Immunosuppression in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes by fluvastatin

Statins are competitive inhibitors of HMG-CoAreductase, which is the major rate-limiting enzyme thatcontrols the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid[1]. Mevalonate derived intermediates, such as isoprenoid,farnyesylpyrophosphate and geranylpyrophosphate, serveas important lipid attachments for the posttranslationalmodification of a variety of proteins such as small GTP-binding proteins of the Ras and Rho superfamily involvedin intracellular signaling [2]. Therefore, apart from the we…     

Identification of human peripheral T cell antigens.

A new type of differentiation antigens on human T cells was demonstrated by using a heterologous anti-human T cell serum (ATS). This type of antigen, referred to as human peripheral T cell antigen (HPTA), was found on peripheral T cells and medullary thymocytes, but not on cortical thymocytes and B cells. The percentage of ATS-reactive lymphocytes in human peripheral lymphoid organs was correlated with that of cells rosetting with sheep erythrocytes, but contrasted with the number of B cells defined by the presence of a complement (C) receptor or by rabbit anti-human B cell serum (ABS). ATS also reacted with T cells purified by nylon fiber column filtration but ABS did not. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells rosetted with either sheep erythrocytes or erythrocyte-antibody-complement complexes were lysed by ATS and ABS, respectively. Mitogenic responses of blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin-A (Con A) were abrogated by treating them with ATS and C, whereas ABS suppressed only their response to Con A. Although numerous thymus cells rosetted with SRBC, only 14% were reactive with ATS. Quantitative absorption studies demonstrated that HPTA content of the thymus cells was much lower than that of lymph node cells. Anatomical localization of ATS-reactive lymphocytes in human lymphoid organs studied by immunofluorescence indicated that they were present in the thymus-dependent paracortical areas of lymph node and in the medullary region of thymus. ABS, on the other hand, did not stain thymocytes but reacted selectively with the cells located in the lymphoid follicles of lymph node. These data, together with that from cell suspension studies, confirmed that HPTA were shared between medullary thymocytes and peripheral T cells.     

Differentiation of human T and B peripheral blood lymphocytes by high-resolution cell image analysis

Automated cell image analysis of light and electron microscopic pictures was used for differentiation of nonlabeled lymphocytes in blood smears and in smears of purified lymphocyte suspensions. The percentages of T and B lymphocytes were determined by a two-step rosette assay with sheep red blood cells (T cells) and an immunofluorescence assay with FITC-labeled antihuman globulin (B cells). Images from 1,400 Feulgen-stained and 12,000 Pappenheim-stained cells were analyzed. Various classification methods allowed two lymphocyte subpopulations to be discriminated at the light and electron microscopic levels on the basis of different visual and subvisual morphologic features. As found by immunologic methods, morphologically determined subpopulations corresponded to T and non-T cells, with no further differentiation of non-T cells into B or null cells possible. The results allow the conclusion that there are morphologic differences between human T and non-T cells, with the differences distinguishable from individual variations as well as from alterations induced by sample preparation.     

Fc receptors and human T lymphocytes in frozen-thawed peripheral blood cells

The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of cryopreservation on human T-cell subsets defined by their membrane receptors for Fc IgM (TM) and Fc IgG (TG) and by their membrane antigens. For this purpose isolated T cells, obtained by neuraminidase-treated sheep erythrocyte (E-N) rosetting, and enriched mononuclear cells were cryopreserved using a programmed freezing procedure. A significant decrease of the TM and TG cells was found whereas the proportion of T cells and their subsets determined by monoclonal antibodies seemed not to be influenced. The effectiveness of T-cell separation by E-N rosetting of frozen lymphocytes demonstrated no impairment of the E-receptor binding capacity of T cells. The PHA reactivity of separated T cells was maintained after cryopreservation; however, the spontaneous blastogenesis was reduced significantly. The selective loss of the TM and TG cells seemed to be dependent on the length of the phase transition time; over 90 sec the capacity of the expression of Fc receptors was profoundly affected. Neither an additional 20 hr incubation after hypotonic shock prior to cryopreservation nor incubation after thawing could repair this function of T cells. The data suggest irreversible damage of the Fc receptor expression capacity on the cell membrane as a result of a disturbance of metabolic pathways rather than a preferentially greater sensitivity of these cells to cryopreservation.     

