T cell regulation of polyclonal B cell responsiveness. I. Helper effects of T cells.

Polyclonal activation of murine splenic B lymphocytes to secrete immunoglobulin was shown to be subject to regulation by splenic T cells. By admixture of separated B and T cell populations it was demonstrated that normal fresh splenic T cells were able to augment polyclonal B cell responsiveness to LPS up to several-fold. Optimal collaboration between these two cell types ensued when they were co-cultured in equal numbers. T cell-mediated enhancement of polyclonal B cell responses was dependent upon the ability of T cells to divide and was manifested upon T cell interaction with B cells soon after culture initiation. Originally expounded as a one-signal phenomenon, polyclonal activation of lymphocytes by LPS is, under the circumstances described, attributable instead to two distinct, nonspecific signals acting in concert. The observation that T cells from LPS-nonresponder (C3H/HeJ) mice were deficient in the capacity to enhance polyclonal B cell responsiveness of B cells derived from responder (C3H/HeN) mice implied a direct action of LPS on the involved T cells as well as an active role for the T cell signal in this immunoregulatory event. The novel observation of a functional T cell defect in LPS responsiveness in the C3H/HeJ mouse is discussed in terms of its other cellular defects.     

A naturally occurring polyclonal B cell activator of normal and autoantibody responses

Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated the presence of a suppressor molecule in B/W spleen cultures. Now we present evidence suggesting the existence of a polyclonal B cell activator (sPBA) spontaneously released by B/W splenocytes. Large sPBA (120,000 to 160,000 daltons) was separable from splenic inhibitory factor(s) (less than 10,000 daltons) by ultrafiltration. Reconstitution experiments demonstrated these two molecules had antagonistic effects on splenocyte mitotic events. sPBA is directly mitogenic for T cell-depleted, B cell-enriched cultures. Furthermore, sPBA augments antibody responses in the presence of antigen, or stimulates antibody responses in the absence of antigen. sPBA appears to stimulate IgG as well as IgM antibody production. sPBA stimulates significant in vivo anti-ssDNA responses in preautoimmune B/W but not DBA mice. Physiochemical studies suggest sPBA is a DNA protein complex. sPBA activity is completely lost by heating to 56 degrees C for 30 min. sPBA activity is precipitated at pH 7.8 to 8.0. Furthermore, sPBA preparations do not display significant endotoxin levels or IL 1 and IL 2 activity.     

T cell tolerance in the chicken. I. Parameters affecting tolerance induction to human gamma-globulin in agammaglobulinemic and normal chickens.

T cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to human gamma-globulin (HGG) can be induced in chickens by subcutaneous injection of the antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). In the present work, it has been demonstrated that specific tolerance of the cells mediating this DH can readily be induced in both normal and bursectomized (BX) FP strain chickens by simple i.v. injection of soluble antigen, regardless of the presence of antibody production to the tolerogen. A significant degree of tolerance at the DH and helper T cell levels could be generated in BX birds by injection of as little as 0.5 mg of HGG; such a dose only induced tolerance in normal birds when it had been previously deagregated by ultracentrifugation. Regular, nondeaggregated antigen could produce tolerance in normal animals, but only at doses of greater than 5 mg. The tolerizing injection induced a primary antibody response in normal birds in all cases, but a secondary response could not be obtained in animals rendered tolerant at the T cell level. Establishment of tolerance appeared to be very rapid, and animals remained refractory to induction of DH for at least 3 weeks after the tolerizing injection. The mode in which the antigen was presented to the animals appeared to be crucial in determining whether tolerance or sensitivity would be established.     

