Effect of chorionic gonadotropin on thymocyte differentiation in the presence of thymus epithelial cells

We studied the effects of the main placental hormone, chorionic gonadotropin, on differentiation of human thymocytes in vitro in the presence of thymic epithelial cells. It was shown that the hormone at a high dose (100 IU/ml) enhanced the epithelium-induced phenotypic maturation of thymocytes, which is registered by an increased expression of the membrane marker CD3 and transition of CD4+8+ thymocytes in the cells with CD4+8- and CD4-8+ phenotypes. In addition, gonadotropin enhanced the proliferative response of thymocytes to the mitogen during their cultivation with the epithelium. The stimulating effect of the hormone on the epithelium-induced differentiation of thymocytes is mediated by the humoral factors of epithelial cells. In addition, gonadotropin at this dose exerts its own differentiating activity with respect to thymocytes and stimulates their phenotypic and functional maturation in a monoculture.     

Role of chorionic gonadotropin in the differentiation of thymocytes

The effects of chorionic gonadotropin, a basic hormone of pregnancy, on the differentiation of the human thymocytes were studied. The hormone does not affect the phenotype as determined by expression of the membrane molecules CD3, CD4, CD8 and functional activity of intrathymic pre-T-lymphocytes, but stimulates production of autocrine growth factors by these cells. Cultivation of cortical thymocytes in the presence of chorionic gonadotropin induces their phenotypic maturation with predominant development of CD4+ CD8- cells. In addition, at a high physiological dose (100 MU/ml) the hormone induces functional maturation of the cortical thymocytes. Thus, the data obtained allow us to consider this hormone as a factor regulating antigen-independent differentiation of T-lymphocytes during pregnancy and determining development of the immune system in embryogenesis.     

Enhanced expansion of the thymic CD8+ cell subset as a potential mechanism for the generation of enhanced antitumor cytotoxicity by thymocytes from low-dose melphalan-treated MOPC-315 tumor bearers

Summary We have previously shown that thymocytes from low-dose melphalan (l-phenylalanine mustard)-treated MOPC-315-tumor-bearing mice (melphalan TuB) are able to generate an enhanced level of anti-MOPC-315 cytotoxicity, as compared to thymocytes from untreated MOPC-315-tumor-bearing mice or thymocytes from untreated or low-dose melphalan-treated normal mice, upon in vitro stimulation with MOPC-315 tumor cells in the presence of a low concentration of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). Here we show that the generation of enhanced anti-MOPC-315 cytotoxicity by melphalan TuB thymocytes depends on the ability of the thymocytes to proliferate. In addition, the ability of melphalan TuB thymocytes to generate an enhanced level of anti-MOPC-315 cytotoxicity correlated with their ability to proliferate more readily than thymocytes from untreated tumor-bearing mice and thymocytes from untreated or melphalan-treated normal mice in response to stimulation with MOPC-315 tumor cells plus a low concentration of rIL-2. Moreover, although fresh melphalan TuB thymocytes do not contain a higher percentage of phenotypically mature cells (i.e., CD4^–/CD8⁺ or CD4⁺/CD8^–) than do thymocytes from normal mice or untreated tumor-bearing mice, after a 5-day culture with both MOPC-315 tumor cells and a low concentration of rIL-2, cultures of thymocytes from melphalan TuB contained a much higher percentage of CD4^–/CD8⁺ (but not CD4⁺/CD8^–) cells than did cultures of thymocytes from the other two sources. Since CD4^–/CD8⁺ cells were previously shown to be responsible for the exertion of antitumor cytotoxicity by thymocytes stimulated with MOPC-315 in vitro, our results indicate that the enhanced antitumor cytotoxicity exerted by melphalan TuB thymocytes following in vitro stimulation with MOPC-315 tumor cells in the presence of a low concentration of rIL-2 is due, at least in part, to an expansion of the pool of CD4^–/CD8⁺ effector cells.Supported by research grant CA-35 761 from the National Cancer InstituteIn partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degreeSupported by career development award CA-01 350 from the National Cancer Institute     

Functional maturation of mouse CD4+CD8- thymocytes induced by medullary-type thymus epithelial cells

