CD45 is essential for Fc epsilon RI signaling by ZAP70, but not Syk, in Syk-negative mast cells.

The ZAP70/Syk family of protein tyrosine kinases plays an important role in Ag receptor signaling. Structural similarity of Syk and ZAP70 suggests their functional overlap. Previously, it was observed that expression of either ZAP70 or Syk reconstitutes Ag receptor signaling in Syk-negative B cells. However, in CD45-deficient T cells, Syk, but not ZAP70, restores T cell receptor-signaling pathway. To study the function of Syk, ZAP70, and CD45 in mast cells, a Syk/CD45 double-deficient variant of RBL-2H3 cells was characterized. After transfection, stable cell lines were isolated that expressed ZAP70, Syk, CD45, ZAP70 plus CD45, and Syk plus CD45. IgE stimulation did not induce degranulation in parental double-deficient cells, nor in the cells expressing only CD45. ZAP70 expression did not restore Fc epsilon RI signaling unless CD45 was coexpressed in the cells. However, Syk alone restored the IgE signal transduction pathway. The coexpression of CD45 with Syk had no significant effects on the responses to FcepsilonRI-aggregation. There was much better binding of Syk than ZAP70 to the phosphorylated Fc epsilon RI gamma-ITAM. Furthermore, unlike Syk, ZAP70 required CD45 to display receptor-induced increase in kinase activity. Therefore, in mast cells, ZAP70, but not Syk, requires CD45 for Ag receptor-induced signaling.     

Osteoclasts but not osteoblasts are affected by a calcified surface treated with zoledronic acid in vitro

Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Recent interest has centered on the effects of bisphosphonates on osteoblasts. Chronic dosing of osteoblasts with solubilized bisphosphonates has been reported to enhance osteogenesis and mineralization in vitro. However, this methodology poorly reflects the in vivo situation, where free bisphosphonate becomes rapidly bound to mineralized bone surfaces. To establish a more clinically relevant cell culture model, we cultured bone cells on calcium phosphate coated quartz discs pre-treated with the potent nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid (ZA). Binding studies utilizing [(14)C]-labeled ZA confirmed that the bisphosphonate bound in a concentration-dependent manner over the 1-50microM dose range. When grown on ZA-treated discs, the viability of bone-marrow derived osteoclasts was greatly reduced, while the viability and mineralization of the osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line were largely unaffected. This suggests that only bone resorbing cells are affected by bound bisphosphonate. However, this system does not account for transient exposure to unbound bisphosphonate in the hours following a clinical dosing. To model this event, we transiently treated osteoblasts with ZA in the absence of a calcified surface. Osteoblasts proved highly resistant to all transitory treatment regimes, even when utilizing ZA concentrations that prevented mineralization and/or induced cell death when dosed chronically. This study represents a pharmacologically more relevant approach to modeling bisphosphonate treatment on cultured bone cells and implies that bisphosphonate therapies may not directly affect osteoblasts at bone surfaces.     

Small-molecule inhibitors of Bcl-2 family proteins are able to induce tumor regression in a mouse model of pre-B-cell acute lymphocytic lymphoma

The overexpression of prosurvival members of the Bcl-2 family is commonly associated with the enhanced malignancy of hematological tumors. There has been great interest in a novel set of agents that are able to mimic the function of the BH3 domain by binding to the groove of Bcl-2-like proteins and initiating the cell death sequence. We sought to examine the efficacy of BH3 mimetics in a spontaneous mouse model of B-cell neoplasia. We evaluated the ability of the BH3 mimetics to preferentially target tumor cells while sparing normal cells. In addition, we examined the contributions of Bim and Puma to the sensitivity of tumor cells to the BH3 mimetics. We report here that two BH3 mimetics (HA-14-1 and BH3-I-2') were able to induce apoptosis of murine B-cell lymphoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Tumors that arose from transplantation of primary lymphoma cells regressed following 7 days of treatment with BH3-mimetic drugs. The long-term benefits of the transient treatment of tumor-bearing mice with the BH3 mimetics, however, could not be properly evaluated, due to the high levels of toxicity we observed in vivo with these drugs. Decreased expression of either Bim or Puma from B-cell tumor cells was able to protect these cells from the apoptosis induced by these BH3 mimetics, suggesting that they function through other means. We conclude that while the BH3-mimetic drugs are effective at inducing cell death of lymphoma cells in vitro and in vivo, their unclear molecular specificity and their ability to kill normal cells may limit their therapeutic uses in humans.     

