Role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in monokine induction by the staphylococcal superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.

The staphylococcal superantigen toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) is a potent inducer of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha synthesis in human monocytes. As superantigens are high affinity ligands for MHC class II molecules, the induction of monokines by TSST-1 provides a biologically relevant model of MHC class II-mediated transmembrane signaling. In this study, we show that TSST-1 induces cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. This induction was greatly enhanced by cross-linking TSST-1 with biotin-avidin. The functional relevance of tyrosine phosphorylation induced by TSST-1 was demonstrated by the finding that three specific inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases strongly inhibited the induction of IL-1 beta mRNA by TSST-1. These data suggest that protein tyrosine kinase activation plays a critical role in MHC class II-mediated transmembrane signalling by staphylococcal superantigens.     

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 bind to distinct sites on HLA-DR and HLA-DQ molecules

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) activate human T cells in vitro. This requires the presence of Ia+ accessory cells but does not require processing of the toxin by the accessory cell. We and others have recently demonstrated direct binding of SE to human MHC class II molecules. In this study, we have compared in detail the ability of class II molecules to bind two SE, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and SEB. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data indicate that SEB binds to Ia+ human cell lines with a 10-fold lower affinity than TSST-1. Likewise, SEB precipitates HLA-DR alpha- and beta-chains from detergent lysates of Ia+ cells less efficiently than TSST-1. The binding of TSST-1 and SEB to transfected L cells expressing HLA-DR and HLA-DQ gene products was differentially inhibited by anti-HLA-DR mAb. There was virtually no cross-inhibition of TSST-1 and SEB in competitive binding assays. We conclude that TSST-1 and SEB bind to two MHC class II sites which can be distinguished by their relative accessibility to blocking by anti-class II mAb and heterologous toxin.     

Influence of surgery on in-vitro cytokine production by human monocytes

Surgery leads to significant modulation of the immune system, in which cytokines play a major role. Circulating interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1 have been reported following surgery whereas tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is only found in gut ischemia-associated surgery. We have investigated the consequences of surgery on in-vitro cytokine production by human monocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1). Comparisons were made between the responsiveness of cells obtained the day before (D-1), during (D0) and after (D1, D2, D3) surgery. Patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery (N = 9), carotid surgery (N = 4) and spinal surgery (N = 4) have been studied. A significant decrease of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-1 alpha production by monocytes prepared from blood samples taken during the surgery was noticed, whereas IL-6 production was not significantly modified. On D2 a significant increase of monocyte responsiveness was observed and levels of cytokine productions rose back to initial values by the end of the follow up. The diminished in-vitro cytokine production observed during surgery might be the consequence of the effects of anaesthetic drugs, whereas the enhancement observed on D2 might reflect the surgical stress, leading to in-vivo priming of circulating monocytes.     

Regulation of helper T cell responses to staphylococcal superantigens

Staphylococcal superantigens (sAgs) including toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and related enterotoxins are exoproteins with unique immunobiological properties. They bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules of antigen-presenting cells outside the peptide groove, and induce massive proliferation of T cells bearing specific V beta determinants. This tri-molecular interaction leads to uncontrolled release of various proinflammatory cytokines especially interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha), the key cytokines causing sAg-mediated shock. The effector T cells involved in this hyper-immune response are predominantly of the T helper-1 (Th1) phenotype. There is also some evidence that polarization to a Th2 response with the production of classical anti-inflammatory cytokines (such as interleukins IL-4 and IL-6) also occurs. Moreover, the emergence of a novel regulatory T cell (Tr1) subset, producing mainly IL-10 but little or no IL-2 and IL-4, has recently been described following repeated sAg stimulation. In this review, the current knowledge regarding the regulation of T helper cell subsets in response to staphylococcal sAgs is critically evaluated, and the role of various cytokines which directly influence T cell differentiation and polarization is summarized. Particular emphasis is directed towards pro-inflammatory as well as anti-inflammatory and regulatory effector functions during toxic shock. Based on this review, we propose that a delayed production of IL-10 by Tr1 cells may be the most prominent driving force in the down-regulation of the Th1 hyper-immune response, and the critical determinant for the eventual recovery of the host.     