Murine CD4⁺CD8^- (CD4SP) thymocyte subset is a heterogeneous population, in which the Qa-2^- cells are less functional, whereas the Qa-2⁺ cells are fully functional. Evidence is provided here that the transition from Qa-2^- to Qa-2⁺ CD4SP thymocytes is an intrathymic process of differentiation induced by thymic medullary-type epithelial cells. The separated Qa-2^-CD4SP could be induced to express Qa-2 molecules up to 84%- 89% of the total viable celb after cocultured for 3d with MTEC1 cells, a murine thymic medullary type epithelial cell line established in our laboratory. Kinetic study showed that both the percentage of Qa-2⁺ cells and the density of the expressed Qa-2 molecules on CD4SP thymocytes induced by MTEC1 were progressively increasing in 72-h cultures. The MTECl-induced Qa-2⁺CD4SP thymocytes were fully functional, which exhibited capabilities of proliferation and cytokine secretion in response to Con A stimulation as high as those of freshly isolated Qa-2⁺CD4SP thymocytes. The profile of cytokines secreted by MTECl-induced Qa-2⁺CD4SP thymocytes was Thy 0 type specified by the production of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6. The results suggest that Qa-2^-CD4SP thymocytes may give rise to the Qa-2⁺CD4SP thymocytes, and acquire fully functional competence in thymic medulla under the foster of local epithelial cells.     

Homeostatic Properties and Phenotypic Maturation of Murine CD4+ Pre-Thymic Emigrants in the Thymus

After a tightly regulated developmental program in the thymus, “mature” single positive (SP) thymocytes leave the thymus and enter the periphery. These newly arrived recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) are phenotypically and functionally immature, and will complete a dynamic maturation in the peripheral lymphoid organs before being licensed to be resident naïve T cells. To study the early events occurring in the RTE maturation process, we identified the phenotype of CD4⁺ pre-RTEs, a population of CD4⁺ SP thymocytes that have acquired the thymus egress capability. Compared to peripheral naïve T cells, CD4⁺ pre-RTEs displayed superior survival capability in lymphoreplete mice and faster proliferation under lymphopenic condition. The differences in Bcl2/Bim expression and/or heightened IL-7 signaling pathway may account for the pre-RTEs’ better responsiveness to homeostatic signals. Qa2, the expression of which indicates the phenotypic maturation of SPs and RTEs, was found to be upregulated in CD4⁺ pre-RTEs in thymic perivascular space. Migratory dendritic cells that surround this region contribute to Qa2 expression in pre-RTEs. The dendritic cell-driven Qa2 induction of CD4⁺ pre-RTEs is independent of MHC class II and Aire molecules.     

Expression of Ly-6A/E alloantigens in thymocyte and T-lymphocyte subsets: variability related to the Ly-6 a and Ly-6 b haplotypes

We have studied the cellular basis for differential expression of the Ly-6A/E alloantigen on T cells obtained from mice of the Ly-6 ^a (10–20% Ly-6A/E ⁺) and Ly-6 ^b (50–60% Ly-6A/E ⁺) haplotypes. During T-cell ontogeny only a small fraction (< 12 %) of thymocytes expressed Ly-6A/E. By 4 weeks of age adult levels of Ly-6A/E bearing lymphocytes were seen in peripheral lymphoid tissue. Immunohistochemical studies of the thymus revealed that Ly-6A/E⁺ cells were located predominantly in the medulla with small clusters of Ly-6A/E⁺ cells throughout the cortex. Consistent with this result, phenotypic studies showed that in the adult thymus the majority of Ly-6A/E expression was on mature CD4⁺ CD8^– and CD4^– CD8⁺ cortisone-resistant and precursor CD4^– CD8^– thymocytes. However, a much higher percentage of CD4⁺ CD8^– and CD4^– CD8^– thymocytes as well as CD4⁺ CD8^– peripheral T cells expressed Ly-6A/E from Ly-6 ^b mice. Furthermore, although gamma interferon induced increased Ly-6A/E expression in certain thymocyte and T-cell subsets, this induction functioned preferentially for cells obtained from Ly-6 ^b mice. Studies using F₁ hybrid mice (Ly-6 ^a × Ly-6 ^b) indicated that the basal level of Ly-6A/E expression on these subsets appeared to be under codominant genetic control, whereas gamma interferon-induced regulation of Ly-6A/E expression appeared to be under dominant genetic control. Collectively, these results suggest that the expression of Ly-6A/E on a particular T-cell subset is established in the thymus and is a stable characteristic of each haplotype. In addition, the low levels of Ly-6A/E expression for the Ly-6 ^a haplotype appear to be partially due to the inability of the majority of resting CD4⁺ T cells to express Ly-6A/E and to the relatively poor induction of this protein by gamma interferon.     

