T cell development in mice lacking the CD3-zeta/eta gene.

The CD3-zeta and CD3-eta polypeptides are two of the components of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) which contribute to its efficient cell surface expression and account for part of its transducing capability. CD3-zeta and CD3-eta result from the alternative splicing of a single gene designated CD3-zeta/eta. To evaluate the role of these subunits during T cell development, we have produced mice with a disrupted CD3-zeta/eta gene. The analysis of thymocyte populations from the CD3-zeta/eta-/- homozygous mutant mice revealed that they have a profound reduction in the surface levels of TCR complexes and that the products of the CD3-zeta/eta gene appear to be needed for the efficient generation and/or survival of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. Despite the almost total absence of mature single positive thymocytes, the lymph nodes from zeta/eta-/- mice were found to contain unusual CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ single positive cells which were CD3-. In contrast to the situation observed in the thymus, the thymus-independent gut intraepithelial lymphocytes present in zeta/eta-/- mice do express TCR complexes on their surface and these are associated with Fc epsilon RI gamma homodimers. These results establish an essential role for the CD3-zeta/eta gene products during intrathymic T cell differentiation and further emphasize the difference between conventional T cells and thymus-independent gut intraepithelial lymphocytes.     

Altered behavioral rhythms and clock gene expression in mice with a targeted mutation in the Period1 gene

A group of specialized genes has been defined to govern the molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian clock in mammals. Their expression and the interactions among their products dictate circadian rhythmicity. Three genes homologous to Drosophila period exist in the mouse and are thought to be major players in the biological clock. Here we present the generation of mice in which the founding member of the family, Per1, has been inactivated by homologous recombination. These mice present rhythmicity in locomotor activity, but with a period almost 1 h shorter than wild-type littermates. Moreover, the expression of clock genes in peripheral tissues appears to be delayed in Per1 mutant animals. Importantly, light-induced phase shifting appears conserved. The oscillatory expression of clock genes and the induction of immediate-early genes in response to light in the master clock structure, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, are unaffected. Altogether, these data demonstrate that Per1 plays a distinct role within the Per family, as it may be involved predominantly in peripheral clocks and/or in the output pathways of the circadian clock.     

Altered T cell activation and development in transgenic mice expressing the HIV-1 nef gene.

The nef gene, which encodes related cytoplasmic proteins in both human (HIV) and simian (SIV) immunodeficiency viruses is dispensable for viral replication in vitro. In contrast, in vivo experiments have revealed that SIV nef is required for efficient viral replication and development of AIDS in SIV infected rhesus monkeys, thus indicating that nef plays an essential role in the natural infection. We show that expression of the Nef protein from the HIV-1 NL43 isolate in transgenic mice perturbs development of CD4+ T cells in the thymus and elicits depletion of peripheral CD4+ T cells. Thymic T cells expressing NL43 Nef show altered activation responses. In contrast, Nef protein of the HIV-1 HxB3 isolate does not have an overt effect on T cells when expressed in transgenic animals. The differential effects of the two HIV-1 nef alleles in transgenic mice correlate with down-regulation of CD4 antigen expression on thymic T cells. The differential interactions of the NL43 and HxB3 nef alleles with CD4 were reproduced in a transient assay in human CD4+ CEM T cells. Down-regulation of CD4 by nef in both human and transgenic murine T cells indicates that the relevant interactions are conserved in these two systems and suggests that the consequences of Nef expression on the host cell function can be analyzed in vivo in the murine system. Our observations from transgenic mice suggest that nef-elicited perturbations in T cell signalling play an important role in the viral life cycle in vivo, perhaps resulting in elimination of infected CD4+ T cells.     

An enhancer located in a CpG-island 3'' to the TCR/CD3-epsilon gene confers T lymphocyte-specificity to its promoter.

