Identification of a novel human B cell activation antigen involved in B cell growth factor-dependent proliferation

The B6.4 mAb we present here identifies a novel activation Ag of B cell lineage. The B6.4 mAb was generated by immunizing mice with B cell growth factor (BCGF)-responding BA3 cells, and selected by its capability to block BCGF-induced proliferation of BA3 cells. The inhibitory effect of this antibody on BCGF-dependent proliferation was further confirmed by using normal activated B cells in the presence of exogenous BCGF derived from T cells or B cells. Furthermore, it did not affect IL-2-dependent proliferation of B cells. The expression of the B6.4 Ag, as analyzed by FACS, is restricted to in vitro activated B cells, and remains undetectable on resting B or T cells, PHA-activated T cells, and monocytes. The B6.4 Ag is also expressed on some lymphoblastoid B cell lines and most of the lymphomas and CLL of B cell origin; however, it did not express on pre-B cell ALL and plasma cell leukemias. The B6.4 Ag has a Mr of 35,000 Da, as determined by SDS-PAGE of radiolabeled immunoprecipitates from activated B cells. The B6.4 Ag is detectable on B cells as early as 8 h after activation, and precedes that of the IL-2R or transferrin R. All of these results suggest that the B6.4 Ag is an early activation Ag of B cells and is functionally related to a receptor of BCGF, but not IL-2.     

Activation of normal human B cells through their antigen receptor induces membrane expression of IL-1 alpha and secretion of IL-1 beta

We studied whether normal human B cells would express IL-1 activity and transcribe IL-1 genes before or after activation through their Ag receptor. Anti IgM antibody-activated B cells expressed IL-1 alpha on the cell surface and secreted IL-1 beta. Optimal induction of IL-1 occurred within 16 h of anti-IgM activation. mRNA specific for both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta was also induced upon activation. It is likely that the expression of m-IL-1 alpha on activated B cells together with the secretion of IL-1 beta represent important contributions in the efficient Ag-presenting capacity of B cells to T cells.     

Expression of a 33-kDa antigen Tm 1 on lymphocyte surface after modulation of cell surface antigens by IgM monoclonal antibody

The mAb Tm 1 was obtained from a fusion of SP2/O tumor cells with spleen cells from CF1 mouse immunized with T cells modulated by an IgM anti-CD3 mAb.mAb Tm 1 reacted with IgM anti-CD3 modulated T cells (66.6%) but not with unmodulated T cells (4.4%). Tm 1 was not expressed on T cells modulated with either IgG2a or IgG1 anti-CD3 mAb. Immunoprecipitation from 125I-labeled CD3-modulated T cells showed that Tm 1 Ag is a single polypeptide of 33 kDa under reducing and nonreducing conditions. Kinetic studies revealed that Tm 1 was detectable on T cells 10 min after incubation and maximally expressed after 4 h of incubation with IgM anti-CD3 mAb. CD3 expression was markedly modulated by this anti-CD3 mAb after the same period of incubation. Studies with cycloheximide revealed that Tm 1 expression on T cells does not require new protein synthesis. Tm 1 expression persisted long after CD3-reexpression 24 h later. Tm 1 was present on a small fraction of circulating T cells, B cells, and monocytes and absent from granulocytes, platelets, E, and thymocytes. Tm 1 was not expressed on T cells after various activation stimuli but was expressed on B cells upon activation. Additional studies indicate that IgM mAb against other T cell differentiation Ag and IgM mAb against B cell Ag also lead to the expression of Tm 1 on these cells. Thus, modulation of surface Ag by IgM mAb externalizes this cytoplasmic Ag. However, one exception has been noted. Purified mAb Tm 1 was not mitogenic and was unable to block either the T cell proliferation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate plus anti-CD3 mAb and other T cell stimuli, or the B cell proliferation induced by B cell mitogens. The role of Tm 1 on lymphocyte function remains to be determined.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody, anti-6C2, which is involved in the interaction of CD4 T helper cells and activated B cells.