Changes in heat shock protein synthesis and heat sensitivity during mouse thymocyte development

Heat shock protein synthesis was examined in mouse thymocytes at three stages of development: early embryonic thymocytes, which are CD4^?CD8^?, adult thymocytes, which are primarily CD4⁺CD8⁺, and mature spleen T cells, which are CD4⁺CD8^? or CD4^?CD8⁺. After either a 41°C or 42°C heat shock, the synthesis of the maior heat-inducible protein (hsp68) was elevated during the first hour of recovery but then decreased abruptly in thymocytes from adult mice. In contrast, the synthesis of hsp68 continued for up to 4 h after heating embryonic mouse thymocytes or mature spleen T cells. The more rapid termination ofthe heat shock response in the adult thymocytes was not the result of eitherless heat damage or more rapid repair since the recovery of general protein synthesis was more severely delayed in these cells. As well, the double positive CD4⁺CD8⁺ cells were more sensitive to hyperthermia than either the double negative CD4^?CD8^? or single positive CD4⁺CD8^? or CD4^?CD8⁺ cells. Exposure of fetal thymus organ cultures to elevated temperature revealed that the double negative thymocytes were able to survive and differentiate normally following a heat shock treatment that was lethal for the double positive thymocytes. Exposure of thymocytes from adult mice to elevated temperatures induced apoptotic cell death. This was evident by the cleavage of DNA into oligonucleosome-sized fragments. Quantitation of the extent of DNA fragmentation and the number of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry demonstrated that the extent of apoptotic cell death was related to the severity of the heat stress. Double positive (CD4+CD8+) thymocytes are selected on the basis of their T-cell antigen receptor (TCR). Most of these cells are negatively selected and die within the thymus by an active process of cell deletion known as apoptosis. Restricting hsp synthesis in response to stress might be essential during developmental processes in which cell maturation is likely to result in death rather than functional differentiation. © 1993Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Cadmium‐induced apoptosis and phenotypic changes in mouse thymocytes

At present cadmium (Cd)induced immunotoxicity and the mechanisms involved have not been fully elucidated. The main objective of the present study is to explore the apoptogenic property of Cd in primary cultured mouse thymocytes and its effect on cell surface marker expression and phenotypic changes. Cdinduced thymocyte apoptosis was determined by TdTmediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, DNA content/cell cycle analysis and DNA gel electrophoresis. The results showed that Cd was able to cause apoptosis in mouse thymocytes in a time and dosedependent manner. Moreover, different subsets of thymocytes possessed different susceptibility to the apoptotic effect of Cd, in the order of CD8⁺ > CD4^–CD8^– (double negative cells, DN) > CD4⁺CD8⁺ (double positive cells, DP) > CD4⁺. Cd treatment also altered thymocyte surface marker expression, leading to evident phenotypic changes. Such changes were characterized by a decline in DP cells and a marked decrease in CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, mainly due to a significant increase in CD8⁺ subsets. These observations help to obtain a better understanding of the immunotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of Cd.     

