CD4-CD8+ T lymphocytes mediate AKR/gross murine leukemia virus nonresponsiveness in moderately aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice.

Previously we reported that as AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice become older than 9 wk of age they begin to specifically lose the ability to generate anti-AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV) CTL responses after immunization and in vitro restimulation with cells expressing AKR/Gross MuLV-encoded Ag. Interestingly, the frequency of virus-specific precursor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) observed in moderately-aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice was not substantially decreased from that found in their young responder counterparts. To further investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for the inability of moderately-aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice to mount AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL responses, adoptive transfer experiments were performed in the present study. Transferring splenocytes from moderately-aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b donors into young AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b recipients resulted in inhibition of AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL responsiveness. Anti-Thy-1.1 plus complement depletion of T cells from the donor cell population before adoptive transfer resulted in a near complete restoration of AKR/Gross MuLV responsiveness of young recipient AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice suggesting that the inhibition observed in moderately aged mice was mediated by T lymphocytes. Additional experiments using depletion of T subsets before cell transfer demonstrated that inhibition of AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL responsiveness was mediated by a CD4-CD8+ T lymphocyte.     

AKR.H-2b lymphocytes inhibit the secondary in vitro cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response of primed responder cells to AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus-induced tumor cell stimulation.

We have previously shown that AKR.H-2b congenic mice, though carrying the responder H-2b major histocompatibility complex haplotype, are unable to generate secondary cytolytic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses specific for AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV). Our published work has shown that this nonresponsive state is specific and not due to clonal deletion or irreversible functional inactivation of antiviral CTL precursors. In the present study, an alternative mechanism based on the presence of inhibitory AKR.H-2b cells was examined. Irradiated or mitomycin C-treated AKR.H-2b spleen cells function as in vitro stimulator cells in the generation of C57BL/6 (B6) anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL, consistent with their expression of viral antigens. In contrast, untreated viable AKR.H-2b spleen cells functioned very poorly as stimulators in vitro. Viable AKR.H-2b spleen cells were also able to cause dramatic (up to > or = 25-fold) inhibition of antiviral CTL responses stimulated in vitro by standard AKR/Gross MuLV-induced tumor cells. This inhibition was specific: AKR.H-2b modulator spleen cells did not inhibit allogeneic major histocompatibility complex-specific CTL production, even when a concurrent antiviral CTL response in the same culture well was inhibited by the modulator cells. These results and those of experiments in which either semipermeable membranes were used to separate AKR.H-2b modulator spleen cells from AKR/Gross MuLV-primed responder cells or the direct transfer of supernatants from wells where inhibition was demonstrated to wells where there was antiviral CTL responsiveness argued against a role for soluble factors as the cause of the inhibition. Rather, the inhibition was dependent on direct contact of AKR.H-2b cells in a dose-dependent manner with the responder cell population. Inhibition was shown not to be due to the ability of AKR.H-2b cells to function as unlabeled competitive target cells. Exogenous interleukin-2 added at the onset of the in vitro CTL-generating cultures partially restored the antiviral response that was decreased by AKR.H-2b spleen cells. Positive and negative cell selection studies and the development of inhibitory cell lines indicated that B lymphocytes and both CD4- CD8+ and CD4+ CD8- T lymphocytes from AKR.H-2b mice could inhibit the generation of AKR/Gross virus-specific CTL in vitro. AKR.H-2b macrophages were shown not to be required to demonstrate AKR/Gross MuLV-specific inhibition, however, confirming that the inhibition by T-cell (or B-cell)-depleted spleen populations was dependent on the enriched B-cell (T-cell) population per se.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antiretroviral cytolytic T-lymphocyte nonresponsiveness: FasL/Fas-mediated inhibition of CD4(+) and CD8(+) antiviral T cells by viral antigen-positive veto cells

