Down-regulation of IL-2 production by activation of T cells through Ly-6A/E

Ly-6A/E molecules are expressed on the surface of T cells and have been shown to function in activation by the capacity of anti-Ly-6A/E mAb to induce T cell hybridomas or normal T cells to produce IL-2. Recent evidence suggests that activation through Ly-6A/E may be linked to the TCR signaling pathway. To further investigate the relationship between Ly-6- and TCR-induced T cell activation, we have examined whether an anti-Ly-6A/E mAb (D7) modulates TCR signaling in vitro. We now report that mAb D7 specifically inhibited IL-2 production by T cells also activated through TCR. Such inhibition was noted for normal T cells stimulated by soluble anti-CD3 or alloantigen and for T hybridomas stimulated by soluble anti-CD3. The ability of D7 to inhibit IL-2 production by T hybridomas was dependent on the nature of the TCR activating signal because IL-2 production was not inhibited when T hybridomas were stimulated with Ag or immobilized anti-CD3. Inhibition of IL-2 production by D7 apparently required cross-linking of the mAb because D7 F(ab')2 fragments were not effective for inhibition of IL-2 production. Similar to its ability to enhance anti-Ly-6A/E-induced activation of T and B cells, IFN-gamma enhanced the D7-induced inhibition of IL-2 production by alloantigen-activated normal T cells. These data further support the notion that Ly-6 and TCR signaling pathways are interrelated.     

Regulation of B lymphocyte responses to IL-4 and IFN-gamma by activation through Ly-6A/E molecules

The Ly-6 family of cell surface molecules has previously been shown to participate in T cell activation. We show that Ly-6A/E proteins also modulated the response of normal B lymphocytes in three separate in vitro assays. First, unfractionated or small resting B cells proliferated when cultured with IFN-gamma, IL-4, and an anti-Ly-6A/E mAb. Second, this anti-Ly-6A/E mAb restored B cell proliferation responses that were inhibited when coculturing the B cells in IFN-gamma, IL-4, and anti-IgM. Third, anti-Ly-6A/E specifically up-regulated the cell surface expression of its own Ag, and this response was dependent upon co-stimulation with IFN-gamma. Mixing of T and B cells in culture suggested that T cells did not contribute substantially to the B cell proliferative response. Moreover, up-regulation of Ly-6A/E was observed for one B cell lymphoma, WEHI-231. Therefore, it appeared that modulation of B cell function by anti-Ly-6A/E was due to a direct effect of the mAb binding to the B cells. Taken together, these data suggest Ly-6A/E proteins are functional on B cells and may play a regulatory role in B cell activation.     

Selection of T cell receptor expression mutants through the functionally linked Ly-6A

Ly-6A is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored molecule that participates in murine T cell activation. Activation of T cell hybridomas with anti-Ly-6A monoclonal antibody (mAb) leads to production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), but also to a paradoxical growth inhibition, which was used to select for signaling mutants. Fifteen subclones derived from two independent mutageneses and anti-Ly-6A selection were characterized. Thirteen subclones responded poorly or not at all to soluble anti-Ly-6A mAb. Although the selective pressure was exerted through Ly-6A, only one mutant did not express the Ly-6A antigen. Interestingly, 10 of the 15 subclones expressed either nondetectable or a very low level of T cell receptor/CD3 complex (TCR/CD3). Preferential expansion of TCR/CD3 expression mutants following anti-Ly-6A selection further established functional linkage between Ly-6A and TCR/CD3 complex. The mechanism of the functional coupling was investigated by analyzing the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), one of the early events in T cell activation. We showed that PIP2 was not hydrolyzed in response to anti-Ly-6A in TCR/CD3-negative mutants. Aluminum fluoride, which activates G protein directly, did induce PIP2 hydrolysis in these cells. These data suggest that activation signals originated from Ly-6A must be transmitted first to TCR/CD3 complex, which then couples to the G protein/phospholipase C system. A similar requirement also applies to the Thy-1 protein and lectin receptors. Thus, the TCR/CD3 complex plays a central role in the integration and transmission of activation signals that originated from several T cell surface molecules.     