HDAC1 Controls CD8+ T Cell Homeostasis and Antiviral Response

Reversible lysine acetylation plays an important role in the regulation of T cell responses. HDAC1 has been shown to control peripheral T helper cells, however the role of HDAC1 in CD8⁺ T cell function remains elusive. By using conditional gene targeting approaches, we show that LckCre-mediated deletion of HDAC1 led to reduced numbers of thymocytes as well as peripheral T cells, and to an increased fraction of CD8⁺CD4^– cells within the CD3/TCRβ^lo population, indicating that HDAC1 is essential for the efficient progression of immature CD8⁺CD4^– cells to the DP stage. Moreover, CD44^hi effector CD8⁺ T cells were enhanced in mice with a T cell-specific deletion of HDAC1 under homeostatic conditions and HDAC1-deficient CD44^hi CD8⁺ T cells produced more IFNγ upon ex vivo PMA/ionomycin stimulation in comparison to wild-type cells. Naïve (CD44^l°CD62L⁺) HDAC1-null CD8⁺ T cells displayed a normal proliferative response, produced similar amounts of IL-2 and TNFα, slightly enhanced amounts of IFNγ, and their in vivo cytotoxicity was normal in the absence of HDAC1. However, T cell-specific loss of HDAC1 led to a reduced anti-viral CD8⁺ T cell response upon LCMV infection and impaired expansion of virus-specific CD8⁺ T cells. Taken together, our data indicate that HDAC1 is required for the efficient generation of thymocytes and peripheral T cells, for proper CD8⁺ T cell homeostasis and for an efficient in vivo expansion and activation of CD8⁺ T cells in response to LCMV infection.     

Characteristics of the Cells-Producents of Thymic Chemotactic Factor for Bone Marrow Stem Elements

It was shown using complement-dependent cytolysis and monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD8, and NK1.1 antigens that the cortisone-resistant CD3⁺4^–8^–NK1.1^–-thymocytes spontaneously secreted a chemotactic transmitter inducing the release and directed migration of bone marrow cells. When estimating the general profile of the cytokines of these thymocytes by PCR with revertase, it was demonstrated the cells in question did not express cytokines with colony stimulating activities (SCF, IL-3, or GM-CSF) or cytokines affecting the migration of bone marrow stem elements (IL-2, 4, or 7). In addition, an active expression of gene bcl-2 was detected. Thus, the chemotactic cytokine inducing the release of bone marrow stem elements is a product of the cortisone-resistant long-living CD3⁺4^–8^–NK1.1^–-T-cells of the thymus.     

Modification of tumor cells by a low dose of Newcastle disease virus

Summary Augmented tumor-specific T cell responses were observed against the high metastatic murine lymphoma variant ESb when using as immunogen ESb tumor cells that had been modified by infection with a low dose of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Such virus-modified inactivated tumor cells (ESb-NDV) were potent tumor vaccines when applied postoperatively for active specific immunotherapy of ESb metastases. We demonstrate here that immune spleen cells from mice immunized with ESb-NDV contain enhanced immune capacity in both the CD4⁺, CD8^– and the CD4^–, CD8⁺ T cell compartments to mount a secondary-tumor-specific cytotoxic T cell response in comparison with immune cells from mice immunized with ESb. ESb-NDV immune CD4⁺, CD8^– helper T cells also produced more interleukin 2 after antigen stimulation than the corresponding ESb immune cells. There was no participation of either CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ virus-specific cells in the augmented response. The specificity of the T cells for the tumor-associated antigen remaind unchanged. Thus, there is the paradox that the virus-mediated augmentation of the tumor-specific T cell response in this system involves increased T helper activity but does not involve the recognition of viral epitopes as potential new helper determinants.Abbreviations CTL cytolytic T lymphocytes - IL-2 interleukin 2 - rIL-2 recombinant IL-2 - mAb monoclonal antibody - NDV Newcastle disease virus - SSC syngeneic spleen cell     

CD4CD8 thymocytes are induced to cell death by a small dose of puromycin via ER stress

When the CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymic lymphoma cells were treated with puromycin, we found that most of the cells died at 0.3-1 μg/ml of puromycin within 24 h. However, cell death was greatly reduced when the dose of puromycin was increased. Similar dose-pattern of cell death was observed in thymocytes and the sensitivity to puromycin was greater in CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymocytes than CD4⁺CD8⁻ thymocytes. The induction of apoptosis was blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, and to some extent by transfection of Bcl-xL or Bcl-2 genes. Expression of GRP78 was up-regulated after treatment with a small dose of puromycin, and the cell death by puromycin was blocked in the presence of caspase 12 inhibitor. These results indicated that the induction of cell death by low-dose puromycin was due to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, we found that dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, and puromycin worked synergistically to induce cell death in thymocytes.     