C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice generate type-specific cytolytic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to an immunodominant Kb-restricted epitope, KSPWFTTL located in the membrane-spanning domain of p15TM of AKR/Gross murine leukemia viruses (MuLV). AKR.H-2(b) congenic mice, although carrying the responder H-2(b) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype, are low responders or nonresponders for AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL, apparently due to the presence of inhibitory AKR. H-2(b) cells. Despite their expression of viral antigens and Kb, untreated viable AKR.H-2(b) spleen cells cause dramatic inhibition of the C57BL/6 (B6) antiviral CTL response to in vitro stimulation with AKR/Gross MuLV-induced tumor cells. This inhibition is specific (AKR.H-2(b) modulator spleen cells do not inhibit allogeneic MHC or minor histocompatibility antigen-specific CTL production), dependent on direct contact of AKR.H-2(b) cells in a dose-dependent manner with the responder cell population, and not due to soluble factors. Here, the mechanism of inhibition of the antiviral CTL response is shown to depend on Fas/Fas-ligand interactions, implying an apoptotic effect on B6 responder cells. Although B6.gld (FasL-) responders were as sensitive to inhibition by AKR.H-2(b) modulator cells as were B6 responders, B6.lpr (Fas-) responders were largely insensitive to inhibition, indicating that the responder cells needed to express Fas. A Fas-Ig fusion protein, when added to the in vitro CTL stimulation cultures, relieved the inhibition caused by the AKR.H-2(b) cells if the primed responders were from either B6 or B6.gld mice, indicating that the inhibitory AKR.H-2(b) cells express FasL. Because of the antigen specificity of the inhibition, these results collectively implicate a FasL/Fas interaction mechanism: viral antigen-positive AKR.H-2(b) cells expressing FasL inhibit antiviral T cells ("veto" them) when the AKR.H-2(b) cells are recognized. Consistent with this model, inhibition by AKR.H-2(b) modulator cells was MHC restricted, and resulted in approximately a 10- to 70-fold decrease in the in vitro expansion of pCTL/CTL. Both CD8(+) CTL and CD4(+) Th responder cells were susceptible to inhibition by FasL+ AKR.H-2(b) inhibitory cells as the basis for inhibition. The CTL response in the presence of inhibitory cells could be restored by several cytokines or agents that have been shown by others to interfere with activation-induced cell death (e.g. , interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-15, transforming growth factor beta, lipopolysaccharide, 9-cis-retinoic acid) but not others (e.g., tumor necrosis factor alpha). These results raise the possibility that this type of inhibitory mechanism is generalized as a common strategy for retrovirus infected cells to evade immune T-cell recognition.     

Characterization of the Fas ligand/Fas-dependent apoptosis of antiretroviral, class I MHC tetramer-defined, CD8+ CTL by in vivo retrovirus-infected cells

C57BL/6 (B6; H-2(b)) mice mount strong AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-specific CD8(+) CTL responses to the immunodominant K(b)-restricted epitope, KSPWFTTL, of endogenous AKR/Gross MuLV. In sharp contrast, spontaneous virus-expressing AKR.H-2(b) congenic mice are low/nonresponders for the generation of AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL. Furthermore, when viable AKR.H-2(b) spleen cells are cocultured with primed responder B6 antiviral precursor CTL, the AKR.H-2(b) cells function as "veto" cells that actively mediate the inhibition of antiviral CTL generation. AKR.H-2(b) veto cell inhibition is virus specific, MHC restricted, contact dependent, and mediated through veto cell Fas ligand/responder T cell Fas interactions. In this study, following specific priming and secondary in vitro restimulation, antiretroviral CD8(+) CTL were identified by a labeled K(b)/KSPWFTTL tetramer and flow cytometry, enabling direct visualization of AKR.H-2(b) veto cell-mediated depletion of these CTL. A 65-93% reduction in the number of B6 K(b)/KSPWFTTL tetramer(+) CTL correlated with a similar reduction in antiviral CTL cytotoxicity. Addition on sequential days to the antiviral CTL restimulation cultures of either 1) AKR.H-2(b) veto cells or 2) a blocking Fas-Ig fusion protein (to cultures also containing AKR.H-2(b) veto cells) to block inhibition demonstrated that AKR.H-2(b) veto cells begin to inhibit B6 precursor CTL/CTL expansion during days 2 and 3 of the 6-day culture. Shortly thereafter, a high percentage of B6 tetramer(+) CTL cocultured with AKR.H-2(b) veto cells was annexin V positive and Fas(high), indicating apoptosis as the mechanism of veto cell inhibition. Experiments using the irreversible inhibitor emetine demonstrated that AKR.H-2(b) cells had to be metabolically active and capable of protein synthesis to function as veto cells. Of the tetramer-positive CTL that survived veto cell-mediated apoptosis, there was no marked skewing from the preferential usage of Vbeta4, 8.1/8.2, and 11 TCR normally observed. These findings provide further insight into the complexity of host/virus interactions and suggest a fail-safe escape mechanism by virus-infected cells for epitopes residing in critical areas of viral proteins that cannot accommodate variations of amino acid sequence.     