Activation of T lymphocytes through the Ly-6 pathway is defective in A strain mice

The Ly-6 alloantigens have been shown to participate in the process of T cell activation based on the ability of anti-Ly-6 mAb to induce IL-2 production and proliferation of T lymphocytes. In the present investigation we have demonstrated that peripheral T lymphocytes from A strain mice exhibited abnormally low proliferative responses after stimulation through Ly-6A/E and Ly-6C molecules when compared to responses of T cells from numerous other mouse strains. The abnormal activation of the Ly-6 pathway of A strain T cells was not due to ineffective FcR cross-linking of the anti-Ly-6 mAb, to inappropriate cellular expression of the Ly-6A/E alloantigen in A strain T cells, or to an active suppressive phenomenon. T lymphocytes from A strain mice proliferated normally when the cells were activated by mAb to Thy-1 or the CD3/TCR complex suggesting that A strain mice did not exhibit a generalized T cell activation defect. Cell separation studies of T cells and accessory cells demonstrated that this defect was quantitative, rather than qualitative, and that it was complex, residing at both the T cell and accessory cell levels. These results suggest that activation of T lymphocytes via the Ly-6 molecule may involve a signaling pathway and/or cell-cell interactions distinct from those required for optimal activation via CD3/TCR.     

Differential CD3/T cell antigen receptor-mediated IL-2 production in jurkat T cells. Dissociation of IL-2 response from total inositol phosphate and calcium responses

We used three anti-human anti-CD3 mAb each recognizing different surface CD3 epitopes to differentially perturb the CD3/TCR complex on the surface of Jurkat T cells. In the presence of phorbol ester, these anti-CD3 mAb triggered differential IL-2 production in Jurkat T cells, which could not be explained by differences in kinetics of IL-2 production, by differences in IL-2 adsorption caused by differential surface expression of p55 or p75 IL-2R, by effects on IL-2 secretion rather than actual synthesis, or by differential toxicities of the anti-CD3 mAb to Jurkat cells. In addition, this differential anti-CD3-induced IL-2 production could not be explained by differences in mAb isotype or in avidities of the anti-CD3 mAb for the Jurkat cells. Moreover, anti-CD3 mAb covalently immobilized onto beads also differentially induced IL-2 production in Jurkat cells, suggesting that the differential IL-2 response is not based on differential rates of anti-CD3-induced modulation of Jurkat cell surface CD3. Although differences among the anti-CD3 mAb in the initial rates of binding to Jurkat cell were observed, this was also believed unlikely to explain the differential IL-2 response. Regardless of the anti-CD3 mAb used, anti-CD3-induced total inositol phosphate (IP) production did not necessarily correlate with anti-CD3-induced IL-2 production. Nevertheless, despite the differences among the anti-CD3 mAb in inducing IL-2 production, the calcium responses were grossly similar. Taken together, these observations indicate that CD3/TCR-mediated IL-2 production in Jurkat cells can be dissociated from total IP generation, and the basis of differential CD3/TCR-mediated IL-2 production in these cells does not appear to be at the level of the initial activation-induced calcium response. These studies suggest that the nature of the CD3/TCR ligand (its physical form and/or the specific epitope it perturbs) can either directly influence intracellular events distal to the generation of IP and increase in intracellular free calcium leading to differential IL-2 production or can trigger IP-independent pathways that affect IL-2 production.     