Disruption of T cell tolerance to self-immunoglobulin causes polyclonal B cell stimulation followed by inactivation of responding autoreactive T cells

Scavenger receptor (SR)-specific delivery by maleylation of a ubiquitous self-protein, Ig, to SR-bearing APCs results in self-limiting induction of autoimmune effects in vivo. Immunization with maleyl-Ig breaks T cell tolerance to self-Ig and causes hypergammaglobulinemia, with increases in spleen weight and cellularity. The majority of splenic B cells show an activated phenotype upon maleyl-Ig immunization, leading to large-scale conversion to a CD138+ phenotype and to significant increases in CD138-expressing splenic plasma cells. The polyclonal B cell activation, hypergammaglobulinemia, and autoreactive Ig-specific T cell responses decline over a 2-mo period postimmunization. Following adoptive transfer, T cells from maleyl-Ig-immune mice taken at 2 wk postimmunization can induce hypergammaglobulinemia in the recipients, but those taken at 10 wk postimmunization cannot. Hypergammaglobulinemia in the adoptive transfer recipients is also transient and is followed by an inability to respond to fresh maleyl-Ig immunization, suggesting that the autoreactive Ig-specific T cells are inactivated peripherally following disruption of tolerance. Thus, although autoreactive T cell responses to a ubiquitous self-Ag, Ig, are induced by SR-mediated delivery to professional APCs in vivo resulting in autoimmune pathophysiological effects, they are effectively and rapidly turned off by inactivation of these activated Ig-specific T cells in vivo.     

Induction of peripheral T cell tolerance by antigen-presenting B cells. I. Relevance of antigen presentation persistence

Various mechanisms of peripheral T cell tolerization have evolved to avoid responses mediated by autoreactive T cells that have not been eliminated in the thymus. In this study, we investigated the peripheral conditions of Ag presentation required to induce T cell tolerance when the predominant APCs are B cells. We show that transient Ag presentation, in absence of inflammation and in a self-context, induces CD4(+) T cell activation and memory formation. In contrast, chronic Ag presentation leads to CD4(+) T cell tolerance. The importance of long-lasting Ag presentation in inducing tolerance was also confirmed in the herpes stromal keratitis autoimmune disease model. Keratogenic T cells could be activated or tolerized depending on the APC short or long persistence. Thus, when APCs are B cells, the persistence of the Ag presentation itself is one of the main conditions to have peripheral T cell tolerance.     

Defective B cell tolerance induction in New Zealand black mice. I. Macrophage independence and comparison with other autoimmune strains

B cell unresponsiveness was examined in vitro by using spleen cells from autoimmune NZB, BXSB/Mp male, MRL/Mp-Ipr/Ipr (MRL/l), and control mice, and the tolerogen trinitrophenyl human gamma-globulin (TNP-HGG). The B cell subset responsive to TNP-Brucella abortus in each autoimmune and control strain that was tested was highly susceptible to tolerance induction with the use of high epitope density conjugates (TNP30HGG and TNP32HGG). When a tolerogen with a lower epitope density was used (TNP7HGG), several control strains were all rendered tolerant in a thymic-independent and hapten-specific manner. NZB B cells were resistant to all concentrations of TNP7HGG tested, whereas B cells from BXSB/Mp male and MRL/1 mice were resistant to low concentrations of this tolerogen. NZB mice were resistant in addition to tolerance induction with TNP9HGG, TNP10HGG, and TNP12.7HGG. Experiments were performed to determine whether splenic macrophages played a role in resistance to tolerance in NZB mice. The mixing of NZB and control DBA/2J T cell-depleted splenocytes revealed no modulatory effects by the accessory cells in culture. Moreover, B cells rigorously depleted of macrophages by double Sephadex G-10 column passage exhibited characteristic patterns of resistance or susceptibility in NZB and control strains, respectively. These findings support the conclusion that resistance to tolerance in NZB mice is determined at the B cell level and are consistent with the hypothesis that diverse immunoregulatory disturbances contribute in varying degrees to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus in different inbred strains of mice.     

