Induction of MHC class I presentation of exogenous antigen by dendritic cells is controlled by CD4+ T cells engaging class II molecules in cholesterol-rich domains.

We investigated interactions between CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells (DC) necessary for presentation of exogenous Ag by DC to CD8+ T cells. CD4+ T cells responding to their cognate Ag presented by MHC class II molecules of DC were necessary for induction of CD8+ T cell responses to MHC class I-associated Ag, but their ability to do so depended on the manner in which class II-peptide complexes were formed. DC derived from short-term mouse bone marrow culture efficiently took up Ag encapsulated in IgG FcR-targeted liposomes and stimulated CD4+ T cell responses to Ag-derived peptides associated with class II molecules. This CD4+ T cell-DC interaction resulted in expression by the DC of complexes of class I molecules and peptides from the Ag delivered in liposomes and permitted expression of the activation marker CD69 and cytotoxic responses by naive CD8+ T cells. However, while free peptides in solution loaded onto DC class II molecules could stimulate IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells as efficiently as peptides derived from endocytosed Ag, they could not stimulate induction of cytotoxic responses by CD8+ T cells to Ag delivered in liposomes into the same DC. Signals requiring class II molecules loaded with endocytosed Ag, but not free peptide, were inhibited by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, which depletes cell membrane cholesterol. CD4+ T cell signals thus require class II molecules in cholesterol-rich domains of DC for induction of CD8+ T cell responses to exogenous Ag by inducing DC to process this Ag for class I presentation.     

Presentation of autoantigen by human T cells.

Activated human T cells express MHC class II and have been shown to present foreign Ag to autologous T cells. We now demonstrate that MHC class II+ T cell clones can present myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide autoantigen in the absence of traditional APC to autologous MBP reactive T cell clones. MBP peptide-pulsed T cell clones specifically stimulated autologous MBP-reactive T cell clones to flux calcium and proliferate. Activation responses were peptide epitope specific and blocked by mAb to MHC class II, indicating a TCR-mediated response. In addition, mAb to the adhesion molecules LFA-3, CD2, LFA-1, CD29, and to the tyrosine phosphatase CD45 also inhibited proliferation, indicating the involvement of T to T cell interactions. In contrast to peptide Ag, T cell clones did not respond to autologous T cells pulsed with HPLC-purified MBP, suggesting that T cells are unable to process whole MBP. However, batch-purified MBP Ag preparations containing lower m.w. breakdown products were presented by T cells, indicating that naturally occurring breakdown products of autoantigens could be presented by activated T cells in vivo. These results raise the possibility that T cell presentation of autoantigen at inflammatory sites may be important in regulation of immune responses to self Ag.     

Activation of MHC-restricted rat T cells by cloned syngeneic thyrocytes

We have previously demonstrated that rat thyrocytes express MHC class II Ag (RT1.B&D) in response to IFN-gamma. To determine whether MHC class II-positive thyrocytes can be recognized by MHC-restricted T cells, we used our clone of rat thyroid cells (1B-6) derived from the Fisher rat thyroid cell line (FRTL-5) and known to express MHC class II Ag in response to recombinant rat IFN-gamma. CD4+ and CD8+ normal syngeneic Fisher rat spleen T cells were selected by flow cytometry and averaged greater than 96% purity. We demonstrated that irradiated MHC class II-positive but not class II-negative 1B-6 thyrocytes stimulated CD4+ T cells in a primary sensitization reaction over 4 days. In contrast, CD8+ T cells had no response in similar experiments. This stimulation of CD4+ T cells was dose dependent for 1B-6 thyrocytes and was abrogated by anti-rat MHC class II mAb (MRC OX-6). Autoreactive (Fisher) and alloreactive (Buffalo) T cell lines and isolated CD4+ T cells derived from these lines, which were developed against Fisher rat spleen cells, similarly recognized MHC class II Ag expressed on 1B-6 cells but had no detectable response to 1B-6 MHC class II-negative thyrocytes or MHC class II-positive human thyroid cells. The CD4+ T cell recognition of 1B-6 cells via MHC class II Ag supports our previous data with autologous human thyroid T cell co-cultures and is indicative of an autospecific role for thyrocytes in the development of autoimmune thyroiditis.     