Cross-linkage of Ly-6A/E induces Ca2+ translocation in the absence of phosphatidylinositol turnover and mediates proliferation of normal murine B lymphocytes

Ly-6A/E is a phosphatidylinositol (PI)-linked membrane protein whose expression is induced or upregulated on normal murine T and B cells by IFN-gamma. Cross-linkage of Ly-6A/E expressed on normal murine T cells stimulates Ca2+ translocation, and in the presence of a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, lymphokine secretion, and cellular proliferation. Utilizing an anti-Ly-6A/E mAb, we studied the effect of cross-linking Ly-6A/E on IFN-gamma-treated resting B cells, for Ca2+ translocation, PI turnover, and cellular proliferation. Since these events are known to be stimulated by cross-linkage of B cell membrane (m)Ig, we compared the changes mediated through these respective membrane proteins. We show that cross-linkage of B cell Ly-6A/E stimulates a large, rapid, and sustained increase in the concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) comparable in magnitude, though somewhat delayed, relative to that observed after cross-linking of mIg. Cross-linkage of B cell Ly-6A/E does not, however, stimulate detectable PI turnover, in contrast to PI turnover induced by ligation of mIg. Both the Ly-6A/E- and mIg-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i occur through mobilization of internal Ca2+ stores as well as entry of Ca2+ into the cell from the extracellular compartment. Ly-6A/E-mediated Ca2+ translocation appears to be under the regulation of PKC in that short term pretreatment of B cells with the PKC activator, PMA, inhibits the Ly-6A/E- as well as the mIg-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i, whereas prolonged exposure to PMA, under conditions that lead to depletion of PKC, results in an augmentation in Ca2+ translocation after ligation of either Ly-6A/E or mIg. Co-capping studies indicate that Ly-6A/E and mIg cap independently in the B cell membrane, thus suggesting that the Ly-6A/E-induced effects on Ca2+ translocation are not mediated through simultaneous modulation of mIg. Anti-Ly6A/E, by itself, does not stimulate an increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation by IFN-gamma-treated resting B cells, but induces a striking increase in the presence of PMA. By contrast, anti-Ig by itself stimulates significant increases in [3H]thymidine incorporation that is inhibited by PMA. Thus, Ly-6A/E is a potent mediator of B cell activation that may use a signal transduction system in quiescent B cells that is distinct from that of the Ag receptor.     

Activation induced differential regulation of stem cell antigen-1 (Ly-6A/E) expression in murine B cells

Expression of stem cell antigen-1 (Ly-6A/E) is developmentally regulated in murine B cells. However, little is known about its modulation during B cell activation. We report here the differential regulation of Ly-6A/E expression in response to diverse activation signals in mature B cells. Stimulation of resting B cells through the antigen receptor (BCR) inhibited, Ly-6A/E surface expression in dose dependent manner. Activation induced downregulation of Ly-6A/E is specific to BCR mediated signaling events as stimulation of B cells with anti-CD40, lipopolysaccharide or interferon-γ induced upregulation of Ly-6A/E surface expression. The activation induced differential modulation of Ly-6A/E expression is mediated at the mRNA levels. A role for BCR signaling in inhibition of Ly-6A/E expression was further confirmed using STAT-1^−/− B cells, which expressed constitutive, but not inducible Ly-6A/E. The BCR induced inhibition of Ly-6A/E RNA and surface expression was mimicked by ionomycin, but not phorbol myristate acetate, indicating a role for calcium but not protein kinase C dependent signaling events. Inhibition of calcineurin reversed the BCR or ionomycin inhibited Ly-6A/E expression. Interestingly, in vitro differentiation analysis of Ly-6A/E⁺ and Ly-6A/E⁻ splenic B cells revealed the Ly-6A/E⁺ cells to be the major source of antibody production, suggesting a potential role for Ly-6A/E in B cell differentiation. These studies provide the first evidence for activation induced differential modulation and differentiation of Ly-6A/E⁺ B cells.     

