CD1d deficiency limits tolerogenic properties of peritoneal macrophages

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are involved in various autoimmune diseases. Although iNKT cells are arthritogenic, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-treated tolerogenic peritoneal macrophages (Tol-pMφ) from wild-type (WT) mice are more tolerogenic than those from CD1d knock-out iNKT cell-deficient mice in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. The underlying mechanism by which pMφ can act as tolerogenic antigen presenting cells (APCs) is currently unclear. To determine cellular mechanisms underlying CD1d-dependent tolerogenicity of pMφ, in vitro and in vivo characteristics of pMφ were investigated. Unlike dendritic cells or splenic Mφ, pMφ from CD1d^+/− mice showed lower expression levels of costimulatory molecule CD86 and produced lower amounts of inflammatory cytokines upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation compared to pMφ from CD1d-deficient mice. In a CIA model of CD1d-deficient mice, adoptively transferred pMφ from WT mice reduced the severity of arthritis. However, pMφ from CD1d-deficient mice were unable to reduce the severity of arthritis. Hence, the tolerogenicity of pMφ is a cell-intrinsic property that is probably confer-red by iNKT cells during pMφ development rather than by interactions of pMφ with iNKT cells during antigen presentation to cognate T cells.     

Effective treatment of inflammatory disease models with exosomes derived from dendritic cells genetically modified to express IL-4

In this study, we demonstrate that genetically modified bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) and exosomes derived from the DC, expressing either secreted IL-4 or membrane-bound IL-4, can reduce the severity and the incidence of established collagen-induced arthritis and inhibit inflammation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice. The ability of the DC and DC-derived exosomes to suppress the DTH response was MHC class II and, in part, Fas ligand/Fas dependent. The DC-derived exosomes were internalized by CD11c(+) DC in the dermis at the site of injection and in the draining lymph node as well as by CD11c(+) DC and F4/80(+) macrophages in the spleen. Moreover, adoptive transfer of CD11c(+) or CD3(+) splenic cells from mice treated with exosomes showed significant reduction of footpad swelling in the DTH model. These results demonstrate that administration of DC/IL-4 or exosomes derived from DC/IL-4 are able to modulate the activity of APC and T cells in vivo through a MHC class II and partly Fas ligand/Fas-dependent mechanism, resulting in effective treatment of established collagen-induced arthritis and suppression of the DTH inflammatory response. Thus, APC-derived exosomes could be used therapeutically for the treatment of autoimmune disease and inflammatory disorders.     

Epicutaneous immunization with type II collagen inhibits both onset and progression of chronic collagen-induced arthritis

Epicutaneous immunization is a potential non-invasive technique for antigen-specific immune-modulation. Topical application of protein antigens to barrier-disrupted skin induces potent antigen-specific immunity with a strong Th2-bias. In this study, we investigate whether the autoimmune inflammatory response of chronic collagen-induced arthritis (CCIA) in DBA/1-TCR-beta Tg mice can be modified by epicutaneous immunization. We show that epicutaneous immunization with type II collagen (CII) inhibited development and progression of CCIA and, importantly, also ameliorated ongoing disease as indicated by clinical scores of disease severity, paw swelling and joints histology. Treated mice show reduced CII-driven T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production, as well as significantly lower levels of CII-specific IgG2a serum antibodies. In contrast, CII-driven IL-4 production and IgE antibody levels were increased consistent with skewing of the CII response from Th1 to Th2 in treated mice. IL-4 production in treated mice was inversely correlated with disease severity. Moreover, T cells from treated mice inhibited proliferation and IFN-gamma production by T cells from CCIA mice, suggesting induction of regulatory T cells that actively inhibit effector responses in arthritic mice. The levels of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells were however not increased following epicutaneous CII treatment. Together, these results suggest that epicutaneous immunization may be used as an immune-modulating procedure to actively re-programme pathogenic Th1 responses, and could have potential as a novel specific and simple treatment for chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.     

Detection of early changes in autoimmune T cell phenotype and function following intravenous administration of type II collagen in a TCR-transgenic model.

