EBV-specific CD4+ T cell clones exhibit vigorous allogeneic responses

Alloreactive T cells play a key role in mediating graft-vs-host disease and allograft rejection, and recent data suggest that most T cell alloreactivity resides within the CD4 T cell subset. Particularly, T cell responses to herpesvirus can shape the alloreactive repertoire and influence transplantation outcomes. In this study, we describe six distinct EBV-specific CD4(+) T cell clones that cross-reacted with EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), dendritic cells, and endothelial cells expressing MHC class II alleles commonly found in the population. Allorecognition showed exquisite MHC specificity. These CD4(+) T cell clones efficiently killed dendritic cells or LCLs expressing the cross-reactive allogeneic MHC class II molecules, whereas they did not kill autologous LCLs. Endothelial cells expressing the proper allogeneic MHC molecules were poorly killed, but they induced high-level TNF-alpha production by the EBV-specific CD4(+) T cell clones. As already proposed, the strong alloreactivity toward LCLs suggest that these cells could be used for selective depletion of alloreactive T cells.     

Tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin attenuates dendritic cell-induced T cell priming independently from inducible nitric oxide synthase

Formation of NO by NO synthases (NOSs) strictly depends on tetrahydrobiopterin. Its structural analog, tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin, is an inhibitor of all NOS isoenzymes, which prolongs allograft survival in acute murine cardiac rejection and prevents septic shock in the rat. In this study, we show that murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells treated with tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin had a reduced capacity to prime alloreactive murine T cells in oxidative mitogenesis. Checking for a possible influence on LPS-induced dendritic cell maturation, we found that tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin down-regulated MHC class II expression and counteracted LPS-induced down-regulation of ICOS ligand, while expression of CD40, CD86, CD80, B7-H1, and B7-DC remained unchanged. Tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin also reduced activation of CD4(+) T cells isolated from mice overexpressing an OVA-specific TCR by OVA-loaded murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, thus indicating that its effect on MHC class II expression is involved in attenuating T cell activation. In line with affecting dendritic cell function and T cell activation, tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin impaired production of proinflammatory cytokines and the Th1 response. With regard to cell survival, tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin induced efficient apoptosis of murine T cells but not of murine dendritic cells. Experiments with cells from inducible NOS (iNOS) knockout mice and with N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine, a specific inhibitor of iNOS, ruled out participation of iNOS in any of the observed effects. These findings characterize attenuation of T cell stimulatory capacity of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells as an immunosuppressive mechanism of tetrahydro-4-aminobiopterin that is not related to its iNOS-inhibiting properties.     

Brucella abortus lipopolysaccharide in murine peritoneal macrophages acts as a down-regulator of T cell activation

Macrophages play a central role in host immune responses against pathogens by acting as both professional phagocytic cells and as fully competent APCs. We report here that the LPS from the facultative intracellular Gram-negative bacteria Brucella abortus interferes with the MHC class II Ag presentation pathway. LPS inhibits the capacity of macrophages to present hen egg lysozyme (HEL) antigenic peptides to specific CD4(+) T cells but not those of OVA to specific CD8(+) T cells. This defect was neither related to a decrease of MHC class II surface expression nor to a deficient uptake or processing of HEL. In addition, B. abortus LPS did not prevent the formation of SDS-resistant MHC class II complexes induced by HEL peptides. At the cell surface of macrophages, we observed the presence of LPS macrodomains highly enriched in MHC class II molecules, which may be responsible for the significant down-regulation of CD4(+) T cell activation. This phenomenon may account for the avoidance of the immune system by certain bacterial pathogens and may explain the immunosuppression observed in individuals with chronic brucellosis.     