We have developed a mAb anti-6C2, by immunizing mice with T cell line derived from the Callithrix jacchus (common marmoset). Anti-6C2 is reactive with approximately 50% of unfractionated T cells, 50% of CD4+ cells, and 40% of CD8+ cells. Regarding CD4+ cells, anti-6C2-reactive cells substantially overlap with the CD29+CD45RO+ Th cell population. Moreover, anti-6C2 can divide these T cells into 6C2+ and 6C2- subpopulations. The CD4+CD45RO+6C2+ cells maximally respond to soluble Ag such as tetanus toxoid and provide strong helper function for PWM-driven B cell IgG synthesis. Most interestingly, anti-6C2 was also reactive against activated B cells but not resting B cells; furthermore, this epitope was inducible through activation of resting B cells or B cell line. Biochemical characterization showed that anti-6C2 precipitated two glycoproteins with the relative molecular weights of 180,000 and 95,000 from 125I-surface labeled cell lysate. Sequential immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that these two glycoproteins were the lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1) Ag complex (CD11a/18). Significantly, although this antibody did not inhibit cytotoxic killer T cell responses and Ag-induced T cell proliferation as did conventional anti-LFA-1, it did inhibit PWM-driven B cell IgG synthesis. Because 6C2 expression was induced after B cell activation, the above results strongly suggest that the 6C2 molecule may play a role in the interaction of CD4 helper cells and activated B lymphocytes.     

IgM binding protein expressed by activated B cells

We have identified an IgM binding protein, a single chain polypeptide of Mr 60,000, that is expressed on the surface of B lymphocytes within 18 hr following their activation with phorbol myristate acetate. The IgM binding protein was also detected on fresh leukemic B cells from individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and the level of its expression was increased after phorbol myristate acetate activation. Resting and phorbol myristate acetate-activated T cells, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear leucocytes did not express detectable amounts of the IgM binding protein. The 60-kDa protein on activated human B cells could bind secreted IgM molecules of both mouse and human origin, as well as endogenous membrane-bound IgM molecules following their cross-linkage with anti-mu antibodies. The binding of soluble IgM molecules to the surface of activated B cells was also demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence analysis.     

Inducible cell contact signals regulate early activation gene expression during B-T lymphocyte collaboration.

B cells get help in the antibody response by presenting processed Ag to Th cells. We asked whether the Ag-presenting B cell must induce Th functions before receiving help, or whether B cell activation is a direct consequence of T cell recognition of Ag on the B cell surface. To obtain a prompt and sensitive indication of the receipt of growth signals, we measured mRNA levels of the immediate early genes, c-myc and egr-1, in T and B cells separated from Ag-specific B-T conjugates of normal, resting murine B cells and a Th line. Although Ag-dependent increases in B cell c-myc expression occur as early as 2 h after conjugation, early c-myc expression in the B cell was also seen when the Th cells were activated with immobilized anti-CD3 in the absence of Ag recognition. Therefore, T cell activation rather than Ag recognition per se appears to be responsible for the early c-myc signal in the B cells. The c-myc response in the B cell depends on induction of a contact-dependent helper function in the T cell, which is inhibitable by cyclosporin A acting on the T cell. Delivery of contact help is not blocked by anti-class II MHC antibody. Contact with activated Th cells induces a different pattern of immediate early gene expression from that induced by cross-linking the B cell Ag receptor.     

Activated T cells and monocytes have characteristic patterns of class II antigen expression

The expression of human histocompatibility class II Ag was measured on activated T cells and monocytes by quantitative mAb binding in direct two-color immunofluorescence. Monocytes activated by IFN-gamma bound an average of 2 x 10(6) DR-specific mAb, 3 x 10(5) DQ-specific mAb, and 7 x 10(5) DP-specific mAb per cell. For T cells activated by anti-CD3, a subpopulation bound 1 x 10(5) DR-specific mAb, 5 x 10(4) DQ-specific mAb and 5 x 10(4) DP-specific mAb per cell. These measurements were obtained after establishing a base line of class II Ag expression on resting B cells and monocytes. Resting B cells and those monocytes that were positive for class II Ag bound identical amounts of mAb; 3 x 10(4) DR-specific mAb, 3 x 10(3) DQ-specific mAb and 2 x 10(4) DP-specific mAb. However, most resting monocytes (75%) expressed only DR Ag. In the process of studying the expression of class II Ag on T cells, it was necessary to define and analyze the activated T cell state. Cell cultures activated with 0.3 ng/ml anti-CD3 had the highest expression of class II Ag on T cells, whereas those activated with 3.0 ng/ml anti-CD3 had the highest expression of IL-2R on T cells. Addition of IL-2 had no further effect on DR Ag expression on T cells but did up-regulate IL-2R expression. Reducing the initial monocyte concentration before activating T cells increased class II Ag expression on T cells without affecting IL-2R expression. The results obtained on T cell activation suggest that perhaps a lymphokine may be made by CD3-activated T cells which induces class II Ag expression on T cells.     