To study the phenotypic and functional changes in naive type II collagen (CII)-specific autoimmune T cells following a tolerogenic signal, a TCR-transgenic (Tg) mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis was developed. These Tg mice express an I-A(q)-restricted CII (260-267)-specific TCR that confers severe accelerated autoimmune arthritis following immunization with CII. Despite the fact that >90% of the alphabeta T cells express the Tg, these mice can be rendered completely tolerant to the induction of arthritis by i.v. administration of 200 microg of CII. As early as 24 h after CII administration, CII-specific T cells demonstrated a decreased ability to proliferate in response to the CII immunodominant peptide and phenotypically altered the expression of L-selectin to CD62L(low) and of phagocytic glycoprotein-1 to CD44(high), expression levels consistent with the phenotype of memory T cells. In addition, they up-regulated the expression of the activation markers CD71 and CD69. Functionally, following tolerogenic stimulation, the CII-specific T cells produced similar levels of IL-2 in comparison to controls when challenged with CII peptide, however, by 48 h after exposure to tolerogen, IL-2 production dropped and was replaced by high levels of IL-10 and IL-4. Based on their production of Th2 cytokines, these data suggest that T regulatory cells expressing activation and memory markers are induced by the tolerogen and may exert their influence via cytokines to protect the animals from the induction of arthritis.     

Antigen-Specific Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells Ameliorate the Severity of Murine Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Dendritic cells (DCs) play important roles in initiation of the pathogenic processes of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) are generated from naïve DCs and induce T cell tolerance; thus, they represent a promising strategy for specific cellular therapy for autoimmune diseases. In this study, we generated green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled tolDCs and confirmed their phenotypes and biological functions. We found that tolDCs suppressed the memory lymphocyte response and exhibited strong tolerogenic potential; thus, these cells show promise for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Additionally, a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model was used to test the role of tolDCs in vivo. The results of a further mechanistic experiment revealed that tolDCs suppressed inflammatory arthritis at least partially by up-regulating regulatory T (Treg) cells. Collectively, our data suggest that tolDCs may be used as a promising alternative therapy for inflammatory arthritis.     

Transgenic Expression of Soluble Human CD5 Enhances Experimentally-Induced Autoimmune and Anti-Tumoral Immune Responses

CD5 is a lymphoid-specific transmembrane glycoprotein constitutively expressed on thymocytes and mature T and B1a lymphocytes. Current data support the view that CD5 is a negative regulator of antigen-specific receptor-mediated signaling in these cells, and that this would likely be achieved through interaction with CD5 ligand/s (CD5L) of still undefined nature expressed on immune or accessory cells. To determine the functional consequence of loss of CD5/CD5L interaction in vivo, a new transgenic mouse line was generated (shCD5EμTg), expressing a circulating soluble form of human CD5 (shCD5) as a decoy to impair membrane-bound CD5 function. These shCD5EμTg mice showed an enhanced response to autologous antigens, as deduced from the presentation of more severe forms of experimentally inducible autoimmune disease (collagen-induced arthritis, CIA; and experimental autoimmune encephalitis, EAE), as well as an increased anti-tumoral response in non-orthotopic cancer models (B16 melanoma). This enhancement of the immune response was in agreement with the finding of significantly reduced proportions of spleen and lymph node Treg cells (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+), and of peritoneal IL-10-producing and CD5+ B cells, as well as an increased proportion of spleen NKT cells in shCD5EμTg mice. Similar changes in lymphocyte subpopulations were observed in wild-type mice following repeated administration of exogenous recombinant shCD5 protein. These data reveal the relevant role played by CD5/CD5L interactions on the homeostasis of some functionally relevant lymphocyte subpopulations and the modulation of immune responses to autologous antigens.     

Analysis of Pulmonary Dendritic Cell Maturation and Migration during Allergic Airway Inflammation

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the key players involved in initiation of adaptive immune response by activating antigen-specific T cells. DCs are present in peripheral tissues in steady state; however in response to antigen stimulation, DCs take up the antigen and rapidly migrate to the draining lymph nodes where they initiate T cell response against the antigen^1,2. Additionally, DCs also play a key role in initiating autoimmune as well as allergic immune response³.DCs play an essential role in both initiation of immune response and induction of tolerance in the setting of lung environment⁴. Lung environment is largely tolerogenic, owing to the exposure to vast array of environmental antigens⁵. However, in some individuals there is a break in tolerance, which leads to induction of allergy and asthma. In this study, we describe a strategy, which can be used to monitor airway DC maturation and migration in response to the antigen used for sensitization. The measurement of airway DC maturation and migration allows for assessment of the kinetics of immune response during airway allergic inflammation and also assists in understanding the magnitude of the subsequent immune response along with the underlying mechanisms.Our strategy is based on the use of ovalbumin as a sensitizing agent. Ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma is a widely used model to reproduce the airway eosinophilia, pulmonary inflammation and elevated IgE levels found during asthma^6,7. After sensitization, mice are challenged by intranasal delivery of FITC labeled ovalbumin, which allows for specific labeling of airway DCs which uptake ovalbumin. Next, using several DC specific markers, we can assess the maturation of these DCs and can also assess their migration to the draining lymph nodes by employing flow cytometry.     