GM-CSF is an essential regulator of T cell activation competence in uterine dendritic cells during early pregnancy in mice

Uterine dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for activating the T cell response mediating maternal immune tolerance of the semiallogeneic fetus. GM-CSF (CSF2), a known regulator of DCs, is synthesized by uterine epithelial cells during induction of tolerance in early pregnancy. To investigate the role of GM-CSF in regulating uterine DCs and macrophages, Csf2-null mutant and wild-type mice were evaluated at estrus, and in the periconceptual and peri-implantation periods. Immunohistochemistry showed no effect of GM-CSF deficiency on numbers of uterine CD11c(+) cells and F4/80(+) macrophages at estrus or on days 0.5 and 3.5 postcoitum, but MHC class II(+) and class A scavenger receptor(+) cells were fewer. Flow cytometry revealed reduced CD80 and CD86 expression by uterine CD11c(+) cells and reduced MHC class II in both CD11c(+) and F4/80(+) cells from GM-CSF-deficient mice. CD80 and CD86 were induced in Csf2(-/-) uterine CD11c(+) cells by culture with GM-CSF. Substantially reduced ability to activate both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in vivo was evident after delivery of OVA Ag by mating with Act-mOVA males or transcervical administration of OVA peptides. This study shows that GM-CSF regulates the efficiency with which uterine DCs and macrophages activate T cells, and it is essential for optimal MHC class II- and class I-mediated indirect presentation of reproductive Ags. Insufficient GM-CSF may impair generation of T cell-mediated immune tolerance at the outset of pregnancy and may contribute to the altered DC profile and dysregulated T cell tolerance evident in infertility, miscarriage, and preeclampsia.     

Induction of CD70 on dendritic cells through CD40 or TLR stimulation contributes to the development of CD8+ T cell responses in the absence of CD4+ T cells

The expansion of CD8(+) T cells in response to Ag can be characterized as either dependent or independent of CD4(+) T cells. The factors that influence this dichotomy are poorly understood but may be dependent upon the degree of inflammation associated with the Ag. Using dendritic cells derived from MHC class II-deficient mice to avoid interaction with CD4(+) T cells in vivo, we have compared the immunogenicity of peptide-pulsed dendritic cells stimulated with molecules associated with infection to those stimulated via CD40. In the absence of CD4(+) T cell help, the expansion of primary CD8(+) T cells after immunization with TNF-alpha- or poly(I:C)-stimulated dendritic cells was minimal. In comparison, LPS- or CpG-stimulated dendritic cells elicited substantial primary CD8(+) T cell responses, though not to the same magnitude generated by immunization with CD40L-stimulated dendritic cells. Remarkably, mice immunized with any stimulated dendritic cell population generated fully functional recall CD8(+) T cells without the aid of CD4(+) T cell help. The observed hierarchy of immunogenicity was closely correlated with the expression of CD70 (CD27L) on the stimulated dendritic cells, and Ab-mediated blockade of CD70 substantially prevented the CD4(+) T cell-independent expansion of primary CD8(+) T cells. These results indicate that the expression of CD70 on dendritic cells is an important determinant for helper-dependence of primary CD8(+) T cell expansion and provide an explanation for the ability of a variety of pathogens to stimulate primary CD8(+) T cell responses in the absence of CD4(+) T cells.     

Peripheral CD8+CD25+ T lymphocytes from MHC class II-deficient mice exhibit regulatory activity

We characterized CD8(+) T cells constitutively expressing CD25 in mice lacking the expression of MHC class II molecules. We showed that these cells are present not only in the periphery but also in the thymus. Like CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells, CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells appear late in the periphery during ontogeny. Peripheral CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells from MHC class II-deficient mice also share phenotypic and functional features with regulatory CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells: in particular, they strongly express glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene, CTLA-4 and Foxp3, produce IL-10, and inhibit CD25(-) T cell responses to anti-CD3 stimulation through cell contacts with similar efficiency to CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. However, unlike CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells CD8(+)CD25(+) T cells from MHC class II-deficient mice strongly proliferate and produce IFN-gamma in vitro in response to stimulation in the absence of exogenous IL-2.     

