重组人白介素6临床前与临床试验简介

1 临床前试验 抗肿瘤作用 Mulé等人在荷多种已确立的转移性肿瘤的小鼠模型中试验了重组人IL-6作为抗瘤剂的活性,结果表明:①IL-6经依赖CD4~ 和CDS~ T细胞的机理,介导小鼠体内肺转移瘤的退化;②在IL-6治疗的荷瘤小鼠的脾细胞内诱导肿瘤特异性T淋巴细胞;③慢释放型IL-6与瘤细胞混合产生浸润肿瘤的淋巴细胞(TIL),TIL     

CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞在CD46途径下诱导IL-10生成的研究

目的：炎症抑制因子IL—10在过敏及自身免疫性疾病的发生过程中有着重要意义,补体调节蛋白CD46作为一种新的T细胞活化辅助因子可以诱导CD4^＋T细胞生成IL-10。另外有研究表明,CD4^＋CD25^＋调节性T细胞（CD^4＋CD25^＋Tregs）作为一种重要的免疫抑制细胞可以通过促进周围细胞分泌IL-10,使其抑制作用得到放大。本研究探讨在CD46辅助刺激途径下,CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs诱导周围CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞产生IL-10的能力。方法：分离纯化CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs和CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞,采用CD3／CD46或CD3／CD28刺激,分别进行单独培养或按1：10的比例共培养,同时以CD4^＋T细胞组作为比较。用氚标记胸腺嘧啶核苷（3H-TdR）掺入法测定细胞增殖速率,ELISA方法测定各培养组上清IL10的水平。结果：在CD46或CD28刺激下,CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs／CIM＋CD25^＋T细胞共培养组、CD4^＋T细胞组的几-10水平均显著高于CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞单独培养组。在CD46刺激下,CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞组、CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs／CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞共培养组、CD4^＋T细胞组IL-10的水平均较CD28刺激下明显增高,各组细胞的增殖能力均较CD28刺激下显著降低。结论：在cD46或CD28刺激下,CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs均能够诱导CD4^＋CD25^＋T细胞分泌IL-10,CD46作为一种新的T细胞共刺激分子,与传统的CD28分子相比,能够刺激IL-10分泌增加。本文阐述了CD46途径下CD4^＋CD25^＋Tregs诱生IL-10的功能,进一步研究CD46途径下各类免疫细胞的活化反应,对于明确此途径下免疫细胞的功能改变与某些疾病发病机制的关系具有重要意义。     

甘露糖结合凝集素对小鼠脾脏CD11c~+髓样树突状细胞表型和功能影响的体外研究

目的探讨甘露聚糖结合凝集素(Mannan-binding lectin,MBL)对CD11c+髓样树突状细胞(CD11c+m DC)表型和功能的影响。方法应用磁珠分选技术获得BALB/c小鼠脾脏CD11c+m DC和CD4+T淋巴细胞。在CD11c+m DC中加入不同浓度的MBL(2.5~20μg/m L)刺激,以不加MBL的细胞作为对照,应用ELISA法检测细胞培养上清液中的IL-12水平,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLADR的表达。用MTT法测定CD11c+m DC刺激CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖能力。ELISA法检测细胞培养液中IL-4和IFN-γ水平。结果 MBL显著增强CD11c+m DC表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLA-DR的表达和IL-12的分泌,促进CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖和抗原递呈能力,诱导CD4+T向TH1反应分化。结论 MBL能够有效刺激CD11c+m DC的活化,诱导CD4+T淋巴细胞向TH1反应分化。     