ATM Influences the Efficiency of TCRβ Rearrangement,Subsequent TCRβ-Dependent T Cell Development,and Generation of the Pre-Selection TCRβ CDR3 Repertoire

Generation and resolution of DNA double-strand breaks is required to assemble antigen-specific receptors from the genes encoding V, D, and J gene segments during recombination. The present report investigates the requirement for ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) kinase, a component of DNA double-strand break repair, during TCRβ recombination and in subsequent TCRβ-dependent repertoire generation and thymocyte development. CD4⁻CD8⁻ double negative stage 2/3 thymocytes from ATM-deficient mice have both an increased frequency of cells with DNA break foci at TCRβ loci and reduced Vβ-DJβ rearrangement. Sequencing of TCRβ complementarity-determining region 3 demonstrates that ATM-deficient CD4⁺CD8⁺ double positive thymocytes and peripheral T cells have altered processing of coding ends for both in-frame and out-of-frame TCRβ rearrangements, providing the unique demonstration that ATM deficiency alters the expressed TCRβ repertoire by a selection-independent mechanism. ATMKO thymi exhibit a partial developmental block in DN cells as they negotiate the β-selection checkpoint to become double negative stage 4 and CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymocytes, resulting in reduced numbers of CD4⁺CD8⁺ cells. Importantly, expression of a rearranged TCRβ transgene substantially reverses this defect in CD4⁺CD8⁺ cells, directly linking a requirement for ATM during endogenous TCRβ rearrangement to subsequent TCRβ-dependent stages of development. These results demonstrate that ATM plays an important role in TCRβ rearrangement, generation of the TCRβ CDR3 repertoire, and efficient TCRβ-dependent T cell development.     

Presence of an enlarged pool of MOPC-315-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors in the thymuses of mice that eradicated a large MOPC-315 tumor as a consequence of low-dose melphalan therapy

Summary We have previously shown that, as a consequence of low-dose melphalan (l-phenylalanine mustard) treatment, thymocytes from mice bearing a large, day-10 MOPC-315 tumor, but not thymocytes from normal mice, acquire the ability to generate an enhanced level of antitumor cytotoxicity upon in vitro stimulation with MOPC-315 tumor cells plus low concentrations (9.0–90 IU/ml) of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2) [23]. Here we show that the time interval between tumor inoculation and low-dose melphalan therapy as well as the magnitude of tumor burden at the time of the chemotherapy are important for the ability of the drug to render thymocytes more responsive to in vitro stimulation with MOPC-315 tumor cells plus low concentrations of recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2). Specifically, the chemotherapy was found to be effective in enhancing the thymic antitumor reactivity only if the mice bore a large, late-stage tumor. Comparison of thymocytes from untreated mice bearing a large, late-stage tumor to thymocytes from normal mice revealed that tumor-bearer thymocytes contained approximately a three-fold higher frequency of cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors (CTLp) for MOPC-315-associated antigens. Following curative low-dose melphalan therapy of mice bearing a large, latestage MOPC-315 tumor, the frequency of CTLp for MOPC-315-associated antigens increased further, reaching a level approximately tenfold higher than that found among thymocytes of normal mice. At the same time, the frequency of CTLp for an antigenically unrelated allogeneic tumor (EL4) as well as the overall percentage of mature cells was not increased. The cells responsible for the exertion of the enhanced antitumor cytotoxicity following in vitro stimulation of thymocytes from mice treated with low-dose melphalan when they have a large, latestage MOPC-315 tumor are of the CD8⁺/CD4^– phenotype. Thus, the enhanced level of antitumor cytotoxicity generated by thymocytes from mice that are treated with low-dose melphalan when they have a large, late-stage MOPC-315 tumor is due, at least in part, to the presence of an enlarged pool of CTLp specific for MOPC-315-associated antigens, which mature into CD8⁺/CD4^– effector cells upon stimulation with MOPC-315 tumor cells plus low concentrations of rIL-2.supported by Research Grant CA-35761 from the National Cancer Institute and Research Grant EY-05945 from the National Eye Institute. This work is in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree of M. M. B. M. B. M. was supported by a Career Development Award CA-01350 from the National Cancer Institute.     

