing MX-11 sarcoma suppressed the maturation of CTL specific to MX-11 but not to EL-4 lymphoma in monoculture. It was observed, that the suppression was not the result of the inhibitory effect of suppressor cells upon the IL-2 production, because suppression took place in the presence of the exogenous IL-2 in monoculture. Since the treatment of the spleen cells with MoAb against both L3T4 and Lyt2.2 antigens plus C' considerably decreased the suppressive activity, it was suggested, that two distinct subsets of T-lymphocytes were required for suppression. It might be possible, that the presence of anti-idiotype on the effector suppressors was the cause of the suppressive specificity in the absence of tumor antigens in vitro.     

Endocytosis in cytotoxic T-lymphocytes

Endocytosis in T lymphocytes was analyzed during their differentiation into cytotoxic effector cells in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte cultures. We found that endocytic activity increases from a very low value to reach a peak at Day 5, at which time the cytotoxic titer is highest in these cell cultures. Thereafter it decreases, as does cytotoxicity. Upon restimulation the T cells again exhibit markedly increased endocytic activity. The possible role of endocytosis in cytotoxic T cells is briefly discussed with regard to their differentiation and their interaction with target cells.     

Multi-functionality of allospecific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in vitro

The data presented demonstrate the capacity of allospecific cytotoxic lymphocytes to fulfill noncytolytic regulatory functions. Cytotoxic lymphocytes suppress cell proliferation induced during development of a response in reactions of a mixed culture of lymphocytes and blast transformation irrespective of haplotypes of the cells involved in these reactions. At the same time, cytotoxic lymphocytes do not practically affect spontaneous proliferation of T-cells. The inhibitory effect of cytotoxic lymphocytes is expressed only upon direct contact with activated T-lymphocytes and is not relate to their apoptosis and death. The results obtained suggest polyfunctionality of allospecific cytotoxic lymphocytes expressed in the capacity of these lymphocytes to fulfill both effector (target lysis) and regulatory functions.     

Differences in the properties of specific T-suppressors and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes immune to H-2 complex antigens

Intravenous immunization of mice with a large dose of gamma-irradiated allogenic spleen cells gives rise to specific suppressor T cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL). However, being optimal form suppressor T cell induction, these conditions of immunization are not conducive to identification of CTL unless they are enriched by elution from the allogenic target monolayer. Unlike CTL, specific suppressor T cells are highly susceptible to gamma-irradiation while their precursors differ from those of CTL by high susceptibility to cyclophosphamide and hydrocortisone.     

Formation of antibodies against the antigen-recognizing receptors of T-lymphocytes in a syngenous system]

As shown, formation of antibodies to the antigen-recognition receptors of T-lymphocytes was possible in a syngeneic system. The antiserum of CBA mice given intravenous injections of CBA lymphocytes, immune to C57BL cells, proved to specifically inhibit in a mixed culture blasttransformation of CBA T-lymphocytes only against the C57BL cells. The same antiserum failed to influence the proliferative activity of CBA T-lymphocytes reacting to the "foreign" antigen (DBA/2 cells). No antibodies against the C57BL cells were revealed in the antireceptor antiserum. It is assumed that the autoantireceptor antibodies had a regulatory effect on the immune response.     

Relationship between cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and suppressors blocking activation of DNA synthesis in mixed lymphocyte cultures]

Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) and suppressors induced by immunization in the H-2 system and inhibiting DNA synthesis activation in mixed lymphocyte culture were studied in parallel. Unlike CTL, suppressors did not adhere specifically to the target cell monolayer, they were not inactivated by anti-theta serum plus complement, and their action was not specific: they inhibited the DNA synthesis activation stimulated by any stimulant cells, as well as by phytohemagglutinin and concanavaline A. CTL and suppressors proved to represent different effector cell populations which could be separated from one another.     

Generation and ex vivo expansion of HTLV-1 specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes for adoptive immunotherapy

CD8(+) cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) have been proven, in multiple animal models, to be the most powerful antiviral and antitumor components of the immune system. We have developed a protocol to activate and expand tumor and virus peptide-specific CD8(+) T-lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of healthy, human trophic leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) seronegative human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201 individuals. A combination of density-based separation and culture conditions was employed to isolate dendritic cells (DCs), which are the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and T-lymphocytes. The DCs were pulsed with HLA-A*0201 binding peptides and cultured with autologous T-lymphocytes to generate peptide-specific CTLs. The CTLs were generated against a nine-amino-acid peptide from the Tax protein of HTLV-1. The CTLs were expanded according to a restimulation schedule employing peptide-pulsed autologous monocytes and low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) to numbers in excess of 100 x 10(6) cells following 5 weeks of culture. Expanded cells contained primarily CD3(+) T-cells, of which CD8(+) T-lymphocytes constituted greater than two-thirds of the cell population. Obtained CTLs exhibited potent antigen-specific lysis of peptide-pulsed target cells in a dose-dependent fashion in in vitro (51)Cr release cytotoxicity assay. This antigen-specific killing was shown to be HLA class I restricted and mediated by CD8(+) T-lymphocytes. Since the T-lymphocytes were obtained from HTLV-1 seronegative donors, the generation of peptide-specific CTLs represents reliable and reproducible elicitation of a primary immune response in vitro against naive antigens and subsequent expansion of generated CTLs for adoptive immunotherapy. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