Immune response to nucleic acid antigens and native DNA by human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro

The immunogenicity of DNA fragments (either oligonucleotide (oligo) or total DNA digest) covalently linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (oligo-KLH or DNA-KLH) was tested with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 63 systemic lupus erythematosus patients (SLE) in vitro. PBL from 10 normal individuals and 11 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients served as controls. Antibodies to three nucleic acid antigens (oligo, denatured DNA (d-DNA), and native DNA (n-DNA] were assayed in supernatants of cultured lymphoid cells by a sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay. More than 50% of SLE and RA patient lymphoid cells formed spontaneous antibodies to one or several nucleic acid antigens. In contrast, only two normals did. After in vitro challenge with oligo-KLH or DNA-KLH, cultured lymphocytes of more than 50% of SLE patients formed antibodies to one or several nucleic acid antigens. Similar results were obtained in PBL from RA patients. In SLE patients, the response to both antigens was either monospecific or polyspecific, but DNA-KLH appeared to raise a greater proportion of antibody to n-DNA than oligo-KLH. A greater proportion of patients with active disease responded in vitro compared with those with inactive disease. A mixture of oligo together with KLH was not immunogenic in vitro. Oligo-KLH or DNA-KLH did not raise antibody to an irrelevant antigen, ovalbumin. Of particular interest, PBL from seven of 10 normal subjects formed antibody to n-DNA after challenge in vitro with oligo-KLH. The data support the view that DNA fragments could be an important immunogen in SLE. Furthermore, this study provides an in vitro model to test the tolerogenicity of similar fragments of DNA linked to self carrier molecules such as gamma-globulin.     

Cell cycle analysis of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes in long-term culture

We have studied the cell cycle of resting T lymphocytes from long-term (LT) cultures following stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and recombinant Interleukin 2 (IL-2). We examined the kinetics of entry into S phase by autoradiography, the accumulation of cellular RNA by microfluorometric techniques, and ultrastructural morphology by electron microscopy. In addition, we examined the expression at the mRNA level of six cell cycle-dependent growth-regulated genes (c-fos, c-myc, KC-1, JE-3, vimentin, and histone H3). We show that T lymphocytes of LT cultures respond differently to mitogenic stimulation than the T lymphocytes of freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures. At the ultrastructural, biochemical, and molecular levels, resting T lymphocytes of LT cultures can be distinguished from physiological (G0) lymphocytes of peripheral blood.     

Shared idiotypes of human peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes.

In a patient with an IgG lambda monoclonal serum component possessing anti-streptolysin O activity, we have demonstrated peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes with shared or similar idiotypes. The idiotypic T lymphocyte membrane structure was capable of binding the specific antigen (SLO). After radioiodination and subsequent detergent solubilization of the same T cell population, immunoprecipitation of the lysate by employing anti-idiotypic antibodies, resulted in the isolation of a polypeptide chain with a m.w. of 70,000 on SDS polyacrylamide gels under reducing conditions. The polypeptide expressed no isotypic immunoglobulin markers. Internal labeling experiments indicated that this membrane structure was actively synthesized by the T lymphocytes.     

Exposure to TARC alters beta2-adrenergic receptor signaling in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes

The beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)-AR) negatively regulates T cell activity through the activation of the G(s)/adenylyl cyclase/cAMP pathway. beta(2)-AR desensitization, which can be induced by its phosphorylation, may have important consequences for the regulation of T cell function in asthma. In the present study we demonstrate that the C-C chemokine thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) impairs the ability of beta(2)-agonist fenoterol to activate the cAMP downstream effector cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) in freshly isolated human T cells. The TARC-induced activation of Src kinases resulted in membrane translocation of both G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) 2 and beta-arrestin. Moreover, TARC was able to induce Src-dependent serine phosphorylation of the beta(2)-AR as well as its association with GRK2 and beta-arrestin. Finally, in contrast to CREB, phosphorylation of Src and extracellular signal-regulated kinase was enhanced by fenoterol upon TARC pretreatment. In summary, we show for the first time that TARC exposure impairs beta(2)-AR function in T cells. Our data suggest that this is mediated by Src-dependent activation of GRK2, resulting in receptor phosphorylation, binding to beta-arrestin, and a switch from cAMP-dependent signaling to activation of the MAPK pathway. We propose that aberrant T cell control in the presence of endogenous beta-agonists promotes T cell-mediated inflammation in asthma.     