The CD28 ligand, B7, enhances IL-2 production by providing a costimulatory signal to T cells.

Previous studies demonstrated that a human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, NALM-6, failed to stimulate a primary MLR, despite expression of class II MHC and adhesion molecules. Here we demonstrate that this is the result of the fact that NALM-6 cells do not express the ligand for CD28, namely B7. NALM-6 transfectants that expressed high levels of B7 gained the capacity to stimulate IL-2 production by class II MHC molecule-specific alloreactive T cells and to costimulate a polyclonal population of purified T cells cultured with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb. In the presence of PMA, NALM-6 cells transfected with B7 polyclonally stimulated T cells in a cyclosporine A-resistant fashion, a property previously attributed only to agonistic anti-CD28 mAb. The gain of these functions could not be explained solely by an increased capacity of the transfectants to form conjugates with T cells, suggesting that the CD28/B7 interaction transduces a costimulatory signal in T cells.     

Formation of complexes between self-peptides and MHC class II molecules in cells defective for presentation of exogenous protein antigens.

A vertebrate immune response is initiated by the presentation of foreign protein Ag to MHC class II-restricted T lymphocytes by specialized APC. Presentation of self-peptides in association with MHC class II molecules is also necessary for the induction of T cell tolerance. It is important to understand whether functionally divergent APC are responsible for delivering these distinct signals to class II-restricted T cells. Here we examine the ability of I-Ad surface molecules expressed in diverse cell types to stimulate I-Ad-restricted T cells. Recipients included J558L myeloma cells and EL4 lymphoma cells expressing barely detectable or undetectable levels of Ii chain mRNA. This allowed us to examine the influence of Ii expression on the presentation of intracellular Ag and thus test the hypothesis that Ii chain is necessary to prevent access of self-peptides to newly synthesized class II molecules. Ii chain expression did not restore the ability of transformants to process and present soluble protein Ag. A striking result was the finding that cells showing a defect in the exogenous class II presentation pathway were capable of functioning as stimulators when they expressed intracellular secreted but not signal-less V-CH3b Ag. Thus, so-called professional APC that can capture and process exogenous protein Ag may express a specialized set of proteins not required for the presentation of self-peptides.     

Some cloned murine CD4+ T cells recognize H-2Ld class I MHC determinants directly. Other cloned CD4+ T cells recognize H-2Ld class I MHC determinants in the context of class II MHC molecules.

Murine T lymphocytes recognize nominal Ag presented by class I or class II MHC molecules. Most CD8+ T cells recognize Ag presented in the context of class I molecules, whereas most CD4+ cells recognize Ag associated with class II molecules. However, it has been shown that a proportion of T cells recognizing class I alloantigens express CD4 surface molecules. Furthermore, CD4+ T cells are sufficient for the rejection of H-2Kbm10 and H-2Kbm11 class I disparate skin grafts. It has been suggested that the CD4 component of an anti-class I response can be ascribed to T cells recognizing class I determinants in the context of class II MHC products. To examine the specificity and effector functions of class I-specific HTL, CD4+ T cells were stimulated with APC that differed from them at a class I locus. Specifically, a MLC was prepared involving an allogeneic difference only at the Ld region. CD4+ clones were derived by limiting dilution of bulk MLC cells. Two clones have been studied in detail. The CD4+ clone 46.2 produced IL-2, IL-3, and IFN-gamma when stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb, whereas the CD4+ clone 93.1 secreted IL-4 in addition to IL-2, IL-3, and IFN-gamma. Cloned 46.2 cells recognized H-2Ld directly, whereas recognition of Ld by 93.1 apparently was restricted by class II MHC molecules. Furthermore, cytolysis by both clones 46.2 and 93.1 was inhibited by the anti-CD4 mAb GK1.5. These results demonstrate that CD4+ T cells can respond to a class I difference and that a proportion of CD4+ T cells can recognize class I MHC determinants directly as well as in the context of class II MHC molecules.     