The augmentation of surface Ly-6A/E molecules in activated T cells is mediated by endogenous interferon-gamma

The murine Ly-6A.2 and Ly-6E.1 antigens, which can transduce triggering signals in T cells, have been shown to become highly expressed after mitogenic stimulation. It has recently been found that enhanced expression of Ly-6A/E antigens is also induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in resting T cells. Here, the possibility is investigated that Ly-6A/E induction on activated T cells may be due to the IFN-gamma known to be secreted by these cells. A potent neutralizing anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody (mAb) (H-22.10) was used. This mAb was found to abrogate the augmentation of Ly-6A/E antigens produced in resting T cells by supernatants from T cells stimulated with concanavalin A. When added directly into cultures of T cells stimulated with concanavalin A or by the combination of ionomycin with the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the H-22.10 mAb inhibited Ly-6A/E enhancement without affecting the blastogenesis or the emergence of interleukin 2 receptors and transferrin receptors. Such a selective effect of the anti-IFN-gamma mAb indicated that IFN-gamma is involved in the up-regulation of Ly-6A/E antigens during T cell activation. In determining whether other activation signals, in addition to IFN-gamma receptor occupancy, may contribute to Ly-6A/E enhancement, it was found that suboptimal stimulation of BALB/c T cells provided by a 3-hr pulse with ionomycin plus PMA or by culture with PMA alone potentiated by about twofold the increase of Ly-6E.1 induced by exogenous IFN-gamma. Therefore, Ly-6A/E augmentation in activated T cells reflects primarily an action of endogenous IFN-gamma that is amplified (in BALB/c mice) by a protein kinase C-dependent step.     

Absence of cross-reactivity between murine Ly-6C and Ly-6G.

BACKGROUND: The Ly-6 family has many members, including Ly-6C and Ly-6G. A previous study suggested that the anti-Ly-6G antibody, RB6-8C5, may react with Ly-6Chi murine bone marrow (BM) cells. This finding has been interpreted as cross-reactivity of RB6-8C5 with the Ly-6C antigen, and has been generalized to many hematopoietic cell types, using the terminology Ly-6G/C. The present study was undertaken to determine whether anti-Ly-6G antibodies truly cross-react with the Ly-6C antigen on multiple hematopoietic cell types. METHODS: Splenocytes, thymocytes, and BM cells obtained from Ly-6.1 and Ly-6.2 strains of mice were stained with a variety of antibodies to Ly-6C and Ly-6G. Flow cytometric analysis was performed on these populations. RESULTS: Evaluation of anti-Ly-6C and anti-Ly-6G staining showed only Ly-6C expression and no Ly-6G expression on subsets of splenic T and B cells and thymocytes from Ly-6.1 and Ly-6.2 mice. Bone marrow cells were identified that express both Ly-6G and Ly-6C; no Ly-6G+Ly-6C- populations were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple Ly-6C+ hematopoietic cell populations were identified that do not stain with anti-Ly-6G antibodies. This calls into question the use of the Ly-6G/C nomenclature and suggests that epitopes recognized by anti-Ly-6G antibodies should simply be designated Ly-6G.     

Ly-6A.2 expression regulates antigen-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation and cytokine production.

Ly-6 proteins appear to serve cell adhesion and cell signaling function, but the precise role of Ly-6A.2 in CD4+ T lymphocytes is still unclear. Overexpression of Ly-6A.2 in T lymphocytes has allowed us to analyze the influence of elevated Ly-6A.2 expression on T cell function. In this study we report reduced proliferation of CD4+ T cells overexpressing Ly-6A.2 in response to a peptide Ag. Moreover, the Ly-6A.2-overexpressing CD4+ cells generated elevated levels of IL-4, a key factor that propels the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th2 subset. The hyporesponsiveness of Ly-6A.2 transgenic CD4+ T cells is dependent on the interaction of Ly-6A.2 T cells with the APCs and can be reversed by blocking the interaction between Ly-6A.2 and a recently reported candidate ligand. Overexpression of Ly-6A.2 in CD4+ T cells reduced their Ca(2+) responses to TCR stimulation, therefore suggesting effects of Ly-6A.2 signaling on membrane proximal activation events. In contrast to the observed Ag-specific hyporesponsiveness, the Ly-6A.2 transgenic CD4+ T cells produced IL-4 independent of the interactions between Ly-6A.2 and the candidate Ly-6A.2 ligand. Our results suggest that 1) interaction of Ly-6A.2 with a candidate ligand regulates clonal expansion of CD4+ Th cells in response to an Ag (these results also provide further functional evidence for presence of Ly-6A.2 ligand on APC); and 2) Ly-6A.2 expression on CD4+ T cells promotes production of IL-4, a Th2 differentiation factor.     