MHC recognition by clones of Mls specific T-lymphocytes

To test whether M1s determinants, like other non-MHC or nominal antigens, are recognized by T-cells in association with H-2 determinants, the in vitro proliferative responses of T-cell lines and clones were studied. Lines and clones were prepared by soft agar cloning (B10.BR x BALB/c)F₁ (H-2^k/H-2^d, M1s^b/M1s^b) T-cells responding in a primary MLR to AKD2F1 (H-2^k/H-2^d, M1s^a/M1s^a) stimulator cells. All the T-cell clones obtained could respond equally well in a proliferative assay to the Mls^a determinant in association with the H-2 haplotype of either parent, i. e., DBA/2 (H-2^d, M1s^a), and AKR (H-2^k, M1s^a) both stimulated equally well. When the T-cell lines and clones were screened against stimulators from recombinant inbred (RI) strains, it became apparent that strains exhibiting the H-2^b, M1s^a genotype stimulated poorly or not at all. This shows that the T-cell response to M1s^a involves MHC recognition, and raises the possibility that the response to M1s^a can involve recognition of H-2 specificities shared between the H-2 ^k and H-2 ^d haplotypes.Abbreviations used in this paper MHC major histocompatibility complex - MLC mixed lymphocyte culture - IL-2 interleukin 2 - Con A concanavalin A - RI recombinant inbred Howard Hughes Medical Institute     

Increase of the concentration of effector T-lymphocytes specific to antigens H2. 1. Elution of T-lymphocytes from the allogeneic target cells]

The technique of elution by pronase of murine lymph node cells adherent to relevant allogeneic target cells has been developed for enrichment of effectory T cell population. A fraction was obtained of killer cells possessing cytotoxic activity which exceeds that of the initial immune lymphocyte population by a factor of 6--8 as judged by the number of lymphocytes required for a 50% cytotoxic effect. The gain in CE is fairly reproducible in different H-2 systems and under various lymphocyte-target incubation conditions.     

Cross reactions in the H-2 system of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes concentrated by the adsorption-elution method on target cell monolayers]

Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) obtained by in vivo immunization were enriched by the absorption-elution technique, using the relevant allogeneic target cell (TC) monolayers. After the separation of C57BL anti-A (anti-KkDd) lymphocytes into anti-Kk and anti-Dd subpopulations they displayed cross killing cytotoxic effect on H-2d and H-2kTC, respectively. B10D2 anti-B10 (anti-KbDd) lymphocytes cross reacted to H-2a and H-2q TC. The results are discussed in the light of heterogeneity of CTL clones or their receptors.     

In vitro selection of HIV and CMV specific T-lymphocytes

CMV and HIV produce life-long infections. During CMV infection, cellular responses mediated by virus specific CD8 and CD4 lymphocytes are effective, while during HIV infection cellular responses are ineffective in the long run. In recent years, much work has been carried out to better characterize such responses by using different methodologies to define the fine epitope specificity, the frequency and the function of specific T-cells. These studies have diagnostic and therapeutic implications. In fact, monitoring of specific lymphocytes may help define the immune status of the patients for therapeutic interventions. Identification of CD8 and CD4 epitopes allows the use of relevant peptides for lymphocyte stimulation or for vaccine development. Enumeration of specific cells permits a quantitative estimate of the immune response. In vitro selection provides large numbers of virus specific T-cells for studies on clonal composition, on epitope mapping and on HLA restriction as well as for therapeutic immunoreconstitution with ex vivo expanded T-cells.     

Induction of secondary cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in vitro does not require cell proliferation.

Using a mouse in vitro allograft model, evidence has been obtained that, in contrast to the accepted view, the generation of cytotoxic effector function in T-lymphocytes does not necessarily require cell division.     

Mechanism of the inhibitory effect of BCG vaccine on specific antitumor immunity in Syrian hamsters]

The duration of inhibiting influence of BCG vaccine on specific antitumour immunity and possibility of SV40-induced resistance restoration in Syrian hamsters after the vaccination was studied. Antitumor immunity in animals immunized with SV40 virus and then inoculated with BCG was demonstrated to be abrogated one year after the vaccination. Reinoculation of the subjected to combined immunization animals with SV40 virus induced specific antitumour resistance in them again. The data presented may be interpreted as an argument favouring the cell-mediated nature of the phenomenon described.     