The gene encoding the CD3-epsilon chain of the T cell receptor (TCR/CD3) complex is uniquely transcribed in all T lymphocyte lineage cells. The human CD3-epsilon gene, when introduced into the mouse germ line, was expressed in correct tissue-specific fashion. The gene was then screened for T lymphocyte-specific cis-acting elements in transient chloramphenicol transferase assays. The promoter (-228 to +100) functioned irrespective of cell type. A 1225 bp enhancer with strict T cell-specificity was found in a DNase I hypersensitive site downstream of the last exon, 12 kb from the promoter. This site was present in T cells only. The CD3-epsilon enhancer did not display sequence similarity with the T cell-specific enhancer of CD3-delta, a related gene co-regulated with CD3-epsilon during intrathymic differentiation. The CD3-epsilon enhancer was unusual in that it constituted a CpG island, and was hypomethylated independent of tissue type. Two HTLV I-transformed T cell lines were identified in which the CD3-epsilon gene was not expressed, and in which the enhancer was inactive.     

Abnormal T cell development in CD3-zeta-/- mutant mice and identification of a novel T cell population in the intestine.

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-associated invariable membrane proteins (CD3-gamma, -delta, -epsilon and -zeta) are critical to the assembly and cell surface expression of the TCR/CD3 complex and to signal transduction upon engagement of TCR with antigen. Disruption of the CD3-zeta gene by homologous recombination resulted in a structurally abnormal thymus which primarily contained CD4- CD8- and TCR/CD3very lowCD4+CD8+ cells. Spleen and lymph nodes of CD3-zeta-/- mutant mice contained a normal number and ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ single positive cells that were TCR/CD3very low. These splenocytes did not respond to antibody cross-linking or mitogenic triggering. The V beta genes of CD4-CD8- and CD4+CD8+ thymocytes and splenic T cells were productively rearranged. These data demonstrated that (i) in the absence of the CD3-zeta chain, the CD4- CD8- thymocytes could differentiate to CD4+CD8+ TCR/CD3very low thymocytes, (ii) that thymic selection might have occurred, (iii) but that the transition to CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ cells took place at a very low rate. Most strikingly, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) isolated from the small intestine or the colon expressed normal levels of TCR/CD3 complexes on their surface which contained Fc epsilon RI gamma homodimers. In contrast to CD3-zeta containing IELs, these cells failed to proliferate after triggering with antibody cross-linking or mitogen. In comparison to thymus-derived peripheral T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes, the preferential expression of normal levels of TCR/CD3 in intestinal IELs suggested they mature via an independent extrathymic pathway.     

Lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in mice with a targeted mutation in the IL-6 gene: absence of development of age-related obesity

Obesity-related insulin resistance may be caused by adipokines such as IL-6, which is known to be elevated with the insulin resistance syndrome. A previous study reported that IL-6 knockout mice (IL-6(-/-)) developed maturity onset obesity, with disturbed carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and increased leptin levels. Because IL-6 is associated with insulin resistance, one might have expected IL-6(-/-) mice to be more insulin sensitive. We examined body weights of growing and older IL-6(-/-) mice and found them to be similar to wild-type (IL-6(+/+)) mice. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis at 3 and 14 mo revealed no differences in body composition. There were no differences in fasting blood insulin and glucose or in triglycerides. To further characterize these mice, we fed 11-mo-old IL-6(-/-) and IL-6(+/+) mice a high- (HF)- or low-fat diet for 14 wk, followed by insulin (ITT) and glucose tolerance tests (GTT). An ITT showed insulin resistance in the HF animals but no difference due to genotype. In the GTT, IL-6(-/-) mice demonstrated elevated postinjection glucose levels by 60% compared with IL-6(+/+) but only in the HF group. Although IL-6(-/-) mice gained weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) with the HF diet, they gained less weight than the IL-6(+/+) mice. Total lipoprotein lipase activity in WAT, muscle, and postheparin plasma was unchanged in the IL-6 (-/-) mice compared with IL-6(+/+) mice. There were no differences in plasma leptin or TNF-alpha due to genotype. Plasma adiponectin was approximately 53% higher (71.7 +/- 14.1 microg/ml) in IL-6(-/-) mice than in IL-6(+/+) mice but only in the HF group. Thus these data show that IL-6(-/-) mice do not demonstrate obesity, fasting hyperglycemia, or abnormal lipid metabolism, although HF IL-6(-/-) mice demonstrate elevated glucose after a GTT.     

CD3-epsilon overexpressed in prothymocytes acts as an oncogene.