Potent in vivo but not in vitro inhibition of monoamine oxidase by 3-chloro-alpha-phenylpyrazinemethanol.

3-Chloro-alpha-phenylpyrazinemethanol (3-CPM) inhibited monoamine oxidase (MAO) types A and B in vivo in mouse brain, heart and liver. The inhibition was dose-dependent at doses of 0.3-32 mg/kg i.p. and occurred within 1 h after the compound was injected. 3-CPM was a very weak inhibitor of mouse brain mitochondrial MAO activity in vitro, even when preincubated with the enzyme; MAO-A was inhibited only about 50% at a high concentration of 3-CPM (1 mM), and MAO-B was inhibited even less. After a 10 mg/kg i.p. dose of 3-CPM in mice, both MAO-A and MAO-B were inhibited at day 1, but activity had largely recovered within a few days in brain, liver and heart. 3-CPM at doses of 1, 3, 10 and 32 mg/kg i.p. caused dose-dependent antagonism of the depletion of striatal dopamine and of cortical norepinephrine by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. 3-CPM is therefore a potent inhibitor of MAO-A and of MAO-B in mice in vivo despite its weak effect on the enzyme in vitro. A metabolite of the drug may be involved in the in vivo effects.     

Sister-chromatid exchanges are increased in epileptics, but not by sodium valproate.

Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency has been studied from peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures of 21 patients with epilepsy on sodium valproate, 20 patients who had not started therapy (untreated) and 20 normal healthy controls. Treated and untreated patients with epilepsy were observed to have higher SCE frequencies (mean 9.05 and 9.82 respectively) than healthy controls (mean 4.8; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in SCE frequency between treated and untreated patients. This suggests that the disease itself may be associated with an increased frequency of SCEs.     

Human DNA polymerase epsilon colocalizes with proliferating cell nuclear antigen and DNA replication late, but not early, in S phase.

DNA polymerase epsilon (pol epsilon) has been implicated in DNA replication, DNA repair, and cell cycle control, but its precise roles are unclear. When the subcellular localization of human pol epsilon was examined by indirect immunofluorescence, pol epsilon appeared in discrete nuclear foci that colocalized with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) foci and sites of DNA synthesis only late in S phase. Early in S phase, pol epsilon foci were adjacent to PCNA foci. In contrast to PCNA foci that were only present in S phase, pol epsilon foci were present throughout mitosis and the G(1) phase of cycling cells. It is hypothesized from these observations that pol epsilon and PCNA have separate but associated functions early in S phase and that pol epsilon participates with PCNA in DNA replication late in S phase.     

Nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of sow oocytes are not synchronized by specific meiotic inhibition with roscovitine during in vitro maturation

The effect of roscovitine exposure prior to IVM was studied on cumulus expansion, on changes of cumulus-oocyte contacts and on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of sow oocytes. It was hypothesized that delayed nuclear maturation and prolonged contact with cumulus cells allows prolonged cytoplasmic differentiation and therefore improves oocyte developmental potential. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were exposed for 22 h or 44 h to 0, 25 or 50 microM of roscovitine and subsequently cultured for 22, 29 or 44 h without roscovitine. COCs were examined for cumulus expansion and oocytes for nuclear status and dynamics of transzonal microfilaments. Oocyte developmental potential was assessed by blastocyst formation after IVF. Fifty muM of roscovitine inhibited cumulus expansion for the first 22 h of culture, and maintained oocytes in meiotic arrest for 44 h. Roscovitine treatment during 22 h prior to culture for 44 h without roscovitine did not increase embryo development, but oocytes cultured for 66 h without roscovitine had reduced blastocyst formation. Oocytes cultured for 29 h after roscovitine exposure showed reduced blastocyst rates compared with their counterparts cultured for 44 h. Roscovitine treatment during 44 h prior to culture for 22 h or 44 h without roscovitine reduced embryo development. Transzonal microfilaments were reduced after culture with roscovitine, and disappeared during culture without roscovitine. It is concluded that prolonged contact with cumulus cells does not improve oocyte developmental potential. Furthermore, it is suggested that nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in vitro cannot be seen as two independent processes.     