Mechanism of nonresponsiveness to AKR/Gross leukemia virus in AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice. An analysis of precursor cytotoxic T lymphocyte frequencies in young versus moderately aged mice

As young adult AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice reach about 9 wk of age, they begin to develop a nonresponsiveness to AKR/Gross leukemia virus. Unlike young mice that are responders, moderately aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice, after immunization and secondary in vitro restimulation in bulk culture with AKR/Gross virus induced tumors, can not generate anti-AKR/Gross virus-specific CTL. The mechanism of conversion to nonresponsiveness in moderately aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice is not understood, but it is correlated with increased expression of endogenous ecotropic viral antigens. Our present investigation focuses on determining the frequency of anti-AKR/Gross virus precursor CTL in AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice as a function of age. This was achieved by performing limiting dilution cultures of immune spleen cells obtained from young and moderately aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice. Although spleen cells obtained from immune moderately aged mice can not differentiate in bulk cultures into anti-AKR/Gross virus-specific CTL, there was no evidence of substantially decreased frequencies of virus-specific precursor CTL, relative to precursor CTL frequencies observed in young responder AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice.     

Naturally occurring TAP-dependent specific T-cell tolerance for a variant of an immunodominant retroviral cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope

Upon immunization and restimulation with tumors induced by the endogenous AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV), C57BL/6 mice generate vigorous H-2K(b)-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to a determinant (KSPWFTTL) derived from the p15E transmembrane portion of the viral envelope glycoprotein. By contrast, the highly homologous determinant RSPWFTTL, expressed by tumor cells induced by Friend/Moloney/Rauscher (FMR) MuLV, is not immunogenic, even when presented to the immune system as vaccinia virus-encoded cytosolic or endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeted minigene products. Such minigene products are usually highly immunogenic since they bypass the need for cells to liberate the peptide or transport the peptide into the ER by the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). Using KSPWFTTL-specific CTLs that cross-react with RSPWFTTL, we previously demonstrated that presentation of RSPWFTTL from its natural viral gene product is TAP dependent. Here, we show first that C57BL/6 mice express mRNA encoding RSPWFTTL but not KSPWFTTL and second that the ER-targeted RSPWFTTL minigene product is highly immunogenic in C57BL/6 mice with a targeted deletion in TAP1. These findings provide the initial demonstration of TAP-dependent tolerance induction to a specific self peptide and demonstrate that this contributes to the differential recognition of RSPWFTTL and KSPWFTTL by C57BL/6 mice.     

Induction of anti-AKR/gross virus cytolytic T lymphocytes in AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b congenic mice: age-dependent conversion to a nonresponder phenotype

Previously, we reported that the generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for syngeneic tumors induced by AKR/Gross leukemia viruses was under multi-gene control. Thus, although carrying the required immune response gene(s) encoded by the H-2b haplotype and characteristic of responder strains such as C57BL/6, AKR.H-2b congenic mice failed to mount antiviral CTL responses. Young adult AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b "doubly congenic" mice, however, were able to generate specific anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL activity. These results demonstrated that the positive effect of MHC-encoded immune response gene control could be overcome by the action of the Fv-1n allele. The responder status of the B6.Fv-1n congenic, however, indicated that this Fv-1n-mediated inhibition was dependent on the interaction of Fv-1n with another gene(s) encoded by the AKR background. The results of experiments performed with AKXL recombinant inbred mice further suggested that a single additional genetic locus, encoding the Akv-1 provirus, was necessary along with Fv-1n to cause inhibition of antiviral CTL generation. Here we show that the responsiveness of AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice is dependent on their age. Thus, with moderate aging these doubly congenic mice converted to a nonresponder status with respect to anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL production: 85% of mice less than or equal to 9 wk of age responded compared with 0% of mice greater than 9 wk old. As with nonresponder AKR.H-2b mice, an inverse correlation was observed between CTL responsiveness and the expression of CTL-defined viral antigens by normal cells. Namely, spleen cells from young AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice showed little or no expression of such viral antigens, whereas with moderate aging there was a steady increase in their display. These results are discussed with reference to possible mechanisms of unresponsiveness of AKR.H-2b vs moderately aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice, and with respect to the utility of this system as a model for naturally occurring retrovirus infections and the interactions of retroviruses with the immune system.     