流式细胞仪分选人外周血T淋巴细胞的方法建立与评价

目的:利用流式细胞仪同时分离外人周血单个核细胞中T淋巴细胞并检测其分离纯度及存活率。方法:本文采用流式细胞仪同时分选人外周血CD4~+、CD8~+T淋巴细胞为例,推而广之,采用人外周血淋巴细胞分离液梯度离心法制备外周血单个核细胞,采用流式细胞仪同时分选CD4~+、CD8~+T淋巴细胞,分离细胞再通过流式细胞仪回测其分离纯度并通过台盼蓝染色检测分离细胞的存活率。结果:采用此方法能有效人外周血细胞CD4~+、CD8~+T淋巴细胞,分选前CD4~+淋巴细胞纯度为(50.5±11.5)%、CD8~+T淋巴细胞纯度为纯度为(15.4±7.1)%;分选后CD4~+T淋巴细胞纯度为(94.3±1.3)%、CD8~+T淋巴细胞纯度为(93.6±1.6)%;分选后CD4~+T淋巴细胞存活率为(95.3±1.8)%,CD8~+T淋巴细胞存活率为(94.8±1.5)%,细胞的形态完整。结论:采用人外周血淋巴细胞分离液梯度离心法制备外周血单个核细胞后利用流式细胞仪分选的方法能够高效、快速的分离人外周血CD4~+、CD8~+T淋巴细胞,且存活率高,为进一步研究其功能提供了保证。采用不同的荧光抗体标记其他淋巴细胞亚群,也能高效、快速的分离出细胞。     

淋巴细胞亚群成员研究进展

淋巴细胞是人体重要的免疫细胞,占外周血白细胞总数的20﹪~45﹪,主要分为T细胞、B细胞和NK细胞三大类。根据细胞表面标志及功能特征,将淋巴细胞亚群分为CD3~+CD4~+辅助性T细胞、CD3~+CD8~+的细胞毒性T细胞、CD19~+B细胞、CD16~+CD56~+NK细胞。随着基础免疫学及免疫学技术的不断发展,临床和科研工作者不断地将淋巴细胞亚群细化并发现一些新的亚群,包括γδT细胞、Th1/Th2细胞、Th17细胞、Th9细胞、Tfh细胞、Treg细胞、Breg细胞、NKT细胞和NKB细胞等,淋巴细胞亚群的内容也随之被赋予了新的定义,现将近年来淋巴细胞亚群的研究进展进行综述。     

人咽鳞癌Fadu细胞RNA负载人树突状细胞后体外诱导特异性CTL的研究

目的:探讨咽鳞癌细胞总RNA转染的树突状细胞(DC)疫苗体外诱导特异性抗肿瘤免疫的能力.方法:分离人脐血单个核细胞,经重组人粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(rhGM-CSF)、重组人IL-4(rhIL-4)诱导不成熟DC(iDC),提取人咽鳞癌细胞FaDu总RNA后,转染入人iDC,成为FaDu RNA/DC疫苗,用流式细胞仪检测DC表面分子CD40、CDS0、CD83、CD86、HLA-DR的表达,混合淋巴细胞反应测定DCs刺激同种异基因T细胞增殖能力.用LDH法评估转染肿瘤总RNA的DC瘤苗的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞反应.结果:与转染前比较,人咽鳞癌细胞FaDu总RNA转染后脐血单核细胞来源DCs表面CD40、CD80、CD83、CD86、HLA-DR分子水平明显升高(P均<0.05);可显著促进T细胞增殖,在体外能诱导高效而特异的抗下咽癌免疫效应(P<0.05).结论:人咽鳞癌细胞的总RNA转染的DC肿瘤疫苗能诱导CD8+,CD4+T细胞免疫,是较有临床应用前景的下咽癌免疫治疗方法.     

甘露糖结合凝集素对小鼠脾脏CD11c+髓样树突状细胞表型和

目的 探讨甘露聚糖结合凝集素(Mannan-binding lectin,MBL)对CD11c+髓样树突状细胞(CD11c+mDC)表型和功能的影响.方法 应用磁珠分选技术获得BALB/c小鼠脾脏CD1 1c+ mDC和CD4+T淋巴细胞.在CD11c+mDC中加入不同浓度的MBL(2.5～20 μg/mL)刺激,以不加MBL的细胞作为对照,应用ELISA法检测细胞培养上清液中的IL-12水平,流式细胞仪检测细胞表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLA-DR的表达.用MTT法测定CD11c+mDC刺激CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖能力.ELISA法检测细胞培养液中IL-4和IFN-γ水平.结果 MBL显著增强CD11c+mDC表面分子CD40、CD80、CD86及HLA-DR的表达和IL-12的分泌,促进CD4+T淋巴细胞的增殖和抗原递呈能力,诱导CD4+T向TH1反应分化.结论 MBL能够有效刺激CD11c+mDC的活化,诱导CD4+T淋巴细胞向TH1反应分化.     