In vitro induction of CD8 expression on thymic pre-T cells. I. Transforming growth factor-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induce CD8 expression on CD8- thymic subsets including the CD25+CD3-CD4-CD8- pre-T cell subset.

We previously reported that IL-7 maintains the viability and differentiation potential of CD25 (IL-2R p55) positive CD3-CD4-CD8- thymic pre-T cells in vitro. This culture system is suitable for studying signals that regulate differentiation of T cell precursors in the thymus. In this study, we screened cytokines for their capacity to induce CD4 or CD8 in murine thymic pre-T cells cultured with IL-7. Of 15 cytokines tested, only transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) and TNF-alpha induced CD8 (Lyt-2), while no cytokine was able to induce CD4 on CD25+CD3-CD4-CD8- thymocytes. The combination of TGF-beta and TNF-alpha was synergistic, and the majority of cells recovered after 2 to 3 days in culture expressed CD8 (but not CD3 or CD4). A similar effect of TGF-beta and TNF-alpha was observed using day-15 fetal thymocytes, CD3+CD4-CD8- or CD3+CD4+CD8- adult thymocytes, although the combination of these cytokines resulted in an additive rather than a synergistic effect in these subsets. In contrast, neither TGF-beta nor TNF-alpha induced CD8 expression on splenic CD4+CD8- T cells. These observations suggest a role for these cytokines in the induction of CD8 expression in CD8- thymocyte subsets including CD3-CD4-CD8- thymic pre-T cells.     

Activation of p21-activated kinase 2 and its association with Nef are conserved in murine cells but are not sufficient to induce an AIDS-like disease in CD4C/HIV transgenic mice

A well conserved feature of human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Nef is the interaction with and activation of the human p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2). The conservation of this interaction in other species and its significance for Nef pathogenesis in vivo are poorly documented. In the present study, we measured these parameters in Nef-expressing thymocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells of a transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AIDS (CD4C/HIV). We found that Nef binds to and activates PAK2, but not PAK1 and -3, in these three cell subsets. Nef associates with only a small fraction of PAK2. The Nef-PAK2 complex also comprises beta-PIX-COOL. The impact of the Nef-PAK2 association on disease development was also analyzed in Tg mice expressing 10 different Nef mutant alleles. CD4C/HIV Tg mice expressing Nef alleles defective in Nef-PAK2 association (P69A, P72A/P75A, R105A/R106A, Delta56-66, or G2A (myristoylation site)) failed to develop disease of the non-lymphoid organs (kidneys and lungs). Among these, only Tg mice expressing Nef(P69A) and Nef(G2A) showed some depletion of CD4(+) T cells, although a down-regulation of the CD4 surface protein was documented in all these Tg lines, except those expressing Nef(Delta56-66). Among other Tg mice expressing Nef mutants having conserved the Nef-PAK2 association (RD35AA, D174K, P147A/P150A, Delta8-17, and Delta25-65), only Tg mice expressing Nef(Delta8-17) develop kidney and lung diseases, but all showed partial CD4(+) T cell depletion despite some being defective for CD4 down-regulation (RD35AA and D174K). Therefore, Nef can activate murine PAK2 and associate with a small fraction of it, as in human cells. Such activation and binding of PAK2 is clearly not sufficient but may be required to induce a multiorgan AIDS-like disease in Tg mice.     

