Serum Levels of Soluble IL-2R, CD4 and CD8 in Chronic Active HCV Positive Hepatitis

The aim of the present study was to compare serum levels of soluble forms of interleukin-2 receptor, CD4 and CD8, released by lymphocytes during activation ofthe immune system, in patients with histologically verified chronic active hepatitis associated to hepatitis C virus infection, with those in healthy subjects. Significantly higher levels of soluble IL-2R and soluble CD8 were found in patients with chronic active hepatitis compared with controls. In contrast no difference was found for soluble CD4 values in the two groups. No correlations were found for both sIL-2R and sCD8 and these two molecules with other parameters of liver function. These results indicate that in these patients there is a general activation of the immune system, but the lack of correlation with parameters of liver function strengthens the suggestion that this activation does not play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic type C hepatitis.     

Serum levels of total IgE and soluble CD23 in bronchial asthma

The aim of the present study was to compare, during the pollen season, serum levels of total IgE and soluble CD23 (sCD23) from patients with allergic bronchial asthma, with those from healthy subjects. Significantly higher levels of total IgE and sCD23 were found in patients with asthma compared to the control group. Both in normal controls and in asthmatic patients, a significant correlation was shown between the levels of these two molecules. In asthmatic patients, significant correlations were found for both total IgE and sCD23, with lung function measured as bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine. These results suggest that in asthmatic patients, in addition to the study of total serum IgE levels, the assessment of sCD23 serum levels may be helpful in the evaluation of disease activity.     

CD45R as a primary signal transducer stimulating IL-2 and IL-2R mRNA synthesis by CD3-4-8- thymocytes

CD45R is a high molecular weight (p205/220) form of a series of transmembrane glycoproteins, collectively known as CD45 and present in some form on all lymphoid cells. We have proposed that CD45R+ thymocytes, a minority (15 to 30%) of total thymocytes, represent the generative thymic lineage whereas CD45 p180+ thymocytes are destined for intrathymic death. To test this hypothesis, we prepared human thymus fractions enriched for the expression of CD45R by exhaustive depletion of CD45 p180+ cells, as well as progenitor CD3-4-8- "multinegative" thymocytes which are predominantly CD45R+. Northern analysis of RNA extracted from CD45 p180- and multinegative thymus fractions demonstrated that these populations are enriched for cells able to synthesize mRNA encoding IL-2 and IL-2R after mitogenic stimulation, as compared to unfractionated thymus, consistent with the properties expected for generative thymocytes. Postulating that the CD45R glycoprotein might represent an important signal delivery molecule, we analyzed the ability of mAb specific for CD45 epitopes to synergize with suboptimal amounts of PHA and PMA in the stimulation of IL-2 mRNA production by multinegative thymocytes. We found that CD45R-specific mAb synergizes strongly with PHA/PMA to stimulate IL-2 and IL-2R mRNA expression. In contrast, mAb to CD45 common determinants were unable to synergize. Multinegative thymocytes depleted of all CD45 p180+ cells were compared to total multinegative cells and found to synthesize fourfold greater levels of IL-2 mRNA after stimulation with anti-CD45R mAb. This CD45 p180- multinegative subset is enriched for cells expressing a high density of CD45R, and for CD45- thymus cells, suggesting a possible enrichment for nonlymphoid cells which may play a role in the stimulation process. Our results suggest that the extended amino acid insert of CD45R plays a fundamental role in transmembrane signalling, and that CD45R may be a primary signal transducer for developing thymic progenitor cells.     

IL-4 inhibits IL-2 synthesis and IL-2-induced up-regulation of IL-2R alpha but not IL-2R beta chain in CD4+ human T cells.