Membrane and metabolic requirements for tolerance induction of neonatal B cells

The metabolic requirements of tolerance induction of immature B cells has been analyzed through the use of various putative inhibitors. The study utilizes the splenic fragment assay in which tolerance induction of individual B cells can be examined. Concentrations of inhibitors were determined which, if removed after the first 18 hr of culture, before antigenic stimulation, had no inhibitory effects. Thus, by adding tolerogen in the presence or absence of inhibitor during the first 18 hr of culture, the effect of that inhibitor on tolerance could be assessed. By using this protocol, the data indicate that several metabolic functions of the cell are necessary for tolerance induction to occur, including RNA biosynthesis, DNA biosynthesis, and a methyltransferase reaction, because drugs that interfere with these metabolic processes also prevent tolerance induction. Our previous studies indicated that protein biosynthesis and energy generation are also required. However, drugs that interact with the cytoskeletal structure of the cell and inhibit surface immunoglobulin capping do not interfere with tolerance induction. Moreover, colchicine, which inhibits cell division, does not inhibit B cell tolerance. Collectively, the results provide compelling evidence that the mechanism of immature B cell tolerance involves an active process requiring several metabolic activities of the cell.     

Interference with tolerance induction of primed B cells by the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin

The capacity to interfere with tolerance induction in primed B cells was examined. Previous work had shown that TNP-specific splenic B cells from mice primed and boosted with TNP-KLH are highly susceptible to in vitro tolerization upon a brief exposure to TNP on a carrier unrelated to KLH. In the present work it was found that tolerance induction in these primed B cells could be partially disrupted by addition of the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin, a B-cell mitogen, and adjuvant, during exposure of the B cells to tolerogen. Addition of Fc fragments prepared by papain digestion of human IgG interfered with tolerization routinely in approximately 30-60% of the spleen cells susceptible to tolerogen. Addition of whole IgG or Fab fragments had no effect on tolerance induction. As little as 5 micrograms/ml of the Fc fragment preparation significantly interfered with tolerization and 32-64 micrograms/ml was optimal. Disruption of tolerization was most effective when the Fc fragment was added to the spleen cells either 4 hr prior to tolerogen or simultaneously with tolerogen; addition of the Fc fragment 4 hr after exposure to tolerogen was significantly less effective. Disruption of tolerization by the Fc fragment was not through polyclonal activation of B cells, as antigen was required for generation of significant numbers of PFC to TNP. Also, disruption was not through expansion of low avidity clones of B cells insusceptible to tolerogen, as the avidity of the antibody produced with and without Fc fragments present was approximately the same. These results show that the Fc fragment of IgG can partially interfere with tolerization of primed B cells. The manner in which Fc fragments may function to prevent tolerization through its lymphoid cell stimulatory capacities is discussed.     

Interleukin secretion by B cell lines and splenic B cells stimulated with calcium ionophore and phorbol ester

A B cell lymphoma A20.2J and splenic B cells produced an active material to support the proliferation of an interleukin 2 (IL-2)-dependent T cell line, CTLL-2, by stimulation with both calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Although the production of the active material was induced by stimulation with A23187 alone in A20.2J cells, both A23187 and PMA were essential for the stimulation of splenic B cells. Neither A20.2J cells nor splenic B cells produced the active material by stimulation with PMA alone. The production was inversely proportional to the concentration of fetal calf serum in culture medium. The active material produced by B cells was indicated to be IL-2 and not B cell-stimulating factor 1 (BSF-1) for the following reasons: 1) the proliferation of CTLL-2 cells in the presence of active material was inhibited by the inclusion of anti-IL-2 receptor or anti-IL-2 in culture medium but not by anti-BSF-1; 2) the material showed no co-mitogenic activity to purified splenic B cells with anti-immunoglobulins and did not support the proliferation of FDC-P2 which are known to grow in the presence of BSF-1; and 3) IL-2 mRNA could be detected in A20.2J and splenic B cells stimulated with A23187 and PMA in Northern blot analysis. Some B cell hybridomas were also shown to produce IL-2 by similar stimulation to A20.2J. Splenic B cells as well as A20.2J cells were able to produce IL-2 by stimulation with anti-immunoglobulins. These results suggest that under certain conditions IL-2 can be produced by splenic B cells, at least some subsets of B cells, and B cell lines.     