Activation of murine T cells by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type A. Requirement for MHC class II molecules on accessory cells and identification of V beta elements in T cell receptor of toxin-reactive T cells

We investigated the mechanisms of murine T cell activation by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type A (SPE A), focusing on the role of MHC class II molecules on accessory cells (AC) and V beta usage in alpha beta TCR of SPE A-reactive T cells in comparison with staphylococcal enterotoxin B-reactive T cells. L cells transfected with I-Ab genes functioned as effective AC for SPE A-induced responses by C57BL/6 T cells, proliferation, and IL-2 production, but control L cells were not effective AC. Anti-I-Ab mAb inhibited the SPE A-induced responses. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced C57BL/6 T cell blasts were composed of cells bearing V beta 3, members of the V beta 8 family, and V beta 11. Most of the SPE A-induced T cell blasts (about 80%) bore V beta 8.2. mAb reactive to V beta 8.2 markedly inhibited SPE A-induced T cell responses. Apparently, SPE A activates mainly T cells bearing V beta 8.2 in physical association with MHC class II molecules expressed on AC. We also discuss the pathogenic activities of SPE A in relation to toxic shock syndrome.     

Effect of isotypes and allelic polymorphism on the binding of staphylococcal exotoxins to MHC class II molecules

Interaction of staphylococcal exotoxins (SE) with MHC class II molecules plays a central role in the activation of immune cells by SE. We have recently demonstrated directly that toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) binds to MHC class II molecules with high affinity, and similar results have been reported for SEA and SEB. The ability of T cells to respond to individual SE is associated with the expression of particular TCR-V beta gene elements. In the present study we have examined the effect of polymorphism on the ability of MHC class II molecules to bind SEB and TSST-1. We have used a panel of L cell transfectants that express different allelic forms of each of the three human class II isotypes. Radioligand binding assays detected binding of SEB and TSST-1 to most, but not all of the MHC class II molecules examined. Toxin-driven MHC class II-dependent T cell proliferation occurred with all transfectants examined even in the absence of detectable toxin binding. These results indicate that SE can bind to human MHC class II molecules of diverse phenotypes.     

Evaluation of monensin and brefeldin A for flow cytometric determination of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in monocytes.

Flow cytometry has become a powerful technique to measure intracellular cytokine production in lymphocytes and monocytes. Appropriate inhibition of the secretion of the produced cytokines is required for studying intracellular cytokine expression. The aim of this study was to compare the capacity of cytokine secretion inhibitors, monensin and brefeldin A, in order to trap cytokine production (interleukin-1 beta [IL-1beta], IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]) within peripheral blood monocytes. A two-color flow cytometric technique was used to measure intracellular spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha production in monocytes (CD14+) of whole blood cultures. The viability of monensin-treated monocytes was slightly lower than that of brefeldin A-inhibited monocytes, as measured with propidium iodide (PI). The percentage of IL-6 and TNF-alpha-producing monocytes after 8 h of culture without stimulation revealed significant lower values for monensin-treated than for brefeldin A-treated monocytes. The percentages for stimulated cells did not differ. The spontaneous intracellular production in molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome units (MESF) of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha after 8 h of culture was higher in brefeldin A than in monensin-inhibited monocytes. The LPS-stimulated intracellular production of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha was increased in brefeldin A-inhibited monocytes. In conclusion, for flow cytometric determination of intracellular monocytic cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha), brefeldin A is a more potent, effective, and less toxic inhibitor of cytokine secretion than monensin.     