There is growing evidence to suggest a regulatory role of IL-4 in the immune system affecting both proliferation and lymphokine production. In the present work we have analyzed the effect of IL-4 on IL-2 and IFN-gamma synthesis by stimulating CD4+ human T cells (+10% accessory cells) with Con A in the presence of several doses (1 to 100 U/ml) of human rIL-4. The results showed an impaired IL-2 and IFN-gamma synthesis in the presence of IL-4. This inhibition was dose dependent and was evident only when IL-4 was added in the first 2 h of culture. Moreover, the external addition of IL-2 did not revert the inhibitory effect of IL-4 on IL-2 and IFN-gamma synthesis induced by Con A. We have also analyzed the effect of IL-4 on the expression of both alpha- and beta-chains of the IL-2R. Although the expression of IL-2R alpha mRNA was not modified after 6 h in culture in the presence of IL-4, a decrease was observed at 24 and 48 h. The addition of rIL-2 showed that the inhibition in IL-2R alpha expression could be explained by an impairment in the up-regulatory signal transmitted through the IL-2R. In addition to this, IL-4 did not modify the IL-2R beta mRNA expression at 6 and 24 h although a decreased expression was observed at 48 h which could be explained by the defective IL-2 production. The differential effect of IL-4 on the up-regulatory effect of IL-2 in the expression of IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta suggest the existence of different regulatory mechanisms acting on the expression of both chains.     

Cutting edge: soluble IL-6R is produced by IL-6R ectodomain shedding in activated CD4 T cells

IL-6 trans-signaling via the soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) plays an important role in the progression of several autoimmune diseases and cancer by providing IL-6-responsiveness to cells lacking IL-6R. However, the potential sources of sIL-6R are less understood. In this study we show that sIL-6R is produced by both naive and memory CD4 T cells upon TCR activation. The production of sIL-6R by activated CD4 T cells is mediated by shedding of the membrane-bound IL-6R, and this process correlates with the expression of the metalloproteinase ADAM17 in these cells. In contrast to CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells do not express ADAM17 and their production of sIL-6R is negligible. Thus, during an immune response CD4 T cells are an important source of sIL-6R. Production of sIL-6R by autoreactive CD4 T cells may contribute to their role in the development of autoimmune disease by conferring IL-6-responsiveness to cells lacking IL-6R such as synoviocytes.     

Simultaneous production of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma by activated human CD4+ and CD8+ T cell clones

In the present study, we have investigated the ability of human T cells to secrete IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma. IL-4 and IFN-gamma were quantified with enzymatic immunoassays and IL-2 with a biologic assay by using the murine IL-2-dependent cell line CTLL-2. PBL, stimulated with Con A or with a combination of the phorbol ester 13-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-12-acetate and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 secreted IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma. The kinetics of the secretion of the three lymphokines was investigated with two CD4+ clones; one (GEO-2) that produced IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma and another (HY640), that produced only IL-2 and IFN-gamma. Significant IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma production was observed after only 8 h of activation. Maximal levels of IL-2 and IL-4 were found 20 h after the onset of the stimulation which subsequently decreased. In contrast, IFN-gamma levels continued to increase in a period up to 40 h and then leveled off. In spite of these differences in secretion, the kinetics of accumulation of mRNA did not differ. The IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma mRNA were detectable 2 h after stimulation and continued to accumulate for a period up to 20 h. In a series of 22 CD4+ clones, 21 were able to secrete all three lymphokines upon stimulation. Almost all CD8+ clones were able to produce IL-2 and IFN-gamma, but only six of the 23 CD8+ T cell clones secreted IL-4. In addition, five CD4+ (allo)antigen-specific T cell clones were tested for IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma secretion upon specific stimulation. Two alloantigen-specific and two tetanus toxoid-specific T cell clones secreted IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma simultaneously, whereas one alloantigen-specific T cell clone secreted IL-2 and IFN-gamma, but not IL-4. A supernatant of the CD4+ T cell clone GEO-2, that contained high levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4, was unable to induce the low affinity receptor for IgE, CD23, on a Burkitt lymphoma cell line. However, after separation of IL-4 from IFN-gamma by using HPLC, the IL-4-containing fraction-induced CD23, which could be blocked by the fraction that contained IFN-gamma and by a polyclonal rabbit anti-IL-4 antiserum. Finally, the partly purified IL-4, that was devoid of IL-2, promoted the growth of the clone GEO-2.     

High levels of IL-2 alter signal transduction in cloned IL-4-producing CD4 T cells.