Ly-4.2: a cell membrane alloantigen of murine B lymphocytes. III. In vitro studies

The alloantigenic specificity Ly-4.2 is present on a restricted population of murine lymphocytes which have previously been shown to have some of the properties generally ascribed to B lymphocytes, both with regard to distribution and function. In the study reported herein, the effect of anti-Ly-4.2 and anti-Thy-1.2 (θ) antisera have been examined in various in vitro systems. (a) T cell-mediated lysis of ⁵¹Cr-labeled P815-X2 target cells by immune allogeneic peritoneal exudate cells is inhibited by anti-Thy-1.2, but not affected by the anti-B (Ly-4.2) reagent. (b) Antibody-dependent lymphocyte-mediated lysis of ⁵¹Cr-labeled sheep red cells was only slightly inhibited by anti-Ly-4.2 and anti-Ig antisera, and not at all by anti-Thy-1.2 antisera, indicating that this type of cell lysis is mediated by neither T (Thy-l⁺) nor B (Ly-4.2⁺,Ig⁺) cells. (c) The response of lymph node lymphocytes to various mitogens was affected thus: PHA, completely inhibited by anti-Thy-1.2 but not by anti-Ly-4.2; Con A, largely inhibited by anti-Thy-1.2, and slightly by anti-Ly-4.2; PWM (pokeweed mitogen), partially inhibited by both antisera; E. coli endotoxin lipopolysaccharide, greatly inhibited by anti-Ly-4.2 but only slightly by anti-Thy-1.2. The findings demonstrate that anti-Thy-1.2 reacts predominantly with T cells and anti-Ly-4.2 with B cells.     

Thy-1- and Ly-6-mediated lymphokine production and growth inhibition of a T cell hybridoma require co-expression of the T cell antigen receptor complex

Repetitive subcloning of an Ag-specific T cell hybridoma yielded a variant that lacked functional mRNA for the Ag receptor (Ti, T cell Ag receptor alpha/beta heterodimer) beta-chains and failed to express CD3/Ti on the cell surface. Transfection with the original Ti alpha- and beta-chain genes restored CD3/Ti expression to normal levels. Whereas the parental T cell hybridoma produced IL-2 when stimulated with mAb against CD3, Thy-1, and Ly-6, the CD3/Ti negative cell failed to do so. Reconstitution of CD3/Ti expression restored normal IL-2 production in response to these mAb. A separate response to activation, the inhibition of transformed growth, was also dependent upon co-expression of CD3/Ti. These data demonstrate that cell surface expression of CD3/Ti is required for IL-2 production and growth inhibition initiated by two distinct activating molecules, and suggest that CD3/Ti may be a final common pathway for many transmembrane activation signals.     

A monoclonal antibody against the 66-kDa protein expressed in mouse spleen and thymus inhibits Ly-6A.2-dependent cell-cell adhesion

The Ly-6 locus encodes several cell surface proteins of 10-12 kDa. Some members of this multigene family may function in cell signaling and/or cell adhesion processes. T lymphocytes overexpressing Ly-6A.2 (one member of the Ly-6 gene family) protein homotypically aggregate when cultured in vitro. Further analysis of this homotypic aggregation suggests that Ly-6A.2 participates in cell-cell adhesion. These observations indicated the presence of a Ly-6 ligand(s) on the surface of lymphoid cells. In this study we report generation of a hamster mAb, 9AB2, that blocks Ly-6A.2-dependent cell-cell adhesion. The 9AB2 Ab recognizes a 66-kDa glycoprotein with unique tissue expression. The 9AB2 mAb does not bind Ly-6A.2, but coimmunoprecipitates Ly-6A.2 molecule. Moreover, 9AB2 Ag-expressing thymocytes specifically bind to Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing Ly-6A.2 protein, and this binding is specifically blocked by 9AB2 and anti-Ly-6A.2 Abs. These results suggest that the 66-kDa protein recognized by 9AB2 mAb is the putative ligand for Ly-6A.2.     