IFN-beta inhibits the ability of T lymphocytes to induce TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production in monocytes upon direct cell-cell contact.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL-)1beta, essential players in the pathogenesis of immuno-inflammatory diseases, are strongly induced in monocytes by direct contact with stimulated T lymphocytes. The present study shows that the latter mechanism is inhibited by interferon (IFN)-beta. In co-cultures of autologous T lymphocytes and monocytes stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), IFN-beta inhibited the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta by 88 and 98%, respectively, whereas the simultaneous production of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), was enhanced two-fold. The latter effects of IFN-beta were independent of modulations in IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 production. When monocytes were activated by plasma membranes of stimulated T cells, IFN-beta slightly inhibited the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, while enhancing 1.5-fold that of IL-1Ra. The latter effect correlated with the persistence of high steady-state levels of IL-1Ra mRNA after 24 h of activation. Membranes isolated from T lymphocytes that had been stimulated in the presence of IFN-beta displayed a 80% decrease in their capacity to induce the production of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in monocytes, whereas IL-1Ra induction was decreased by only 32%. These results demonstrate that IFN-beta modulates contact-mediated activation of monocytes by acting on both T lymphocytes and monocytes, decreasing the ability of T lymphocytes to induce TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production in monocytes and directly enhancing the production of IL-1Ra in the latter cells.     

Molecular requirements for T cell activation by the staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1

The activation of Ag-specific, Ia molecule-restricted, TCR V beta 3+ T cell clones by staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), was investigated. The results show that although Ag- and TSST-1-induced activation of T cell clones both require TCR expression and similar biologic activation signals, the Ia molecule requirement for TSST-1 recognition was much less stringent than that observed for antigenic peptide recognition. In addition, T cell clones recognized TSST-1 without processing by APC. These results suggest that the ability of TSST-1 to polyclonally activate T cells is dependent on TCR recognition of the intact toxin molecule bound to a nonpolymorphic region(s) of the Ia molecule resulting in the same activation events induced by Ag recognition.     

Superantigen-mediated human monocyte-T lymphocyte interactions are associated with an MHC class II-, TCR/CD3-, and CD4-dependent mobilization of calcium in monocytes.

The present study was designed to examine the potential involvement of calcium ions as second messengers in the mediation of the staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA)/MHC class II-induced activation of human monocytes. Treatment of monocytes with a monomeric form of SEA failed to induce detectable changes in the level of intracellular calcium in either monocytes or THP-1 cells. However, cross-linking of SEA with biotin-avidin induced a rapid and transient increase in calcium levels in monocytes and in INF-gamma-treated THP-1 cells. This artificial cross-linking system was reproduced by natural physiologic ligands expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes. Delayed, transient, and concentration (cell as well as toxin)-dependent increases in the cytoplasmic level of free calcium in SEA-treated monocytes were observed upon the addition of autologous resting T cells or purified CD4+ cells, but not of CD8+ cells, B cells, or neutrophils. Antibodies against MHC class II Ag, TCR/CD3, and CD4 molecules inhibited the SEA-dependent interaction between monocytes and T cells as indicated by significant decreases in the rise of calcium levels observed in monocytes. Anti-CD8 and anti-class I antibodies did not affect the interaction between the monocytes and the T cells and failed to alter the calcium response. Taken together, these results suggest that the SEA-induced, T cell-dependent calcium mobilization in monocytes requires physical interactions between SEA-MHC class II, TCR/CD3, and CD4 molecules. The ability to mediate a T cell-dependent calcium increase in monocytes was shared by several enterotoxins including staphylococcal enterotoxin B and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. The characteristics of the SEA-mediated calcium mobilization in monocytes strongly support the hypothesis that this response is an integral part of the signal transducing machinery linked to MHC class II molecules.     

Immunomodulatory effects of glycine on LPS-treated monocytes: reduced TNF-alpha production and accelerated IL-10 expression.