Tumor-specific T cell activation by recombinant immunoreceptors: CD3 zeta signaling and CD28 costimulation are simultaneously required for efficient IL-2 secretion and can be integrated into one combined CD28/CD3 zeta signaling receptor molecule.

Recombinant immunoreceptors with specificity for the carcinoembryonic Ag (CEA) can redirect grafted T cells to a MHC/Ag-independent antitumor response. To analyze receptor-mediated cellular activation in the context of CD28 costimulation, we generated: 1) CEA+ colorectal tumor cells that express simultaneously B7-1 and B7-2, and 2) CEA-specific immunoreceptors that harbor intracellularly the signaling moities either of CD28 (BW431/26-scFv-Fc-CD28), CD3zeta (BW431/26-scFv-Fc-CD3zeta), or FcepsilonRIgamma (BW431/26-scFv-Fc-gamma). By retroviral gene transfer, we grafted activated T cells from the peripheral blood with these immunoreceptors. T cells that express the FcepsilonRIgamma or CD3zeta signaling receptor lysed specifically CEA+ tumor cells and secreted high amounts of IFN-gamma upon receptor cross-linking, whereas anti-CEA-CD28 receptor-grafted T cells did not, indicating that CD28 signaling alone is not sufficient for efficient T cell activation. CD28 costimulation did not affect cytolysis by T cells equipped with gamma- or zeta-signaling receptors, but enhanced both IFN-gamma secretion and proliferation. CD28 costimulation, however, was required for efficient IL-2 secretion of anti-CEA-gamma receptor-grafted T cells. Both purified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells grafted with immunoreceptors required CD28 costimulation for complete T cell activation. We integrated both CD28 and CD3zeta signaling domains into one combined immunoreceptor molecule (BW431/26-scFv-Fc-CD28/CD3zeta) with dual signaling properties. T cells grafted with the combined CD28/CD3zeta signaling receptor secreted high amounts of IL-2 upon Ag binding without exogenous B7/CD28 costimulation, demonstrating that both MHC-independent cellular activation and CD28 costimulation for complete T cell activation can be delivered by one recombinant receptor molecule.     

Activated platelets express IL-1 activity

Suspensions of washed human platelets express IL-1 activity after activation with agents such as thrombin, collagen, ADP, or epinephrine as judged by the ability of the platelet suspensions to support the growth of a T cell line, D10.G4.1, which exhibits a growth requirement for IL-1. Unactivated platelets express little IL-1 activity. The IL-1 activity expressed by activated platelets appears to be entirely associated with the platelet surface. No IL-1 activity was detected in supernatants derived from suspensions of activated platelets. A mAb specific for IL-1 beta inhibited 90% of the activity expressed by thrombin-activated platelets, whereas a mAb specific for IL-1 alpha inhibited approximately 20% of the activity. A control mAb was without an effect. These results indicate that activated platelets express surface-associated IL-1 activity. Platelet surface IL-1 may provide a mechanism for altering in an extremely localized and rapid manner the properties of IL-1 responsive cells with which platelets come in direct contact during processes of inflammation and vessel wall damage.     

Phenotypic and functional characteristics of human newborns' B lymphocytes.