Multiple cytokine interactions regulate Ly-6E antigen expression: cooperative Ly-6E induction by IFNs, TNF, and IL-1 in a T cell lymphoma and in its induction-deficient variants.

The cell surface Ly-6E antigen, known to play a role in T cell activation, is up-regulated by IFNs. In the present study, we investigated the possible interactions between IFNs and other cytokines in this regulation. As a model system, we used the YAC T cell lymphoma, in which Ly-6E is normally absent but can be highly induced both at the mRNA and surface protein levels by IFN-gamma or IFN-alpha/beta. The combination of the two IFNs was found to result in markedly synergistic Ly-6E induction in this cell line. Moreover, mutants of YAC cells were isolated that did not respond to the Ly-6E-inducing action of IFN-gamma or IFN-alpha/beta alone but did respond to their combination. Such a synergistic interaction is consistent with the notion that the two IFN types utilize different intracellular mechanisms to induce Ly-6E expression. Ly-6E induction mediated by IFN-gamma or IFN-alpha/beta was also enhanced by cotreatment with TNF-alpha or IL-1 alpha, which by themselves had no detectable Ly-6E-inducing effect. These two cytokines similarly synergized with IFNs to trigger a response in several Ly-6E-induction-deficient mutants. However, their action could be dissociated in one mutant (B54) where the response to IFN-alpha/beta was enhanced by TNF-alpha, but not by IL-1 alpha. Altogether, these data indicate that Ly-6E antigen expression is regulated by the interaction of several inflammatory cytokines, which may provide a mechanism for the local modulation of T cell activation. The YAC cell mutants described here should facilitate further analysis of the molecular bases of Ly-6E regulation.     

Role of Ly-6 in lymphocyte activation. I. Characterization of a monoclonal antibody to a nonpolymorphic Ly-6 specificity

In studies with alloantisera and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) a number of antigenic determinants have been defined that are the products of the Ly-6 locus on murine chromosome 2 and that are expressed primarily on B and T lymphoid cells. It remains controversial whether these antigenic determinants are encoded by a single gene or a multigene complex. We have characterized a new rat mAb, D7, which recognizes a cell surface antigen whose expression on nonactivated peripheral lymphocytes varies from strain to strain. The phenotype of the staining profile, i.e., high or low percentage of D7-positive cells, mapped to the Ly-6 locus as assayed by strain distribution studies, RI lines, and Ly-6 congenic strains. The binding of D7 to Ly-6.1-positive strains could be inhibited by mAb directed to the Ly-6E.1 specificity, whereas D7 could inhibit the binding of mAb specific for Ly-6A.2 to cells from Ly-6.2-positive strains. Coprecipitation studies followed by Western blot analysis confirmed that D7 reacts with both Ly-6E.1- and Ly-6A.2-bearing molecules. The most likely explanation for these findings is that Ly-6A.2 and Ly-6E.1 represent allelic specificities. Further dissection of the complexity of the Ly-6 antigen system and determination of its possible functional importance in lymphocyte activation should be greatly facilitated by the availability of xenogeneic mAb that recognize framework determinants on multiple Ly-6 products.     