Dendritic Cell-Specific Deletion of β-Catenin Results in Fewer Regulatory T-Cells without Exacerbating Autoimmune Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells that have the dual ability to stimulate immunity and maintain tolerance. However, the signalling pathways mediating tolerogenic DC function in vivo remain largely unknown. The β-catenin pathway has been suggested to promote a regulatory DC phenotype. The aim of this study was to unravel the role of β-catenin signalling to control DC function in the autoimmune collagen-induced arthritis model (CIA). Deletion of β-catenin specifically in DCs was achieved by crossing conditional knockout mice with a CD11c-Cre transgenic mouse line. Bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) were generated and used to study the maturation profile of these cells in response to a TLR2 or TLR4 ligand stimulation. CIA was induced by intra-dermal immunization with 100 μg chicken type II collagen in complete Freund’s adjuvant on days 0 and 21. CIA incidence and severity was monitored macroscopically and by histology. The T cell profile as well as their cytokine production were analysed by flow cytometry. Lack of β-catenin specifically in DCs did not affect the spontaneous, TLR2- or TLR4-induced maturation and activation of BMDCs or their cytokine production. Moreover, no effect on the incidence and severity of CIA was observed in mice lacking β-catenin in CD11c⁺ cells. A decreased frequency of splenic CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells and of regulatory T cells (Tregs) (CD4⁺CD25^highFoxP3⁺), but no changes in the frequency of splenic Th17 (CCR6⁺CXCR3^-CCR4⁺), Th2 (CCR6^-CXCR3^-CCR4⁺) and Th1 (CCR6^-CXCR3⁺CCR4^-) cells were observed in these mice under CIA condition. Furthermore, the expression of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, IL-4 or IFNγ was also not affected. Our data indicate that ablation of β-catenin expression in DCs did not alter the course and severity of CIA. We conclude that although deletion of β-catenin resulted in a lower frequency of Tregs, this decrease was not sufficient to aggravate the onset and severity of CIA.     

Use of Autoantigen-Loaded Phosphatidylserine-Liposomes to Arrest Autoimmunity in Type 1 Diabetes

Introduction

The development of new therapies to induce self-tolerance has been an important medical health challenge in type 1 diabetes. An ideal immunotherapy should inhibit the autoimmune attack, avoid systemic side effects and allow β-cell regeneration. Based on the immunomodulatory effects of apoptosis, we hypothesized that apoptotic mimicry can help to restore tolerance lost in autoimmune diabetes.

Objective

To generate a synthetic antigen-specific immunotherapy based on apoptosis features to specifically reestablish tolerance to β-cells in type 1 diabetes.

Methods

A central event on the surface of apoptotic cells is the exposure of phosphatidylserine, which provides the main signal for efferocytosis. Therefore, phosphatidylserine-liposomes loaded with insulin peptides were generated to simulate apoptotic cells recognition by antigen presenting cells. The effect of antigen-specific phosphatidylserine-liposomes in the reestablishment of peripheral tolerance was assessed in NOD mice, the spontaneous model of autoimmune diabetes. MHC class II-peptide tetramers were used to analyze the T cell specific response after treatment with phosphatidylserine-liposomes loaded with peptides.

Results

We have shown that phosphatidylserine-liposomes loaded with insulin peptides induce tolerogenic dendritic cells and impair autoreactive T cell proliferation. When administered to NOD mice, liposome signal was detected in the pancreas and draining lymph nodes. This immunotherapy arrests the autoimmune aggression, reduces the severity of insulitis and prevents type 1 diabetes by apoptotic mimicry. MHC class II tetramer analysis showed that peptide-loaded phosphatidylserine-liposomes expand antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells in vivo. The administration of phosphatidylserine-free liposomes emphasizes the importance of phosphatidylserine in the modulation of antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cell expansion.

Conclusions

We conclude that this innovative immunotherapy based on the use of liposomes constitutes a promising strategy for autoimmune diseases.     