CCR7 expression in developing thymocytes is linked to the CD4 versus CD8 lineage decision

During thymic development, T cell progenitors undergo positive selection based on the ability of their T cell Ag receptors (TCR) to bind MHC ligands on thymic epithelial cells. Positive selection determines T cell fate, in that thymocytes whose TCR bind MHC class I (MHC-I) develop as CD8-lineage T cells, whereas those that bind MHC class II (MHC-II) develop as CD4 T cells. Positive selection also induces migration from the cortex to the medulla driven by the chemokine receptor CCR7. In this study, we show that CCR7 is up-regulated in a larger proportion of CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes undergoing positive selection on MHC-I compared with MHC-II. Mice bearing a mutation of Th-POK, a key CD4/CD8-lineage regulator, display increased expression of CCR7 among MHC-II-specific CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes. In addition, overexpression of CCR7 results in increased development of CD8 T cells bearing MHC-II-specific TCR. These findings suggest that the timing of CCR7 expression relative to coreceptor down-regulation is regulated by lineage commitment signals.     

A dendritic cell population generated by a fusion of GM-CSF and IL-21 induces tumor-antigen-specific immunity

We have previously shown that the fusion of GM-CSF and IL-21 (GIFT-21) possesses a potent immune stimulatory effect on myeloid cells. In this study, we define the effect of GIFT-21 on naive murine monocytes (GIFT-21 dendritic cells [DCs]), which express increased levels of Gr-1, CD45R, MHC class I, CD80, CD86, and CXCR4 and suppress CD11c and MHC class II. Compared with conventional dendritic cells, GIFT-21 DCs produced substantially more CCL2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-α and induced significantly greater production of IFN-γ by CD8(+) T cells in MHC class I-restricted Ag presentation assays. B16 melanoma and D2F2 Neu breast cancer growth was inhibited in mice treated with Ag-naive GIFT-21 DCs. This effect was lost in CD8(-/-) and CCR2(-/-) mice and when mice were treated with β(2)-microglobulin-deficient GIFT-21 DCs, indicating that GIFT-21 DCs migrated to and sampled from the tumors to present tumor Ags to CCL2 recruited CD8(+) T cells via MHC class I. We propose that autologous GIFT-21 DCs may serve as a cell therapy platform for the treatment of cancer.     

Cutting edge: Regulatory T cells from lung cancer patients directly inhibit autologous T cell proliferation

Active suppression by T regulatory cells plays an important role in the down-regulation of T cell responses to foreign and self-Ags. Thus far, the potential role of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in human tumors has not been reported. In this work we show that lung tumors contain large numbers of these cells and that they have constitutive high-level expression of CD152 (CTLA-4). Furthermore, the CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells mediate potent inhibition of autologous T cell proliferation. Finally, regulatory T cells from patient tumors failed to inhibit the proliferation of allogeneic T cells. Together these results suggest that the CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells found in lung tumors selectively inhibit the host immune response and therefore could contribute to the progression of lung cancer.     

Liver dendritic cells present bacterial antigens and produce cytokines upon Salmonella encounter

The capacity of murine liver dendritic cells (DC) to present bacterial Ags and produce cytokines after encounter with Salmonella was studied. Freshly isolated, nonparenchymal liver CD11c(+) cells had heterogeneous expression of MHC class II and CD11b and a low level of CD40 and CD86 expression. Characterization of liver DC subsets revealed that CD8alpha(-)CD4(-) double negative cells constituted the majority of liver CD11c(+) ( approximately 85%) with few cells expressing CD8alpha or CD4. Flow cytometry analysis of freshly isolated CD11c(+) cells enriched from the liver and cocultured with Salmonella expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) showed that CD11c(+) MHC class II(high) cells had a greater capacity to internalize Salmonella relative to CD11c(+) MHC class II(low) cells. Moreover, both CD8alpha(-) and CD8alpha(+) liver DC internalized bacteria with similar efficiency after both in vitro and in vivo infection. CD11c(+) cells enriched from the liver could also process Salmonella for peptide presentation on MHC class I and class II to primary, Ag-specific T cells after internalization requiring actin cytoskeletal rearrangements. Flow cytometry analysis of liver CD11c(+) cells infected with Salmonella expressing GFP showed that both CD8alpha(-) and CD8alpha(+) DC produced IL-12p40 and TNF-alpha. The majority of cytokine-positive cells did not contain bacteria (GFP(-)) whereas only a minor fraction of cytokine-positive cells were GFP(+). Furthermore, only approximately 30-50% of liver DC containing bacteria (GFP(+)) produced cytokines. Thus, liver DC can internalize and process Salmonella for peptide presentation to CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and elicit proinflammatory cytokine production upon Salmonella encounter, suggesting that DC in the liver may contribute to immunity against hepatotropic bacteria.     