IL-4 inhibits IL-2 receptor expression and IL-2-dependent proliferation of human T cells

Recent studies have shown that IL-4 can affect lymphocyte responses to IL-2. To evaluate the effects of IL-4 on T cell responses to physiologically relevant stimuli, we studied normal human T cells cultured with a low concentration of anti-CD3 mAb and IL-2 in the presence and absence of added IL-4. The addition of IL-4 to cultures of T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb and IL-2 reduced the proliferative response by 49 to 59%. The inhibitory effect was observed in 3-, 5-, and 7-day cultures. Inhibition was dose-dependent with maximal inhibition at concentrations greater than or equal to 5 to 10 U/ml IL-4. IL-4-mediated inhibition occurred early during the T cell response, inasmuch as addition of IL-4 after stimulation for 24 h did not result in significant inhibition. Phenotypic analyses of cells cultured in the presence of anti-CD3 mAb, IL-2, and IL-4 suggested that the mechanism of regulation by IL-4 involves the inhibition of IL-2R expression. The proportion of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells that expressed IL-2R in response to IL-2 was diminished in the presence of IL-4, although HLA-DR levels were unaffected. Soluble IL-2R was also reduced in supernatants of cultures stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb, IL-2, and IL-4 as compared to cultures stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb and IL-2. These findings indicate that when normal human T cells are stimulated in vitro in a manner that approximates a physiologic interaction with Ag in vivo, rIL-4 provides a potent inhibitory signal to IL-2 responsive cells that is likely mediated by IL-4-induced inhibition of IL-2R expression.     

IL-6 is an accessory signal in the alternative CD2-mediated pathway of T cell activation

Recent studies have demonstrated that IL-1 and IL-6 are synergistic accessory signals for activation of T cells. In this study, highly purified human T cells were cultured with either a stimulating pair of anti-CD2 mAb or with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb. Monocytes, a cellfree monocyte culture supernatant or IL-1 were required for anti-CD2-stimulated T cell proliferation, and they each strongly enhanced anti-CD3-induced T cell growth. IL-6 was synergistic with IL-1 as a helper factor for T cell growth after activation via CD2, but we could not demonstrate any effect of IL-6 in the CD3 pathway. The mechanism of the synergistic helper activity of IL-1 and IL-6 on T cell activation in the CD2 pathway was further examined. IL-1 (but not IL-6) was required for induction of IL-2 production. Both IL-1 and IL-6 enhanced IL-2R (p55) expression and the proliferative response to IL-2. T cell proliferation after stimulation with anti-CD2 and IL-1 or IL-1/IL-6 proceeded through an autocrine IL-2-dependent pathway. Moreover we found that, in the absence of IL-1, IL-6 still supported a transient and limited proliferation of anti-CD2- (but not of anti-CD3-) stimulated T cells, which apparently was independent of the autocrine growth factors IL-2 or IL-4. Our data suggest that IL-6 is important as an accessory signal for T cell growth in the CD2 pathway of T cell activation.     

Stimulation of human Jurkat cells by monoclonal antibody crosslinking of transfected-Ly-6A.2 (TAP) molecules.

Monoclonal antibody crosslinking of phosphatidylinositol-anchored Ly-6A.2 molecules on the surface of murine T lymphocytes leads to cell activation and secretion of IL-2. To examine the potential activity of these molecules in human T cells we transfected the Ly-6A.2 gene into Jurkat cells. Transfection of Jurkat cells with genomic Ly-6A.2 sequences results in low levels of Ly-6A.2 on the cell surface. However, linking the Ly-6A.2 sequences to the enhancer from the human CD2 gene results in greatly increased expression of Ly-6A.2. These molecules are anchored to the membrane via a phosphatidylinositol linkage. Crosslinking of Ly-6A.2 molecules with soluble mAb stimulates the transfected Jurkat cells to produce IL-2. This stimulation is abrogated by treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. The transfected human T cells displayed the same unusual crosslinking requirements for stimulation with anti-Ly-6A.2 mAbs as previously observed for murine T cells. Crosslinking of Ly-6A.2 with soluble antibodies is stimulatory, whereas immobilized antibodies are inactive. The crosslinking requirements for antiCD3 mAb stimulation display a reciprocal pattern. These data demonstrate that the Ly-6A.2 pathway for T cell activation is conserved between human and murine T cells.