Jean-Pierre Aubry

OmpA targets dendritic cells, induces their maturation and delivers antigen into the MHC class I presentation pathway.

We analyzed the interaction between a bacterial cell wall protein and dendritic cells (DCs). Outer membrane protein A from Klebsiella pneumoniae (kpOmpA) specifically bound to professional antigen presenting cells and was endocytosed by immature DCs via a receptor-dependent mechanism. kpOmpA signaled through Toll-like receptor 2, induced DCs to produce interleukin 12 and induced maturation of DCs. Whole antigen that was coupled to kpOmpA and injected into mice was taken up by DCs and delivered to the conventional cytosolic MHC class I presentation pathway. kpOmpA also primed antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs in the absence of CD4+ T cell help or adjuvant and elicited therapeutic immunity to antigen-expressing tumors. Thus, OmpA belongs to a class of proteins that are able to elicit CTL responses to exogenous antigen.

Annexin V used for measuring apoptosis in the early events of cellular cytotoxicity

BACKGROUND Current cytotoxic assays, including Cr release and fluorescent assays, do not directly measure the proportion of target cells which are killed by apoptosis. Cell-mediated cytotoxicity induced by CTLs and NK cells is mainly regulated by the perforin-granzyme, the Fas ligand (Fas L), and the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha pathways. Perforin generates pores in the membrane of target cells, allowing granzyme B to enter and initiate apoptosis. The other effectors, Fas L and TNF-alpha act by an apoptosis mechanism, leading to DNA fragmentation. A three color flow cytometric method to measure cell-mediated cytotoxicity induced by CTLs or NK cells is described. METHODS The fluorochromes used are: PKH-26, a stable membrane dye for the labeling of the effector cells, annexin V-FITC which allows the direct evaluation of early apoptotic cells and propidium iodide which distinguishes membrane permeabilized and late apoptotic cells. RESULTS By eliminating through gating PKH-26 positive effector cells, we obtain a direct estimation of the percentage of target cells in the early stages of apoptosis as well as the percentage of target cells dying after late apoptosis and membrane permeabilization. The cytotoxic activity of IL-2 stimulated PBL against K562, Jurkat and KYM-1 was evaluated. CONCLUSIONS This rapid and novel assay permits the discrimination of the cell death mechanisms occurring during a cytotoxic response and to precisely evaluate the contribution of apoptosis in the early phases of cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

CD23 Regulates monocyte activation through a novel interaction with the adhesion molecules CD11b-CD18 and CD11c-CD18

CD23 is expressed on a variety of haemopoietic cells and displays pleiotropic activities in vitro. We report that in addition to CD21 and IgE, CD23 interacts specifically with the CD11b and CD11c, the alpha chains of the beta 2 integrin adhesion molecule complexes CD11b-CD18 and CD11c-CD18, on monocytes. Full-length recombinant CD23 incorporated into fluorescent liposomes was shown to bind to COS cells transfected with cDNA encoding either CD11b-CD18 or CD11c-CD18 but not with CD11a-CD18. The interaction was specifically inhibited by anti-CD11b or anti-CD11c, respectively, and by anti-CD23 MAbs. The functional significance of this ligand pairing was demonstrated by triggering CD11b and CD11c on monocytes with either recombinant CD23 or anti-CD11b and anti-CD11c MAbs to cause a marked increase in nitrite-oxidative products and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha). These CD23-mediated activities were decreased by Fab fragments of MAbs to CD11b, CD11c, and CD23. These results demonstrate that CD11b and CD11c are receptors for CD23 and that this novel ligand pairing regulates important activities of monocytes.

Human CD40-ligand: molecular cloning, cellular distribution and regulation of expression by factors controlling IgE production

Here we report the cloning of the cDNA for human CD40‐Ligand (CD40‐L) from a CD4‐positive T cell clone. The deduced amino acid sequence predicts a type II membrane protein of 261 amino acids. Northern blot and FACS analysis of PBMNC revealed that the human CD40‐L can be detected on T cells and is absent from B cells and monocytes. The human CD40‐L is expressed on both CD4‐ and CD8‐positive T cells, (CD45RO+) and (CD45RA+) subsets. We observed that IL‐4, an inducer of IgE production, upregulated CD40‐L mRNA level while IFNy, an inhibitor of IgE synthesis, reduced the expression of CD40‐L mRNA. These data suggest a the correlation between human CD40‐L expression and IgE production.

