Jillian E. Wohler

LFA-1 is critical for regulatory T cell homeostasis and function

Cellular adhesion molecules involved in cell-to-cell mediated suppression by Tregs are not well characterized. We found that the majority of Tregs expressed LFA-1 but most strikingly that the frequency of Tregs in LFA-1(-/-) mice was significantly lower (approximately 50%) in the spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyers patches compared to wild type controls. The reduction in LFA-1(-/-) Treg cells appears due in part to a reduced capacity of LFA-1(-/-) CD4(+)CD25(-) cells to be induced to become Tregs in the lymph nodes. Importantly, we found that LFA-1(-/-) Tregs fail to suppress T cell responses in vitro and have reduced function in vivo. Treg-mediated suppression does not depend on LFA-1 interactions with ICAM-1 on the surface of responder cells. Our data demonstrate that LFA-1 plays a critical role in regulatory T cell homeostasis and function.

γδ T cells in EAE: Early trafficking events and cytokine requirements

We have previously shown that γδ T cells traffic to the CNS during EAE with concurrently increased expression of β2‐integrins and production of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α. To extend these studies, we transferred bioluminescent γδ T cells to WT mice and followed their movement through the acute stages of disease. We found that γδ T cells rapidly migrated to the site of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide injection and underwent massive expansion. Within 6 days after EAE induction, bioluminescent γδ T cells were found in the spinal cord and brain, peaking in number between days 10 and 12 and then rapidly declining by day 15. Reconstitution of γδ T cell−/− mice with γδ T cells derived from β2‐integrin‐deficient mice (CD11a, ‐b or ‐c) demonstrated that γδ T‐cell trafficking to the CNS during EAE is independent of this family of adhesion molecules. We also examined the role of γδ T‐cell‐produced IFN‐γ and TNF‐α in EAE and found that production of both cytokines by γδ T cells was required for full development of EAE. These results indicate that γδ T cells are critical for the development of EAE and suggest a therapeutic target in demyelinating disease.

β2‐Integrins in demyelinating disease: not adhering to the paradigm

The β2‐integrins are a subfamily of integrins expressed on leukocytes that play an essential role in leukocyte trafficking, activation, and many other functions. Studies in EAE, the animal model for multiple sclerosis, show differential requirements for β2‐integrins in this disease model, ranging from critical in the case of LFA‐1 (CD11a/CD18) to unimportant in the case of CD11d/CD18. Importantly, expression of β2‐integrins on T cell subsets provides some clues as to the function(s) these adhesion molecules play in disease development. For example, transferred EAE studies have shown that Mac‐1 (CD11b/CD18) expression on αβ T cells is critical for disease development, and the absence of LFA‐1 on Tregs in recipient mice results in exacerbated disease. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding the role of β2‐integrins in demyelinating disease and new information about the role of β2‐integrins with respect to alterations in Treg numbers and function. In addition, we discuss the potential for targeting β2‐integrins in human demyelinating disease in light of the recent animal model studies.

Differential ICAM-1 isoform expression regulates the development and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) functions in leukocyte trafficking, activation, and the formation of the immunological synapse. ICAM-1 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of adhesion proteins, which share a similar structure of repeating Ig-like domains. Many genes in this family, including ICAM-1, show alternative splicing leading to the production of different protein isoforms, although little functional information is available regarding the expression patterns, ligand interactions, and functions of these isoforms, especially those arising from the ICAM-1 gene. In this study, we show using different lines of mutant mice (Icam1(tm1Jcgr) and Icam1(tm1Bay)) that alterations in the expression of the alternatively spliced ICAM-1 isoforms can significantly influence the disease course during the development of EAE. Icam1(tm1Jcgr) mutant mice, unlike Icam1(tm1Bay) mutants, do not express isoforms containing the Mac-1 binding domain and had significantly attenuated of EAE. In contrast, Icam1(tm1Bay) mice developed severe EAE in both active and adoptive transfer models compared to both Icam1(tm1Jcgr) and wild type mice. We also observed that T cells from Icam1(tm1Bay) mice displayed increased proliferation kinetics and produced higher levels of IFN-gamma compared to Icam1(tm1Jcgr) and wild type mice. Thus, our investigations show that the alternatively spliced ICAM-1 isoforms are functional, and play key roles during the progression of CNS inflammation and demyelination in EAE. Furthermore, our findings suggest that these isoforms may also play key roles in controlling the development of inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, possibly through differential engagement with ICAM-1 ligands such as Mac-1.

Gammadelta T cells in EAE: early trafficking events and cytokine requirements.

We have previously shown that γδ T cells traffic to the CNS during EAE with concurrently increased expression of β2‐integrins and production of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α. To extend these studies, we transferred bioluminescent γδ T cells to WT mice and followed their movement through the acute stages of disease. We found that γδ T cells rapidly migrated to the site of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide injection and underwent massive expansion. Within 6 days after EAE induction, bioluminescent γδ T cells were found in the spinal cord and brain, peaking in number between days 10 and 12 and then rapidly declining by day 15. Reconstitution of γδ T cell−/− mice with γδ T cells derived from β2‐integrin‐deficient mice (CD11a, ‐b or ‐c) demonstrated that γδ T‐cell trafficking to the CNS during EAE is independent of this family of adhesion molecules. We also examined the role of γδ T‐cell‐produced IFN‐γ and TNF‐α in EAE and found that production of both cytokines by γδ T cells was required for full development of EAE. These results indicate that γδ T cells are critical for the development of EAE and suggest a therapeutic target in demyelinating disease.