树突状细胞与马尔尼菲青霉酵母体外相互作用的研究

本文探讨了树突状细胞(DCs)在抗马尔尼菲青霉感染免疫中的作用。用细胞因子 rhGM-CSF 和rhIL-4诱导人外周血单核细胞分化为树突状细胞, 观察DCs的形态, 并用流式细胞仪进行DCs的表型测定, ELISA方法检测培养上清液IL-12p70的浓度, 混合淋巴细胞反应检测DCs刺激T淋巴细胞的增殖能力, 实时荧光定量PCR检测趋化因子受体CCR7、CXCR4的mRNA的表达。倒置显微镜下可见诱导获得的DCs细胞形态不规则, 表面伸展出大量树突。与马尔尼菲青霉酵母共同培养24 h后DCs的胞内含有大量的酵母细胞; 细胞表型CD86、CD83、HLA-DR和CD40的表达明显增高; 刺激T淋巴细胞增殖的能力增强; 趋化因子受体CCR7和CXCR4的mRNA表达量增加且能够产生IL-12p70但产生的量低于LPS刺激组。DCs能吞噬加热灭活的马尔尼菲青霉酵母, 并趋于成熟, 抗原呈递能力增加, 但是产生IL-12p70的量较低, 可能造成宿主抗马尔尼菲青霉酵母的细胞免疫功能的不足。     

树突状细胞与马尔尼菲青霉酵母体外相互作用的研究

本文探讨了树突状细胞(DCs)在抗马尔尼菲青霉感染免疫中的作用.用细胞因子rhGM-CSF和rhIL-4诱导人外周血单核细胞分化为树突状细胞,观察DCs的形态,并用流式细胞仪进行DCs的表型测定,ELISA方法检测培养上清液IL-12p70的浓度,混合淋巴细胞反应检测DCs刺激T淋巴细胞的增殖能力.实时荧光定量PCR检测趋化因子受体CCR7、CXCR4的mRNA 的表达.倒置显微镜下可见诱导获得的DCs细胞形态不规则,表面伸展出大量树突.与马尔尼菲青霉酵母共同培养24 h后DCs的胞内含有大量的酵母细胞;细胞表型CD86、CD83、HLA-DR和CD40的表达明显增高;刺激T淋巴细胞增殖的能力增强;趋化因子受体CCR7和CXCR4的mRNA表达量增加且能够产生IL-12p70但产生的量低于LPS刺激组.DCs能吞噬加热灭活的马尔尼菲青霉酵母,并趋于成熟,抗原呈递能力增加,但是产生IL-12p70的量较低,可能造成宿主抗马尔尼菲青霉酵母的细胞免疫功能的不足.     

OX40参与RSV气道炎症反应中CD4~+T细胞的增殖活化

OX40是TNFR超家族成员之一,主要表达于活化的CD4~+T细胞表面。OX40能促进CD4~+T细胞的增殖与活化,但其在呼吸道合胞病毒(respiratorysyncytial virus, RSV)感染所诱发的气道炎症反应中对CD4~+T细胞增殖与活化的作用尚不十分清楚。通过建立RSV急性感染的实验动物模型,采用流式细胞术、免疫磁珠分选、Real-time RT-PCR、Elisa、Western Blot等实验方法,旨在揭示在RSV感染性气道炎症中OX40对CD4~+T细胞增殖与活化的影响作用。结果显示,RSV感染后脾组织内表达OX40的CD4~+T细胞数量及CD4~+T细胞OX40 mRNAs和OX40蛋白表达水平显著增加。从感染3 d的BALB/c鼠脾组织分选CD4~+T细胞进行体外培养并加入OX40激动型抗体,发现加入OX40激动型抗体的CD4~+T细胞组与未加组相比,其细胞因子IL-2、IFN-γ和IL-13的表达水平显著增高。证实在感染性气道炎症中OX40对CD4~+T的细胞增殖与活化起着重要的调控作用。     

