结核杆菌感染T细胞介导免疫应答研究的新进展

结核病对免疫学家构成了巨大的挑战,因为它是一种慢性传染性疾病,病原体具有持久性特点.在对人和动物进行实验时,检测到结核分枝杆菌适应性免疫应答的特点之一为感染早期T细胞免疫应答延迟.新近研究揭示了此种延迟应答的机制:通过结核杆菌抑制免疫细胞(CD4+和CD8+T细胞及DC)凋亡延迟应答,通过特异性Treg细胞抑制作用延迟应答.结核杆菌慢性感染期间存在IFNγ信号调节网络和ESAT-6抗原的慢性刺激作用,抗原特异性PD-1+ CD4+T细胞具有高度增殖分化为更多终末效应性T细胞的潜能,以此可调节和维持免疫应答.深入了解抗原特异性T细胞调节与维持适应性免疫应答的机制,有益于抗结核疫苗的设计和研制.     

T细胞免疫在抗结核杆菌感染中的研究进展

结核分枝杆菌是引起结核病的病原体,该细菌可侵犯全身各组织器官。结核病是一种慢性传染性疾病,具有持久性特点。该细菌为胞内寄生菌,特异性免疫以细胞免疫为主,主要包括CD4+T细胞免疫和CD8+T细胞免疫。结核分枝杆菌特异性免疫应答的特点之一是感染早期T细胞免疫应答延迟。其机制与结核杆菌抑制免疫细胞(CD4+和CD8+T细胞及DC)凋亡延迟应答,通过特异性Treg细胞抑制作用延迟应答以及结核杆菌慢性感染期间存在IFN-γ信号调节网络和ESAT-6抗原的慢性刺激作用有关,以此可调节和维持免疫应答。深入了解抗原特异性T细胞特异性免疫应答的机制,有益于抗结核疫苗的研制,为临床工作提供理论依据和科学方法。     

T细胞免疫在抗结核杆菌感染中的研究进展

结核分枝杆菌是引起结核病的病原体,该细菌可侵犯全身各组织器官。结核病是一种慢性传染性疾病,具有持久性特点。该细菌为胞内寄生菌,特异性免疫以细胞免疫为主,主要包括CD4＋T细胞免疫和CD8＋T细胞免疫。结核分枝杆菌特异性免疫应答的特点之一是感染早期T细胞免疫应答延迟。其机制与结核杆菌抑制免疫细胞（CD4＋和CD8＋T细胞及DC）凋亡延迟应答,通过特异性Treg细胞抑制作用延迟应答以及结核杆菌慢性感染期间存在IFN-γ信号调节网络和ESAT-6抗原的慢性刺激作用有关,以此可调节和维持免疫应答。深入了解抗原特异性T细胞特异性免疫应答的机制,有益于抗结核疫苗的研制,为临床工作提供理论依据和科学方法。     

体外扩增后脐血来源Treg细胞的有效性及安全性研究

通过检测扩增后调节性T细胞(regulatory T cells,Tregs)的有效性和安全性,研究脐血来源的CD4~+CD25~+Foxp3~+Treg细胞的临床运用前景。实验中,新鲜分离的Treg细胞通过CD3/CD28抗体包被微磁珠进行体外扩增,以检测脐血来源Treg细胞的体外增殖能力,同时利用流式细胞术检测新鲜分离的Treg细胞与扩增后细胞的表型。随后,采用混合淋巴实验(mixed lymphocyte reaction,MLR)检测Treg细胞的功能,利用刺激实验检测扩增后Treg细胞的免疫原性,并且利用NOD-Prkdc~(scid)IL2rg~(null)免疫缺陷小鼠进行体内安全性检测。结果显示,4周后脐血来源的Treg细胞能够扩增到1 000倍以上,与新鲜分离的Treg细胞相比,扩增后的细胞CD45RA表达降低,CD45RO和CD39表达升高;同时,MLR结果显示扩增后的Treg细胞具有较强的抑制能力,并且免疫原性低;此外,体内结果显示扩增后的Treg细胞不会引起移植物抗宿主反应。实验结果初步表明,脐血来源体外扩增后的Treg细胞不仅在数量和功能上能够满足临床移植的需要,并且免疫原性低安全性高。     

