CD94/NKG2A expression is associated with proliferative potential of CD8 T cells during persistent polyoma virus infection

Memory CD8 T cells comprise a critical component of durable immunity because of their capacity to rapidly proliferate and exert effector activity upon Ag rechallenge. During persistent viral infection, memory CD8 T cells repetitively encounter viral Ag and must maintain a delicate balance between limiting viral replication and minimizing immunopathology. In mice infected by polyoma virus, a natural mouse pathogen that establishes long-term persistent infection, the majority of persistence-phase antiviral CD8 T cells express the inhibitory NK cell receptor CD94/NKG2A. In this study, we asked whether CD94/NKG2A expression is associated with Ag-specific recall of polyoma virus-specific CD8 T cells. During the persistent phase of infection, polyoma virus-specific CD8 T cells that express CD94/NKG2A were found to preferentially proliferate; this proliferation was dependent on cognate Ag both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CD94/NKG2A(+) polyoma-specific CD8 T cells have a markedly enhanced capacity to produce IL-2 upon ex vivo Ag stimulation compared with CD94/NKG2A(-) polyoma-specific CD8 T cells. Importantly, CD94/NKG2A(+) anti-polyoma virus CD8 T cells appear to be essential for Ag-specific recall responses in mice persistently infected by polyoma virus. Because of its higher proliferative potential and capacity to produce IL-2, we propose that the CD94/NKG2A(+) subpopulation represents a less differentiated state than the CD94/NKG2A(-) subpopulation. Identification of proliferation-competent subpopulations of memory CD8 T cells should prove valuable in designing therapeutic vaccination strategies for persistent viral infections.     

Enhanced engagement of CTLA-4 induces antigen-specific CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25- TGF-beta 1+ adaptive regulatory T cells

CTLA-4 is a critical negative regulator of T cell response and is instrumental in maintaining immunological tolerance. In this article, we report that enhanced selective engagement of CTLA-4 on T cells by Ag-presenting dendritic cells resulted in the induction of Ag-specific CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) and CD4(+)CD25(-)TGF-beta1(+) adaptive Tregs. These cells were CD62L(low) and hyporesponsive to stimulation with cognate Ag but demonstrated a superior ability to suppress Ag-specific effector T cell response compared with their CD62L(high) counterparts. Importantly, treatment of mice with autoimmune thyroiditis using mouse thyroglobulin (mTg)-pulsed anti-CTLA-4 agonistic Ab-coated DCs, which results in a dominant engagement of CTLA-4 upon self-Ag presentation, not only suppressed thyroiditis but also prevented reemergence of the disease upon rechallenge with mTg. Further, the disease suppression was associated with significantly reduced mTg-specific T cell and Ab responses. Collectively, our results showed an important role for selective CTLA-4 signaling in the induction of adaptive Tregs and suggested that approaches that allow dominant CTLA-4 engagement concomitant with Ag-specific TCR ligation can be used for targeted therapy.     

Efficient priming of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by DNA vaccination depends on appropriate targeting of sufficient levels of immunologically relevant antigen to appropriate processing pathways

The initial cellular events and interactions that occur following DNA immunization are likely to be key to determining the character and magnitude of the resulting immune response, and as such, a better understanding of these events could ultimately lead to the design of more effective pathogen-appropriate DNA vaccines. Therefore, we have used a variety of sensitive cell-based techniques to study the induction of adaptive immunity in vivo. We examined the efficacy of induction of Ag-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses in vivo by the adoptive transfer of fluorescently labeled Ag-specific TCR transgenic T cells and have demonstrated how such approaches can be used to study the effect of simple DNA construct manipulations on immunological priming. OVA-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells were activated and divided in vivo following immunization with DNA constructs that targeted OVA expression to different subcellular locations; however, the kinetics and degree of cell proliferation were dependent on the cellular location of the expressed protein. DNA vectors encoding cell-associated OVA resulted in greater CD8(+) T cell division compared with other forms of OVA. In contrast, soluble secreted OVA targeted to the classical secretory pathway enhanced division of CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, the inclusion of mammalian introns to enhance protein expression increased the ability of poorly immunogenic forms of Ag to activate naive T cells, indicating that not only the location, but also the amount of Ag expression, is important for efficient T cell priming following DNA injection.     