IL-4 inhibits IL-2-mediated induction of human lymphokine-activated killer cells, but not the generation of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mixed leukocyte cultures

Human rIL-4 was studied for its capacity to induce lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity. In contrast to IL-2, IL-4 was not able to induce LAK cell activity in cell cultures derived from peripheral blood. IL-4 added simultaneously with IL-2 to such cultures suppressed IL-2-induced LAK cell activity measured against Daudi and the melanoma cell line MEWO in a dose-dependent way. IL-4 also inhibited the induction of LAK cell activity in CD2+, CD3-, CD4-, CD8- cells, suggesting that IL-4 acts directly on LAK precursor cells. IL-4 added 24 h after the addition of IL-2 failed to inhibit the generation of LAK cell activity. Cytotoxic activity of various types of NK cell clones was not affected after incubation in IL-4 for 3 days, indicating that IL-4 does not affect the activity of already committed killer cells. No significant differences were observed in the percentages of Tac+, NKH-1+ and CD16+ cells after culturing PBL in IL-2, IL-4 or combinations of IL-2 and IL-4 for 3 days. IL-4 also inhibited the activation of non-specific cytotoxic activity in MLC, as measured against K-562 and MEWO cells. In contrast, the Ag-specific CTL activity against the stimulator cells was augmented by IL-4. Collectively, these data indicate that IL-4 prevents the activation of LAK cell precursors by IL-2, but does not inhibit the generation of Ag-specific CTL.     

Extracellular adenine nucleotides inhibit the activation of human CD4+ T lymphocytes

ATP has been reported to inhibit or stimulate lymphoid cell proliferation, depending on the origin of the cells. Agents that increase cAMP, such as PGE(2), inhibit human CD4(+) T cell activation. We demonstrate that several ATP derivatives increase cAMP in both freshly purified and activated human peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells. The rank order of potency of the various nucleotides was: adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS) approximately 2'- and 3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl) ATP (BzATP) > ATP > 2-methylthio-ATP > dATP, 2-propylthio-beta,gamma-dichloromethylene-D-ATP, UDP, UTP. This effect did not involve the activation of A(2)Rs by adenosine or the synthesis of prostaglandins. ATPgammaS had no effect on cytosolic calcium, whereas BzATP induced an influx of extracellular calcium. ATPgammaS and BzATP inhibited secretion of IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, and IFN-gamma; expression of CD25; and proliferation after activation of CD4(+) T cells by immobilized anti-CD3 and soluble anti-CD28 Abs, without increasing cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that extracellular adenine nucleotides inhibit CD4(+) T cell activation via an increase in cAMP mediated by an unidentified P2YR, which might thus constitute a new therapeutic target in immunosuppressive treatments.     

CD8 T cells inhibit IgE via dendritic cell IL-12 induction that promotes Th1 T cell counter-regulation.

Th1 and Th2 cells are counterinhibitory; their balance determines allergic sensitization. We show here that CD8 T cell subsets break these rules as both T cytotoxic (Tc)1 and Tc2 cells promote Th1 over Th2 immunity. Using IL-12(-/-), IFN-gamma(-/-), and OVA(257-264)-specific Valpha2Vbeta5 TCR-transgenic mice, we have identified the key steps involved. OVA-specific IFN-gamma(-/-) CD8 T cells inhibited IgE responses equivalent to wild-type CD8 T cells (up to 98% suppression), indicating that CD8 T cell-derived IFN-gamma was not required. However, OVA-specific CD8 T cells could not inhibit IgE in IFN-gamma(-/-) recipients unless reconstituted with naive, wild-type CD4 T cells, suggesting that CD4 T cell-derived IFN-gamma did play a role. Transfer of either Tc1 or Tc2 Valpha2Vbeta5 TCR-transgenic CD8 T cells inhibited IgE and OVA-specific Th2 cells while promoting OVA-specific Th1 cell responses, suggesting a potential role for a type 1 inducing cytokine such as IL-12. CD8 T cells were shown to induce IL-12 in OVA(257-264)-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. Furthermore, CD8 T cells were unable to inhibit IgE responses in IL-12(-/-) recipients without the addition of naive, wild-type DC, thus demonstrating a pivotal role for IL-12 in this mechanism. These data reveal a mechanism of IgE regulation in which CD8 T cells induce DC IL-12 by an IFN-gamma-independent process that subsequently induces Th1 and inhibits Th2 cells. Th1 cell IFN-gamma is the final step that inhibits B cell IgE class switching. This demonstrates a novel regulatory network through which CD8 T cells inhibit allergic sensitization.     