BACKGROUND: Upon engagement of the T cell receptor for antigen, its associated CD3 proteins recruit signal transduction molecules, which in turn regulate T lymphocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and thymocyte development. Because some signal transducing molecules recruited by CD3-epsilon, i.e., p56lck and p59fyn, are oncogenic and since we previously found that overexpression of CD3-epsilon transgenes causes a block in T lymphocyte and NK cell development, we tested the hypothesis that aberrant CD3-epsilon signaling leads both to abnormal T lymphocyte death and lymphomagenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten independently derived transgenic mouse lines were generated with four different genomic CD3-epsilon constructs. Mice either homozygous or hemizygous for each transgene were analyzed for an arrest in T lymphocyte development and for the occurrence of T cell lymphomas. RESULTS: Aggressive clonal T cell lymphomas developed at very high frequencies in seven mouse lines with intermediate levels of copies of CD3-epsilon derived transgenes. However, these lymphomas were not found when high copy numbers of CD3-epsilon transgenes caused a complete block in early thymic development or when a transgene was used in which the exons coding for the CD3-epsilon protein were deleted. Analyses of a series of double mutant mice, tgCD3-epsilon x RAG-2null, indicated that lymphomagenesis was initiated in lineage-committed prothymocytes, i.e., before rearrangement of the T cell receptor genes. In addition, the transgene coding for the CD3-epsilon cytoplasmic domain and its transmembrane region induced a T cell differentiation signal in premalignant tgCD3-epsilon x RAG-2null mice. CONCLUSION: The nonenzymatic CD3-epsilon protein acted as a potent oncogene when overexpressed early in T lymphocyte development. Lymphomagenesis was dependent on signal transduction events initiated by the cytoplasmic domain of CD3-epsilon.     

Development and function of T cells in mice with a disrupted CD2 gene.

CD2 is a T cell surface glycoprotein that mediates cellular adhesion and can participate in signal transduction. It is expressed early in thymocyte ontogeny and consequently has been proposed to participate in T cell development. To study the in vivo function of CD2, the murine gene was inactivated using the technique of homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Homozygous mutant mice are healthy and have an apparently normal complement of lymphocytes. They mount effective immune responses similar to those of wild type controls. In particular, the generation and function of cytotoxic T cells was found to be normal as was the production of antibodies following immunization. Selection of thymocytes expressing either MHC class I- or class II-restricted transgenic T cell receptors was also grossly normal in the absence of CD2. Thus, CD2 may be dispensable for the development and function of T cells. Within the context of other targetted mutations, these mice should be useful in defining the precise roles of various cell surface molecules involved in T cell responses.     

Effect of targeted mutation in collagen V alpha 2 gene on development of cutaneous hyperplasia in tight skin mice.

Collagen V plays a major regulatory role in the formation of heterotypic fibers of the dermis and cartilaginous tissues as well as in the assembly of extracellular matrix. The pN/pN mouse, which is defective in collagen V alpha 2 gene, exhibits skeletal abnormalities, skin fragility, and alterations in the collagen fiber organization, whereas the TSK/+ mouse, which is defective in fibrillin-1, the major component of microfibrils present in the extracellular matrix, develops cutaneous hyperplasia and autoimmunity. We have studied the role of collagen V in the formation of heterotypic collagen fibers in F1 mice, which are obtained by breeding pN/pN with TSK/+ mice. Our results show that F1 progeny neither develop cutaneous hyperplasia nor produce anti-topoisomerase I autoantibodies, unlike TSK/+ mice. The diameter of the collagen fibrils in the skin is also comparable to that found in control mice. Thus, the phenotypic changes observed in the TSK mouse could be reversed by genetic complementation with a collagen V-defective mouse.     

The T3/T cell receptor complex: antigenic distinction between the two 20-kd T3 (T3-delta and T3-epsilon) subunits.