Cowpox virus evades CTL recognition and inhibits the intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules

Orthopoxviruses evade host immune responses by using a number of strategies, including decoy chemokine receptors, regulation of apoptosis, and evasion of complement-mediated lysis. Different from other poxviral subfamilies, however, orthopoxviruses are not known to evade recognition by CTL. In fact, vaccinia virus (VV) is used as a vaccine against smallpox and a vector for eliciting strong T cell responses to foreign Ags. and both human and mouse T cells are readily stimulated by VV-infected APC in vitro. Surprisingly, however, CD8(+) T cells of mice infected with cowpox virus (CPV) or VV recognized APC infected with VV but not APC infected with CPV. Likewise, CD8(+) T cells from vaccinated human subjects could not be activated by CPV-infected targets and CPV prevented the recognition of VV-infected APC upon coinfection. Because CD8(+) T cells recognize viral peptides presented by MHC class I (MHC I), we examined surface expression, total levels, and intracellular maturation of MHC I in CPV- and VV-infected human and mouse cells. Although total levels of MHC I were unchanged, CPV reduced surface levels and inhibited the intracellular transport of MHC I early during infection. CPV did not prevent peptide loading of MHC I but completely inhibited MHC I exit from the endoplasmic reticulum. Because this inhibition was independent of viral replication, we conclude that an early gene product of CPV abrogates MHC I trafficking, thus rendering CPV-infected cells "invisible" to T cells. The absence of this immune evasion mechanism in VV likely limits virulence without compromising immunogenicity.     

High levels of Fas ligand and MHC class II in the absence of CD80 or CD86 expression and a decreased CD4<Superscript>+</Superscript> T cell Infiltration,enables murine skin tumours to progress

It is still not clear why some tumours will be recognized and destroyed by the immune system, and others will persist, grow, and eventually kill the host. It has been hypothesized that tumour cells might evade immunological destruction by expressing Fas ligand (FasL), a molecule which induces apoptosis in Fas(+) target cells. However, the role of FasL in creating an immune privileged status within a tumour remains controversial. To determine whether FasL is associated with skin tumour progression, we developed a tumour model enabling us to compare two squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). One is a regressor SCC which spontaneously regresses after injection into syngeneic mice. The other is a progressor SCC which evades immunological destruction. Detailed flow cytometric analysis was used to study tumour cell expression of FasL, Fas, CD80, CD86 and MHC class II. We also analysed the percentage of apoptotic tumour cells in vivo using annexin V and correlated skin tumour progression with CD4 and CD8 T cell infiltration. Progressor tumours expressed high levels of FasL in vivo, which was virtually absent from regressor tumours. The percentage of progressor tumours expressing MHC II was significantly greater than regressor tumours, while neither tumour expressed CD80 or CD86 costimulatory molecules. Consistent with a regressor phenotype, the percentage of viable tumour cells was significantly lower for regressor compared to progressor tumours which coincided with a significantly larger CD4(+) T cell infiltrate into the tumour mass. The results suggest that progression of skin tumours occurs if tumour cells express high levels of MHC II but not costimulatory molecules such as CD80 or CD86. This implies that tumours may induce anergy in CD4(+) T cells via MHC II antigen presentation in the absence of costimulation. To ensure escape from the immune system, tumours may then kill these T cells via a FasL-dependent mechanism.     