Cell surface expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-defined, AKR/Gross leukemia virus-associated tumor antigens by normal AKR.H-2b splenic B cells

We previously described a system in which H-2Kb-restricted C57BL/6 (B6) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) could be raised that were specific for tumors, such as the thymic lymphoma AKR.H-2b SL1, that were induced by endogenous AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus and that expressed the Gross cell surface antigen. In this study, certain normal lymphoid cells from AKR.H-2b mice were also found to express target antigens defined by such anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL. AKR.H-2b spleen, but surprisingly not thymus, cells stimulated the production of anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL when employed at either the in vivo priming phase or the in vitro restimulation phase of anti-viral CTL induction. This selective stimulation by spleen vs thymus cells was not dependent on the age of the mice over the range (3 to 28 wk) tested. Both AKR.H-2b spleen and thymus cells, however, were able to stimulate the generation of H-2-restricted B6 anti-AKR minor histocompatibility (H) antigen-specific CTL. Thus, AKR.H-2b spleen cells appeared to display the same sets (minor H and virus-associated) of cell surface antigens recognized by CTL as the AKR.H-2b SL1 tumor, whereas AKR.H-2b thymocytes were selectively missing the virus-associated target antigens, a situation analogous to that of cl. 18-5, a variant subclone of AKR.H-2b SL1 insusceptible to anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL. Like AKR.H-2b thymocytes, neither AKR spleen cells or thymocytes nor B6.GIX + thymocytes were able to stimulate the generation of anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL from primed B6 responder cell populations. In contrast, both T cell-enriched and B cell-enriched preparations derived from AKR.H-2b spleen cells were able to stimulate at the in vitro phase of induction, although B cell-enriched preparations were considerably more efficient. The discordant results obtained with AKR.H-2b spleen cells vs thymocytes were confirmed and extended in experiments in which these cells were employed as target cells to directly assess the cell surface expression of virus-associated, CTL-defined antigens. Thus, AKR.H-2b spleen cells, but not thymocytes, were recognized by anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL when fresh normal cells were tested as unlabeled competitive inhibitors, or when mitogen blasts were tested as labeled targets. Fresh or lipopolysaccharide-stimulated B cell-enriched spleen cells were as efficiently recognized as unseparated spleen cell preparations. Unexpectedly, fresh or Lens culinaris hemagglutinin-stimulated T cell-enriched spleen cell preparations, although susceptible to anti-minor H CTL, were almost as poor as targets for anti-viral CTL as were thymocytes. Together, these results demonstrate the H-2-restricted expression of CTL-defined, endogenous, AKR/Gross virus-associated target antigens by normal AKR.H-2b splenic B cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Expression of CTL-defined, AKR/Gross retrovirus-associated tumor antigens by normal spleen cells: control by Fv-1, H-2, and proviral genes and effect on antiviral CTL generation

In previous studies we have characterized H-2-restricted cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) type specific for Gross cell surface antigen-positive tumor cells induced by AKR/Gross leukemia viruses. The generation of such CTL was shown to be controlled by at least three genetic loci including H-2 and Fv-1. The Fv-1n phenotype was able to negate positive immune response gene effects of the H-2b haplotype. Fv-1n-mediated inhibition appeared to operated by allowing the early expression by normal cells of N-ecotropic leukemia virus-related antigens recognized by the antiviral CTL, perhaps via tolerance induction. In the present study, the expression of CTL-defined viral antigens by normal cells is further considered. Possible gene dosage effects by H-2 as well as Fv-1 and the other virus-related (V) genes, including proviral structural loci, were examined by comparison of a panel of congenic and F1 mice. These experiments indicated that the quantitative level of expression of CTL-defined viral antigens was primarily controlled by the Fv-1 genotype. Gene dosage effects were also observed for the V genes and, in some situations, for H-2. The importance of the early display of viral antigens by normal cells was underscored by the inability of those mice to generate specific antiviral CTL responses. Even strains expressing low levels of viral antigens, such as responder X nonresponder (AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b X AKR.H-2b)F1 mice, failed to respond. These results are discussed with respect to the inability of mice of the AKR background to respond with specific antiviral CTL generation and in light of their high incidence of spontaneous leukemia.     