Clonally distributed (clonotypic) antigen receptors on human T lymphocytes (alpha and beta chains) are associated with three invariable T3 polypeptide chains (T3 gamma, delta and epsilon), together forming the T3/T cell receptor complex. Monoclonal antibodies prepared against the two 20-kd T3 polypeptide chains demonstrated that T3-delta and T3-epsilon are distinct polypeptide chains. Only one monoclonal antibody (anti-T3-delta chain) reacted with the T cell surface as judged by indirect immunofluorescence, and by its mitogenicity for quiescent peripheral blood lymphocytes. Immunohistological staining and immunoprecipitation experiments showed that both the T3-delta and T3-epsilon chains are T cell-specific. As seen with the anti-alpha/beta chain reagent WT-31, anti-T3-delta chain monoclonal antibodies stained medullary thymocytes more intensely than cortical thymocytes, whereas the difference between the staining of cortical and medullary thymocytes was generally not apparent with anti-T3-epsilon chain antibodies. Because of this specificity and their ability to react with both the denatured and the native forms of each polypeptide chain, these new monoclonal reagents will be useful tools in studies of the biosynthesis and cell surface expression of the T3/T cell receptor complex during normal and malignant thymic differentiation.     

Association of the human CD3-zeta chain with the alpha beta-T cell receptor/CD3 complex. Clues from a T cell variant with a mutated T cell receptor-alpha chain

The TCR for Ag, on the majority of human T cells, is a disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of TCR-alpha and -beta chains noncovalently associated with the monomorphic CD3 complex composed of the CD3-gamma, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta chains. The interactions involved in the assembly of the various components of this multimeric protein complex are not fully understood. In this report, a variant of the human leukemic T cell line Jurkat that synthesized all of the known components of the TCR/CD3 complex but fails to express the TCR/CD3 complex at the cell surface is further characterized. This variant, J79, has a mutated TCR-alpha chain that does not affect the assembly of the pentameric form (TCR-alpha beta-CD3-gamma delta epsilon) of the TCR/CD3 complex but inhibits the assembly of the CD3-zeta homodimer with the rest of the complex (TCR-alpha beta-CD3-gamma delta epsilon----TCR-alpha beta-CD3-gamma delta epsilon zeta 2). Transfecting a wild-type TCR-alpha gene into J79 reconstituted expression of a complete functionally competent TCR/CD3 complex at the cell surface. The results indicate that the TCR-alpha chain plays a crucial role in the assembly of the CD3-zeta homodimer with the pentameric form of the TCR/CD3 complex.     

Regulated expression of human CD4 rescues helper T cell development in mice lacking expression of endogenous CD4.

During T cell development, precursor thymocytes that co-express the CD4 and CD8 glycoproteins give rise to mature progeny expressing one of these molecules to the exclusion of the other. Continued expression of only CD4 is the hallmark of mature helper T cells, whereas cytotoxic T cells express CD8 and extinguish CD4. The differentiation program that generates the two T cell subsets is likely to be intimately tied to regulation of expression of these cell surface molecules. We now describe the use of a murine CD4 enhancer in the generation of transgenic mice expressing physiologic levels of human CD4. The transgene is appropriately regulated during T cell development and includes the necessary cis-acting sequences for extinguishing expression in the CD8 lineage. Furthermore, in mice whose endogenous CD4 gene is inactivated, the transgenic human CD4 mediates rescue of the CD4 lineage and restoration of normal helper cell functions. The generation of these mice exemplifies a general approach for developing reliable animal models for the human immune system.     

Human T cell leukemia virus type I prevents cell surface expression of the T cell receptor through down-regulation of the CD3-gamma, -delta, -epsilon, and -zeta genes

Infection and transformation by human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) up-regulates expression of several inducible genes including those coding for cytokines involved in the proliferation of normal and leukemic T cells. We demonstrate that HTLV-I can also shut off expression of the CD3-gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta genes that code for the constant elements of the TCR for Ag. In addition, the T cell-specific CD3-epsilon enhancer was found to be inactive in a HTLV-I-infected T cell clone. This HTLV-I-infected T cell clone (827-p19-II) that could be cultured in the absence of IL-2 lacked the CD3 proteins but did express the TCR-alpha and -beta proteins intracellularly. In the absence of the CD3-gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta polypeptide chains the disulfide bridged TCR-alpha/beta heterodimer was not formed and the Ag receptor did not appear at the cell surface. These results allowed two major conclusions: first, HTLV-I infection has an effect on the T cell specific regulatory elements that coordinately regulate CD3-gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta expression and second, the CD3-gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta proteins are necessary for formation and routing the variable TCR-alpha/beta (or -gamma/delta) heterodimer to the human T cell surface.     

T cell development in PU.1-deficient mice.