The distribution of IL-13 receptor α1 expression on B cells, T cells and monocytes and its regulation by IL-13 and IL-4

To study the expression of IL‐13 receptor α1 (IL‐13Rα1), specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were generated. Surface expression of the IL‐13Rα1 on B cells, monocytes and T cells was assessed by flow cytometry using these specific mAb. Among tonsillar B cells, the expression was the highest on the IgD+ CD38− B cell subpopulation which is believed to represent naive B cells. Expression was also detectable on a large fraction of the IgD−CD38− B cells but not on CD38+ B cells. Activation under conditions which promote B cell Ig class switching up‐regulated the expression of the receptor. However, the same stimuli had an opposite effect for IL‐13Rα1 expression levels on monocytes. While IL‐13Rα1 mRNA was clearly detectable in T cell preparations, no surface expression was detected. However, permeabilization of the T cells showed a clear intracellular expression of the receptor. A soluble form of the receptor was immunoprecipitated from the supernatant of activated peripheral T cells, suggesting that T cell IL‐13Rα1 might have functions unrelated to the capacity to form a type II IL‐4 / IL‐13R with IL‐4Rα.

The Involvement of an ATP-Gated Ion Channel, P2X1, in Thymocyte Apoptosis

In the immune system, apoptosis is involved in intrathymic elimination of self-reactive thymocytes and in peripheral T cell tolerance to exogenous antigens. Here, we describe the role in T cell apoptosis of P(2x1), a nonselective cation channel activated by ATP. P(2X1) molecules are up-regulated in thymocytes during dexamethasone-induced apoptosis, and antagonists to these receptors protect thymocytes from cell death. Moreover, P(2X1) mRNA and protein levels increase in thymocytes induced to die in vivo by the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B. In contrast, T cells undergoing apoptosis in the periphery do not express P(2X1). The demonstration that P(2X1) ion channels play a role in the apoptosis of thymocytes but not peripheral T cells illustrates a novel mechanism contributing to thymocyte cell death and opens new possibilities for investigating clonal deletion in the thymus.

Soluble CD86 is a costimulatory molecule for human T lymphocytes.

CD86 is an important costimulatory molecule for the priming and activation of naive and memory T cells, respectively. Here, we show that soluble CD86 is detected in human serum. Soluble CD86 is produced by resting monocytes and results from an alternatively spliced transcript (CD86deltaTM) characterized by deletion of the transmembrane domain. Recombinant CD86deltaTM binds to CD28 and CTLA-4 and induces the activation of T cells after stimulation with anti-CD3 mAb. CD86deltaTM also induces IFNgamma production by virus-specific CD8+ memory human T cells stimulated with the Flu M1 peptide. The concentrations of soluble CD86 found in human serum are sufficient to induce biological activity. Soluble CD86 molecule, therefore, appears to be a functional costimulatory molecule playing a potentially important role in immune surveillance.

Structure and functions of CD23.

This review summarizes recent data on CD23, a low affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII). CD23 is the only FcR which does not belong to the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. The CD23 molecule was discovered independently as an IgE receptor on human lymphoblastoid B cells [1], as a cell surface marker expressed on Epstein-Barr-Virus-transformed B cells (EBVCS) [2] and as a B-cell activation antigen (Blast 2) [3]. CD23 was shown to be a low affinity receptor for IgE [4,5]. Similar to most FcR, soluble forms of CD23 (sCD23) are released into extracellular fluids. The soluble fragments formed by proteolytic cleavage of surface CD23 are not only capable of binding IgE (IgE binding factors) but also exhibit multiple functions that are not IgE related. These observations together with the finding that CD23 displays significant homology with Ca(2+)-dependent (C-type) animal lectins, suggested the existence of natural ligands other than IgE. The recent finding that CD23 interacts with CD21, CD11b and CD11c indicates that CD23 should be viewed not only as a low affinity IgE receptor but also as an adhesion molecule involved in cell-cell interaction. After a brief overview of the molecular structure, there follows a discussion of the biological activities ascribed to human CD23.

Cutting Edge: Outer Membrane Protein A (OmpA) Binds to and Activates Human Macrophages

Outer membrane protein (Omp)A is highly represented and conserved in the Enterobacteriaceae family. Using a recombinant OmpA from Klebsiella pneumoniae (P40), we have analyzed the interaction between OmpA and macrophages. We report that Alexa488-labeled P40 binds (at 4°C) to murine and human macrophages in a dose-dependent manner and is rapidly internalized (at 37°C). No binding or internalization of the Alexa488-labeled glycophorin A control protein is observed under the same conditions. Furthermore, P40 up-regulates the production of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α by human macrophages and of NO by the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. P40 also synergizes with IFN-γ and suboptimal concentrations of LPS to up-regulate the production of these mediators. In conclusion, P40 binds to and activates macrophages. These data suggest that recognition of OmpA by macrophages may be an initiating event in the antibacterial host response.

CD23 and B-cell activation

The past year has seen the publication of significant new findings on the regulation of CD23 expression, the precise interaction of CD23 with CD21 and its functional consequences. Moreover, new advances have been made in unravelling the biochemical network of events downstream from the triggering of CD23 in human B cells. Analyses of the properties of CD23-deficient mice have demonstrated a link between IgE regulation and CD23 in vivo.