IL-15 transpresentation augments CD8+ T cell activation and is required for optimal recall responses by central memory CD8+ T cells

Although the adaptive immune system has a remarkable ability to mount rapid recall responses to previously encountered pathogens, the cellular and molecular signals necessary for memory CD8(+) T cell reactivation are poorly defined. IL-15 plays a critical role in memory CD8(+) T cell survival; however, whether IL-15 is also involved in memory CD8(+) T cell reactivation is presently unclear. Using artificial Ag-presenting surfaces prepared on cell-sized microspheres, we specifically addressed the role of IL-15 transpresentation on mouse CD8(+) T cell activation in the complete absence of additional stimulatory signals. In this study we demonstrate that transpresented IL-15 is significantly more effective than soluble IL-15 in augmenting anti-CD3epsilon-induced proliferation and effector molecule expression by CD8(+) T cells. Importantly, IL-15 transpresentation and TCR ligation by anti-CD3epsilon or peptide MHC complexes exhibited synergism in stimulating CD8(+) T cell responses. In agreement with previous studies, we found that transpresented IL-15 preferentially stimulated memory phenotype CD8(+) T cells; however, in pursuing this further, we found that central memory (T(CM)) and effector memory (T(EM)) CD8(+) T cells responded differentially to transpresented IL-15. T(CM) CD8(+) T cells undergo Ag-independent proliferation in response to transpresented IL-15 alone, whereas T(EM) CD8(+) T cells are relatively unresponsive to transpresented IL-15. Furthermore, upon Ag-specific stimulation, T(CM) CD8(+) T cell responses are enhanced by IL-15 transpresentation, whereas T(EM) CD8(+) T cell responses are only slightly affected, both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our findings distinguish the role of IL-15 transpresentation in the stimulation of distinct memory CD8(+) T cell subsets, and they also have implications for ex vivo reactivation and expansion of Ag-experienced CD8(+) T cells for immunotherapeutic approaches.     

Modulation by IL-2 of CD70 and CD27 expression on CD8+ T cells: importance for the therapeutic effectiveness of cell transfer immunotherapy

Proper T cell function relies on the integration of signals delivered by Ag, cytokine, and costimulatory receptors. In this study, the interactions between IL-2, CD27, and its ligand CD70 and their effects on human T cell function were examined. Unstimulated CD8(+) T cells expressed relatively low levels of CD70 and high levels of CD27. Incubation in vitro with high doses of IL-2 (3,000 IU/ml) or administration of IL-2 in vivo resulted in substantial up-regulation of CD70 expression and the concomitant loss of cell surface CD27 expression on CD8(+) cells. Withdrawal of IL-2 from activated CD8(+) T cells that had been maintained in IL-2 resulted in a reversal of the expression of these two markers, whereas reciprocal changes were seen following treatment of PBMCs with IL-2. The proliferation observed in cells stimulated with IL-2 primarily occurred in a subset of the CD70(+)CD8(+) T cells that up-regulated IL-2 receptor expression but did not occur in CD70(-)CD8(+) T cells. Blocking CD70 resulted in a significant reduction of T cell proliferation induced by high-dose IL-2, indicating that the interaction of CD70 with CD27 played a direct role in T cell activation mediated by IL-2. Finally, studies conducted on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) samples that were administered to melanoma patients indicated that the size of the pool of CD27(+)CD8(+) T cells in bulk TILs was highly associated (p = 0.004) with the ability of these TILs to mediate tumor regression following adoptive transfer.     

Peripheral deletion of antigen-specific T cells leads to long-term tolerance mediated by CD8+ cytotoxic cells

Peripheral deletion is one mechanism by which potentially self-reactive clones are removed whether they escape thymic deletion. We have examined the consequences of deleting Ag-specific T cells by i.v. injection of soluble Ag. Deletion of DO11.10 T cells by peptide was mediated predominately via a Fas/FasL mechanism. Animals that underwent deletion were tolerant to subsequent immunization with Ag, even when tolerant mice were given fresh Ag-specific DO11.10 T cells before immunization. Tolerance was mediated by CD8(+) T cells that killed the DO11.10-transgenic T cells in vivo. These data demonstrate that the programmed cell death of large numbers of T cells leads to peripheral tolerance mediated by CD8(+) CTLs.     

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.     