Cutting edge: the membrane attack complex of complement is required for the development of murine experimental cerebral malaria.

Cerebral malaria is the most severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection and accounts for a large number of malaria fatalities worldwide. Recent studies demonstrated that C5−/− mice are resistant to experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) and suggested that protection was due to loss of C5a-induced inflammation. Surprisingly, we observed that C5aR−/− mice were fully susceptible to disease, indicating that C5a is not required for ECM. C3aR−/− and C3aR−/− × C5aR−/− mice were equally susceptible to ECM as were wild-type mice, indicating that neither complement anaphylatoxin receptor is critical for ECM development. In contrast, C9 deposition in the brains of mice with ECM suggested an important role for the terminal complement pathway. Treatment with anti-C9 Ab significantly increased survival time and reduced mortality in ECM. Our data indicate that protection from ECM in C5−/− mice is mediated through inhibition of membrane attack complex formation and not through C5a-induced inflammation.

Nylon Wool Purification Alters the Activation of T Cells

Purification of lymphocytes, particularly T cells, is commonly performed using nylon wool. This enrichment method selectively retains B cells and some myeloid cells allowing a significantly more pure T cell population to flow through a nylon wool column. T cells purified in this fashion are assumed to be unaltered and functionally naïve, however some studies have suggested aberrant in vitro T cell responses after nylon wool treatment. We found that nylon wool purification significantly altered T cell proliferation, expression of activation markers and production of cytokines. Our results suggest that nylon wool treatment modifies T cell activation responses and that caution should be used when choosing this purification method.

Deletion of both the C3a and C5a receptors fails to protect against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which inflammation, leukocyte infiltration, and ultimately, demyelination occur as a result of innate and adaptive immune-mediated mechanisms. The pathophysiological role of the complement system, a major component of innate immunity, in the development and progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for MS has been extensively examined. Previous studies from our lab have shown that the complement receptor for the anaphylatoxin C3a, but not for C5a plays an important role in EAE. Based on the important contributions of the complement anaphylatoxin receptors to other inflammatory conditions in the CNS, we reasoned that deletion of both receptors may reveal underlying interactions between them that are important to EAE pathology. We performed EAE in C3aR/C5aR double knockout mice (C3aR/C5aR(-/-)) and observed delayed onset of disease but no attenuation of disease severity compared to wild type mice. Interestingly there was trend toward greater infiltration of CD4(+), but not CD8(+) T cells, in C3aR/C5aR(-/-) mice with EAE, suggesting altered trafficking of these cells. Antigen-specific T cells isolated from C3aR/C5aR(-/-) mice during acute EAE produced elevated levels of TNF-alpha, but markedly reduced levels of IFN-gamma and IL-12 compared to wild type mice. It remains unclear how the changes in these disease parameters contribute to the loss of the protective effect seen in C3aR(-/-) mice, however our data indicate a level of cross-modulation between the C3aR and C5aR during EAE.

Deletion of the G2A receptor fails to attenuate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a chemotactic lysolipid produced during inflammation by the hydrolytic action of phospholipase A(2) enzymes. LPC stimulates chemotaxis of T cells in vitro through activation of the G protein-coupled receptor, G2A. This has led to the proposition that G2A contributes to the recruitment of T cells to sites of inflammation and thus promotes chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases associated with the generation and subsequent tissue infiltration of auto-antigen-specific effector T cells. However, one study suggests that G2A may negatively regulate T cell proliferative responses to antigen receptor engagement and thereby attenuates autoimmunity by reducing the generation of autoreactive T cells. To address the relative contribution of these G2A-mediated effects to the pathophysiology of T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, we examined the impact of G2A inactivation on the onset and severity of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Wild type (G2A(+/+)) and G2A-deficient (G2A(-/-)) C57BL/6J mice exhibited a similar incidence and onset of disease following immunization with MOG(35-55) peptide. Disease severity was only moderately reduced in G2A(-/-) mice. Similar numbers of MOG(35-55) specific T cells were generated in secondary lymphoid organs of MOG(35-55)-immunized G2A(+/+) and G2A(-/-) mice. Comparable numbers of T cells were detected in spinal cords of G2A(+/+) and G2A(-/-) mice. We conclude that the proposed anti-proliferative and chemotactic functions of G2A are not manifested in vivo and therefore therapeutic targeting of G2A is unlikely to be beneficial in the treatment of MS.

Deletion of both ICAM-1 and C3 enhances severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis compared to C3-deficient mice

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and leukocyte infiltration, demyelination of neurons, and blood-brain barrier breakdown. The development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model for MS is dependent on a number of components of the immune system including complement and adhesion molecules. Previous studies in our lab have examined the role of C3, the central complement component, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) a key cell adhesion molecule involved in leukocyte trafficking to sites of inflammation including the CNS. In these studies we demonstrated that myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced EAE is markedly attenuated in both ICAM-1(-/-) and C3(-/-) mice. Given the pivotal role that these proteins play in EAE, we hypothesized that EAE in ICAM-1(-/-) and C3(-/-) double mutant mice would likely fail to develop. Unexpectedly, EAE in ICAM-1(-/-)xC3(-/-) mice was only modestly attenuated compared to wild type mice and significantly worse than C3(-/-) mice. Leukocyte infiltration was commensurate with disease severity between the three groups of mice. Spinal cord T cells from ICAM-1(-/-)xC3(-/-) mice produced the highest levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, despite reduced disease severity compared to wild type mice. The mechanisms behind the elevated EAE severity in ICAM-1(-/-)xC3(-/-) mice may relate to altered homing of leukocytes or processing of self-antigens in the double mutant background.