细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关抗原4(CTLA4)敲除和人源化小鼠模型的建立

目的 建立细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关抗原4(CTLA4)基因人源化小鼠模型,为靶向CTLA4的肿瘤治疗性抗体研发和筛选提供有效的小鼠模型.方法 利用CRISPR/Cas9技术,建立CTLA4基因人源化和敲除小鼠模型,利用PCR、RT-PCR、Western Blot、免疫组织化学和流式细胞术的方法对其进行鉴定及分析.将小鼠...     

p53转染黑色素瘤细胞修饰的树突状细胞疫苗体外抗肿瘤作用的研究

利用野生型p53质粒转染黑色素瘤B16细胞,反复冻融法提取p53修饰的肿瘤抗原(p53-Ag),将抗原体外冲击同基因小鼠骨髓来源的树突状细胞(dendritic cells,DC)制备特异性DC肿瘤疫苗;观察DC诱导的淋巴细胞增殖反应和细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic T lymphocytes,CTL)对黑色素瘤细胞的细胞毒效应,分析其诱导肿瘤抗原特异性免疫应答的机制。结果显示,p53-肿瘤抗原冲击的DC可显著刺激淋巴细胞增殖,其诱导的CTL效应对肿瘤细胞也有很好的杀伤效果。     

调节性T细胞抑制作用机制的研究进展

调节性T细胞(Treg)对维持机体免疫动态平衡具有重要作用。不仅诱导产生自身免疫耐受,防止自身免疫疾病的发生,而且能够限制免疫防御中T、B细胞过度活化,避免造成组织损伤。最近研究发现,Treg可能导致效应性免疫细胞失活,降低机体对肿瘤和病原的免疫应答。尽管Treg可能通过调节免疫细胞活化、增值和分化及效应等多环节产生抑制作用,但其抑制机制仍未清楚。本文对近几年国外研究Treg可能的抑制作用机制的进展作一综述。     

CD4+T细胞在肿瘤免疫治疗中的作用

近年来,人们对CD4 T细胞在肿瘤免疫治疗中的作用给予了极大的关注,CD4 T细胞不仅可通过IFN-γ依赖性等机制直接杀伤肿瘤细胞,而且在CD8 T细胞的激活、记忆性的细胞毒性T细胞(CTL)应答的产生、维持以及促进其存活等过程中发挥着重要作用,同时激活CD4 T细胞和CD8 T细胞是免疫治疗的理想策略;另外,CD4 CD25 调节性T细胞(Treg细胞)可能被肿瘤表达的自身抗原所诱导,与肿瘤免疫耐受的维持和抗肿瘤应答的下调有关,被认为是免疫治疗失败的主要原因,抑制该细胞亚群可增强治疗性肿瘤疫苗的临床效果.现就CD4 T细胞在肿瘤免疫治疗中的作用的研究进展作一综述.     

应用siRNA技术探讨MCF-7乳腺癌细胞分泌的VEGF对树突状细胞的影响

为探讨MCF-7乳腺癌细胞分泌的血管内皮生长因子（ vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF）对树突状细胞（dendritic cell, DC）功能及其分化的影响,针对VEGF基因设计siRNA（small interfering RNA, siRNA),采用脂质体转染法以100 nmol/L最佳转染浓度导入MCF-7乳腺癌细胞（siRNA组）,以脂质体Lipofectamine　2000TM转染MCF-7 乳腺癌细胞培养上清培养正常DC作为对照（对照组）,采用ELISA法检测经siRNA 干扰VEGF基因后的MCF-7 乳腺癌细胞分泌的VEGF因子含量, Western 印迹检测VEGF蛋白表达,以探讨siRNA的基因沉默效果;以siRNA组和对照组培养上清分别培养外周血单个核细胞,用流式细胞仪检测所诱导DC表型CD1a、CD80、CD83、CD86和HLA-DR的表达,用MTT法检测转染前后两组DC 诱导的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（cytotoxic T lymphocyte, CTL）对MCF-7细胞的细胞毒作用.结果显示,MCF-7 乳腺癌细胞培养上清能明显抑制正常DC分化成熟及抗原递呈能力,干扰VEGF基因后MCF-7 乳腺癌细胞培养上清对DC的影响明显降低,CD80、CD83、CD86和HLA-DR的表达较对照组显著升高,而CD1a表达下降（P＜0.01）.转染前后DC 诱导的CTL对MCF-7细胞的杀伤活性有明显差异（P＜0.01）.由此可见,siRNA可靶向抑制MCF-7乳腺癌细胞VEGF的表达,下调VEGF后的MCF-7 细胞上清对DC分化成熟及功能的抑制作用明显降低,从而推测VEGF在肿瘤的发生、发展和免疫抑制方面可能起着重要的作用.     