Cloned CD4 T cells of the Th2 type make IL-4 and related cytokines upon receptor cross-linking, whereas cloned CD4 T cells of the Th1 type make IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-beta. These two types of CD4 T cell are also reported to use distinct mechanisms of signal transduction. It has been reported that Th1 cells flux Ca2+ upon receptor cross-linking, whereas Th2 cells do not. We have noted that when cloned Th2 cells are exposed to high levels (20 U/ml) of IL-2, they show an altered phenotype. Such cells are much more sensitive to activation by certain antireceptor antibodies, they flux calcium upon receptor ligation without additional cross-linking with anti-Ig antibodies, and they make much larger amounts of IL-4. In addition, the organization of their TCR is altered, with increased levels of the TCR-eta chain and an increase in the extent of association of CD4 with CD3 and CD45, changes similar to those found in Th1 cells. These results suggest that there is no fundamental difference in the signal transduction apparatus of Th1 and Th2 cells; rather, the IL-2 made by Th1 cells may create similar phenotypic changes in these cells and thus create the impression of altered signal transduction mechanisms. These results do show that exposure to high levels of IL-2 can profoundly affect signal transduction in T cells. Furthermore, we found that the Ca2+ signal caused by CD3 antibodies seemed to differ in character from that caused by TCR antibodies suggesting that the use of CD3 antibodies is not always a good model for activation through the TCR.     

Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

By using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the levels of the soluble form of the interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were evaluated in the peripheral blood of 20 patients with cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia in different stages of disease and in supernatants obtained from enriched B cell suspensions. In either all serum samples or in one out of three supernatants, elevated levels of sIL-2R were found. This could indicate that the B leukemic cells release sIL-2R which in turn, for its potential capacity of binding circulating IL-2, could contribute to the abnormal immunoregulation which characterizes B-CLL. This finding, which needs further investigation, could have prognostic significance.     

Serum IL-1beta,sIL-2R,IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in schizophrenic patients,relation with symptomatology and responsiveness to risperidone treatment.

Activation of the inflammatory response system and varied levels of cytokines in acute schizophrenia have been suggested by recent studies. Psychopharmacologic agents can differentially effect cytokine production, which suggests that therapeutic function of neuroleptics may involve immunomodulation. The present study was carried out to examine: (i) serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in schizophrenic patients; (ii) their relation with psychopathological assessment; and (iii) the relation of the initial cytokine levels with responsiveness to risperidone therapy. Thirty-four drug-free schizophrenic patients with acute exacerbation and 23 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited for this study. Psychopathological assessments at admission and throughout risperidone treatment for 60 days were recorded. Serum cytokine concentrations were determined with chemilumunescence assays. According to our results, serum IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha concentrations adjusted for age, gender, body mass index and smoking were no different in patients with schizophrenia and controls and among subtypes of schizophrenia. However, the initial TNF-alpha concentrations had a significant effect on Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Scale Assessment of Positive Symptoms scores. The initial cytokine concentrations of the patients responsive to risperidone were not significantly different from those of non-responsive patients. The present study demonstrates that plasma levels of IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha adjusted for confounding factors are not altered in drug-free schizophrenic patients at acute exacerbation. We suggest that, if cytokine production is altered in schizophrenia, these alterations may not be detectable in systemic circulation. According to our results, the therapeutic effect of risperidone is not related to basal levels of the aforementioned cytokines. However, serum TNF-alpha may contribute to symptomatology in schizophrenia     

Growth-promoting activity of IL-1 alpha, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in combination with IL-2, IL-4, or IL-7 on murine thymocytes. Differential effects on CD4/CD8 subsets and on CD3+/CD3- double-negative thymocytes

Many cytokines (including IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) have been shown to induce thymocyte proliferation in the presence of PHA. In this report, we demonstrate that certain cytokine combinations induce thymocyte proliferation in the absence of artificial comitogens. IL-1 alpha, IL-6, and TNF-alpha enhanced the proliferation of whole unseparated thymocytes in the presence of IL-2, whereas none of them induced thymocyte proliferation alone. In contrast, of these three enhancing cytokines, only IL-6 enhanced IL-4-induced proliferation. We also separated thymocytes into four groups based on their expression of CD4 and CD8, and investigated their responses to various cytokines. The results indicate that each cytokine combination affects different thymocyte subsets; thus, IL-1 alpha enhanced the proliferation of CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) thymocytes more efficiently than IL-6 in the presence of IL-2, whereas IL-6 enhanced the responses of CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ single positive (SP) thymocytes to IL-2 or IL-4 better than IL-1 alpha. TNF-alpha enhanced the proliferation of both DN and both SP subsets in the presence of IL-2 and/or IL-7. None of these combinations induced the proliferation of CD4+CD8+ double positive thymocytes. Finally, DN were separated into CD3+ and CD3- populations and their responsiveness was investigated, because recent reports strongly suggest that CD3+ DN thymocytes are a mature subset of different lineage rather than precursors of SP thymocytes. CD3+ DN proliferated in response to IL-7, TNF-alpha + IL-2, and IL-1 + IL-2. CD3- DN did not respond to IL-7 or to IL-1 + IL-2, but did respond to TNF-alpha + IL-2. Finally, we detected TNF-alpha production by a cloned line of thymic macrophages, as well as by DN adult thymocytes. These results suggest that cytokines alone are capable of potent growth stimuli for thymocytes, and indicate that different combinations of these molecules act selectively on thymocytes at different developmental stages.     