Blockade of CTLA-4 decreases the generation of multifunctional memory CD4+ T cells in vivo

CTLA-4 is known as a central inhibitor of T cell responses. It terminates T cell activation and proliferation and induces resistance against activation induced cell death. However, its impact on memory formation of adaptive immune responses is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that although anti-CTLA-4 mAb treatment during primary immunization of mice initially enhances the number of IFN-γ-producing CD4(+) T cells, it does not affect the size of the memory pool. Interestingly, we find that the CTLA-4 blockade modulates the quality of the memory pool: it decreases the amount of specialized "multifunctional" memory CD4(+) T cells coproducing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 in response to Ag. The reduction of these cells causes an immense decrease of IFN-γ-producing T cells after in vivo antigenic rechallenge. Chimeric mice expressing CTLA-4-competent and -deficient cells unmask, which these CTLA-4-driven mechanisms are mediated CD4(+) T cell nonautonomously. In addition, the depletion of CD25(+) T cells prior to the generation of Ag-specific memory cells reveals that the constitutively CTLA-4-expressing natural regulatory T cells determine the quality of memory CD4(+) T cells. Taken together, these results indicate that although the inhibitory molecule CTLA-4 damps the primary immune response, its engagement positively regulates the formation of a high-quality memory pool equipped with multifunctional CD4(+) T cells capable of mounting a robust response to Ag rechallenge.     

Gads regulates the expansion phase of CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity

The Gads adaptor protein is critical for TCR-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization. We investigated the effect of Gads deficiency on the proliferation of CD8(+) T cells following peptide stimulation and in the context of infection with an intracellular pathogen. We stimulated CD8(+) T cells from Gads(+/+) OT-I and Gads(-/-) OT-I mice with cognate Ag (SIINFEKL) or altered peptide ligand. In vitro experiments revealed that Gads was required for optimal proliferation of CD8(+) T cells. This defect was most evident at the early time points of proliferation and when low doses of Ag were used as stimuli. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that Gads(-/-) CD8(+) T cells had impaired TCR-mediated exit from the G(0) phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, Gads(-/-) CD8(+) T cells had delayed expression of c-myc and CD69 upon the stimulation with SIINFEKL. We then investigated how Gads deficiency would impact CD8(+) T cell-mediated immunity in the context of infection with an intracellular pathogen. At early time points, Gads(+/+) and Gads(-/-) CD8(+) T cells proliferated to a similar extent, despite the fact that expression of CD69 and CD25 was reduced in the absence of Gads. After 5 d postinfection, Gads was required to sustain the expansion phase of the immune response; the peak response of Gads(-/-) cells was significantly lower than for Gads(+/+) cells. However, Gads was not required for the differentiation of naive CD8(+) T cells into memory cells. We conclude that the primary function of Gads is to regulate the sensitivity of the TCR to Ag ligation.     

Acquisition of MHC:Peptide Complexes by Dendritic Cells Contributes to the Generation of Antiviral CD8+ T Cell Immunity In Vivo

There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that the transfer of preformed MHC class I:peptide complexes between a virus-infected cell and an uninfected APC, termed cross-dressing, represents an important mechanism of Ag presentation to CD8(+) T cells in host defense. However, although it has been shown that memory CD8(+) T cells can be activated by uninfected dendritic cells (DCs) cross-dressed by Ag from virus-infected parenchymal cells, it is unknown whether conditions exist during virus infection in which naive CD8(+) T cells are primed and differentiate to cytolytic effectors through cross-dressing, and indeed which DC subset would be responsible. In this study, we determine whether the transfer of MHC class I:peptide complexes between infected and uninfected murine DC plays a role in CD8(+) T cell priming to viral Ags in vivo. We show that MHC class I:peptide complexes from peptide-pulsed or virus-infected DCs are indeed acquired by splenic CD8α(-) DCs in vivo. Furthermore, the acquired MHC class I:peptide complexes are functional in that they induced Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell effectors with cytolytic function. As CD8α(-) DCs are poor cross-presenters, this may represent the main mechanism by which CD8α(-) DCs present exogenously encountered Ag to CD8(+) T cells. The sharing of Ag as preformed MHC class I:peptide complexes between infected and uninfected DCs without the restraints of Ag processing may have evolved to accurately amplify the response and also engage multiple DC subsets critical in the generation of strong antiviral immunity.     