Quantifying the impact of human immunodeficiency virus-1 escape from cytotoxic T-lymphocytes

HIV-1 escape from the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response leads to a weakening of viral control and is likely to be detrimental to the patient. To date, the impact of escape on viral load and CD4(+) T cell count has not been quantified, primarily because of sparse longitudinal data and the difficulty of separating cause and effect in cross-sectional studies. We use two independent methods to quantify the impact of HIV-1 escape from CTLs in chronic infection: mathematical modelling of escape and statistical analysis of a cross-sectional cohort. Mathematical modelling revealed a modest increase in log viral load of 0.051 copies ml(-1) per escape event. Analysis of the cross-sectional cohort revealed a significant positive association between viral load and the number of "escape events", after correcting for length of infection and rate of replication. We estimate that a single CTL escape event leads to a viral load increase of 0.11 log copies ml(-1) (95% confidence interval: 0.040-0.18), consistent with the predictions from the mathematical modelling. Overall, the number of escape events could only account for approximately 6% of the viral load variation in the cohort. Our findings indicate that although the loss of the CTL response for a single epitope results in a highly statistically significant increase in viral load, the biological impact is modest. We suggest that this small increase in viral load is explained by the small growth advantage of the variant relative to the wildtype virus. Escape from CTLs had a measurable, but unexpectedly low, impact on viral load in chronic infection.     

Isolation of a Ca-dependent erythrolytic protein (perforin) from cytotoxic T-lymphocytes

A Ca-dependent erythrolytic protein (perforin) was isolated from a cytotoxic T-cell line (CTLL2). Cellular extracts were fractionated on DEAE-cellulose and hydrophobic Phenyl-Sepharose columns. Lytic activity was tightly bound to the hydrophobic column and was eluted with 50% ethyleneglycol. The erythrolytic activity was dependent on the concentration of Ca2+ ions, and heparin accelerated the lysis of erythrocytes by perforin 10-fold, with a half maximal concentration of 12 ng/ml. The activity was strongly inhibited by micromolar concentrations of heavy metal ions, such as Zn2+ and Fe2+, and glycylarginine-methylcoumarinamide (Gly-Arg-MCA) in the presence of 100 ng/ml heparin.     

Neuroinflammation by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes impairs retrograde axonal transport in an oligodendrocyte mutant mouse

Mice overexpressing proteolipid protein (PLP) develop a leukodystrophy-like disease involving cytotoxic, CD8+ T-lymphocytes. Here we show that these cytotoxic T-lymphocytes perturb retrograde axonal transport. Using fluorogold stereotactically injected into the colliculus superior, we found that PLP overexpression in oligodendrocytes led to significantly reduced retrograde axonal transport in retina ganglion cell axons. We also observed an accumulation of mitochondria in the juxtaparanodal axonal swellings, indicative for a disturbed axonal transport. PLP overexpression in the absence of T-lymphocytes rescued retrograde axonal transport defects and abolished axonal swellings. Bone marrow transfer from wildtype mice, but not from perforin- or granzyme B-deficient mutants, into lymphocyte-deficient PLP mutant mice led again to impaired axonal transport and the formation of axonal swellings, which are predominantly located at the juxtaparanodal region. This demonstrates that the adaptive immune system, including cytotoxic T-lymphocytes which release perforin and granzyme B, are necessary to perturb axonal integrity in the PLP-transgenic disease model. Based on our observations, so far not attended molecular and cellular players belonging to the immune system should be considered to understand pathogenesis in inherited myelin disorders with progressive axonal damage.     

Carboplatin-containing porphyrin-platinum complexes as cytotoxic and phototoxic antitumor agents

Tetraarylporphyrins of the Ar:Ar′ = 3:1-type were synthesized from pyrrole, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and benzaldehydes substituted with ethyleneglycol, hydroxy and quaternary ammonium substituents for solubilization in DMF and, in particular, in water. After etherification with the tosylate of diethyl cyclobutanedicarboxylate and subsequent ester hydrolysis, the resulting carboxylic acid groups were used to bind platinum fragments bearing two ammonia and (RR/SS)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane ligands, respectively, as non-leaving groups. In comparison to hematoporphyrin-platinum complexes, the title compounds show a 30 nm bathochromic shift of their absorption bands increasing the penetration depth of the red light used for irradiation in photodynamic tumor therapy. The antiproliferative activity of 24 new platinum complexes differing in the porphyrin ligands and the platinum fragments were studied in tests with J82 bladder cancer cells. The compounds showed the cytotoxic effect of the platinum moiety and after irradiation the phototoxic effect of the porphyrin system.     

Novel tricyclic indeno[2,1-d]pyrimidines with dual antiangiogenic and cytotoxic activities as potent antitumor agents

We designed, synthesized and evaluated 13 novel tricyclic indeno[2,1-d]pyrimidines as RTK inhibitors. These analogues were synthesized via a Dieckmann condensation of 1,2-phenylenediacetonitrile followed by cyclocondensation with guanidine carbonate to afford the 2-amino-3,9-dihydro-indeno[2,1-d]pyrimidin-4-one. Sulfonation of the 4-position followed by displacement with appropriately substituted anilines afforded the target compounds. These compounds were potent inhibitors of platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) and inhibited angiogenesis in the chicken embryo chorioallantonic membrane (CAM) assay compared to standards. In addition, compound 7 had a two digit nanomolar GI(50) against nine tumor cell lines, a submicromolar GI(50) against 29 of other tumor cell lines in the preclinical NCI 60 tumor cell line panel. Compound 7 also demonstrated significant in vivo inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis in a B16-F10 syngeneic mouse melanoma model.