It has been demonstrated two major facts concerning human newborns' B lymphocytes: 1) they differentiate poorly into Ig-producing cells and 2) they express CD5 and CD1c membrane proteins. We have further analyzed human newborns' B cell characteristics and found that approximately half of them express activation Ag, i.e., 4F2 and IL-2R, both associated in significant proportions with CD23 and Bac-1. These membrane Ag were found both on CD5(+) and CD5(-) B cells. Newborns' B cells do not exhibit other activation markers because they express surface IgD, and because their size, RNA, and DNA contents do not differ from those of adults' B cells, indicating that they are in the G0/G1 cell cycle phase. Newborns' B cell proliferation can be induced by rIL-2, rIL-4, low m.w. B cell growth factor, and by Staphylococcus aureus protein A. It is presently difficult to build a hypothesis accounting for all the specific findings made on newborns' B cells. It is not known for instance whether CD5(+) and (-) B cells belong to distinct subsets as suggested by the fluorescence intensity curve obtained with an anti-CD5 antibody or to distinct stages in a unique pattern of B cell maturation during fetal and newborn life. This may indicate that partially activated B cells actually produce natural polyspecific autoantibodies of the IgM isotype found in newborns' human serum.     

The requirement for surface Ig signaling as a prerequisite for T cell:B cell interactions. A possible role for desialylation

Models for T cell:B cell collaboration suggest that activated B cells process and present Ag to Th cells which subsequently induce B cell proliferation and differentiation. In contrast to activated B cells, resting B cells have generally been shown to be less efficient APC. If this model of T:B collaboration is physiologically correct, then resting B cells must undergo a phenotypic change that permits effective interaction with T cells. In this report, the requirement for rapid signaling through surface Ig on resting B cells for the induction of T:B interaction was investigated with an in vitro clustering assay. Resting splenic B cells were unable to form specific conjugates with T cell clones, unless the B cells were first treated with neuraminidase to remove sialic acid. In contrast, LPS-activated B cells were able to form conjugates without prior treatment. The ability of antibody against LFA-1 or L3T4 to inhibit cluster formation depended on the state of B cell activation in that anti-LFA-1 and anti-L3T4 mAb inhibited cluster formation by neuraminidase-treated resting B cells, but not by LPS-activated B cells. In addition, Ag-specific B cells which were isolated by their capacity to bind specific Ag were able to form clusters without any additional treatment. Moreover, treatment of resting splenic B cells with anti-mu-antibody induced clustering potential in B cells in as little as 10 min, suggesting that signaling through surface Ig was sufficient to induce this phenotypic change in B cells. Furthermore, activation of protein kinase C and Ca2+ mobilization were shown to be involved in that PMA and ionomycin treatment were also able to induce clustering potential in resting B cells. The rapid induction of clustering potential in resting B cells after signaling through surface Ig may represent a fundamental change in B cell physiology which occurs after recognition of specific Ag and may be required for effective cognate recognition between resting hapten-specific B cells and carrier-specific T cells. The potential role of desialylation for the induction of T:B interaction is discussed.     

Monoclonal antibody 45-2D9 recognizes a cell surface glycoprotein on a human c-Ha-ras transformed cell line (45-342) and a shared epitope on human tumors

A monoclonal antibody (45-2D9) produced after immunization of BALB/c mice with the c-Ha-ras NIH 3T3 tertiary transfectant (45-342) recognized a determinant expressed by the primary, three of three secondary, and one of three tertiary transfectants, but not by NIH 3T3 cells. The determinant was present on the cell surface and was distinct from murine leukemia virus gp70 by absorption studies. Biosynthetic labeling and immunoprecipitation studies with [35S]methionine and [3H]glucosamine demonstrated that 45-2D9 recognizes a 74,000 Mr glycoprotein with minor bands of 90,000 and 180,000 Mr on SDS-PAGE. Pulse chase studies demonstrated a 68,000 Mr precursor molecule that incorporated only [35S]methionine. The distribution of the epitope recognized by 45-2D9 was assessed by immunoperoxidase staining. The antigen was not detected on 10 primary and metastatic murine tumors or 11 transformed murine cell lines. However, a variety of surgically excised human tumors demonstrated intense staining, whereas staining of normal tissues was minimal or not detectable. Thus a human oncogene-transfected cell can express a new cell surface determinant apparently unrelated to the oncogene product, which is also selectively expressed by human tumors.     