Staphylococcal exotoxin activation of T cells. Role of exotoxin-MHC class II binding affinity and class II isotype

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 bind directly to class II molecules of the MHC and stimulate T cells based predominantly on the V beta segment used by the TCR. We investigated the relationship between the class II binding affinities of four of these exotoxins, SEA, SEB, SEC1, and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and their T cell signaling capabilities. Although the toxins stimulated T cells at concentrations that ranged over more than two orders of magnitude, their affinities for class II (DR1) differed by less than sixfold. The affinities of the toxins predicted their capacity to stimulate resting T cells to proliferate. The binding affinities of the toxins for class II molecules indicated that at concentrations required for T cell stimulation, as few as 0.1% of the class II molecules are complexed with toxin. Finally, the isotype of class II molecules affected the ability of the toxins to bind and use these MHC Ag to stimulate T cells. These data thus demonstrate that of the staphylococcal exotoxins studied, both their potency as T cell mitogens and their ability to function in the presence of single class II isotypes can be attributed in part to their characteristic abilities to bind class II molecules.     

Existence of MHC class I-restricted alloreactive CD4+ T cells reacting with peptide transporter-deficient cells

It is generally accepted that as the result of positive thymic selection, CD8-expressing T cells recognize peptide antigens presented in the context of MHC class I molecules and CD4-expressing T cells interact with peptide antigens presented by MHC class II molecules. Here we report the generation of TCRalpha/beta(+), CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(-), MHC class I-restricted alloreactive T-cell clones which were induced using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals following in vitro stimulation with transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)-deficient cell lines T2. The CD4(+) T-cell clones showed an HLA-A2.1-specific proliferative response against T2 cells which was inhibited by anti-CD3 and anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies. These results suggest that interaction of the TCR with peptide-bound HLA class I molecules contributes to antigen-specific activation of these co-receptor-mismatched T-cell clones. Antigen recognition by alloreactive MHC class I-restricted CD4(+) T cells was inhibited by removing peptides bound to HLA molecules on T2 cells suggesting that the alloreactive CD4(+) T cells recognize peptides that bind in a TAP-independent manner to HLA-A2 molecules. The existence of such MHC class I-restricted CD4(+) T cells which can recognize HLA-A2 molecules in the absence of TAP function may provide a basis for the development of immunotherapy against TAP-deficient tumor variants which would be tolerant to immunosurveillance by conventional MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic lymphocytes.     

Role of APC in the selection of immunodominant T cell epitopes

Following antigenic challenge, MHC-restricted T cell responses are directed against a few dominant antigenic epitopes. Here, evidence is provided demonstrating the importance of APC in modulating the hierarchy of MHC class II-restricted T cell responses. Biochemical analysis of class II:peptide complexes in B cells revealed the presentation of a hierarchy of peptides derived from the Ig self Ag. Functional studies of kappa peptide:class II complexes from these cells indicated that nearly 20-fold more of an immunodominant epitope derived from kappa L chains was bound to class II DR4 compared with a subdominant epitope from this same Ag. In vivo, T cell responses were preferentially directed against the dominant kappa epitope as shown using Ig-primed DR4 transgenic mice. The bias in kappa epitope presentation was not linked to differences in class II:kappa peptide-binding affinity or epitope editing by HLA-DM. Rather, changes in native Ag structure were found to disrupt presentation of the immunodominant but not the subdominant kappa epitope; Ag refolding restored kappa epitope presentation. Thus, Ag tertiary conformation along with processing reactions within APC contribute to the selective presentation of a hierarchy of epitopes by MHC class II molecules.     

Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin secreting active cathepsin S stimulates expression of mature MHC class II molecules and antigen presentation in human macrophages