Genetic control of the induction of cytolytic T lymphocyte responses to AKR/Gross viral leukemias. II. Negative control by the Fv-1 locus in AKR mice of responder H-2b haplotype

To assess whether the presence of a responder H-2b haplotype would be sufficient to allow mice of nonresponder "high leukemic" phenotype to generate syngeneic anti-AKR/Gross virus cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL), the AKR.H-2b strain was examined. Although capable of mounting vigorous apparent anti-minor histocompatibility-specific CTL responses, AKR.H-2b mice failed to produce anti-viral CTL after a variety of stimulation protocols. In contrast, the "doubly congenic" AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b strain was able to respond with substantial levels of H-2-restricted anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL activity. These results indicated that Fv-1n alleles could exert negative epistatic control over responder H-2b-encoded gene(s). Because the B6.Fv-1n congenic was also able to generate anti-viral CTL indistinguishable from the prototype B6 strain, however, it was apparent that other genes of AKR background were required for the Fv-1n-mediated inhibition in AKR.H-2b mice. The mechanism by which Fv-1 intereacted with other genes to override positive H-2b control appeared to be related to the expression of the CTL-defined, virus-associated antigens by normal AKR.H-2b cells. Thus, AKR.H-2b spleen cells but not thymus cells were able to stimulate the production of B6 anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL and were recognized as target cells by such anti-viral CTL. In contrast, both spleen cells and thymocytes from AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice were negative when tested as stimulator or target cells in these assays. In addition, AKR.H-2b but not AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b spleen cells were shown to display serologically defined gp70 determinants and the Gross cell surface antigen. Taking these data together, it appeared that the inhibition of anti-viral CTL responsiveness might be due to tolerance induced by the cell surface expression of virus-associated antigens by normal AKR.H-2b cells. Widespread display of viral antigens, in turn, may have been due to the permissive effects of Fv-1n on the spread of the early arising N-ecotropic, endogenous AKR leukemia virus controlled by other background genes. In this context, the implications of the multi-gene control of anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL production are discussed with respect to the induction of spontaneous leukemia in the high incidence AKR strain.     

Genes of the H-2 complex regulate the antibody response to murine leukemia virus

The influence of the major histocompatibility complex of the mouse (H-2 complex) on the antibody response against murine leukemia virus (MuLV) was investigated after 3 different ways of virus presentation (milk transmission of virus, spontaneous virus activation, and immunization with inactivated virus). The antibody response against MuLV was measured in the sera of H-2 congenic C57BL V+ sublines (V+ denotes positive for milk-transmitted MuLV), (B10.AV+ X C57BL)F1 mice, (C57BL X AKR)F1 mice and of C57BL animals after immunization with inactivated AKR virus. The pattern of immune responsiveness of the different C57BL strains to MuLV was independent of virus replication and was similar for the 3 ways of virus presentation. Serum antibody levels were controlled by 2 genes within the H-2 complex. The first gene (Ir-MuLV-1) was located in the I-A region and was complemented by a second gene (Ir-MuLV-2), which was situated in the regions to the right of the I-B region. Presence of 2 responder alleles (Ir-MuLV-1+,2+) led to an optimal antibody response (H-2b haplotype). Animals that only expressed a responder allele in the I-A region (Ir-MuLV-1+,2-) were intermediate responders. Animals lacking a responder allele in the I-A region (Ir-MuLV-1-,2+ or Ir-MuLV-1-,2-) were low responders.     

Cyclosporine A and peripheral tolerance. Inhibition of veto cell-mediated clonal deletion of postthymic precursor cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Veto cell-mediated suppression of CTL responses has been proposed as one mechanism by which self tolerance is maintained in mature T cell populations. We have reported that murine bone marrow cells cultured in the presence of high-dose IL-2 (activated bone marrow cells) mediate strong veto suppressor function in vitro and in vivo, and that such veto activity is effected through clonal deletion of cytotoxic T cell precursors. In our studies, we have determined that bone marrow cell populations from athymic NCr-nu mice (H-2d) mediate strong veto cell activity without exposure to exogenous IL-2 in vitro. To examine mechanisms by which these naturally occurring veto cell populations in BM suppress precursor CTL (pCTL) responses, we used as a responding cell population in MLC, spleen cells of transgenic mice expressing at high frequency TCR specific for H-2 Ld encoded Ag with stimulation by H-2d-expressing cells in culture. Flow cytometric analysis was performed by staining the responding MLC cell population with the mAb 1B2 specific for the transgene-encoded TCR and determined changes of 1B2+ T cells. Such experiments demonstrated that the anti-H-2d cytotoxic response by these cell populations was specifically suppressed by NCr-nu (H-2d) bone marrow, and that 1B2+ pCTL were in fact specifically deleted from the responding cell population by incubation with such naturally occurring veto cell populations expressing the appropriate target Ag. In addition, to further understand the interactions of pCTL and veto cells and possible contributions by the latter to peripheral tolerance, we evaluated the effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) on veto cell-mediated suppression of pCTL of the transgenic mice. CsA inhibited veto cell-mediated suppression of cytotoxic T cell responses, and this inhibition correlated with a lack of clonal deletion of pCTL by veto cells in the presence of CsA. Furthermore, CsA exerted its effect through pCTL and not through veto cells, indicating that pCTL may play an active role in their own deletion by veto cells.     