Identification and characterization of a hamster monoclonal antibody anti-2.28 directed against a 70-kilodalton activation antigen on human monocytes

Hamster mAb against activated human monocytes were examined for their reactivities against monocyte activation Ag. One mAb, anti-2.28, stained only monocytes activated with LPS plus IFN-gamma, but not unactivated peripheral blood monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, RBC, and platelets. However, it stained peripheral blood T cells activated with PMA plus anti-CD3 and peripheral blood and tonsillar B cells activated with PMA plus anti-mu. Of the 35 cell lines of diverse origin examined for immunofluorescence staining by anti-2.28, only EBV-transformed cell lines showed strong staining by this mAb. One pre-B cell line, Nalm-12, could be induced by PMA to exhibit intermediate staining. Immunoprecipitation studies identified the 2.28 Ag as a 70- to 85-kDa monomer. Immunofluorescence staining, immunoprecipitation, and peptide mapping studies indicated that 2.28 was different from a number of monocyte and lymphocyte surface Ag including Mo3e, B-4 (CD19), B-5, CD39, and the G28-8 Ag Bgp 95. These studies suggest that 2.28 may be a novel hemopoietic non-lineage-specific activation Ag.     

Invariant NKT cells rapidly activated via immunization with diverse contact antigens collaborate in vitro with B-1 cells to initiate contact sensitivity

In cutaneous contact sensitivity there is an early elicited innate cascade of complement, mast cells, and platelets activated via IgM Abs. This response is required to initiate the elicitation of acquired classical contact sensitivity by leading to local recruitment of effector T cells. We recently performed in vivo experiments showing that collaboration is required between innate-like invariant Valpha14+ NKT cells (iNKT) and the innate-like B-1 B cell subset to induce this initiation process. Contact sensitization triggers iNKT cells to produce IL-4 to coactivate the B-1 cells along with specific Ag for production of the initiating IgM Abs. We now describe in vitro collaboration of iNKT and B-1 cells. Normal peritoneal B-1 cells, incubated in vitro with soluble Ag, and with 1-h in vivo immune iNKT cells producing IL-4, are activated to mediate the contact sensitivity-initiation cascade. The three components of this process can be activated by different Ag. Thus, 1-h iNKT cell activation, B-1 cell stimulation, and generation of immune effector T cells can be induced by sensitization with three different Ag to respectively generate IL-4 and Ag-specific IgM Abs, to recruit the Ag-specific effector T cells. These findings have relevance to allergic and autoimmune diseases in which infections can trigger exacerbation of T cell responses to allergens or to autoantigens.     

Identification of a human protein homologous to the mouse Lyb-2 B cell differentiation antigen and sequence of the corresponding cDNA

We have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones encoding the human homolog of the mouse Lyb-2 B cell differentiation Ag. Previous data suggest that Lyb-2 might represent a growth factor or lymphokine receptor. Human Lyb-2 mRNA is expressed in normal human tonsils and bone marrow cells, in the pre-B cell line REH, in three Burkitt lymphoma cell lines, and in some EBV-transformed B cell lines, but not in antibody-secreting myeloma cell lines, T cell lines, or a promyelocytic leukemia cell line. These data indicate that expression of human Lyb-2 is restricted to B lineage cells and turned off in antibody-secreting plasma cells. A polyclonal mouse antiserum was raised against human Lyb-2 and immunoprecipitates a Mr 42,000 protein from REH, Raji, and Daudi cells and from mouse L(tk) cells transfected with the human Lyb-2 cDNA in an expression vector. The human Lyb-2 protein is related to both the asialoglycoprotein receptor and CD23, the B cell-specific FcR for IgE. These data demonstrate that human B cells express a previously undescribed cell surface protein that is homologous to mouse Lyb-2 and has a similar pattern of expression during B cell development.     