A successful Th cell response to bacterial infections is induced by mature MHC class II molecules presenting specific Ag peptides on the surface of macrophages. In recent studies, we demonstrated that infection with the conventional vaccine Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) specifically blocks the surface export of mature class II molecules in human macrophages by a mechanism dependent on inhibition of cathepsin S (Cat S) expression. The present study examined class II expression in macrophages infected with a rBCG strain engineered to express and secrete biologically active human Cat S (rBCG-hcs). Cat S activity was completely restored in cells ingesting rBCG-hcs, which secreted substantial levels of Cat S intracellularly. Thus, infection with rBCG-hcs, but not parental BCG, restored surface expression of mature MHC class II molecules in response to IFN-gamma, presumably as result of MHC class II invariant chain degradation dependent on active Cat S secreted by the bacterium. These events correlated with increased class II-directed presentation of mycobacterial Ag85B to a specific CD4(+) T cell hybridoma by rBCG-hcs-infected macrophages. Consistent with these findings, rBCG-hcs was found to accelerate the fusion of its phagosome with lysosomes, a process that optimizes Ag processing in infected macrophages. These data demonstrated that intracellular restoration of Cat S activity improves the capacity of BCG-infected macrophages to stimulate CD4(+) Th cells. Given that Th cells play a major role in protection against tuberculosis, rBCG-hcs would be a valuable tuberculosis vaccine candidate.     

EBV-specific CD4+ T cell clones exhibit vigorous allogeneic responses

Alloreactive T cells play a key role in mediating graft-vs-host disease and allograft rejection, and recent data suggest that most T cell alloreactivity resides within the CD4 T cell subset. Particularly, T cell responses to herpesvirus can shape the alloreactive repertoire and influence transplantation outcomes. In this study, we describe six distinct EBV-specific CD4(+) T cell clones that cross-reacted with EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), dendritic cells, and endothelial cells expressing MHC class II alleles commonly found in the population. Allorecognition showed exquisite MHC specificity. These CD4(+) T cell clones efficiently killed dendritic cells or LCLs expressing the cross-reactive allogeneic MHC class II molecules, whereas they did not kill autologous LCLs. Endothelial cells expressing the proper allogeneic MHC molecules were poorly killed, but they induced high-level TNF-alpha production by the EBV-specific CD4(+) T cell clones. As already proposed, the strong alloreactivity toward LCLs suggest that these cells could be used for selective depletion of alloreactive T cells.     

Regulation of MHC class I transport in human dendritic cells and the dendritic-like cell line KG-1

Dendritic cells (DCs) progress through distinct maturational phases; immature DCs capture Ag while mature DCs are optimized for Ag presentation. Proper control of immunity requires regulated compartmentalization of MHC class II molecules. We report that DCs also regulate MHC class I trafficking throughout maturation. Although mature human DCs express high levels of surface MHC class I, immature DCs exhibit lower surface levels while retaining MHC class I-peptide complexes in the Golgi. A cell line, KG-1, behaves similarly. We confirm the similarity of KG-1 to DCs by demonstrating its capacity to present exogenous Ags in an MHC class I-restricted fashion to CD8(+) T cell hybridomas, a phenomenon called cross-presentation. Biochemical characterization of MHC class I trafficking throughout maturation showed that, in early KG-1 dendritic-like cells, surface arrival of MHC class I-peptide complexes is delayed by their retention in the Golgi. In mature dendritic-like cells, these complexes relocate to the surface and their stability increases, concomitant with up-regulation of costimulatory molecules. Maturation induces qualitative changes in the MHC class I-associated peptide repertoire demonstrated by increased thermostability. The differential processing of MHC class I throughout maturation may prevent premature immune activation while promoting T cell responses in lymph nodes to Ags acquired at sites of inflammation.     

The extracellular domains of MHC class II molecules determine their processing requirements for antigen presentation

We have evaluated the relative contributions of the extracellular and cytoplasmic domains of MHC class II molecules in determining the Ag-processing requirements for class II-restricted Ag presentation to T cells. Hybrid genes were constructed to encode a heterodimeric I-Ak molecule in which the extracellular portion of the molecule resembled wild type I-Ak but where the connecting stalk, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of both the alpha- and beta-chain were derived from the class I molecule H-2Dd. Mutant I-Ak molecules were expressed as heterodimeric membrane glycoproteins reactive with mAb specific for wild type I-Ak. Fibroblast and B lymphoma cells expressing either wild type or mutant I-Ak molecules were able to process and present hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and conalbumin to Ag-specific, I-Ak-restricted, T cell hybridomas or clones. The mutant-expressing cells presented native and peptide Ag less efficiently than the wild type-expressing cells, suggesting that the disparity in presentation efficiency was not due to a difference in Ag processing. CD4 interaction was intact on the mutant I-Ak molecules. Presentation of native Ag by mutant and wild type-I-Ak-expressing cells was abolished by preincubation with chloroquine, or after paraformaldehyde fixation. After transfection of a cDNA encoding the gene for HEL, neither mutant nor wild type-I-Ak-expressing cells presented endogenously synthesized HEL to a specific T hybrid. Newly synthesized mutant I-Ak molecules were associated with invariant chain. These data demonstrate the ability of hybrid class II molecules to associate intracellularly with invariant chain and degraded foreign Ag in a conventional class II-restricted processing pathway indicating that the extracellular domains of class II molecules play a dominant role in controlling these Ag-processing requirements.     