Specificity of the mouse cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to adenovirus 5. E1A is immunodominant in H-2b, but not in H-2d or H-2k mice

The Ag specificity and MHC restriction of the CTL response to adenovirus 5 (Ad5) in three strains of mice, C57BL/10 (H-2b), BALB/c (H-2d), and C3H/HeJ (H-2k), were tested. Polyclonal Ad5-specific CTL were prepared by priming mice in vivo with live Ad5 virus followed by secondary in vitro stimulation of the spleen cells with virus-infected syngeneic cells. The Ad5-specific CTL were Db restricted in C57BL/10 and Kk restricted in C3H/HeJ. In BALB/c mice both Kd- and Dd/Ld-restricted CTL were detected. The polyclonal Ad5-specific CTL response in C57BL/10 mice is directed exclusively against the products of the E1A region, which comprises only 5% of the Ad5 genome. In BALB/c mice E1A is at best a very minor target Ag and in C3H/HeJ mice E1A is not recognized at all. Using the H-2 congenic mouse strains B10.BR (H-2k) and C3H.SW (H-2b) it was shown that the immunodominance of E1A is H-2 dependent. The 19-kDa glycoprotein encoded in the E3 region of Ad5, which binds to class I MHC in the endoplasmic reticulum and prevents its translocation to the cell surface, does not affect the specificity of the CTL response in C57BL/10 mice toward E1A. However, it affects the MHC restriction of the Ad5-specific response in BALB/c mice, selectively inhibiting generation of Kd-restricted CTL.     

Tumor rejection mediated by transfection with allogeneic class I histocompatibility gene

Non-self class I histocompatibility Ag can act as strong alloantigens and be recognized as distinct targets by CTL. To study the possibility of using allograft rejection to generate tumor-specific immunity, we have introduced an allogeneic class I histocompatibility gene, the H-2Kb gene, into a k haplotype tumor, K36.16, by DNA-mediated gene transfer. The K36.16 tumor grows readily and does not confer protective immunity in AKR mice. A total of 37 H-2Kb-transfected K36.16 clones (Kb/K36.16) was isolated and studied individually. The Kb/K36.16 clones were found to differ significantly in the amount of the exogenous H-2Kb antigens expressed on their cell surface. Moreover, as a result of the transfection, the level of expression of the endogenous H-2Dk Ag was also altered when compared to that of the parental K36.16 tumor cells. All the Kb/K36.16 clones that were positive for the H-2Kb Ag were rejected by the semisyngeneic AKR mice. Moreover, some of these Kb/K36.16 clones were also rejected by syngeneic (AKR x C57BL/10)F1 mice. In consequence of immunization with the Kb/K36.16 clones, the AKR and F1 mice were able to survive a subsequent challenge of the wild-type, unmodified, parental K36.16 tumor cells. More importantly, some of these Kb/K36.16 clones demonstrated an active and specific immunotherapeutic effect, and they were able to eradicate the growth of the parental K36.16 tumor cells in AKR mice. This observation therefore reinforces the feasibility of using DNA-mediated gene transfer as a molecular approach to abrogate tumor growth.     

Resistance to cell-mediated cytotoxicity is correlated with reduction of H-2K gene products in AKR leukemia

AKR leukemia cell lines differing in the amount of H-2K and H-2D antigens expressed on the cell surface were used to assess cell-mediated immune responses in syngeneic mice against Gross/AKR murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced tumors. Leukemic cells with reduced expression of H-2K^k antigens were inactive as inducers of Gross-MuLV/H-2^k-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and resistant to lysis by CTL raised against H-2K^k positive AKR leukemia cells. H-2K^k positive leukemias induced cytotoxic effectors, which upon restimulation in vitro, lysed the stimulating and other H-2K^k positive leukemia cells. In antibody inhibition experiments, T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity to these leukemias could only be inhibited by antisera and monoclonal antibodies specific for the H-2K^k antigens. Due to this specific role of H-2K^k antigens in T-cell cytotoxicity to Gross/AKR MuLV-induced tumors, reduced expression of H-2K^k antigens on spontaneous AKR leukemic cells could have important implications for surveillance of these neoplastic cells.Abbreviations used in this paper CTL cytotoxic T lymphocytes - MuLV murine leukemia virus     

Abnormal thymocyte development and production of autoreactive T cells in T cell receptor transgenic autoimmune mice.

