Cox Terhorst

SLAM Family Receptors Distinguish Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells and Reveal Endothelial Niches for Stem Cells

To improve our ability to identify hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their localization in vivo, we compared the gene expression profiles of highly purified HSCs and non-self-renewing multipotent hematopoietic progenitors (MPPs). Cell surface receptors of the SLAM family, including CD150, CD244, and CD48, were differentially expressed among functionally distinct progenitors. HSCs were highly purified as CD150(+)CD244(-)CD48(-) cells while MPPs were CD244(+)CD150(-)CD48(-) and most restricted progenitors were CD48(+)CD244(+)CD150(-). The primitiveness of hematopoietic progenitors could thus be predicted based on the combination of SLAM family members they expressed. This is the first family of receptors whose combinatorial expression precisely distinguishes stem and progenitor cells. The ability to purify HSCs based on a simple combination of SLAM receptors allowed us to identify HSCs in tissue sections. Many HSCs were associated with sinusoidal endothelium in spleen and bone marrow, though some HSCs were associated with endosteum. HSCs thus occupy multiple niches, including sinusoidal endothelium in diverse tissues.

The X-linked lymphoproliferative-disease gene product SAP regulates signals induced through the co-receptor SLAM

In addition to triggering the activation of B- or T-cell antigen receptors, the binding of a ligand to its receptor at the cell surface can sometimes determine the physiological outcome of interactions between antigen-presenting cells, T and B lymphocytes. The protein SLAM (also known as CDw150), which is present on the surface of B and T cells, forms such a receptor–ligand pair as it is a self-ligand. We now show that a T-cell-specific, SLAM-associated protein (SAP), which contains an SH2 domain and a short tail, acts as an inhibitor by blocking recruitment of the SH2-domain-containing signal-transduction molecule SHP-2 to a docking site in the SLAM cytoplasmic region. The gene encoding SAP maps to the same area of the X chromosome as the locus for X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP) and we found mutations in the SAP gene in three XLP patients. Absence of the inhibitor SAP in XLP patients affects T/B-cell interactions induced by SLAM, leading to an inability to control B-cell proliferation caused by Epstein–Barr virus infections.

Development of chronic colitis is dependent on the cytokine MIF

The cytokine macrophage-migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is secreted by a number of cell types upon induction by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Because colitis is dependent on interplay between the mucosal immune system and intestinal bacteria, we investigated the role of MIF in experimental colitis. MIF-deficient mice failed to develop disease, but reconstitution of MIF-deficient mice with wild-type innate immune cells restored colitis. In addition, established colitis could be treated with anti-MIF immunoglobulins. Thus, murine colitis is dependent on continuous MIF production by the innate immune system. Because we found increased plasma MIF concentrations in patients with Crohns disease, these data suggested that MIF is a new target for intervention in Crohns disease.

The SAP and SLAM families in immune responses and X-linked lymphoproliferative disease

SAP (signalling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein) is a T- and natural killer (NK)-cell-specific protein containing a single SH2 domain encoded by a gene that is defective or absent in patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP). The SH2 domain of SAP binds with high affinity to the cytoplasmic tail of the haematopoietic cell-surface glycoprotein SLAM and five related receptors. SAP regulates signal transduction of the SLAM-family receptors by recruiting SRC kinases. Similarly, the SAP-related proteins EAT2A and EAT2B are thought to control signal transduction that is initiated by SLAM-related receptors in professional antigen-presenting cells. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the structure and function of proteins of the SAP and SLAM families.

SAP controls T cell responses to virus and terminal differentiation of TH2 cells.

SH2D1A, which encodes signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)–associated protein (SAP), is altered in patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP), a primary immunodeficiency. SAP-deficient mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus had greatly increased numbers of CD8+ and CD4+ interferon-γ–producing spleen and liver cells compared to wild-type mice. The immune responses of SAP-deficient mice to infection with Leishmania major together with in vitro studies showed that activated SAP-deficient T cells had an impaired ability to differentiate into T helper 2 cells. The aberrant immune responses in SAP-deficient mice show that SAP controls several distinct key T cell signal transduction pathways, which explains in part the complexity of the XLP phenotypes.