IL-2 is required for the activation of memory CD8+ T cells via antigen cross-presentation

Dendritic cells (DCs) are capable of capturing exogenous Ag for the generation of MHC class I/peptide complexes. For efficient activation of memory CD8(+) T cells to occur via a cross-presentation pathway, DCs must receive helper signals from CD4(+) T cells. Using an in vitro system that reflects physiologic recall memory responses, we have evaluated signals that influence helper-dependent cross-priming, while focusing on the source and cellular target of such effector molecules. Concerning the interaction between CD4(+) T cells and DCs, we tested the hypothesis that CD40 engagement on DCs is critical for IL-12p70 (IL-12) production and subsequent stimulation of IFN-gamma release by CD8(+) T cells. Although CD40 engagement on DCs, or addition of exogenous IL-12 are both sufficient to overcome the lack of help, neither is essential. We next evaluated cytokines and chemokines produced during CD4(+) T cell/DC cross talk and observed high levels of IL-2 produced within the first 18-24 h of Ag-specific T cell engagement. Functional studies using blocking Abs to CD25 completely abrogated IFN-gamma production by the CD8(+) T cells. Although required, addition of exogenous IL-2 did not itself confer signals sufficient to overcome the lack of CD4(+) T cell help. Thus, these data support a combined role for Ag-specific, cognate interactions at the CD4(+) T cell/DC as well as the DC/CD8(+) T cell interface, with the helper effect mediated by soluble noncognate signals.     

Cutting edge: regulation of CD8+ T cell effector population size

Naive CD8(+) T cells are activated on encounter with Ag presented on dendritic cells and proliferate rapidly. To investigate the regulation of naive CD8(+) T cells proliferation, we adoptively transferred TCR-transgenic CD8(+) T cells into intact mice together with Ag-pulsed dendritic cells. Regardless of the number of cells initially transferred, the expansion of activated Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells was limited to a ceiling of effector cells. This limit was reached from a wide range of T cell doses, including a physiological number of precursor cells, and was not altered by changing the amount of Ag or APCs. The total Ag-specific response was composed of similar numbers of host and donor transgenic cells regardless of donor cell input, suggesting that these populations were independently regulated. Regulation of the transgenic donor cell population was TCR specific. We hypothesize that a clone-specific regulatory mechanism controls the extent of CD8(+) T cell responses to Ag.     

Antigen persistence is required for dendritic cell licensing and CD8+ T cell cross-priming

It has been demonstrated that CD4(+) T cells require Ag persistence to achieve effective priming, whereas CD8(+) T cells are on "autopilot" after only a brief exposure. This finding presents a disturbing conundrum as it does not account for situations in which CD8(+) T cells require CD4(+) T cell help. We used a physiologic in vivo model to study the requirement of Ag persistence for the cross-priming of minor histocompatibility Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells. We report inefficient cross-priming in situations in which male cells are rapidly cleared. Strikingly, the failure to achieve robust CD8(+) T cell activation is not due to a problem with cross-presentation. In fact, by providing "extra help" in the form of dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with MHC class II peptide, it was possible to achieve robust activation of CD8(+) T cells. Our data suggest that the "licensing" of cross-presenting DCs does not occur during their initial encounter with CD4(+) T cells, thus accounting for the requirement for Ag persistence and suggesting that DCs make multiple interactions with CD8(+) T cells during the priming phase. These findings imply that long-lived Ag is critical for efficient vaccination protocols in which the CD8(+) T cell response is helper-dependent.     

Repeated antigen exposure is necessary for the differentiation, but not the initial proliferation, of naive CD4(+) T cells

The mechanisms that regulate CD4(+) T cells responses in vivo are still poorly understood. We show here that initial Ag stimulation induces in CD4(+) T cells a program of proliferation that can develop, for at least seven cycles of division, in the absence of subsequent Ag or cytokine requirement. Thereafter, proliferation stops but can be reinitiated by novel Ag stimulation. This initial Ag stimulation does not however suffice to induce the differentiation of naive CD4(+) T cells into effector Th1 cells which requires multiple contacts with Ag-loaded APC. Thus, recurrent exposure to both Ag and polarizing cytokines appears to be essential for the differentiation of IFN-gamma-producing cells. Ag and cytokine availability therefore greatly limits the differentiation, but not the initial proliferation, of CD4(+) T cells into IFN-gamma-producing cells.     

Persistence, immune specificity, and functional ability of murine mutant ras epitope-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes following in vivo adoptive transfer.