Exposure to Factor VIII Protein in the Presence of Phosphatidylserine Induces Hypo-responsiveness toward Factor VIII Challenge in Hemophilia A Mice

Administration of recombinant factor VIII (FVIII), an important co-factor in blood clotting cascade, elicits unwanted anti-FVIII antibodies in hemophilia A (HA) patients. Previously, FVIII associated with phosphatidylserine (PS) showed significant reduction in the anti-FVIII antibody response in HA mice. The reduction in the immune response to FVIII-PS could be due either to a failure of the immune system to recognize the antigen (i.e. immunological ignorance) or to an active induction of an antigen-specific nonresponsiveness (i.e. immunological tolerance). If it were a result of tolerance, one would predict that pre-exposure to FVIII-PS would render the mice hypo-responsive to a subsequent FVIII challenge. Here, we have demonstrated that naive HA mice that were pretreated with FVIII-PS showed a significantly reduced FVIII immune response to further challenge with native FVIII and that this decreased responsiveness could be adoptively transferred to other mice. An increase in number of FoxP3-expressing CD4⁺ regulatory T-cells (Treg) was observed for the FVIII-PS-immunized group as compared with animals that received FVIII alone, suggesting the involvement of Treg in PS-mediated hypo-responsiveness. The PS-mediated reduction in antibody response was reversed by the co-administration of function-blocking anti-TGF-β antibody with FVIII-PS. The decreased response to FVIII induced by FVIII-PS was determined to be antigen-specific because the immune response to another non-cross-reactive antigen (ovalbumin) was not altered. These results are consistent with the notion that FVIII-PS is tolerogenic and suggest that immunization with this tolerogenic form of the protein could be a useful treatment option to minimize immunogenicity of FVIII and other protein-based therapeutics.     

Therapeutic activity of agonistic monoclonal antibodies against CD40 in a chronic autoimmune inflammatory process

The use of agonistic monoclonal antibody against CD40 has emerged as one the most effective ways to boost immune responses against infectious agents or to fight cancer. Here, we report that the same monoclonal antibodies against CD40 (FGK45 and 3/23) previously used to elicit protective immune responses treated the autoimmune inflammatory process of chronic collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1-TCR-beta transgenic mice, as well as collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice, both animal models of rheumatoid arthritis. This study indicates that agonistic monoclonal antibody against CD40 can potentially be used to treat chronic autoimmune inflammatory processes.     

The presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 interferes with effect of TGF-beta1 on antigen presenting cells in patients with multiple sclerosis and in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The possibility to generate and expand tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC) with TGF-β1 in vitro opens new therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In the present study, GM-CSF+IL-4 induced the differentiation of DC from adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which had a higher expression of HLA-DR, CD86 and CD1a and the capacity to stimulate T cells. TGF-β1 alone slightly promoted the generation of antigen presenting cells (APC) with higher expression of CD14, but did not differentiate them into E-cadherin + Langerhans cell (LC)-like DC. TGF-β1-driven APC exhibited the morphology, phenotypes and functions of tolerogenic immature DC, and had lower capacity to stimulate T cells. In vivo experiment demonstrates that TGF-β1-treated APC exhibited the therapeutic potential in Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), followed by increase of IL-10 production in lymph nodes and decrease of inflammatory cells in spinal cords. Most importantly, GM-CSF/IL-4 used in DC preparation abolished the effect of TGF-β1 to induce tolerogenic APC in vitro and in vivo. The results reveal that the usage of GM-CSF for the generation of tolerogenic DC should not be copied from DC preparation for anti-tumor therapy.     

Type 1 regulatory T cells specific for collagen type II as an efficient cell-based therapy in arthritis

Introduction

Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a crucial role in preventing autoimmune diseases and are an ideal target for the development of therapies designed to suppress inflammation in an antigen-specific manner. Type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells are defined by their capacity to produce high levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10), which contributes to their ability to suppress pathological immune responses in several settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of collagen type II–specific Tr1 (Col-Treg) cells in two models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in mice.

Methods

Col-Treg clones were isolated and expanded from collagen-specific TCR transgenic mice. Their cytokine secretion profile and phenotype characterization were studied. The therapeutic potential of Col-Treg cells was evaluated after adoptive transfer in collagen-antibody– and collagen-induced arthritis models. The in vivo suppressive mechanism of Col-Treg clones on effector T-cell proliferation was also investigated.