The p50 Subunit of NF-κB Orchestrates Dendritic Cell Lifespan and Activation of Adaptive Immunity

Dendritic cells play a central role in keeping the balance between immunity and immune tolerance. A key factor in this equilibrium is the lifespan of DC, as its reduction restrains antigen availability leading to termination of immune responses. Here we show that lipopolysaccharide-driven DC maturation is paralleled by increased nuclear levels of p50 NF-κB, an event associated with DC apoptosis. Lack of p50 in murine DC promoted increased lifespan, enhanced level of maturation associated with increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-18 and IFN-β, enhanced capacity of activating and expanding CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in vivo and decreased ability to induce differentiation of FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells. In agreement, vaccination of melanoma-bearing mice with antigen-pulsed LPS-treated p50^−/− BM-DC boosted antitumor immunity and inhibition of tumor growth. We propose that nuclear accumulation of the p50 NF-κB subunit in DC, as occurring during lipopolysaccharide-driven maturation, is a homeostatic mechanism tuning the balance between uncontrolled activation of adaptive immunity and immune tolerance.     

In Vitro Induction of Regulatory CD4+CD8α+ T Cells by TGF-β, IL-7 and IFN-γ

In vitro CD4⁺ T cell differentiation systems have made important contributions to understanding the mechanisms underlying the differentiation of naive CD4⁺ T cells into effector cells with distinct biological functions. Mature CD4⁺ T cells expressing CD8αα homodimers are primarily found in the intestinal mucosa of men and mice, and to a lesser extent in other tissues such as peripheral blood. Although CD4⁺CD8α⁺ T cells are easily identified, very little is known about their development and immunological functions. It has been reported, however, that CD4⁺CD8α⁺ T cells possess regulatory properties. In this report, we present a novel in vitro differentiation system where CD4⁺ T cells are stimulated to become CD4⁺CD8α⁺ T cells in the presence of TGF-β, IL-7 and IFN-γ, resulting in cells with very similar features as CD4⁺CD8α⁺ intraepithelial lymphocytes. This novel in vitro differentiation culture should provide a powerful and tractable tool for dissecting the differentiation and biological functions of CD4⁺CD8α⁺ T cells.     

A Novel TCR Transgenic Model Reveals That Negative Selection Involves an Immediate,Bim-Dependent Pathway and a Delayed,Bim-Independent Pathway

A complete understanding of negative selection has been elusive due to the rapid apoptosis and clearance of thymocytes in vivo. We report a TCR transgenic model in which expression of the TCR during differentiation occurs only after V(D)J-like recombination. TCR expression from this transgene closely mimics expression of the endogenous TCRα locus allowing for development that is similar to wild type thymocytes. This model allowed us to characterize the phenotypic changes that occurred after TCR-mediated signaling in self-reactive thymocytes prior to their deletion in a highly physiological setting. Self-reactive thymocytes were identified as being immature, activated and CD4^loCD8^lo. These cells had upregulated markers of negative selection and were apoptotic. Elimination of Bim reduced the apoptosis of self-reactive thymocytes, but it did not rescue their differentiation and the cells remained at the immature CD4^loCD8^lo stage of development. These cells upregulate Nur77 and do not contribute to the peripheral T cell repertoire in vivo. Remarkably, development past the CD4^loCD8^lo stage was possible once the cells were removed from the negatively selecting thymic environment. In vitro development of these cells occurred despite their maintenance of high intracellular levels of Nur77. Therefore, in vivo, negatively selected Bim-deficient thymocytes are eliminated after prolonged developmental arrest via a Bim-independent pathway that is dependent on the thymic microenvironment. These data newly reveal a layering of immediate, Bim-dependent, and delayed Bim-independent pathways that both contribute to elimination of self-reactive thymocytes in vivo.     