Mechanism for induction of anti-DNA antibodies by bacterial lipopolysaccharides in mice; II. Correlation between anti-DNA induction and polyclonal antibody formation by various polyclonal B lymphocyte activators.

The capacity of various polyclonal B lymphocyte activators (PBA) to induce, in mice, the formation of anti-DNA antibodies was compared with their ability to mediate the release of DNA in circulating blood and to stimulate polyclonal antibody synthesis in vivo. Anti-DNA antibodies or polyclonal antibody synthesis were induced in mice after the injection of at least 10 microgram lipopolysaccaride (LPS) from Salmonella typhimurium, 1 mg dextran sulfate (DS), or 2 mg purified protein derivative of tubercle bacteria RT32 (PPD). Smaller quantities of LPS (0.1 microgram) or DS (500 microgram) were sufficient to cause the release of DNA in circulating blood, whereas PPD was not able to provoke such a release at any concentration used. The association of anti-DNA antibodies with polyclonal antibody synthesis in mice injected with various PBA contrasts with the lack of correlation between the formation of anti-DNA antibodies and the release of measurable amounts of DNA in circulating blood. These results strongly suggest that the induction of anti-DNA antibodies by PBA is a consequence of the polyclonal B lymphocyte activation.     

Cellular aspects of tolerance. I. Parameters of tolerance induction in T cells of spleen and thymus

Unresponsiveness of T cells in thymus and spleen of tolerant animals was determined by reconstitution of lethally irradiated recipients. The degree of responsiveness of these animals was assessed by antigen elimination and two types of plaque assays (liquid and agar) with different sensitivity. Unresponsiveness occurred more rapidly in T spleen cells than in thymus cells. Unresponsiveness of T cells could be induced in the spleens of thymectomized animals and in T cell repopulated thymectomized lethally irradiated recipients. Induction of unresponsiveness did not depend on proliferating bone marrow cells or on accessory cells.     

Ia-restricted B-B cell interaction. I. The MHC haplotype of bone marrow cells present during B cell ontogeny dictates the self-recognition specificity of B cells in the polyclonal B cell activation by a B cell differentiation factor, B151-TRF2

We have demonstrated that B cell recognition of Ia molecules is involved in polyclonal B cell differentiation by B151-TRF2. The present study was undertaken to examine the Ia recognition specificity of B151-TRF2-responsive B cells in fully major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-allogeneic P1----P2, semiallogeneic P1----(P1 x P2)F1, and double donor (P1 + P2)----(P1 x P2)F1 and (P1 + P2)----P1 radiation bone marrow chimeras. The B cells from both P1----P2 and P1----(P1 x P2)F1 chimeras could give rise to in vitro immunoglobulin M-producing cells upon stimulation with B151-TRF2 comparable in magnitude to that of normal P1 B cells, and their responses were inhibited by anti-I-AP1 but not by anti-I-AP2 monoclonal antibody even in the presence of mitomycin C-treated T cell-depleted P2 spleen cells as auxiliary cells. In contrast, the B151-TRF2 responses of P1 B cells isolated from both (P1 + P2)----(P1 x P2)F1 and (P1 + P2)----P1 double bone marrow chimeras became sensitive to the inhibition of not only anti-I-AP1 but also anti-I-AP2 monoclonal antibody only when the culture was conducted in the presence of P2 auxiliary cells, demonstrating that they adaptively differentiate to recognize as self-structures allogeneic as well as syngeneic Ia molecules. Moreover, the experiments utilizing B cells from H-2-congenic mice and B cell hybridoma clones as auxiliary cells revealed that B151-TRF2-responsive B cells recognize Ia molecules expressed on B cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that B151-TRF2-responsive B cells recognize Ia molecules expressed by B cells as self-structures and that their self-recognition specificity is dictated by the MHC haplotype of bone marrow cells present during the B cell ontogeny but not by the MHC haplotype of a radiation-resistant host environment.     