Conserved mycobacterial lipoglycoproteins activate TLR2 but also require glycosylation for MHC class II-restricted T cell activation

CD4(+) T cell clones derived from a leprosy lesion and patient blood were used to monitor the isolation and identification of an Ag associated with the self-limited form of the disease. Biochemical purification and genetic analysis identified the T cell Ag as a conserved mycobacterial lipoglycoprotein LprG. LprG-mediated activation of CD4(+) T cells required specific MHC class II restriction molecules and intracellular processing. Although LprG activated TLR2, this alone was not sufficient to stimulate or inhibit T cell activation. A striking finding was that the carbohydrate moieties of LprG were required for optimal T cell activation, because recombinant LprG produced in Escherichia coli, or recombinant LprG produced in Mycobacterium smegmatis and digested by alpha-mannosidase, did not activate T cells. This study demonstrates that the universe of bacterial T cell Ags includes lipoglycoproteins, which act as TLR2 ligands but also require glycosylation for MHC class II-restricted T cell activation in vivo.     

A role for cathepsin L and cathepsin S in peptide generation for MHC class II presentation

The enzymes that degrade proteins to peptides for presentation on MHC class II molecules are poorly understood. The cysteinal lysosomal proteases, cathepsin L (CL) and cathepsin S (CS), have been shown to process invariant chain, thereby facilitating MHC class II maturation. However, their role in Ag processing is not established. To examine this issue, we generated embryonic fibroblast lines that express CL, CS, or neither. Expression of CL or CS mediates efficient degradation of invariant chain as expected. Ag presentation was evaluated using T cell hybridoma assays as well as mass spectroscopic analysis of peptides eluted from MHC class II molecules. Interestingly, we found that the majority of peptides are presented regardless of CL or CS expression, although these proteases often alter the relative levels of the peptides. However, for a subset of Ags, epitope generation is critically regulated by CL or CS. This result suggests that these cysteinal proteases participate in Ag processing and generate qualitative and quantitative differences in the peptide repertoires displayed by MHC class II molecules.     

Invariant chain and the MHC class II cytoplasmic domains regulate localization of MHC class II molecules to lipid rafts in tumor cell-based vaccines

Cell-based tumor vaccines, consisting of MHC class I+ tumor cells engineered to express MHC class II molecules, stimulate tumor-specific CD4+ T cells to mediate rejection of established, poorly immunogenic tumors. Previous experiments have demonstrated that these vaccines induce immunity by functioning as APCs for endogenously synthesized, tumor-encoded Ags. However, coexpression of the MHC class II accessory molecule invariant chain (Ii), or deletion of the MHC class II cytoplasmic domain abrogates vaccine immunogenicity. Recent reports have highlighted the role of lipid microdomains in Ag presentation. To determine whether Ii expression and/or truncation of MHC class II molecules impact vaccine efficacy by altering MHC class II localization to lipid microdomains, we examined the lipid raft affinity of MHC class II molecules in mouse M12.C3 B cell lymphomas and SaI/A(k) sarcoma vaccine cells. Functional MHC class II heterodimers were detected in lipid rafts of both cell types. Interestingly, expression of Ii in M12.C3 cells or SaI/A(k) cells blocked the MHC class II interactions with cell surface lipid rafts. In both cell types, truncation of either the alpha- or beta-chain decreased the affinity of class II molecules for lipid rafts. Simultaneous deletion of both cytoplasmic domains further reduced localization of class II molecules to lipid rafts. Collectively, these data suggest that coexpression of Ii or deletion of the cytoplasmic domains of MHC class II molecules may reduce vaccine efficacy by blocking the constitutive association of MHC class II molecules with plasma membrane lipid rafts.     