Development of a C57BL/6-+/+ TCR transgenic mouse containing the rearranged TCR alpha- and beta-chain specific for the Db + HY male Ag results in production of a nearly monoclonal population of early thymocytes expressing the Db + HY reactive TCR. These thymocytes are autoreactive in H-2Db male mice and undergo clonal deletion and down-regulation of CD8. To study the effect of the lpr gene on development of autoreactive T cells, these transgenic mice were backcrossed with C57BL/6-lpr/lpr mice. T cell populations in the thymus and spleen were analyzed by three-color flow cytometry for expression of CD4, CD8, and TCR. The thymus of TCR transgenic H-2b/b lpr/lpr male mice had an increase in percent and absolute number of CD8dull thymocytes compared to TCR transgenic H-2b/b +/+ male mice. However, there was not a complete defect in clonal deletion, because clonal deletion and down-regulation of CD8 was apparent in both +/+ and lpr/lpr H-2Db HY+ male mice compared to H-2Db HY- female mice. The phenotype of splenic T cells was almost identical in TCR transgenic +/+ and lpr/lpr males with about 50% CD4-CD8- T cells and 50% CD8+ T cells. However, there was a dramatic increase in the SMLR proliferative response of splenic T cells from TCR transgenic lpr/lpr males compared to TCR transgenic +/+ males. To determine the specificity of this response, spleen cells from TCR transgenic lpr/lpr and +/+ mice were cultured with irradiated H-2b/b and H-2k/k male and female spleen cells. T cells from TCR transgenic C57BL/6-lpr/lpr male mice had an increased proliferative response to H-2b/b male spleen cells compared to T cells from TCR transgenic C57BL/6(-)+/+ male mice, but both lpr/lpr and +/+ mice had a minimal response to irradiated H-2b/b female or H-2k/k male or female stimulator cells. The splenic T cells from TCR transgenic lpr/lpr mice also had an increased specific cytotoxic activity against H-2b/b male target cells compared to TCR transgenic +/+ mice. These results demonstrate that there is a defect in negative selection of self-reactive T cells in the thymus of lpr/lpr mice and a defect in induction or maintenance of clonal anergy of self-reactive T cells in the periphery of lpr/lpr mice.     

Immune response to Moloney murine leukemia virus nonviral, tumor-associated antigens fails to provide in vivo tumor protection.

Two distinct populations of CTL have previously been shown to be generated in lymphocyte cultures derived from the spleens of C57BL/6 mice that have rejected Moloney murine leukemia virus:Moloney sarcoma virus (MoMuLV:MSV)-induced tumors. One population is specific for MoMuLV viral Ag whereas the other appears to be directed against a nonviral, tumor-associated Ag (TAA). Using a virus-negative variant of the MoMuLV-induced lymphoma MBL-2 that has retained the expression of the MuLV:TAA, we attempted to further characterize the MuLV:TAA-specific CTL population. First, this same pattern of CTL reactivity was observed using a variety of immunization protocols indicating that the TAA-specific CTL population was not an artifact of the original immunization protocol but was a reproducible component of the MoMuLV CTL response. Moreover, CTL precursor frequency analysis indicates that the MuLV:TAA-specific CTL represent approximately 60% of the CTL detected in in vitro cytotoxicity assays. However, when the role of MuLV:TAA CTL in the in vivo rejection of MoMuLV-induced tumors was examined, no role for the MuLV:TAA-specific CTL response could be determined. Immunization protocols that had been shown to give rise to both CTL populations were capable of protecting mice from tumor development after a challenge with the parental MBL-2 tumor cell line but not the virus-negative variant MBLv cell line. In addition, immunization with the variant, shown to give rise to only MuLV:TAA-specific CTL capable of lysing both MBL-2 and MBLv in vitro, failed to protect mice from a tumor challenge of either cell type.     

Genetic control of CTL responses to AKR/Gross virus: effect of inheritance of Akv proviruses

Our earlier observations suggested that the AKR/Gross leukemia virus-specific C57BL/6 cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) response was directed to Akv-1, but not Akv-3 or Akv-4, provirus-associated determinants. Based on these data, the present experiments were performed with various AKXL RI mouse strains of the responder H-2 ^b haplotype which had inherited different combinations of the Akv-1, –3, and –4 proviruses, to determine whether these strains were able to mount specific antiviral CTL responses. In a comparison with control responder C57BL/6 mice, a clear pattern emerged. Akv-negative mice of the AKXL-29 strain were fully responsive, but five other AKXL strains which had inherited the Akv-1 provirus failed to mount significant antiviral CTL responses ( 10% of control). In contrast, an Akv-1-negative but Akv-4-positive strain (AKXL-5) was partially responsive (approximately 24 % of the C57BL/6 control). These results were consistent with a direct relationship between the Akv-1 provirus and the nominal antigens recognized by antiviral CTL, and with an inverse correlation between in vivo expression of viral antigens by normal cells and the ability to generate antiviral CTL. The possible mechanisms accounting for this unresponsiveness are discussed along with the utility of this system for investigating the interactions of retroviruses with the immune system.     