Antigen specificity acquisition of adoptive CD4+ regulatory T cells via acquired peptide-MHC class I complexes

The Ag-specific CD4(+) regulatory T (Tr) cells play an important role in immune suppression in autoimmune diseases and antitumor immunity. However, the molecular mechanism for Ag-specificity acquisition of adoptive CD4(+) Tr cells is unclear. In this study, we generated IL-10- and IFN-gamma-expressing type 1 CD4(+) Tr (Tr1) cells by stimulation of transgenic OT II mouse-derived naive CD4(+) T cells with IL-10-expressing adenovirus (AdV(IL-10))-transfected and OVA-pulsed dendritic cells (DC(OVA/IL-10)). We demonstrated that both in vitro and in vivo DC(OVA/IL-10)-stimulated CD4(+) Tr1 cells acquired OVA peptide MHC class (pMHC) I which targets CD4(+) Tr1 cells suppressive effect via an IL-10-mediated mechanism onto CD8(+) T cells, leading to an enhanced suppression of DC(OVA)-induced CD8(+) T cell responses and antitumor immunity against OVA-expressing murine B16 melanoma cells by approximately 700% relative to analogous CD4(+) Tr1 cells without acquired pMHC I. Interestingly, the nonspecific CD4(+)25(+) Tr cells can also become OVA Ag specific and more immunosuppressive in inhibition of OVA-specific CD8(+) T cell responses and antitumor immunity after uptake of DC(OVA)-released exosomal pMHC I complexes. Taken together, the Ag-specificity acquisition of CD4(+) Tr cells via acquiring DC's pMHC I may be an important mean in augmenting CD4(+) Tr cell suppression.     

Comparative analysis of IFN-gamma B7.1 and antisense TGF-beta gene transfer on the tumorigenicity of a poorly immunogenic metastatic mammary carcinoma

Cancer progression is attributed in part to immune evasion strategies that include lack of co-stimulation, down-regulation of cell surface MHC molecules, and secretion of immunosuppressive factors, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Gene therapy has been employed to counter these mechanisms of immune evasion by transference of B7.1, IFN-gamma or antisense TGF-beta genes into tumor cells, resulting in cell surface expression of B7.1, upregulation of MHC class I and class II molecules, or elimination of tumor-derived TGF-beta, respectively. Although each of these transgenes has been shown to alter tumorigenicity in murine models, a direct comparison of their efficacy has not been performed. In this study, we have employed a very aggressive, poorly immunogenic and highly metastatic mammary model, 4T1, to compare the efficacy of B7.1, IFN-gamma and antisense TGF-beta gene transfer in stimulating an anti-tumor response. We demonstrate that both IFN-gamma and antisense TGF-beta gene expression significantly reduced the tumorigenicity of these cells compared to mock transduced cells, with IFN-gamma having a greater effect. In contrast, B7.1 gene transfer did not affect the tumorigenicity of 4T1 cells. The anti-tumor response directed against antisense TGF-beta-expressing 4T1 tumors was mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. However, CD8+ T cells, and not CD4+ T cells, appeared to mediate the anti-tumor response against IFN-gamma-expressing tumors. Treatment of tumor-bearing animals with IFN-gamma or antisense TGF-beta gene-modified tumor cell vaccines reduced the number of clonogenic metastases to the lungs and liver compared to treatment with mock-transduced cells. Finally, in a residual disease model in which the primary tumor was excised and mice were vaccinated with irradiated tumor cells, treatment of mice with vaccinations consisting of 4T1 cells expressing both antisense TGF-beta and IFN-gamma genes was the most effective in prolonging survival.     