T cell differentiation antigens on lymphocytes in the human intestinal lamina propria.

Recently, T cell subpopulations presumably representing memory T lymphocytes have been described in vitro. Intestinal lamina propria T cells (LP-T) have characteristics resembling those of memory cells. We therefore investigated the expression of surface Ag associated with memory phenotype in vitro on lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) and PBL and on the T cell subpopulations defined by the bright expression of CD45R0 by flow cytometric analysis of isolated cell populations. LPL had significantly increased percentages of CD45R0 and CD58 positive cells compared with PBL. Whereas PBL showed bimodal expression profiles of CD45R0, CD58, and CD2, the vast majority of LPL was bright for these Ag. Expression of CD45RA was significantly reduced in both frequency and intensity in LPL, and LPL had significantly reduced percentages of CD11a/CD18 and CD29 positive cells compared with PBL. The CD45R0 bright T cell subpopulations of both PBL and LPL were characterized by a lack of CD45RA. CD45R0 bright T cells from the peripheral blood (PB-T) were predominantly bright for CD2, CD58, CD29, and CD11a/CD18 whereas CD45R0 dim PB-T had bimodal expression profiles and CD45R0 negative PB-T were dim or even negative for these Ag. CD45R0 bright LP-T were also bright for CD2 and CD58 but had significantly reduced surface densities of CD11a/CD18 and CD29 compared with CD45R0 bright PB-T. The surface density of CD29 on CD45R0 bright LP-T corresponded to that of CD45R0 negative PB-T, and a significant proportion of CD45R0 bright LP-T was even negative for CD11a/CD18 and CD29. Additionally, CD45R0 bright LP-T in contrast to PB-T were characterized by a lack of 1-selectin and the expression of CDw49a and the mucosa-specific T cell Ag HML-1 on high percentages of cells. Our results show that the phenotype of CD45R0 bright T cells from the lamina propria clearly deviates from that of memory T cells in vitro and of CD45R0 bright T cells in the peripheral blood. We conclude that memory T cell populations in vivo undergo specific differentiation depending on their tissue localization, leading to unique phenotypic and presumably functional features.     

Extended interferon-alpha therapy accelerates telomere length loss in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes

Background

Type I interferons have pleiotropic effects on host cells, including inhibiting telomerase in lymphocytes and antiviral activity. We tested the hypothesis that long-term interferon treatment would result in significant reduction in average telomere length in peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

Methods/Principal Findings

Using a flow cytometry-based telomere length assay on peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from the Hepatitis-C Antiviral Long-term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) study, we measured T cell telomere lengths at screening and at months 21 and 45 in 29 Hepatitis-C virus infected subjects. These subjects had failed to achieve a sustained virologic response following 24 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha plus ribavirin treatment and were subsequently randomized to either a no additional therapy group or a maintenance dose pegylated-IFNα group for an additional 3.5 years. Significant telomere loss in naïve T cells occurred in the first 21 months in the interferon-alpha group. Telomere losses were similar in both groups during the final two years. Expansion of CD8⁺CD45RA⁺CD57⁺ memory T cells and an inverse correlation of alanine aminotransferase levels with naïve CD8⁺ T cell telomere loss were observed in the control group but not in the interferon-alpha group. Telomere length at screening inversely correlated with Hepatitis-C viral load and body mass index.

Conclusions/Significance

Sustained interferon-alpha treatment increased telomere loss in naïve T cells, and inhibited the accumulation of T cell memory expansions. The durability of this effect and consequences for immune senescence need to be defined.     

Electron microscopic morphometric analysis of human T and B peripheral blood lymphocytes

Using the system of morphometric analysis described in this paper, human peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes, labeled with specific surface markers, can be compared on different analytical levels. They show differences in their surface and the eccentricity of cells, in the relative surfaces occupied by peripheral and central condensed chromatin, in the average surface of the central chromatin clumps and in the number of perichromatin granules per nuclear surface. The morphometric analysis reveals the importance of examining the nuclear and the surface parameters in the characterization of lymphocytes, confirming that a detailed analysis of the nuclear characteristics can contribute to the identification of T and B lymphocytes by transmission electron microscopy.     