Microinjection of macromolecules into normal murine lymphocytes by cell fusion technique. I. Quantitative microinjection of antibodies into normal splenic lymphocytes

Human erythrocyte ghosts loaded with various kinds of protein molecules were fused with mouse splenic lymphocytes by means of polyethylene glycol supplemented with poly-L-arginine and dimethylsulfoxide. This fusion method made quantitative microinjection of IgG and other proteins into intact lymphocytes possible. The injection itself did not alter cell viability, and lymphocytes given protein molecules retained intact response activity when they were stimulated with mitogens. Rabbit anticyclic AMP was purified by affinity chromatography and injected into lymphocytes. Antibody activity in the cell lysates was measured by using 125I-labeled cyclic AMP as an antigen, and it was shown that antibody molecules were quantitatively injected and immunologically active in the cells. Antigen binding activity of anti-cyclic AMP antibodies in the nonstimulated lymphocytes was stable and intact even 24 hr after microinjection, whereas the activity rapidly decreased in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes, indicating that some immunologic or enzymatic mechanisms for inactivating antibodies were induced in mitogen-stimulated cells. Furthermore, microinjection of anti-cyclic AMP markedly enhanced the proliferative responses of lymphocytes to mitogens such as Con A or LPS and reversed the effect of a known elevator of intracellular cyclic AMP. These observations have implications for the role of cyclic AMP in early lymphocyte activation events.     

Mechanisms of B cell tolerance. I. Tolerance to dextran B1355 induced with the oxidized dextran.

The bacterial dextran B1355, which is normally a potent thymus-independent immunogen, was made tolerogenic by oxidation. The injection of the oxidized dextran into BALB/c mice before, at the same time, or up to 4 days after the injection of the immunogenic form of the dextran resulted in a marked immunologically specific suppression of the number of anti-dextran antibody-forming cells found in the spleen. This suppression resulted from a direct inactivation of antibody-forming cell precursors rather than from either inhibition of antibody secretion or the exhaustive utilization of precursor B cells that have been observed in other tolerance systems. A substantial degree of tolerance was achieved after only a 1-hr in vivo exposure of the spleen cells to the tolerogen. At a dose of 1 mg of oxidized dextran per mouse, tolerance persised for at least 3 weeks. A complete recovery was apparent by 10 weeks. The stability of the tolerance was demonstrated by transferring tolerant spleen cells to irradiated recipients. The response in the recipient animals to an immunogenic dextran challenge remained suppressed. It appears that the tolerogenicity of the oxidized dextran is due to its ability to couple covalently with free amino groups in or near the receptor site of the cell membrane via the reactive dialdehyde groups of the dextran.     

Responses of B cells with or without C3 receptors to polyclonal B cell activators

Responses of B cells with or without receptors for C3 (CR) to polyclonal B cell activators (PBA) were studied. Mouse spleen cells were incubated with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) coated with antibody and complement to form rosettes, and they were separated by Ficoll-Hypaque density sedimentation into populations depleted of and enriched with lymphocytes bearing CR (CRL). These 2 populations were cultured with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD), or dextran sulfate (DxS) and assayed for anti-TNP PFC. The CRL-depleted population responded well to LPS, poorly to PPD, and it showed practically no response to DxS, whereas the CRL-enriched population seemed to respond poorly to LPS but well to both PPD and DxS. The low responsiveness of the cRL-depleted population to PPD and DxS could not be explained by a shift of time-kinetics, by the dose-response profile of the responding cells, or by the depletion of adherent cells. Suppressor T cells did not take part in the reduced responses, since the treatment of the population with anti-Thy 1.2 plus complement could not restore the responses. These results indicate that B cells with CR [CR(+) B cells] respond well both to PPD and DxS, whereas the cells without CR [CR(-) B cells] respond poorly to PPD and DxS. It was difficult to evaluate the low responsiveness of CR(+) B cells to LPS because of the high background PFC of the cRL-enriched population.