阿霉素处理的肿瘤抗原致敏树突状细胞的抗肿瘤免疫研究

研究表明化疗药物作用于肿瘤细胞后可有效激发免疫应答,这与肿瘤细胞的性质和化疗药物有关。该研究主要探讨阿霉素（adriamycin,ADM）处理小鼠宫颈癌u14细胞获得的肿瘤抗原致敏树突状细胞（dendriticceils,DCs）的免疫应答及对肿瘤的杀伤效应。分别应用ADM和反复冻融法处理小鼠宫颈癌U14细胞,取其离心上清液,致敏小鼠骨髓来源的DC,观察DC诱导的淋巴细胞增殖反应和细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（cytotoxicTlymphocyte,CTL）对宫颈癌细胞的细胞毒效应。结果显示：ADM处理的U14细胞抗原致敏后的DC组所激发和扩增的T细胞数及对宫颈癌细胞的杀伤效果显著高于对照组（P〈0．05）。因而提示ADM处理的肿瘤抗原能有效地致敏DC并产生抗肿瘤免疫效应。     

Dendritic Cells Induce a Subpopulation of IL-12Rβ2-Expressing Treg that Specifically Consumes IL-12 to Control Th1 Responses

Cytokines secreted from dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in the regulation of T helper (Th) cell differentiation and activation into effector cells. Therefore, controlling cytokine secretion from DCs may potentially regulate Th differentiation/activation. DCs also induce de-novo generation of regulatory T cells (Treg) that modulate the immune response. In the current study we used the mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) to investigate the effect of allospecific Treg on IL-12, TNFα and IL-6 secretion by DCs. Treg cells were found to markedly down-regulate IL-12 secretion from DCs following stimulation with TLR7/8 agonist. This down-regulation of IL-12 was neither due to a direct suppression of its production by the DCs nor a result of marked DC death. We found that IL-12 was rather actively consumed by Treg cells. IL-12 consumption was mediated by a subpopulation of IL-12Rβ2-expressing Treg cells and was dependent on MHC class-II expressed on dendritic cells. Furthermore, IL-12 consumption by Tregs increased their suppressive effect on T cell proliferation and Th1 activation. These results provide a new pathway of Th1 response regulation where IL-12 secreted by DCs is consumed by a sub-population of IL-12Rβ2-expressing Treg cells. Consumption of IL-12 by Tregs not only reduces the availability of IL-12 to Th effector cells but also enhances the Treg immunosuppressive effect. This DC-induced IL-12Rβ2-expressing Treg subpopulation may have a therapeutic advantage in suppressing Th1 mediated autoimmunity.     

Selective expansion of foxp3-positive regulatory T cells and immunosuppression by suppressors of cytokine signaling 3-deficient dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) induce immunity and immunological tolerance as APCs. It has been shown that DCs secreting IL-10 induce IL-10(+) Tr1-type regulatory T (Treg) cells, whereas Foxp3-positive Treg cells are expanded from naive CD4(+) T cells by coculturing with mature DCs. However, the regulatory mechanism of expansion of Foxp3(+) Treg cells by DCs has not been clarified. In this study, we demonstrated that suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3-deficient DCs have a strong potential as Foxp3(+) T cell-inducing tolerogenic DCs. SOCS3(-/-) DCs expressed lower levels of class II MHC, CD40, CD86, and IL-12 than wild-type (WT)-DCs both in vitro and in vivo, and showed constitutive activation of STAT3. Foxp3(-) effector T cells were predominantly expanded by the priming with WT-DCs, whereas Foxp3(+) Treg cells were selectively expanded by SOCS3(-/-) DCs. Adoptive transfer of SOCS3(-/-) DCs reduced the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Foxp3(+) T cell expansion was blocked by anti-TGF-beta Ab, and SOCS3(-/-) DCs produced higher levels of TGF-beta than WT-DCs, suggesting that TGF-beta plays an essential role in the expansion of Foxp3(+) Treg cells. These results indicate an important role of SOCS3 in determining on immunity or tolerance by DCs.     