CD8alpha+ and CD11b+ dendritic cell-restricted MHC class II controls Th1 CD4+ T cell immunity

The activation, proliferation, differentiation, and trafficking of CD4 T cells is central to the development of type I immune responses. MHC class II (MHCII)-bearing dendritic cells (DCs) initiate CD4(+) T cell priming, but the relative contributions of other MHCII(+) APCs to the complete Th1 immune response is less clear. To address this question, we examined Th1 immunity in a mouse model in which I-A(beta)(b) expression was targeted specifically to the DCs of I-A(beta)b-/- mice. MHCII expression is reconstituted in CD11b(+) and CD8alpha(+) DCs, but other DC subtypes, macrophages, B cells, and parenchymal cells lack of expression of the I-A(beta)(b) chain. Presentation of both peptide and protein Ags by these DC subsets is sufficient for Th1 differentiation of Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells in vivo. Thus, Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells are primed to produce Th1 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma. Additionally, proliferation, migration out of lymphoid organs, and the number of effector CD4(+) T cells are appropriately regulated. However, class II-negative B cells cannot receive help and Ag-specific IgG is not produced, confirming the critical MHCII requirement at this stage. These findings indicate that DCs are not only key initiators of the primary response, but provide all of the necessary cognate interactions to control CD4(+) T cell fate during the primary immune response.     

CD4+/CD25+ regulatory cells inhibit activation of tumor-primed CD4+ T cells with IFN-gamma-dependent antiangiogenic activity, as well as long-lasting tumor immunity elicited by peptide vaccination

CD25(+) regulatory T (T reg) cells suppress the activation/proliferation of other CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells in vitro. Also, down-regulation of CD25(+) T reg cells enhance antitumor immune responses. In this study, we show that depletion of CD25(+) T reg cells allows the host to induce both CD4(+) and CD8(+) antitumoral responses following tumor challenge. Simultaneous depletion of CD25(+) and CD8(+) cells, as well as adoptive transfer experiments, revealed that tumor-specific CD4(+) T cells, which emerged in the absence of CD25(+) T reg cells, were able to reject CT26 colon cancer cells, a MHC class II-negative tumor. The antitumoral effect mediated by CD4(+) T cells was dependent on IFN-gamma production, which exerted a potent antiangiogenic activity. The capacity of the host to mount this antitumor response is lost once the number of CD25(+) T reg cells is restored over time. However, CD25(+) T reg cell depletion before immunization with AH1 (a cytotoxic T cell determinant from CT26 tumor cells) permits the induction of a long-lasting antitumoral immune response, not observed if immunization is conducted in the presence of regulatory cells. A study of the effect of different levels of depletion of CD25(+) T reg cells before immunization with the peptide AH1 alone, or in combination with a Th determinant, unraveled that Th cells play an important role in overcoming the suppressive effect of CD25(+) T reg on the induction of long-lasting cellular immune responses.     

A 320-kilobase artificial chromosome encoding the human HLA DR3-DQ2 MHC haplotype confers HLA restriction in transgenic mice

MHC class II haplotypes control the specificity of Th immune responses and susceptibility to many autoimmune diseases. Understanding the role of HLA class II haplotypes in immunity is hampered by the lack of animal models expressing these genes as authentic cis-haplotypes. In this study we describe transgenic expression of the autoimmune prone HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype from a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) containing an intact similar320-kb region from HLA DRA to DQB2. In YAC-transgenic mice HLA DR and DQ gene products were expressed on B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, but not on T cells indicating cell-specific regulation. Positive selection of the CD4 compartment by human class II molecules was 67% efficient in YAC-homozygous mice lacking endogenous class II molecules (Abeta(null/null)) and expressing only murine CD4. A broad range of TCR Vbeta families was used in the peripheral T cell repertoire, which was also purged of Vbeta5-, Vbeta11-, and Vbeta12-bearing T cells by endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus-encoded superantigens. Expression of the HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype on the Abeta(null/null) background was associated with normal CD8-dependent clearance of virus from influenza-infected mice and development of CD4-dependent protection from otherwise lethal infection with Salmonella typhimurium. HLA DR- and DQ-restricted T cell responses were also elicited following immunization with known T cell determinants presented by these molecules. These findings demonstrate the potential for human MHC class II haplotypes to function efficiently in transgenic mice and should provide valuable tools for developing humanized models of MHC-associated autoimmune diseases.     