Monoclonal antibodies directed to different epitopes in the CD3-TCR complex induce different states of competence in resting human T cells.

After the initial stages of activation, T cells are not able to proliferate on their own but become competent to proliferate in response to exogenously added lymphokines. In the present study we compared the capacity of mAb directed to CD3 (OKT3, Leu4, UCHT1) or to common epitopes on the alpha/beta T-cell receptor (BMA 031, BMA 032) to induce competence in purified resting T cells. Stimulation with either soluble anti-CD3 or anti-alpha/beta TCR mAb rendered cells competent to progress to DNA synthesis in response to exogenous IL-2. In contrast, only soluble BMA 031 and BMA 032 were able to induce responsiveness to IL-4; anti-CD3 mAb had either to be immobilized or used in combination with anti-CD28 mAb to induce responsiveness to IL-4. Further, BMA 031-induced IL-4 responsiveness was selectively found in the CD45RA+ T cell subset. Analysis of early activation events revealed that the capacity of soluble BMA 031 and BMA 032 to induce responsiveness to IL-4 did not correlate with the ability of these mAb to increase the level of cytosolic Ca2+ or to induce detectable tyrosine phosphorylation. On the other hand, soluble Leu4 (anti-CD3) triggered an increase in both intracellular Ca2+ and tyrosine phosphorylation but was unable to induce IL-4 responsiveness. These data indicate that the induction of IL-2 and IL-4 responsiveness requires different sets of activation signals which can be induced by stimulating different epitopes in the CD3-TCR complex. This supports the concept that distinct activation pathways are coupled to the CD3-TCR complex.     

IL-4 regulates IL-2 induction of lymphokine-activated killer activity from human lymphocytes

IL-4 is a pluripotent lymphokine acting on various cell types. We investigated the role of human IL-4 on the generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity. Human IL-4 alone did not induce LAK activity and inhibited IL-2 induction of LAK activity from unstimulated PBMC, peripheral blood null cells, spleen cells, and lymph node cells in a dose-dependent manner. IL-4 also inhibited several phenomena induced by IL-2 such as cell proliferation, augmentation of NK activity, increase of Leu-19+ cells, and expression of IL-2R(p55) on either CD3+ or Leu-19+ cells. IL-4, however, augmented cell proliferation with other T cell mitogens including PHA, Con A, PMA, or allo-MHC Ag with or without IL-2. In contrast to unstimulated cells, IL-4 alone induced marked cell proliferation and LAK activity as well as Leu-19+ cells from in vitro IL-2 preactivated PBMC or null cells, and did not inhibit IL-2 induced cell proliferation, LAK activity, Leu-19+ cells and IL-2R(p55) expression, but rather augmented them with low doses of IL-2. Although IL-4 alone induced LAK activity from peripheral blood of some patients previously given IL-2, IL-4 inhibited in vitro LAK generation with IL-2 from these cells in most cases. Therefore, IL-4 appears to directly inhibit the IL-2 activation pathway via IL-2R(p70) and prevent resting LAK precursors from proliferating and differentiating into final effector cells. However, once cells were sufficiently preactivated by IL-2, IL-4 induced LAK activity and did not inhibit IL-2 activation of these cells. These data suggest an immunoregulatory role of IL-4 on human null cells and T cells.     