Results

Col-Treg clones are characterized by their specific cytokine profile (IL-10^highIL-4^negIFN-γ^int) and mediate contact-independent immune suppression. They also share with natural Tregs high expression of GITR, CD39 and granzyme B. A single infusion of Col-Treg cells reduced the incidence and clinical symptoms of arthritis in both preventive and curative settings, with a significant impact on collagen type II antibodies. Importantly, injection of antigen-specific Tr1 cells decreased the proliferation of antigen-specific effector T cells in vivo significantly.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Col-Treg cells in two models of RA, providing evidence that Col-Treg could be an efficient cell-based therapy for RA patients whose disease is refractory to current treatments.     

Impact of Schistosoma japonicum infection on collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice: a murine model of human rheumatoid arthritis

Background

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that helminth infections prevent a range of autoimmune diseases.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To investigate the effects of S. japonicum infection on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), male DBA/1 mice were challenged with unisexual or bisexual S. japonicum cercariae two weeks prior to bovine type II collagen (CII) immunization or at the onset of CIA. S. japonicum infection prior to CII immunization significantly reduced the severity of CIA. ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) showed that the levels of anti-CII IgG and IgG2a were reduced in prior schistosome-infected mice, while anti-CII IgG1 was elevated. Splenocyte proliferation against both polyclonal and antigen-specific stimuli was reduced by prior schistosome infection as measured by tritiated thymidine incorporation (³H-TdR). Cytokine profiles and CD4⁺ T cells subpopulation analysis by ELISA and flow cytometry (FCM) demonstrated that prior schistosome infection resulted in a significant down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and Th1 cells, together with up-regulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and Th2 cells. Interestingly, the expansion of Treg cells and the reduction of Th17 cells were only observed in bisexually infected mice. In addition, prior schistosome infection notably reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) in the inflamed joint. However, the disease was exacerbated at one week after infection when established CIA mice were challenged with bisexual cercariae.

Conclusion/Significance

Our data provide direct evidence that the Th2 response evoked by prior S. japonicum infection can suppress the Th1 response and pro-inflammatory mediator and that bisexual infection with egg-laying up-regulates the Treg response and down-regulates the Th17 response, resulting in an amelioration of autoimmune arthritis. The beneficial effects might depend on the establishment of a Th2-dominant response rather than the presence of the eggs. Our results suggest that anti-inflammatory molecules from the parasite could treat autoimmune diseases.     

Mycobacterial and mouse HSP70 have immuno-modulatory effects on dendritic cells

Previously, it has been shown that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) can prevent inflammatory damage in experimental autoimmune disease models. Various possible underlying working mechanisms have been proposed. One possibility is that HSP70 induces a tolerogenic phenotype in dendritic cells (DCs) as a result of the direct interaction of the antigen with the DC. Tolerogenic DCs can induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells and dampen pathogenic T cell responses. We show that treatment of murine DCs with either mycobacterial (Mt) or mouse HSP70 and pulsed with the disease-inducing antigen induced suppression of proteoglycan-induced arthritis (PGIA), although mouse HSP70-treated DCs could ameliorate PGIA to a greater extent. In addition, while murine DCs treated with Mt- or mouse HSP70 had no significantly altered phenotype as compared to untreated DCs, HSP70-treated DCs pulsed with pOVA (ovalbumin peptide 323–339) induced a significantly increased production of IL-10 in pOVA-specific T cells. IL-10-producing T cells were earlier shown to be involved in Mt HSP70-induced suppression of PGIA. In conclusion, this study indicates that Mt- and mouse HSP70-treated BMDC can suppress PGIA via an IL-10-producing T cell-dependent manner.     

Remission of Collagen-Induced Arthritis through Combination Therapy of Microfracture and Transplantation of Thermogel-Encapsulated Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The persistent inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) always leads to partial synovial hyperplasia and the destruction of articular cartilage. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) have been proven to possess immunosuppressive effects, and widely explored in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. However, poor inhibitory effect on local inflammatory state and limited capacity of preventing destruction of articular cartilage by systemic BMMSCs transplantation were observed. Herein, toward the classical type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats, the combination treatment of microfracture and in situ transplantation of thermogel-encapsulated BMMSCs was verified to obviously down-regulate the ratio of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. In addition, it resulted in the decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and anti-collagen type II antibody, in the serum. Simultaneously, the combination therapy also could inhibit the proliferation of antigen specific lymphocytes and local joint inflammatory condition, and prevent the articular cartilage damage. The results indicated that the treatment programs could effectively stimulate the endogenous and exogenous BMMSCs to exhibit the immunosuppression and cartilage protection capability. This study provided a new therapeutic strategy for autoimmune inflammatory diseases, such as RA.     