Biochemical studies of the human thymocyte cell-surface antigens T6, T9 and T10

Three human thymic cell-surface antigens T6, T9 and T10, previously defined by monoclonal antibodies, were analyzed using immunoprecipitation techniques. The antigen T6 was found to be a 49,000 dalton glycoprotein, which is associated with beta 2-microglobulin, the small subunit (12,000 daltons) of the HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens. The target antigen for the monoclonal reagent anti-T9 was found to be a glycoprotein of 94,000 daltons, which appears as a disulfide-linked dimer of 190,000 daltons on the cell surface. The antigen precipitated by the anti-T10 antibody is a 45,000 dalton glycoprotein. We present preliminary evidence that all three cell-surface proteins may be integral membrane proteins. These findings, in addition to the distribution patterns, suggest that the T6 antigen is the human homolog of the murine thymus leukemia (TL) antigen.

Crystal Structures of the XLP Protein SAP Reveal a Class of SH2 Domains with Extended, Phosphotyrosine-Independent Sequence Recognition

SAP, the product of the gene mutated in X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), consists of a single SH2 domain that has been shown to bind the cytoplasmic tail of the lymphocyte coreceptor SLAM. Here we describe structures that show that SAP binds phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated SLAM peptides in a similar mode, with the tyrosine or phosphotyrosine residue inserted into the phosphotyrosine-binding pocket. We find that specific interactions with residues N-terminal to the tyrosine, in addition to more characteristic C-terminal interactions, stabilize the complexes. A phosphopeptide library screen and analysis of mutations identified in XLP patients confirm that these extended interactions are required for SAP function. Further, we show that SAP and the similar protein EAT-2 recognize the sequence motif TIpYXX(V/I).

Stimulation of the T3-T cell receptor complex induces a membrane-potential-sensitive calcium influx

Three monoclonal antibodies selected for their recognition of parts of the T3-T cell receptor complex on human T lymphocytes were found to induce an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ (Ca2+i) in the T cell leukemia line HPB-ALL as measured by Quin2 fluorescence. These reagents are directed against T3 (OKT3), a nonvariable T3-associated structure (WT-31) and the variable region of the T3-associated antigen receptor (T40/25) of this cell line. The rise in Ca2+i was dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+, occurred within 30 sec of stimulation, and was sustained for at least 10 min. Fab fragments of OKT3 also caused a rapid increase in Ca2+i, indicating that cross-linking is not necessary to induce a Ca2+ response. Alterations in plasma membrane potential and La3+ blocked the Ca2+ influx induced by OKT3 and T40/25. These data suggest that the T3-T cell receptor complex of human T lymphocytes may be an antigen-regulated Ca2+ channel.

Cutting Edge: The Natural Ligand for Glucocorticoid-Induced TNF Receptor-Related Protein Abrogates Regulatory T Cell Suppression

CD4+25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells maintain immunological self-tolerance through mechanisms that are only in part understood. Previous studies suggest that the glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR), which is preferentially expressed on the surface of Treg cells, potentially provides a signal that abrogates Treg suppression. In this study, we show that a soluble form of mouse GITR ligand (sGITR-L) induces GITR-dependent NF-κB activation and blocks in vitro suppression mediated by both resting and preactivated polyclonal and Ag-specific Treg cells. Since sGITR-L along with rIL-2 induces proliferation of CD4+25+ cells, it appears that sGITR-L can break the anergic state of Treg cells. Because sGITR-L also up-regulates IL-2 secretion by activated CD4+25 −T cells, these two sGITR-L induced signals synergize to interfere with suppressor activity by CD4+25+ Treg cells.

Severe colitis in mice with aberrant thymic selection

Tg epsilon 26 mice display an arrest very early in T cell development that has a profound effect on the architecture of thymic stromal cells. We have recently demonstrated that transplantation of wild-type bone marrow cells restores the thymic microenvironment of fetal but not adult Tg epsilon 26 mice. Here, we report that T cell-reconstituted adult Tg epsilon 26 mice develop a spontaneous wasting syndrome characterized by extensive inflammation of the colon, resembling human ulcerative colitis. Colitis in these animals was marked by substantial infiltration of the colon by activated thymus-derived CD4+ T cells. Importantly, bone marrow-transplanted Tg epsilon 26 mice previously engrafted with a fetal Tg epsilon 26 thymus did not develop colitis. These results suggest that T cells selected in an aberrant thymic microenvironment contain a population of cells able to induce severe colitis that can be prevented by T cells that have undergone normal thymic development.