Interferon-beta induces the development of type 2 dendritic cells

Suppression of interleukin 12 (IL-12) production by dendritic cells (DCs) has been hypothesized to be a principal mechanism underlying the biological action of interferon (IFN)-beta used for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with possible autoimmune origin. How IFN-beta interacts with DCs to inhibit IL-12 production remains unclear. In this study, we found that DCs derived from human blood monocytes, upon culture in the presence of IFN-beta with granulocyte-macrophage colony- stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-4, differentiated into a population expressing CD14- CD1a- HLA-DR+. This population expressed CD123 (IL-3Ralpha). IFN-beta dose-dependently increased IL-3Ralpha+ DCs and decreased CD1a+ DCs. After 7 days' culture with IFN-beta at a concentration of 10 000 U/ml, more than 40% of DCs expressed IL-3Ralpha. IFN-beta, together with GM-CSF and IL-4, also induced maturation of IL-3Ralpha-expressing cells, as reflected by upregulation of HLA-DR and of the costimulatory molecules CD40, CD80 and CD86. In contrast to control DCs, IFN-beta-treated DCs produced predominantly IL-10 but only low levels of IL-12p40. Correspondingly, IFN-beta-treated DCs strongly suppressed IFN-gamma production but enhanced IL-10 production by allogeneic blood mononuclear cells. Our data suggest that IFN-beta in vitro can induce the development of DC2, which provide a permissive environment for Th2 differentiation. This finding represents a novel mechanism for action of IFN-beta in MS.     

Differential Capacity of Human Skin Dendritic Cells to Polarize CD4+T Cells into IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 Producing Cells

Accumulating evidence suggests a contribution of T cell-derived IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 cytokines in skin immune homeostasis as well as inflammatory disorders. Here, we analyzed whether the cytokine-producing T lymphocytes could be induced by the different subsets of human skin dendritic cells (DCs), i.e., epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs), dermal CD1c⁺CD14⁻ and CD14⁺ DCs (DDCs). DCs were purified following a 2-day migration from separated epidermal and dermal sheets and co-cultured with allogeneic T cells before cytokine secretion was explored. Results showed that no skin DCs could induce substantial IL-17 production by naïve CD4⁺ or CD8⁺T lymphocytes whereas all of them could induce IL-17 production by memory T cells. In contrast, LCs and CD1c⁺CD14⁻DDCs were able to differentiate naïve CD4⁺T lymphocytes into IL-22 and IL-21-secreting cells, LCs being the most efficient in this process. Intracellular cytokine staining showed that the majority of IL-21 or IL-22 secreting CD4⁺T lymphocytes did not co-synthesized IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-17. IL-21 and IL-22 production were dependent on the B7/CD28 co-stimulatory pathway and ICOS-L expression on skin LCs significantly reduced IL-21 level. Finally, we found that TGF-β strongly down-regulates both IL-21 and IL-22 secretion by allogeneic CD4⁺ T cells. These results add new knowledge on the functional specialization of human skin DCs and might suggest new targets in the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders.     

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.     

The effect of dexamethasone on polyclonal T cell activation and redirected target cell lysis as induced by a CD19/CD3-bispecific single-chain antibody construct

BiTE molecules comprise a new class of bispecific single-chain antibodies redirecting previously unstimulated CD8+ and CD4+ T cells for the elimination of target cells. One example is MT103 (MEDI-538; bscCD19xCD3), a CD19-specific BiTE that can induce lysis of normal and malignant B cells at low picomolar concentrations, which is accompanied by T cell activation. Here, we explored in cell culture the impact of the glucocorticoid derivative dexamethasone on various activation parameters of human T cells in response to MT103. In case cytokine-related side effects should occur with BiTE molecules and other T cell-based approaches during cancer therapy it is important to understand whether glucocorticoids do interfere with the cytotoxic potential of T cells. We found that MT103 induced in the presence of target cells secretion by peripheral T cells of interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-6, IL-10 and IL-4 into the cell culture medium. Production of all studied cytokines was effectively reduced by dexamethasone at a concentration between 1 and 3x10(-7) M. In contrast, upregulation of activation markers CD69, CD25, CD2 and LFA-1 on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and T cell proliferation were barely affected by the steroid hormone analogue. Most importantly, dexamethasone did not detectably inhibit the cytotoxic activity of MT103-activated T cells against a human B lymphoma line as investigated with lymphocytes from 12 human donors. Glucocorticoids thus qualify as a potential co-medication for therapeutic BiTE molecules and other cytotoxic T cell therapies for treatment of cancer.