Induction of CML28-specific cytotoxic T cell responses using co-transfected dendritic cells with CML28 DNA vaccine and SOCS1 small interfering RNA expression vector

CML28 is an attractive target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. SOCS1 represents an inhibitory control mechanism for DC antigen presentation and the magnitude of adaptive immunity. In this study, we evaluated the potential for inducing CML28-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses by dendritic cells (DCs)-based vaccination. We constructed a CML28 DNA vaccine and a SOCS1 siRNA vector and then cotransfect monocyte-derived DCs. Flow cytometry analysis showed gene silencing of SOCS1 resulted in higher expressions of costimulative moleculars in DCs. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) indicated downregulation of SOCS1 stronger capability to stimulate proliferation of responder cell in DCs. The CTL assay revealed transfected DCs effectively induced autologous CML28-specific CTL responses and the lytic activities induced by SOCS1-silenced DCs were significantly higher compared with those induced by SOCS1-expressing DCs. These results in our study indicates gene silencing of SOCS1 remarkably enhanced the cytotoxicity efficiency of CML28 DNA vaccine in DCs.     

CTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig重组腺病毒的构建及其生物学特性

利用基因重组技术,拼接目的基因CTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig,并亚克隆入腺病毒载体pTrack-CMV中,构建pT/CTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig载体,与pAdeasy-1共同转染BJ5183以进行同源重组,所获得的重组子用LipofectAMINE2000转染293A细胞包装病毒,获得了可同时分别表达CTLA4Ig和OX40Ig的重组腺病毒AdCTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig,并进行扩增和滴度测定,用Western印迹鉴定293A细胞培养上清中目的基因的表达,用混合淋巴细胞反应研究其免疫抑制活性.利用上述方法成功构建了穿梭质粒pT/CTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig;并且获得了重组腺病毒AdCTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig,在感染的293A细胞的培养上清中可以同时检测到CTLA4Ig和OX40Ig分子;AdCTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig、AdCTLA4Ig和AdOX40Ig感染的Lewis大鼠脾细胞(刺激细胞)对Balb/c小鼠的脾细胞(反应细胞)的增殖均具有抑制作用,但AdCTLA4Ig-IRES-OX40Ig感染组的抑制效率明显强于AdCTLA4Ig和AdOX40Ig感染组,体外实验证实该两种分子可协同作用,强烈抑制混合淋巴细胞反应.     

FTY720 ameliorates Th1-mediated colitis in mice by directly affecting the functional activity of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells

Following the present concepts, the synthetic sphingosine analog of myriocin FTY720 alters migration and homing of lymphocytes via sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors. However, several studies indicate that the immunosuppressive properties of FTY720 may alternatively be due to tolerogenic activities via modulation of dendritic cell differentiation or based on direct effects on CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg). As Treg play an important role for the cure of inflammatory colitis, we used the Th1-mediated 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis model to address the therapeutic potential of FTY720 in vivo. A rectal enema of TNBS was given to BALB/c mice. FTY720 was administered i.p. from days 0 to 3 or 3 to 5. FTY720 substantially reduced all clinical, histopathologic, macroscopic, and microscopic parameters of colitis analyzed. The therapeutic effects of FTY720 were associated with a down-regulation of IL-12p70 and subsequent Th1 cytokines. Importantly, FTY720 treatment resulted in a prominent up-regulation of FoxP3, IL-10, TGFbeta, and CTLA4. Supporting the hypothesis that FTY720 directly affects functional activity of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg, we measured a significant increase of CD25 and FoxP3 expression in isolated lamina propria CD4(+) T cells of FTY720-treated mice. The impact of FTY720 on Treg induction was further confirmed by concomitant in vivo blockade of CTLA4 or IL-10R which significantly abrogated its therapeutic activity. In conclusion, our data provide clear evidence that in addition to its well-established effects on migration FTY720 leads to a specific down-regulation of proinflammatory signals while simultaneously inducing functional activity of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg. Thus, FTY720 may offer a promising new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IBD.     