CD8 T cells, like CD4 T cells, are triggered by multivalent engagement of TCRs by MHC-peptide ligands but not by monovalent engagement

T cell activation is initiated by recognition of antigenic peptide presented in complex with MHC molecules on the surface of APCs. The mechanism by which this recognition occurs is still unclear, and many models exist in the literature. CD4 T cells have been shown to respond to soluble oligomers of activating class II MHC-peptide complexes, but not to soluble monomers. In determining the reactivity of CD8 T cells to soluble activating class I MHC-peptide complexes, a complicating phenomenon had been observed whereby peptide from soluble complexes was loaded onto cell surface MHCs on the T cells and re-presented to other T cells, clouding the true valency requirement for activation. This study uses soluble allogeneic class I MHC-peptide monomers and oligomers to stimulate murine CD8 T cells without the possible complication of peptide re-presentation. The results show that MHC class I monomers bind to, but do not activate, CD8 T cells whether the cells are in solution or adhered to a surface. Monomeric MHC class I binding can antagonize the stimulation triggered by soluble oligomers, a phenomenon also observed for CD4 T cells. Dimeric engagement is necessary and sufficient to stimulate downstream activation processes including TCR down-regulation, Zap70 phosphorylation, and CD25 and CD69 up-regulation, even in T cells that do not express the MHC coreceptor CD8. Thus, the valency dependence of the response of CD8 T cells to soluble MHC-peptide reagents is the same as previously observed for CD4 T cells.     

Dominance is not always an honest signal of male quality,but females may be able to detect the dishonesty

Females prefer dominant males as mating partners in numerous species. Male dominance rank is considered as an honest signal of male quality, because only healthy males in good condition are thought to be able to win fights with other males. Here, we tested whether activation of the immune system influences the success of males in male–male competition and mating in the field cricket, Gryllus integer. We activated the immune system of males with a nylon monofilament (to mimic a parasitoid larva), and arranged fights between male pairs to assess male dominance and associated mating success. Activation of the immune system with nylon monofilament substantially enhanced the fighting success of males during male–male competition but had no effect on mating success. However, sham-manipulation (a wound only) did not have any effect on fighting success although females mated more often with dominant males. Our study suggests that when male crickets meet an apparent survival threat they may behave more dominantly, probably owing to terminal investment. Male success during male–male competition is not always an honest signal of males’ quality, but females may be able to detect this dishonesty.     

In contrast to effector T cells, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells are highly susceptible to CD95 ligand- but not to TCR-mediated cell death

CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) suppress T cell function and protect rodents from autoimmune disease. Regulation of T(reg) during an immune response is of major importance. Enhanced survival of T(reg) is beneficial in autoimmune disease, whereas increased depletion by apoptosis is advantageous in cancer. We show here that freshly isolated FACS-sorted T(reg) are highly sensitive toward CD95-mediated apoptosis, whereas other T cell populations are resistant to CD95-induced apoptosis shortly after isolation. In contrast, TCR restimulation of T(reg) in vitro revealed a reduced sensitivity toward activation-induced cell death compared with CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells. Thus, the apoptosis phenotype of T(reg) is unique in comparison to other T cells, and this might be further explored for novel therapeutic modulations of T(reg).     

Generation of signals activating neutrophil functions by leukocyte integrins: LFA-1 and gp150/95, but not CR3, are able to stimulate the respiratory burst of human neutrophils

To address the question whether leukocyte integrins are able to generate signals activating neutrophil functions, we investigated the capability of mAbs against the common beta chain (CD18), or the distinct alpha chains of CR3, LFA-1, or gp150/95, to activate neutrophil respiratory burst. These investigations were performed with mAbs bound to protein A immobilized to tissue culture polystyrene. Neutrophils plated in wells coated with the anti-CD18 mAbs IB4 and 60.3 released H2O2; H2O2 release did not occur when neutrophils were plated in wells coated with an irrelevant, isotype-matched mAb (OKDR), or with mAbs against other molecules (CD16, beta 2-microglobulin) expressed on the neutrophil surface at the same density of CD18. Four different mAbs, OKM1, OKM9, OKM10, 60.1, which recognize distinct epitopes of CR3 were unable to trigger H2O2 or O2- release from neutrophils. However, mAbs against LFA-1 or gp150/95 triggered both H2O2 and O2- release from neutrophils. Stimulation of neutrophils respiratory burst by both anti-CD18, and anti-LFA-1 or gp150/95 mAbs was totally inhibited by the microfilaments disrupting agent, cytochalasin B, and by a permeable cAMP analogue. While the capability to activate neutrophil respiratory burst was restricted to anti-LFA-1 and gp150/95 mAbs, we observed that mAbs against all members of leukocyte integrins, including CR3, were able to trigger neutrophil spreading. These findings indicate that, in neutrophils, all three leukocyte integrins can generate signals activating spreading, but only LFA-1 and gp150/95 can generate signals involved in activation of the respiratory burst. This observation can be relevant to understand the mechanisms responsible for the activation of neutrophil respiratory burst by tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which has been shown to be strictly dependent on expression of leukocyte integrins (Nathan, C., S. Srimal, C. Farber, E. Sanchez, L. Kabbash, A. Asch, J. Gailit, and S. Wright. 1989. J. Cell Biol. 109:13411349.     