Adoptive T-cell transfer has been shown to be a potentially effective strategy for cellular immunotherapy in some murine models of disease. However, several issues remain unresolved regarding some of the basic features involved in effective adoptive transfer, such as the influence of specific peptide antigen (Ag) boost after T-cell transfer, the addition of IL-2 post-T-cell transfer, the trafficking of transferred T cells to lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues, and the functional stability of recoverable CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. We investigated several of these parameters, particularly as they relate to the persistence and maintenance of effector functions of murine CD4(+) and/or CD8(+) T lymphocytes after adoptive cellular transfer into partially gamma-irradiated syngeneic hosts. Our laboratory previously identified murine (H-2(d)) immunogenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell peptide epitopes reflecting codon 12 ras mutations as tumor-specific Ag. Therefore, the model system chosen here employed epitope-specific MHC class II-restricted CD4(+) T cells and MHC class I-restricted CD8(+) T cells produced from previously immunized BALB/c mice. Between 2 and 7 days after T-cell transfer, recipient mice received various combinations of peptide boosts and/or IL-2 treatments. At different times after the T-cell transfer, spleen and lung tissues were analyzed phenotypically to monitor the persistence of the immune T cells and functionally (via proliferation or cytotoxicity assays) to assess the maintenance of peptide specificity. The results showed that immune donor T lymphocytes (uncultured immune T cells or cloned T cells) were recoverable from the spleens and lungs of recipient mice after transfer. The recovery of Ag-specific T-cell responses was greatest from recipient mice that received peptide boosts and IL-2 treatment. However, mice that received a peptide boost without IL-2 treatment responded nearly as well, which suggested that including a peptide boost after T-cell transfer was more obligatory than exogenous IL-2 treatment to sustain adoptively transferred T cells in vivo. Ag-specific T-cell responses were weak in mice that either received IL-2 alone or did not receive the cognate peptide boost after T-cell transfer. The T-cell clones were also monitored by flow cytometry or RT-PCR based on expression of the T-cell receptor Vbeta-chain, which was previously characterized. Ag-specific T cells were recovered from both spleens and lungs of recipient mice, demonstrating that the T-cell clones could localize to both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. This study demonstrates that both uncultured and in vitro-cloned T lymphocytes can migrate to lymphoid tissues and nonlymphoid (e.g., lung) tissues in recipient hosts and that their functional activities can be maintained at these sites after transfer, if they are exposed to peptide Ag in vivo.     

Synergistic anti-tumor responses after administration of agonistic antibodies to CD40 and IL-2: coordination of dendritic and CD8+ cell responses

In cancer, the coordinate engagement of professional APC and Ag-specific cell-mediated effector cells may be vital for the induction of effective antitumor responses. We speculated that the enhanced differentiation and function of dendritic cells through CD40 engagement combined with IL-2 administration to stimulate T cell expansion would act coordinately to enhance the adaptive immune response against cancer. In mice bearing orthotopic metastatic renal cell carcinoma, only the combination of an agonist Ab to CD40 and IL-2, but neither agent administered alone, induced complete regression of metastatic tumor and specific immunity to subsequent rechallenge in the majority of treated mice. The combination of anti-CD40 and IL-2 resulted in significant increases in dendritic cell and CD8(+) T cell number in advanced tumor-bearing mice compared with either agent administered singly. The antitumor effects of anti-CD40 and IL-2 were found to be dependent on CD8(+) T cells, IFN-gamma, IL-12 p40, and Fas ligand. CD40 stimulation and IL-2 may therefore be of use to promote antitumor responses in advanced metastatic cancer.     

Identification of naive or antigen-experienced human CD8(+) T cells by expression of costimulation and chemokine receptors: analysis of the human cytomegalovirus-specific CD8(+) T cell response

Human CMV (HCMV) infection provides an informative model of how long term human CD8(+) T cell memory is maintained in the presence of Ag. To clarify the phenotypic identity of Ag-experienced human CD8(+) T cells in vivo, we determined the expression of costimulation and chemokine receptors on Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells by quantifying individual virus-specific clones in different cell populations using TCR clonotypic probing. In healthy HCMV carriers, expanded CD8(+) clones specific for either HCMV tegument protein pp65 or immediate-early protein IE72 are found in both CD45RO(high) cells and the subpopulation of CD45RA(high) cells that lack the costimulatory molecule CD28. In contrast to previous suggested models of CD8(+) T cell memory, we found that in healthy virus carriers highly purified CD28(-)CD45RA(high)CCR7(-) cells are not terminally differentiated, because following stimulation in vitro with specific HCMV peptide these cells underwent sustained clonal proliferation, up-regulated CD45RO and CCR5, and showed strong peptide-specific cytotoxic activity. In an individual with acute primary HCMV infection, HCMV pp65-specific CD8(+) T cells are predominantly CD28(-)CD45RO(high)CCR7(-). During convalescence, an increasing proportion of pp65-specific CD8(+) T cells were CD28(-)CD45RA(high)CCR7(-). We conclude that naive human CD8(+) T cells are CD28(+)CD45RA(high), express CCR7 but not CCR6, and are predominantly CD27(+) and L-selectin CD62 ligand-positive. The phenotype CD27(+)CD45RA(high) should not be used to identify naive human CD8(+) T cells, because CD27(+)CD45RA(high) cells also contain a significant subpopulation of CD28(-)CD27(+) Ag-experienced expanded clones. Thus CD8(+) T cell memory to HCMV is maintained by cells of expanded HCMV-specific clones that show heterogeneity of activation state and costimulation molecular expression within both CD45RO(high) and CD28(-)CD45RA(high) T cell pools.     