These studies address the role of PU.1 in T cell development through the analysis of PU.1-/- mice. We show that the majority of PU.1-/- thymocytes are blocked in differentiation prior to T cell commitment, and contain a population of thymocyte progenitors with the cell surface phenotype of CD44+, HSAbright, c-kitint, Thy-1-, CD25-, Sca-1-, CD4-, and CD8-. These cells correspond in both number and cell surface phenotype with uncommitted thymocyte progenitors found in wild-type fetal thymus. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that PU.1 is normally expressed in this early progenitor population, but is down-regulated during T cell commitment. Rare PU.1-/- thymi, however, contained small numbers of thymocytes expressing markers of T cell commitment. Furthermore, almost 40% of PU.1-/- thymi placed in fetal thymic organ culture are capable of T cell development. Mature PU. 1-/- thymocytes generated during organ culture proliferated and produced IL-2 in response to stimulation through the TCR. These data demonstrate that PU.1 is not absolutely required for T cell development, but does play a role in efficient commitment and/or early differentiation of most T progenitors.     

Triggering of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes via CD3-epsilon differs from triggering via alpha/beta T cell receptor. CD3-epsilon-induced cytotoxicity occurs in the absence of protein kinase C and does not result in exocytosis of serine esterases.

The requirement for protein kinase C (PKC) during triggering of murine CD8+ CTL was investigated. To this, CTL were depleted for PKC by pretreatment with PMA. This procedure neither influenced alpha/beta-TCR, CD3-epsilon, CD8, CD2, and lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 expression, nor CTL-target cell conjugate formation. Although cytolytic effector function of PKC-depleted CTL triggered via alpha/beta-TCR structures was completely inhibited, target cell lysis induced via CD3-epsilon remained unaffected. Furthermore this PKC-independent cytolysis pathway was not associated with the release of serine esterases. Analyses at the clonal level revealed that PKC depletion blocked the cytolytic response of up to 95% of alpha/beta-TCR triggered CTL clones. The data suggest the existence of a distinct signaling pathway triggered via CD3-epsilon that is not associated with exocytosis of serine esterases and probably independent of PKC.     

Altered expression of self-reactive T cell receptor V beta regions in autoimmune mice.

Intrathymic tolerance results in elimination of T cells bearing self-reactive TCR V beta regions in mice expressing certain combinations of I-E and minor lymphocyte stimulatory (Mls) phenotypes. To determine if autoimmune strains of mice have a defect in intrathymic deletion of self-reactive TCR V beta regions, expression of V beta 3, V beta 6, V beta 8.1, and V beta 11 were examined in lpr/lpr and +/+ strains of mice; MRL/MpJ(H-2K, I-E+, Mlsb,), C57BL/6J(H-2b, I-E-, Mlsb,), C3H/HeJ(H-2k, I-E+, Mlsc), AKR/J(H-2k, I-E+, Mlsa); and in autoimmune NZB/N(H-2d, I-E+, Mlsa) and BXSB(H-2b, I-E-, Mlsb) mice. The results suggest that, during intrathymic development, self-reactive T cells are deleted in autoimmune strains of mice as found in normal control strains of mice. However, the TCR V beta repertoire is skewed in autoimmune strains compared to normal strains of mice. For example, MRL-lpr/lpr mice, but not other lpr/lpr strains, had increased expression of V beta 6 relative to expression in control MRL(-)+/+ mice, which is associated with collagen-induced arthritis. These data are consistent with a model of normal affinity for negative selection of self-reactive T cells in the thymus of autoimmune strains of mice followed by expansion of autoreactive T cell clones in the peripheral lymphoid organs. The peripheral lymphoid organs of lpr/lpr mice contain an expanded population of abnormal CD4-, CD8-, 6B2+ T cells. Elimination of self-reactive peripheral T cells suggests that these abnormal cells are derived from a CD4+ subpopulation in the thymus. Flow cytometry analysis of peripheral lymph node T cells from MRL-lpr/lpr mice reveal three populations of CD4+ T cells expressing low, intermediate and high intensity of B220 (6B2). This supports the hypothesis that in lpr/lpr mice, self-reactive CD4+ T cells are eliminated in the thymus, and that these cells lose expression of CD4 and acquire expression of 6B2 in the periphery.