CD4+ NKT cells,but not conventional CD4+ T cells,are required to generate efferent CD8+ T regulatory cells following antigen inoculation in an immune-privileged site

Following inoculation of Ag into the anterior chamber (a.c.), systemic tolerance develops that is mediated in part by Ag-specific efferent CD8(+) T regulatory (Tr) cells. This model of tolerance is called a.c.-associated immune deviation. The generation of the efferent CD8(+) Tr cell in a.c.-associated immune deviation is dependent on IL-10-producing, CD1d-restricted, invariant Valpha14(+) NKT (iNKT) cells. The iNKT cell subpopulations are either CD4(+) or CD4(-)CD8(-) double negative. This report identifies the subpopulation of iNKT cells that is important for induction of the efferent Tr cell. Because MHC class II(-/-) (class II(-/-)) mice generate efferent Tr cells following a.c. inoculation, we conclude that conventional CD4(+) T cells are not needed for the development of efferent CD8(+) T cells. Furthermore, Ab depletion of CD4(+) cells in both wild-type mice (remove both conventional and CD4(+) NKT cells) and class II(-/-) mice (remove CD4(+) NKT cells) abrogated the generation of Tr cells. We conclude that CD4(+) NKT cells, but not the class II molecule or conventional CD4(+) T cells, are required for generation of efferent CD8(+) Tr cells following Ag introduction into the eye. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to the generation of efferent CD8(+) Tr cells may lead to novel immunotherapy for immune inflammatory diseases.     

PGV04, an HIV-1 gp120 CD4 binding site antibody, is broad and potent in neutralization but does not induce conformational changes characteristic of CD4

Recently, several broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnMAbs) directed to the CD4-binding site (CD4bs) of gp120 have been isolated from HIV-1-positive donors. These include VRC01, 3BNC117, and NIH45-46, all of which are capable of neutralizing about 90% of circulating HIV-1 isolates and all of which induce conformational changes in the HIV-1 gp120 monomer similar to those induced by the CD4 receptor. In this study, we characterize PGV04 (also known as VRC-PG04), a MAb with potency and breadth that rivals those of the prototypic VRC01 and 3BNC117. When screened on a large panel of viruses, the neutralizing profile of PGV04 was distinct from those of CD4, b12, and VRC01. Furthermore, the ability of PGV04 to neutralize pseudovirus containing single alanine substitutions exhibited a pattern distinct from those of the other CD4bs MAbs. In particular, substitutions D279A, I420A, and I423A were found to abrogate PGV04 neutralization. In contrast to VRC01, PGV04 did not enhance the binding of 17b or X5 to their epitopes (the CD4-induced [CD4i] site) in the coreceptor region on the gp120 monomer. Furthermore, in contrast to CD4, none of the anti-CD4bs MAbs induced the expression of the 17b epitope on cell surface-expressed cleaved Env trimers. We conclude that potent CD4bs bnMAbs can display differences in the way they recognize and access the CD4bs and that mimicry of CD4, as assessed by inducing conformational changes in monomeric gp120 that lead to enhanced exposure of the CD4i site, is not uniquely correlated with effective neutralization at the site of CD4 binding on HIV-1.