Differential regulation of fibronectin receptor subunit gene and cell surface expression in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

Members of the beta 1 subfamily of heterodimeric integrins, such as the fibronectin receptors alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 1, are expressed on human T lymphocytes. The presence of these two adhesion receptors on T lymphocytes suggests an involvement in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions that may be important for the development of immune and inflammatory reactions. We have examined the cell surface expression of alpha 5, alpha 4, and beta 1 subunits on purified peripheral blood T lymphocytes before and after activation with Con A and PMA. Freshly isolated T lymphocytes contained distinct fractions expressing high or low levels of alpha 5 and beta 1. Only a high expressing T lymphocyte population was present after 72-h culture with Con A and PMA. Time course analysis indicated that the shift in alpha 5 and beta 1 expression occurred during the first 24 h after addition of activating agents and occurred in the absence of proliferation. In contrast to alpha 5 and beta 1, essentially all freshly isolated T lymphocytes expressed high levels of alpha 4. After 72-h culture with Con A and PMA, a wide distribution of alpha 4 expression was observed. Further experiments showed that after activation, a proportion of CD4-positive cells decreased their surface expression of alpha 4, but increased their surface expression of alpha 5 and beta 1. In contrast, most CD8-positive cells increased their surface expression of alpha 5, beta 1, and alpha 4 upon activation. An examination of mRNA levels in pan-T lymphocyte cultures after activation indicated that alpha 5 and alpha 4 mRNA expression decreased, whereas beta 1 mRNA expression was unchanged, in Con A/PMA-activated cells as compared to those cultured in medium alone. Our results indicate that T lymphocyte activating agents may differentially affect the expression of alpha 5 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 1, thus providing a mechanism for the selective regulation of binding interactions that occur at sites of immune reactions.     

Small-conductance chloride channels in human peripheral T lymphocytes

During whole-cell patch-clamp recording from normal (nontransformed) human T lymphocytes a chloride current spontaneously activated in >98% of cells (n > 200) in the absence of applied osmotic or pressure gradients. However, some volume sensitivity was observed, as negative pressure pulses reduced the current. With iso-osmotic bath and pipette solutions the peak amplitude built up (time constant ≈23 sec at room temperature), a variable-duration plateau phase followed, then the current ran down spontaneously (time constant ≈280 sec). The anion permeability sequence, calculated from reversal potentials was I^?, Br^? > NO ₃ ^? , Cl^? > CH₃SO ₃ ^? , HCO ₃ ^? > CH₃COO^? > F^? > aspartate, gluconate, SO ₄ ^2? and there was no measurable monovalent cation permeability. The Cl^? current was independent of time during long voltage steps and there was no evidence of voltage-dependent gating; however, the current showed intrinsic outward rectification in symmetrical Cl^? solutions. The conductance of the channels underlying the whole-cell current was calculated from fluctuation analysis, using power-spectral density and variance-vs.-mean analysis. Both methods yielded a single channel conductance of about 0.6 pS at ?70 mV (close to the normal resting potential of T lymphocytes). The power spectral density function was best fit by the sum of two Lorentzian functions, with corner frequencies of 30 and 295 Hz, corresponding to mean open times of 0.54 and 5.13 msec. The pharmacological profile included rapid block by external application of flufenamic acid (50 μm), 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 μm, [6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-1-oxo-1H-inden-5-y1) oxy] acetic acid (IAA-94, 250 μm) or 100 μm 1,9-dideoxyforskolin. The stilbene derivatives DIDS (4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′ di-sulphonic acid stilbene, 500 μm) and SITS (4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyano-2, 2′-disulphonic acid stilbene, 500 μm) prevented buildup of Cl^? current after a 30-min preincubation at 500 μm. When tested in a mitogenic assay, DIDS, flufenamic acid, NPPB and IAA-94 all inhibited T-cell proliferation, suggesting a physiological function in addition to the observed volume sensitivity.     

Comparison of human memory CD8 T cell responses to adenoviral early and late proteins in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissue

Treatment of invasive adenovirus (Ad) disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients with capsid protein hexon-specific donor T cells is under investigation. We propose that cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) targeted to the late protein hexon may be inefficient in vivo because the early Ad protein E3-19K downregulates HLA class I antigens in infected cells. In this study, CD8+ T cells targeted to highly conserved HLA A2-restricted epitopes from the early regulatory protein DNA polymerase (P-977) and late protein hexon (H-892) were compared in peripheral blood (PB) and tonsils of naturally infected adults. In tonsils, epitope-specific pentamers detected a significantly higher frequency of P-977+CD8+ T cells compared to H-892+CD8+ T cells; this trend was reversed in PB. Tonsil epitope-specific CD8+ T cells expressed IFN-γ and IL-2 but not perforin or TNF-α, whereas PB T cells were positive for IFN-γ, TNF-α, and perforin. Tonsil epitope-specific T cells expressed lymphoid homing marker CCR7 and exhibited lower levels of the activation marker CD25 but higher proliferative potential than PB T cells. Finally, in parallel with the kinetics of mRNA expression, P-977-specific CTLs lysed targets as early as 8 hrs post infection. In contrast, H-892-specific CTLs did not kill unless infected fibroblasts were pretreated with IFN-γ to up regulate HLA class I antigens, and cytotoxicity was delayed until 16-24 hours. These data show that, in contrast to hexon CTLs, central memory type DNA polymerase CTLs dominate the lymphoid compartment and kill fibroblasts earlier after infection without requiring exogenous IFN-γ. Thus, use of CTLs targeted to both early and late Ad proteins may improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for life-threatening Ad disease in SCT recipients.     

PPD-induced immunoglobulin production in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. II. Separation of PPD-reactive helper T cells from PWM-reactive helper T cells in polyclonal immunoglobulin production of human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

We investigated the relationship bewteen PPD-reactive helper T cells and PWM-reactive helper T cells in polyclonal Ig production of human PBL. Elimination of PPD-reactive T cells by BUdR + light treatment resulted in a loss of helper function in PPD-induced Ig production, but had no effect on helper function in PWM-induced Ig production. On the other hand, elimination of PWM-reactive T cells resulted in a loss of helper function in both PPD-induced Ig production and PWM-induced Ig production. A blast cell-enriched fraction that was generated by PPD and separated by the velocity sedimentation method contained helper function in both responses. On the other hand, blast cell-depleted fractions did not contain PPD-reactive helper function, although the PWM-reactive helper function was evident. These results strongly suggest that PPD-reactive helper T cells are included in PWM-reactive helper T cells.     

Immature T lymphocytes in human neonatal blood

Thirty-two cord blood samples taken after caesarean section or vaginal delivery and concurrent venous blood samples obtained from normal adult controls were evaluated using monoclonal antibodies. The percentage of circulating pan-T-cell+ lymphocytes was significantly lower in cord blood (46%) compared with adult controls (72%). In the cord cells, 22% showed reactivity with the common thymocyte antigen compared with less than 1% in adult controls. The helper:suppressor ratio was lower in cord blood (1.71) compared with 1.98 for adult blood. These figures reflect a unique population (12%) of immature T cells in cord blood that coexpress helper and suppressor phenotypes. These features are not found in adult blood. These double-labeling studies characterized a previously undescribed blood T-cell phenotype which correlates negatively with gestational age (R = -0.93). These studies reveal the presence of an immature population of T cells in normal human neonatal blood that exhibit the phenotype characteristic of normal developing thymocytes.     

Alteration of signal-transducing molecules in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and peripheral blood T lymphocytes from human colorectal carcinoma patients

 Tumor development or growth is accompanied by impaired immune responses, such as a poor proliferative response or down-regulated cytolytic T lymphocyte activity. Although recent reports have suggested that modification of the signal-transducing molecule is responsible for impaired immune responses in tumor-bearing hosts, the causes of defective immune function are not yet completely understood. Furthermore, the clinical significance of the findings is not yet clear. In this study, we investigated the alteration of several signal-transducing molecules in peripheral blood T lymphocytes (T-PBL) as well as in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from human colorectal carcinoma patients and their relationship with the impaired host immune responses. A greater reduction in CD3ζ chain level was observed in TIL than in T-PBL from tumor-bearing hosts. CD3ζ chain reduction in T-PBL correlated with the clinicopathological stage of a tumor, especially with the status of lymph node metastasis. The levels of p56 ^lck and p59 ^fyn protein tyrosine kinase in T-PBL were also compared between tumor-bearing hosts and normal healthy volunteers. In T-PBL from tumor-bearing hosts, expression of protein tyrosine kinase p59 ^fyn was significantly lower than that of p56 ^lck . However, the level of CD3ζ chain expression did not correlate with T lymphocyte functions such as T lymphocyte proliferative response or allogeneic target cell lysis. Received: 25 September 1996 / Accepted: 25 August 1997