Experimental African Trypanosome Infection by Needle Passage or Natural Tsetse Fly Challenge Thwarts the Development of Collagen-Induced Arthritis in DBA/1 Prone Mice via an Impairment of Antigen Specific B Cell Autoantibody Titers

Collagen-induced arthritis is a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Recently published studies have demonstrated that in some rare cases pathogens can confer protection from autoimmunity. Trypanosoma brucei parasites are tsetse fly transmitted extracellular protozoans causing sleeping sickness disease in humans and Nagana in livestock in sub-Saharan endemic areas. In the past, we demonstrated that trypanosome infections impair B cell homeostasis and abolish vaccine-induced protection against unrelated antigens. Hence, here we hypothesized that trypanosome infection can affect the onset of CIA by specifically dampening specific B-cell responses and type II collagen antibody titers in DBA/1 prone mice. We observed a substantial delay in the onset of collagen-induced arthritis in T. brucei-infected DBA/1 mice that correlates with a drastic decrease of type II collagen titers of the different IgG isotypes in the serum. Treatment of infected mice with Berenil, a trypanocidal drug, restored the development of CIA-associated clinical symptoms. Interestingly, these data were confirmed by the challenge of immunized DBA/1 prone mice with T. brucei-infected tsetse flies. Together, these results demonstrate that T. brucei infection is impairing the maintenance of the antigen specific plasma B cell pool driving the development of CIA in DBA/1 prone mice.     

Newcastle disease virus expressing a dendritic cell-targeted HIV gag protein induces a potent gag-specific immune response in mice

Viral vaccine vectors have emerged as an attractive strategy for the development of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine. Recombinant Newcastle disease virus (rNDV) stands out as a vaccine vector since it has a proven safety profile in humans, it is a potent inducer of both alpha interferon (IFN-α) and IFN-β) production, and it is a potent inducer of dendritic cell (DC) maturation. Our group has previously generated an rNDV vector expressing a codon-optimized HIV Gag protein and demonstrated its ability to induce a Gag-specific CD8(+) T cell response in mice. In this report we demonstrate that the Gag-specific immune response can be further enhanced by the targeting of the rNDV-encoded HIV Gag antigen to DCs. Targeting of the HIV Gag antigen was achieved by the addition of a single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody specific for the DC-restricted antigen uptake receptor DEC205 such that the DEC205 scFv-Gag molecule was encoded for expression as a fusion protein. The vaccination of mice with rNDV coding for the DC-targeted Gag antigen induced an enhanced Gag-specific CD8(+) T cell response and enhanced numbers of CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells in the spleen relative to vaccination with rNDV coding for a nontargeted Gag antigen. Importantly, mice vaccinated with the DEC205-targeted vaccine were better protected from challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the HIV Gag protein. Here we demonstrate that the targeting of the HIV Gag antigen to DCs via the DEC205 receptor enhances the ability of an rNDV vector to induce a potent antigen-specific immune response.     

Identification of a novel antigen cross‐presenting cell type in spleen

Antigen-presenting cells (APC), like dendritic cells (DC), are essential for T-cell activation, leading to immunity or tolerance. Multiple DC subsets each play a unique role in the immune response. Here, a novel splenic dendritic-like APC has been characterized in mice that has immune function and cell surface phenotype distinct from other, described DC subsets. These were identified as a cell type continuously produced in spleen long-term cultures (LTC) and have an in vivo equivalent cell type in mice, namely ‘L-DC’. This study characterizes LTC-DC in terms of marker phenotype and function, and compares them with L-DC and other known splenic DC and myeloid subsets. L-DC display a myeloid dendritic-like phenotype equivalent to LTC-DC as CD11c^loCD11b^hiMHC-II⁻CD8α⁻ cells, distinct by high accessibility and endocytic capacity for blood-borne antigen. Both LTC-DC and L-DC have strong antigen cross-presentation ability leading to strong activation of CD8⁺ T cells, particularly after exposure to lipopolysaccharide. However, they have weak ability to stimulate CD4⁺ T cells in antigen-specific responses. Evidence is presented here for a novel DC type produced by in vitro haematopoiesis which has distinct antigen-presenting potential and reflects a DC subset present also in vivo in spleen.