IL-2 upregulates CD86 expression on human CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells

The glycoprotein CD86 is an important costimulatory molecule that has been shown to be predominantly expressed on APCs, such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells. More recently, CD86 was also detected on T cells in specific pathological conditions. The mechanisms of how CD86 might be induced and its functional role in T cells are not well understood. In the present study, we showed that treatment with IL-2 markedly upregulated CD86, but not CD80, in human CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. This upregulation occurred in the absence of bystander cells, and isolated naive CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells exhibited different time-dependent CD86-expression patterns in response to IL-2. Upregulation of CD86 on activated T cells was reduced by Abs that block IL-2 and IL-2Rα (CD25), indicating a receptor-mediated mechanism. IL-2-dependent CD86 upregulation was blocked by pharmacological inhibitors of the NFAT and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways and was largely reduced by simultaneous exposure to IFN-α. Importantly, a marked increase in CD86 on T cells was also observed in vivo in IL-2-treated patients. In conclusion, IL-2 upregulates CD86 expression on human CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells via a receptor-dependent mechanism that involves the NFAT and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways.     

IL-1 induces high affinity IL-2 receptor expression of CD4-8- thymocytes

We investigated the role of cytokines for the growth of CD4-8-thymocytes (double negative thymocytes) (DNT) in vitro and found that IL-1-induced IL-2-dependent proliferation of only the IL-2R-positive DNT subpopulation. The presence of IL-1 during the first 18 h of culture was sufficient for an optimal response and suggested that IL-1 induced DNT differentiation. We could indeed show by RNA dot blot analysis that IL-1 stimulated de novo expression of the p55 chain of the IL-2R thus initiating high affinity IL-2 binding and a proliferative response. Because macrophages and epithelial cells in the thymus produce IL-1 we propose that IL-1 is involved in early events during maturation of immature thymocytes.     

Characterization of the soluble murine IL-2R and estimation of its affinity for IL-2

IL-2 induces cells of the cytotoxic T cell line C30.1 to express large numbers of membrane IL-2R (mIL-2R). At the height of activation, these cells also release a soluble form of IL-2R (sIL-2R). Using either crude supernatant or a semi-purified preparation of sIL-2R obtained by affinity chromatography, studies were performed to characterize murine sIL-2R. Its m.w. was determined by both gel filtration and SDS-PAGE. The affinity of sIL-2R for a panel of mAb known to recognize different epitopes of mIL-2R (p55 subunit) was assessed by saturation and competition experiments. The relationship between the various epitopes was studied by cross-inhibition experiments. The data suggest that sIL-2R and mIL-2R (p55 subunit) are structurally similar. The ability of sIL-2R to bind IL-2 was assessed by measuring the dissociation and the inhibition constant of the molecule for IL-2. Both values coincide and indicate that the affinity of sIL-2R for IL-2 is at least 10-fold lower than the that of low affinity mIL-2R. The biologic implications of these findings are discussed.     

Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-18 in patients with active psoriasis and correlation with disease severity

Recent progress in the understanding of psoriasis has shown that the regulation of local and systemic cytokines plays an important role in its pathogenesis. The most often used psoriasis score is the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). A simple laboratory test from a blood sample would be an attractive, patient-independent, and observer-independent marker of disease severity. To this end, we evaluated the association of serum levels of some proinflammatory cytokines in vivo and their correlation with severity of psoriasis. The serum levels of cytokines levels were determined with the use of the ELISA method. All mean values except IL-17 levels of patients were significantly higher than those of controls. There was a significant correlation between serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-18, and severity of the disease. Psoriasis can be described as a T-cell-mediated disease, with a complex role for a variety of cytokines, which has led to the development of new immunomodulatory therapies. In this study, serum TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in active psoriatic patients than in controls. Furthermore, high levels of IFN-gamma, IL-12, and IL-18 correlated with the clinical severity and activity of psoriasis, and those measurements of serum levels of these cytokines may be objective parameters for the disease severity.     