Physiologic control of IDO competence in splenic dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) competent to express the regulatory enzyme IDO in mice are a small but distinctive subset of DCs. Previously, we reported that a high-dose systemic CpG treatment to ligate TLR9 in vivo induced functional IDO exclusively in splenic CD19(+) DCs, which stimulated resting Foxp3-lineage regulatory T cells (Tregs) to rapidly acquire potent suppressor activity. In this paper, we show that IDO was induced in spleen and peripheral lymph nodes after CpG treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Induced IDO suppressed local T cell responses to exogenous Ags and inhibited proinflammatory cytokine expression in response to TLR9 ligation. IDO induction did not occur in T cell-deficient mice or in mice with defective B7 or programmed death (PD)-1 costimulatory pathways. Consistent with these findings, CTLA4 or PD-1/PD-ligand costimulatory blockade abrogated IDO induction and prevented Treg activation via IDO following high-dose CpG treatment. Consequently, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells uniformly expressed IL-17 shortly after TLR9 ligation. These data support the hypothesis that constitutive interactions from activated T cells or Tregs and IDO-competent DCs via concomitant CTLA4→B7 and PD-1→PD-ligand signals maintain the default potential to regulate T cell responsiveness via IDO. Acute disruption of these nonredundant interactions abrogated regulation via IDO, providing novel perspectives on the proinflammatory effects of costimulatory blockade therapies. Moreover, interactions between IDO-competent DCs and activated T cells in lymphoid tissues may attenuate proinflammatory responses to adjuvants such as TLR ligands.     

Neutrophil elastase treated dendritic cells promote the generation of CD4(+)FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells in vitro

We have previously shown that neutrophilic elastase converts human immature dendritic cells (DCs) into TGF-β secreting cells and reduces its allostimulatory ability. Since TGF-β has been involved in regulatory T cells (Tregs) induction we analyzed whether elastase or neutrophil-derived culture supernatant treated DCs induce CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ Tregs in a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). We found that elastase or neutrophil-derived culture supernatant treated DCs increased TGF-β and decreased IL-6 production. Together with this pattern of cytokines, we observed a higher number of CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ cells in the MLR cultures induced by elastase or neutrophil-derived culture supernatant treated DCs but not with untreated DCs. The higher number of CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ T cell population was not observed when the enzymatic activity of elastase was inhibited with an elastase specific inhibitor and also when a TGF-β1 blocking antibody was added during the MLR culture. The increased number of CD4⁺ that express FOXP3 was also seen when CD4⁺CD25^- purified T cells were cocultured with the TGF-β producing DCs. Furthermore, these FOXP3⁺ T cells showed suppressive activity in vitro.These results identify a novel mechanism by which the tolerogenic DCs generated by elastase exposure contribute to the immune regulation and may be relevant in the pathogenesis of several lung diseases where the inflammatory infiltrate contains high numbers of neutrophils and high elastase concentrations.     

CD18 is required for optimal development and function of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells

CD4+CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) cells inhibit immunopathology and autoimmune disease in vivo. CD4+CD25+ Treg cells' capacity to inhibit conventional T cells in vitro is dependent upon cell-cell contact; however, the cell surface molecules mediating this cell:cell contact have not yet been identified. LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) is an adhesion molecule that plays an established role in T cell-mediated cell contact and in T cell activation. Although expressed at high levels on murine CD4+CD25+ Treg cells, the role of LFA-1 in these cells has not been defined previously. We hypothesized that LFA-1 may play a role in murine CD4+CD25+ Treg function. To evaluate this, we analyzed LFA-1-deficient (CD18-/-) CD4+CD25+ T cells. We show that CD18-/- mice demonstrate a propensity to autoimmunity. Absence of CD18 led to diminished CD4+CD25+ T cell numbers and affected both thymic and peripheral development of these cells. LFA-1-deficient CD4+CD25+ T cells were deficient in mediating suppression in vitro and in mediating protection from colitis induced by the transfer of CD4+CD25- T cells into lymphopenic hosts. Therefore, we define a crucial role for CD18 in optimal CD4+CD25+ Treg development and function.     

Expression of a soluble form of CTLA4 on macrophage and its biological activity.

Interaction between cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4(CTLA4,CD152) and B7 molecules (B7-1 and B7-2) is of importance in the cellular events of lymphocyte,including antigen-specific T-cell activation and induction of autoreactive T-cell.We describe haere the first introduction of a murine soluble CTLA4 gene,CTLA4Ig,to Mm1 cells,a macrophagic cell line.CTLA4Ig was successfully expressed on Mm1 cells and the expressed CTLA4Ig was found to be functionally active in their binding to B7 molecules by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence studies.The biological activity of CTLA4Ig from the transfected Mm1 cells was studied and showed inhibitory activity on mixed lymphocyte culture.A high CTLA4Ig producing macrophagic cell line was obtained.As Mm1 cells were regarded as difficult for gene transfection and there has so far been no report on expression of CTLA4Ig gene on Mm1 cells,these results suggested that the CELA4Ig expressing Mm1 cells could be useful for analysis of CTLA4 and B8 molecule interaction in both macrophage and T-cell.