Expression of herpes simplex virus ICP47 and human cytomegalovirus US11 prevents recognition of transgene products by CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes

The in vivo persistence of gene-modified cells may be limited by the development of a host immune response to vector-encoded proteins. Herpesviruses evade cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) recognition by expressing genes which interfere selectively with presentation of viral antigens by class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Here, we studied the use of retroviral vectors encoding herpes simplex virus ICP47, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) US3, or HCMV US11 to decrease presentation of viral proteins and transgene products to CD8(+) CTL. Human fibroblasts and T cells transduced to express the ICP47, US3, or US11 genes alone exhibited a decrease in cell surface class I MHC expression. The combination of ICP47 and US11 rendered fibroblasts negative for surface class I MHC and allowed a class I MHC-low population of T cells to be sorted by flow cytometry. Fibroblasts and T cells expressing both ICP47 and US11 were protected from CTL-mediated lysis and failed to stimulate specific memory T-cell responses to transgene products in vitro. Our findings suggest that expression of immunoregulatory viral gene products could be a potential strategy to prolong transgene expression in vivo.     

Novel role of CD8(+) T cells and major histocompatibility complex class I genes in the generation of protective CD4(+) Th1 responses during retrovirus infection in mice

CD4(+) Th1 responses to virus infections are often necessary for the development and maintenance of virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses. However, in the present study with Friend murine retrovirus (FV), the reverse was also found to be true. In the absence of a responder H-2(b) allele at major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II loci, a single H-2D(b) MHC class I allele was sufficient for the development of a CD4(+) Th1 response to FV. This effect of H-2D(b) on CD4(+) T-cell responses was dependent on CD8(+) T cells, as demonstrated by depletion studies. A direct effect of CD8(+) T-cell help in the development of CD4(+) Th1 responses to FV was also shown in vaccine studies. Vaccination of nonresponder H-2(a/a) mice induced FV-specific responses of H-2D(d)-restricted CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Adoptive transfer of vaccine-primed CD8(+) T cells to naive H-2(a/a) mice prior to infection resulted in the generation of FV-specific CD4(+) Th1 responses. This novel helper effect of CD8(+) T cells could be an important mechanism in the development of CD4(+) Th1 responses following vaccinations that induce CD8(+) CTL responses. The ability of MHC class I genes to facilitate CD4(+) Th1 development could also be considerable evolutionary advantage by allowing a wider variety of MHC genotypes to generate protective immune responses against intracellular pathogens.     

The roles of MHC class II, CD40, and B7 costimulation in CTL induction by plasmid DNA

DNA-based vaccines generate potent CTL responses. The mechanism of T cell stimulation has been attributed to plasmid-transfected dendritic cells. These cells have also been shown to express plasmid-encoded proteins and to become activated by surface marker up-regulation. However, the increased surface expression of CD40 and B7 on these dendritic cells is insufficient to overcome the need for MHC class II-restricted CD4(+) T cell help in the priming of a CTL response. In this study, MHC class II(-/-) mice were unable to generate a CTL response following DNA immunization. This deficit in CTL stimulation by MHC class II-deficient mice was only modestly restored with CD40-activating Ab, suggesting that there were other elements provided by MHC class II-restricted T cell help for CTL induction. CTL activity was also augmented by coinjection with a vector encoding the costimulatory ligand B7.1, but not B7.2. These data indicate that dendritic cells in plasmid DNA-injected mice require conditioning signals from MHC class II-restricted T cells that are both CD40 dependent and independent and that there are different roles for costimulatory molecules that may be involved in inducing optimal CTL activity.