Effects of cancer chemotherapy on the relation between serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors and CD4/CD8 ratio in patients with solid neoplasms

The clinical significance of sIL-2R in solid tumors has still to be clarified. To further define the biological role of sIL-2R in cancer and their relation to chemotherapy, we have measured serum levels of sIL-2R and CD4/CD8 ratio in 45 patients with limited or metastatic solid tumor, 28 of whom had never received chemotherapy, whereas the other 17 had been previously treated with chemotherapy. sIL-2R were significantly higher in metastatic cancer patients than in the non-metastatic ones, while no difference was seen between patients treated and untreated with chemotherapy. Within the untreated group, sIL-2R mean values were significantly higher in patients with low CD4/CD8 ratio than in those with the normal one, while an opposite behavior was seen in patients previously treated with chemotherapy. The present study shows that cancer chemotherapy influences the release of sIL-2R and its relation to T lymphocyte subpopulations.     

Comparative roles of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-4Ralpha in dendritic cell maturation and CD4+ Th2 cell function

IL-4 and IL-13 play key roles in Th2 immunity and asthma pathogenesis. Although the function of these cytokines is partially linked through their shared use of IL-4Ralpha for signaling, the interplay between these cytokines in the development of memory Th2 responses is not well delineated. In this investigation, we show that both IL-4 and IL-13 influence the maturation of dendritic cells (DC) in the lung and their ability to regulate secretion of IFN-gamma and Th2 cytokines by memory CD4(+) T cells. Cocultures of wild-type T cells with pulmonary DC from allergic, cytokine-deficient mice demonstrated that IL-4 enhanced the capacity of DC to stimulate T cell secretion of Th2 cytokines, whereas IL-13 enhanced the capacity of DC to suppress T cell secretion of IFN-gamma. Because IL-4Ralpha is critical for IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, we also determined how variants of IL-4Ralpha influenced immune cell function. T cells derived from allergic mice expressing a high-affinity IL-4Ralpha variant produced higher levels of IL-5 and IL-13 compared with T cells derived from allergic mice expressing a low-affinity IL-4Ralpha variant. Although DC expressing different IL-4Ralpha variants did not differ in their capacity to influence Th2 cytokine production, they varied in their capacity to inhibit IFN-gamma production by T cells. Thus, IL-4 and IL-13 differentially regulate DC function and the way these cells regulate T cells. The affinity of IL-4Ralpha also appears to be a determinant in the balance between Th2 and IFN-gamma responses and thus the severity of allergic disease.     

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is associated with a decreased expression of the CD28 costimulatory molecule, a lower ability of T cells to bind exogenous IL-2, and increased soluble CD8 levels

Despite the existence of high interleukin (IL)-12 serum levels in patients with chronic active alcoholism, previous studies from our group have shown that, during active ethanol intake, alcoholic patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) display an impaired T-helper-1 response together with abnormalities in the peripheral blood (PB) cytotoxic compartment. The aim of the present study was to gain further insights into the mechanisms underlying these abnormalities. For that purpose, we analyzed the expression on PB B- and T-cell subsets of both the CD28 and CD80 costimulatory molecules, the ability of T lymphocytes to bind to exogenous recombinant IL-2, and the serum levels of soluble CD8 (sCD8) that might interfere with CD8+ T-cell activation in a group of 10 ALC patients with active ethanol intake (ALCET group). As reference groups, we analyzed 10 healthy individuals, 10 chronic alcoholic patients without liver disease (AWLD group) but with active ethanol intake, and 10 ALC patients who had quit drinking for at least 1 year. Our results showed that ALCET patients display a significant decrease in the number of PB CD28+/CD8(hi) T cells (P < 0.05) and CD80+ B cells (P < 0.01) compared with both healthy controls and AWLD patients. In addition, in ALCET patients, PB T cells also showed a decreased ability to bind to exogenous IL-2 (P < 0.01). This was associated with the existence of increased serum levels of sCD8 in ALC patients, the highest levels being detected in the ALCET group (P < 0.01). Altogether, our results point to the existence of several abnormalities that would affect the cytotoxic response in ALCET patients.