Cytolytic T lymphocyte-defined retroviral antigens on normal cells: Encoding by the Akv-1 proviral locus

We previously described the generation and specificity of H-2-restricted cytolytic lymphocytes (CTL) directed against tumors induced by AKR/Gross murine leukemia viruses (MuLV). Such anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL demonstrated type specificity; only tumors induced by endogenous MuLV that expressed the Gross cell-surface antigen were lysed. These CTL and their precursor also recognized normal spleen cells from AKR-H-2 ^b , but not AKR-H-2 ^b , Fv-1 ^b mice, however, suggesting that N-ecotropic, retrovirus-associated antigens were primarily involved. Here, expression of these CTL-defined retroviral antigens by H-2^b-positive AKR × C57L recombinant inbred strains was examined by using normal spleen cells as stimulators in the generation of specific anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL. Analysis of the strain distribution pattern of stimulation indicated that a single proviral locus, Akv-1, was primarily, if not entirely, responsible for CTL-defined retroviral antigen expression. The lack of correlation with two other well-defined proviral loci was interesting. Whereas Akv-3 is known to encode a defective virus, Akv-4 has been shown to code for an infectious virus thought to be very similar or identical to that of Akv-1. Although quantitative differences cannot be formally excluded, dose response experiments argued against this possibility and suggested that Akv-1 and Akv-4 may exhibit qualitative differences germane to antiviral CTL recognition.     

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to minor H-42a alloantigen in H-42b mice: clonal inactivation of the precursor cytotoxic T lymphocytes by veto-like spleen cells that express the H-42a antigen

When (B10.BR X CWB)F1 (BWF1; H-2k/b) mice carrying the H-42b allele at the minor H-42 locus were injected with H-42a C3H.SW (CSW; H-2b) or C3H (H-2k) spleen cells (SC), self-H-2Kb restricted anti-H-42a pCTL in the BWF1 recipients were primed and differentiated to anti-H-42a CTL after in vitro stimulation with (B10.BR X CSW)F1 (BSF1; H-2k/b, H-42b/a) SC. In contrast, anti-H-42a pCTL in H-42b mice were inactivated by injection with H-42-congenic H-42a SC, and stable anti-H-42a CTL tolerance was induced. Preference of H-2Kb restriction of anti-H-42a CTL was strict, and self-H-2Kb-restricted anti-H-42a CTL did not lyse target cells carrying H-42a antigen in the context of H-2Kbm1. Involvement of suppressor cells in the anti-H-42a CTL tolerance was ruled out by the present cell transfer study and the previous cell-mixing in vitro study. Notably, treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 antibody (Ab) plus complement (C) wiped out the ability of CSW SC in the priming of anti-H-42a pCTL of BWF1 mice but left that of C3H SC unaffected, and injection of the anti-Thy-1.2 Ab plus C-treated CSW SC induced anti-H-42a CTL tolerance in the BWF1 recipients. Furthermore, H-42a/b, I-Ab/bm12 [CSW X B6.CH-2bm12 (bm12)]F1 SC could not prime anti-H-42a pCTL in H-42b, I-Ab (CWB X B6)F1 recipients, whereas H-42a/b, I-Ab (CSW X B6)F1 SC primed anti-H-42a pCTL in H-42b, I-Ab/bm12 (CWB X bm12)F1 recipients. The unresponsiveness of anti-H-42a pCTL in H-42b mice to H-42-congenic H-42a SC was sometimes corrected by immunization of H-42b female mice with H-42-congenic H-42a male SC. Taking all of the results together, we propose the following. Unresponsiveness of anti-H-42a pCTL in H-42b mice to H-42-congenic H-42a SC is caused by "veto cells" contained in the antigenic H-42a SC. Anti-H-42a pCTL in the H-42b recipients directly interacting with H-42-congenic H-42a SC, which bear H-42a antigen and H-2Kb restriction element, are inactivated or vetoed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)