Lymphokine-activated suppressor (LAS) cells in patients with gastric carcinoma

Summary T-cell-growth-factor (TCGF) activated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), cultured for 14 days, showed killer cell activities against natural-killer resistant Daudi cells in a 4 h ⁵¹Cr-release assay. However, the effector cells obtained from patients with nonresectable carcinoma exhibited very much lower cytotoxicity to tumor cells. To analyze the mechanism of depression, we have attempted to examine suppressor cell activities of the TCGF-activated PBL. The assay for the suppressor cell activities was made by in vitro inhibition of cell-mediated cytotoxicity by incubating radiolabeled target tumor cells with lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and TCGF-activated PBL. LAK cells were induced by cultivation with recombinant interleukin-2. TCGF-activated PBL, obtained from four out of ten patients with resectable carcinoma and nine out of ten patients with nonresectable carcinoma, significantly suppressed the LAK cell activities. However, this suppression was not observed in TCGF-activated PBL from ten normal healthy control subjects. TCGF-activated PBL with immunosuppressive reactivity were named lymphokine-activated suppressor (LAS) cells. To investigate the phenotypic characterization of TCGF-activated PBL, the cells were analyzed by two-color flow cytometry. TCGF preferentially expanded CD8⁺CD11^– cells and decreased the growth of CD8⁺CD11⁺ cells in both normal healthy control subjects and gastric cancer (resectable and nonresectable) patients. Dominantly expressed CD8⁺CD11^– cells on TCGF-activated PBL in patients — especially those with nonresectable gastric carcinoma — showed strong LAS cell activity, irrespective of the presence of killer cell activities of CD8⁺CD11^– cells in TCGF-activated PBL from normal healthy control subjects. The results suggested the generation of CD8⁺CD11^– LAS cells from cancer patients, and revealed that CD8⁺CD11^– T-cells contained killer and/or suppressor cell function. In addition, it was found that the TCGF-activated PBL from gastric cancer patients were associated with an increased proportion of CD4⁺Leu8⁺, HLA-DR⁺CD8⁺ and HLA-DR⁺CD25⁺ cells.Abbreviations LAK lymphokine-activated killer - TCGF T-cell growth factor - PBL peripheral blood lymphocytes - rIL-2 recombinant interleukin-2 - LAS lymphokine-activated suppressor This study was supported by a grant-in-aid for scientific research (no. 62570307) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan     

Coupling of the Cell Cycle and Apoptotic Machineries in Developing T Cells

Proliferation and apoptosis are diametrically opposite processes. Expression of certain genes like c-Myc, however, can induce both, pointing to a possible linkage between them. Developing CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymocytes are intrinsically sensitive to apoptosis, but the molecular basis is not known. We have found that these noncycling cells surprisingly express many cell cycle proteins. We generated transgenic mice expressing a CDK2 kinase-dead (CDK2-DN) protein in the T cell compartment. Analysis of these mice showed that the CDK2-DN protein acts as a dominant negative mutant in mature T cells as expected, but surprisingly, it acts as a dominant active protein in CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymocytes. The levels of CDK2 kinase activity, cyclin E, cyclin A, and other cell cycle proteins in transgenic CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymocytes are increased. Concurrently, caspase levels are elevated, and apoptosis is significantly enhanced in vitro and in vivo. E2F-1, the unique E2F member capable of inducing apoptosis when overexpressed, is specifically up-regulated in transgenic CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymocytes but not in other T cell populations. These results demonstrate that the cell cycle and apoptotic machineries are normally linked, and expression of cell cycle proteins in developing T cells contributes to their inherent 1sensitivity to apoptosis.     

Induction of thymocyte proliferation by supernatants from a mouse thymic epithelial cell line

The thymic stroma plays a critical role in the generation of T lymphocytes by direct cell-to-cell contacts as well as by secreting growth factors or hormones. The thymic epithelial cells, responsible for thymic hormone secretion, include morphologically and antigenically distinct subpopulations that may exert different roles in thymocyte maturation. The recent development of thymic epithelial cell lines provided an interesting model for studying thymic epithelial influences on T cell differentiation. Treating mouse thymocytes by supernatants from one of TEC line (IT-76M1), we observed an induction of thymocyte proliferation and an increase in the percentages of CD4-/CD8- thymocytes. This proliferation was largely inhibited when thymocytes were incubated with IT-76M1 supernatants together with an anti-thymulin monoclonal antibody, but could be enhanced by pretreating growing epithelial cells by triiodothyronine. We suggest that among the target cells for thymulin within the thymus, some putative precursors of early phenotype might be included.