Distinct mechanisms control human naive and antigen-experienced CD8+ T lymphocyte proliferation

Human Ag-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes are heterogeneous and include functionally distinct populations. In this study, we report that at least two distinct mechanisms control the expansion of circulating naive, memory, and effector CD8(+) T lymphocytes when exposed to mitogen or Ag stimulation. The first one leads to apoptosis and occurs shortly after in vitro stimulation. Susceptibility to cell death is prominent among primed T cell subsets, and it is inversely correlated with the size of the ex vivo Bcl-2(high) population within these subsets. Importantly, the Bcl-2(high) phenotype is associated to the proportion of responsive CD8(+) T cells, independently of their differentiation stage. The second one depends on the expression of newly synthesized cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16(INK4a) that occurs in a significant fraction of T cells that had been actively cycling, leading to their cell cycle arrest upon stimulation. Strikingly, accumulation of p16(INK4a) protein preferentially occurs in naive as opposed to primed derived T lymphocytes and is not related to apoptosis. Significant levels of p16 are readily detectable in a small number of ex vivo CD8(+) T cells. Our observations reveal that activation-induced p16 expression represents an alternative process to apoptosis, limiting the proliferation potential of activated naive derived T lymphocytes.     

CD27/CFSE-based ex vivo selection of highly suppressive alloantigen-specific human regulatory T cells

Naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) are crucial in immunoregulation and have great therapeutic potential for immunotherapy in the prevention of transplant rejection, allergy, and autoimmune diseases. The efficacy of Treg-based immunotherapy critically depends on the Ag specificity of the regulatory T cells. Moreover, the use of Ag-specific Treg as opposed to polyclonal expanded Treg will reduce the total number of Treg necessary for therapy. Hence, it is crucial to develop ex vivo selection procedures that allow selection and expansion of highly potent, Ag-specific Treg. In this study we describe an ex vivo CFSE cell sorter-based isolation method for human alloantigen-specific Treg. To this end, freshly isolated CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg were labeled with CFSE and stimulated with (target) alloantigen and IL-2 plus IL-15 in short-term cultures. The alloantigen-reactive dividing Treg were characterized by low CFSE content and could be subdivided by virtue of CD27 expression. CD27/CFSE cell sorter-based selection of CD27(+) and CD27(-) cells resulted in two highly suppressive Ag-specific Treg subsets. Each subset suppressed naive and Ag-experienced memory T cells, and importantly, CD27(+) Treg also suppressed ongoing T cell responses. Summarizing, the described procedure enables induction, expansion, and especially selection of highly suppressive, Ag-specific Treg subsets, which are crucial in Ag-specific, Treg-based immunotherapy.     

Uncoupling p70(s6) kinase activation and proliferation: rapamycin-resistant proliferation of human CD8(+) T lymphocytes

Rapamycin is a fungal macrolide that inhibits the proliferation of T cells. Studies in both animals and humans have found that rapamycin significantly reduces graft rejection. However, though CD8(+) T cells are involved in graft infiltration and rejection, little is known regarding the effects of rapamycin on CD8(+) human T cell responses. In this study, we examined the mechanism of rapamycin-induced inhibition of Ag-driven activation of CD8(+) T cells. Surprisingly, a heterogeneous proliferative response in the presence of rapamycin was observed among different Ag-specific CD8(+) T cell clones; this was also observed in CD8(+) peripheral blood T cells activated with TCR cross-linking ex vivo. Inhibition of T cell proliferation by rapamycin was controlled by both the strength of signal delivered through the Ag receptor as well as the specific costimulatory signals received by the T cell. Rapamycin-resistant proliferation occurred despite inhibition of p70(s6) kinase activity. Moreover, rapamycin-resistant proliferation of the CD8(+) T cell clones was blocked by anti-IL-2 Abs, suggesting that while some of the parallel pathways triggered by IL-2R signaling are sensitive to the effects of rapamycin, others account for the Ag-driven rapamycin resistance. These data provide a new framework for examining the specific mechanism of action of rapamycin in human disease.