Cytokines play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of septic shock. Proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) stimulate the progression of septic shock whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 has counterregulative potency. The amino acid glycine (GLY) has been shown to protect against endotoxin shock in the rat by inhibiting TNF-alpha production. In the current study we investigated the role of GLY on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced cell surface marker expression, phagocytosis, and cytokine production on purified monocytes from healthy donors. GLY did not modulate the expression of HLA-DR and CD64 on monocytes, whereas CD11b/CD18 expression (P<0.05) and E. coli phagocytosis (P<0.05) decreased significantly. GLY decreased LPS-induced TNF-alpha production (P<0.01) and increased IL-10 expression of purified monocytes. Similarly, in a whole blood assay, GLY reduced TNF-alpha (P<0.0001) and IL-1beta (P<0.0001) synthesis and increased IL-10 expression (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of GLY were neutralized by strychnine, and the production of IL-10 and TNF-alpha was augmented by anti-IL-10 antibodies. Furthermore, GLY decreased the amount of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha-specific mRNA. Our data indicate that GLY has a potential to be used as an additional immunomodulatory tool in the early phase of sepsis and in different pathophysiological situations related to hypoxia and reperfusion.     

Induction of human monocyte IL-1 mRNA and secretion during anti-CD3 mitogenesis requires two distinct T cell-derived signals.

The T cell signals that regulate the induction of human monocyte IL-1 during primary immune activation were investigated by using anti-CD3 mitogenesis. The induction of monocyte IL-1 alpha and beta mRNA during anti-CD3 mitogenesis was rapid (less than or equal to 1 h) and required the presence of both T cells and anti-CD3. The addition of T cells plus a nonmitogenic anti-CD5 antibody failed to induce IL-1 alpha or beta mRNA, indicating that IL-1 mRNA induction by anti-CD3 required T cell activation. Experiments using double chamber culture wells revealed that the major initial phase of IL-1 alpha and beta mRNA induction (1 to 12 h) required direct cell contact between monocytes and T cells. A subsequent minor late phase (greater than or equal to 12 h) of IL-1 mRNA was induced independently of cell contact in monocytes that received only soluble factors generated during anti-CD3 mitogenesis and was temporally associated with the appearance in culture supernatants of the late phase IL-1-inducing cytokines, IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha. Metabolic inactivation of T cells using paraformaldehyde demonstrated that the ability of T cells to induce IL-1 mRNA via cell contact was acquired only after activation of T cells via solid phase anti-CD3. Furthermore, pretreatment of T cells with the protein synthesis inhibitor emetine had no effect on T cell-mediated induction of monocyte IL-1 mRNA or cell-associated IL-1 alpha and beta, indicating that the expression of the IL-1 inductive signal did not require protein synthesis. Despite their ability to induce monocyte IL-1 alpha and beta mRNA, activated T cells treated with paraformaldehyde or emetine were no longer able to induce monocytes to secrete IL-1 beta into culture supernatants. However, supernatants from purified T cells that were activated with solid-phase anti-CD3 restored the ability of paraformaldehyde or emetine-treated T cells to induce IL-1 secretion. These studies provide evidence that supports a two-signal model of monocyte IL-1 production during primary immune activation. The first signal leads to the induction of monocyte IL-1 mRNA and is mediated by direct contact with activated T cells, and the second signal is provided by soluble T cell factors and results in IL-1 secretion.     

Accessory function of human mononuclear phagocytes for lymphocyte responses to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

The role of the cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 and the cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1, LFA-1 (alpha and beta), and Mac-1 as accessory molecules for stimulation of T cells by the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was examined. Both blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages were used as accessory cells because these cells differ in patterns of cytokine expression and thus potentially in accessory cell function for superantigens. The blastogenic response of highly purified T cells to SEB was reconstituted with either monocytes or alveolar macrophages. IL-1 secretion was increased comparably in monocytes and alveolar macrophages by SEB, but IL-6 was not stimulated by SEB. IL-1 alpha plus IL-1 beta reconstituted the response of T cells to SEB but required the addition of accessory cells. The cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and LFA-1 but not Mac-1 also functioned as accessory molecules for SEB-induced cluster formation and lymphocyte blastogenesis. Thus, not only must this superantigen bind to Class II MHC on accessory cells as is well known, but also SEB requires at least certain cytokines (IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta) produced by accessory cells and cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and LFA-1) for activation of T lymphocytes.