Recognition of hepatitis B virus envelope proteins by liver-infiltrating T lymphocytes in chronic HBV infection

The Ag specificity and cytotoxic function of human T cell clones, generated from lymphocytes infiltrating the liver of a chronic hepatitis B patient, were studied. Both class I- and class II-restricted T clones specifically proliferated to hepatitis B virus envelope proteins, but not to hepatitis B core Ag. The fine specificity of T cells was studied by using rAg having different composition in relation to HBV-envelope proteins or synthetic peptides of preS regions. The antigenic determinant recognized by T cell clones mapped to the preS2 region based on the response to r(preS1+preS2+S) and to r(preS2+S) and the failure to respond to S or preS1 alone. More precise epitope mapping was based on synthetic preS2 peptides 120-150 or 120-134, which stimulated both class I- and class II-restricted T clones, whereas preS2 153-171 or preS1 1-110 peptides did not; thus, the preS2 120-134 appears to contain both the residues binding to class I molecules and the residues binding to class II molecules. Moreover, strong and specific cytotoxic responses of these clones were observed only when HLA-matched EBV-lines, used as target cells, were previously sensitized with r(preS1+preS2+S) or preS2 peptides, which were shown to stimulate the clones. Thus, a preS2 epitope can represent a target Ag for liver-infiltrating T cells, which could kill the hepatocytes expressing the Ag plus the appropriate MHC molecule.     

Impaired processing and presentation by MHC class II proteins in human diabetic cells

The biochemical processing of and Ag presentation by MHC class II molecules were examined in B cell lines derived from pairs of identical twins discordant for type 1 diabetes. MHC class II defects detected exclusively in cells derived from the twins with autoimmunity included increased rates of transport to and subsequent turnover at the cell surface, inadequate glycosylation, and a reduced display at the cell surface of antigenic peptides. These defects appeared to be secondary to a decreased abundance of the p35 isoform of the invariant chain (Ii), a human-specific chaperone protein for MHC class II normally generated by use of an alternative translation start site. Stable transfection of diabetic B cell lines with an Ii p35 expression vector corrected the defects in MHC class II processing and peptide presentation. A defect in the expression of Ii p35 may thus result in impairment of Ag presentation by MHC class II molecules and thereby contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes in at-risk genotypes.     

T cells that recognize peptide sequences of self MHC class II molecules exist in syngeneic mice.

T cell reactivity toward self MHC class II molecules has been recognized in syngeneic MLR in a number of studies, where the T cells are believed to recognize the combination of self/nonself peptide and self MHC molecule. We investigated the stimulation of T cell proliferation by synthetic peptides of sequences corresponding to the first polymorphic amino terminal domain of alpha- and beta-chains of self I-A molecules. Both unprimed and primed T cells responded to a number of peptides of alpha 1 and beta 1 domains of self I-Ad molecules. The response was dependent on the presentation of I-Ad peptides by syngeneic APC and was blocked by anti-class II MHC mAb. Upon further investigation it was observed that I-Ad peptides could inhibit the stimulation of Ag-specific MHC class II-restricted T cell hybridoma due to self presentation of peptides rather than to direct binding of free peptides to the TCR, further supporting their affinity/interaction with intact self MHC class II molecules. The peptide I-A beta d 62-78 showed high affinity toward intact self MHC II molecule as determined by the inhibition of Ag-specific T cell stimulation and yet was nonstimulatory for syngeneic T cells, therefore representing an MHC determinant that may have induced self tolerance. Thus we have shown that strong T cell proliferative responses can be generated in normal mice against the peptides derived from self MHC class II molecules and these cells are part of the normal T cell repertoire. Therefore complete tolerance toward potentially powerful immunodominant but cryptic determinants of self Ag may not be necessary to prevent autoimmune diseases.