B cell responses to a peptide epitope. IX. The kinetics of antigen binding differentially regulates costimulatory capacity of activated B cells

We explore the possible mechanism by which association rates of Ag with activated B cells influences the ability of the latter to selectively recruit Th subsets. Our system used cocultures of Ag-activated B and T cells, where the Ag was a synthetic peptide, G41CT3. Restimulation was with either peptide G41CT3 or its analogue, G28CT3. Peptide G28CT3 has been previously shown to display a higher on rate, relative to the homologous peptide G41CT3, of binding to G41CT3-activated B cells. This difference in on rates was eventually exerted at the level of IFN-gamma, but not of IL-10, induction from T cells, with peptide G28CT3 proving more effective. However, various treatment regimens rendered peptide G41CT3 as potent as peptide G28CT3 at eliciting IFN-gamma responses from the above cultures. This included simultaneous treatment of B cells with peptide G41CT3 and the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin. Alternatively, pretreatment of B cells with a peptide representing only the B cell epitope constituent of peptide G28CT3 (G28) was also equally effective. Subsequent experiments revealed that IFN-gamma production from activated T cells resulted from an engagement of CD28 by B7-1 on the B cell surface. Finally, the extent of cell surface B7-1 up-regulation on activated B cells was dependent on the on rate of Ag binding to the membrane-bound Ig receptor. Thus, cumulative results suggest that the kinetics of Ag binding to activated B cells can differentially regulate intracellular signaling. This influences selective costimulatory molecule expression, with its consequent effects on relative Th subset activation.     

IL-3 induces B7.2 (CD86) expression and costimulatory activity in human eosinophils.

Eosinophils in tissues are often present in intimate contact with T cells in allergic and parasitic diseases. Resting eosinophils do not express MHC class II proteins or costimulatory B7 molecules and fail to induce proliferation of T cells to Ags. IL-5 and GM-CSF induce MHC class II and B7 expression on eosinophils and have been reported in some studies to induce eosinophils to present Ag to T cells. The cytokine IL-3, like IL-5 and GM-CSF, is a survival and activating factor for eosinophils and the IL-3 receptor shares with the IL-5 and GM-CSF receptors a common signal transducing beta-chain. IL-3-treated eosinophils expressed HLA-DR and B7.2, but not B7.1 on their surface and supported T cell proliferation in response to the superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, as well as the proliferation of HLA-DR-restricted tetanus toxoid (TT) and influenza hemagglutinin-specific T cell clones to antigenic peptides. This was inhibited by anti-B7.2 mAb. In contrast, IL-3-treated eosinophils were unable to present native TT Ag to either resting or TT-specific cloned T cells. In parallel experiments, eosinophils treated with IL-5 or GM-CSF were also found to present superantigen and antigenic peptides, but not native Ag, to T cells. These results suggest that eosinophils are deficient in Ag processing and that this deficiency is not overcome by cytokines that signal via the beta-chain. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that eosinophils activated by IL-3 may contribute to T cell activation in allergic and parasitic diseases by presenting superantigens and peptides to T cells.     

Tolerance induction in resting memory B cells specific for a protein antigen.

Resting memory B lymphocytes specific for the model protein Ag cytochrome c have been shown to be susceptible to tolerance induction in in vitro splenic fragment cultures. This induction of nonresponsiveness is dependent upon the strength of the interaction between surface Ig and specific Ag, where concentration, valency, affinity, and time of exposure all appear to be important factors, as is the case for tolerance induction in immature or primary B cells. The induction of nonresponsivenes in greater than 80% of Ag-specific memory B cells was achieved by incubation with 1 microM cytochrome polymer for 24 h in the absence of T cell help. Not only were memory B cells unresponsive to specific Ag, they were also unable to become activated through nonspecific uptake and presentation of an Ag to which T cells have been primed, demonstrating that the induction of nonresponsiveness involves more than a modulation or blockade of surface Ig receptors. Although soluble factors collected from activated T cells failed to prevent memory B cells from becoming nonresponsive after surface Ig cross-linking, the direct activation of T cells within splenic fragment cultures did partially inhibit tolerance induction in splenic fragment memory B cells. In addition, the induction of tolerance was partially blocked by protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, suggesting a physiologic change within the B cells associated with the state of nonresponsiveness and resulting from tyrosine-specific phosphorylation.