Kevin P. Kane

T Cell Responses Are Better Correlates of Vaccine Protection in the Elderly

It is commonly held that increased risk of influenza in the elderly is due to a decline in the Ab response to influenza vaccination. This study prospectively evaluated the relationship between the development of influenza illness, and serum Ab titers and ex vivo cellular immune responses to influenza vaccination in community dwelling older adults including those with congestive heart failure (CHF). Adults age 60 years and older (90 subjects), and 10 healthy young adult controls received the 2003-04 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. Laboratory diagnosed influenza (LDI) was documented in 9 of 90 older adults. Pre- and postvaccination Ab titers did not distinguish between subjects who would subsequently develop influenza illness (LDI subjects) and those who would not (non-LDI subjects). In contrast, PBMC restimulated ex vivo with live influenza virus preparations showed statistically significant differences between LDI and non-LDI subjects. The mean IFN-γ:IL-10 ratio in influenza A/H3N2-stimulated PBMC was 10-fold lower in LDI vs non-LDI subjects. Pre-and postvaccination granzyme B levels were significantly lower in CHF subjects with LDI compared with subjects without LDI. In non-CHF subjects with LDI, granzyme B levels increased to high levels at the time of influenza infection. In conclusion, measures of the ex vivo cellular immune response to influenza are correlated with protection against influenza while serum Ab responses may be limited as a sole measure of vaccine efficacy in older people. Ex vivo measures of the cell-mediated immune response should be incorporated into evaluation of new vaccines for older adults.

Granzyme B: Correlates with protection and enhanced CTL response to influenza vaccination in older adults.

This study compared serum antibody titers and granzyme B (GrzB) levels in virus-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells following influenza vaccination. Twelve of 239 older adults who subsequently developed laboratory-diagnosed influenza illness (LDI) had significantly lower GrzB levels compared to subjects without LDI (p=0.004). Eight subjects with LDI in the previous year showed an enhanced GrzB response to vaccination (p=0.02). Serum antibody titers following vaccination did not distinguish those older adults who developed LDI from those who did not. These results suggest that GrzB levels could be combined with antibody titers to more effectively predict vaccine efficacy in older adults.

A quarter century of granzymes.

Granzymes (Grs) were discovered just over a quarter century ago. They are produced by cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells and are released upon interaction with target cells. Intensive biochemical, genetic, and biological studies have been performed in order to study their roles in immunity and inflammation. This review summarizes research on the family of Grs.

A novel cytotoxicity assay to evaluate antigen-specific CTL responses using a colorimetric substrate for Granzyme B.

We have utilized the unique enzymatic properties of a key cytotoxic mediator in target cell destruction, Granzyme B (GrB), to establish an attractive alternative to 51Cr-release assays for the assessment of antigen-specific CTL responses. A number of potential colorimetric peptide substrates were compared to evaluate levels of GrB activity in cytolytic cells. The most specific and sensitive substrate for GrB was Ac-IEPD-pNA, as shown by the minimal enzymatic hydrolysis in apoptotic Jurkat cells and strong hydrolysis in human NK cells. When human peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro, elevated GrB levels were detected by both Ac-IEPD-pNA and a GrB ELISA. Analysis of allo-antigen-specific murine CTLs revealed that GrB exocytosis was only detectable upon challenge with appropriate allogeneic target cells and strongly correlated to 51Cr-release data. The validity of using Ac-IEPD-pNA in vaccine trials was demonstrated in mice immunized with allogeneic P815 cells, where GrB enzymatic activity was measurable in ex vivo splenocytes cell cultures only upon co-incubation with P815 targets. Additionally, influenza-infected mice were also assessed for GrB activity following in vitro peptide-stimulation of splenocytes and strongly reflected both peptide-specific tetramer staining and 51Cr-release results. The novel cytotoxic assay presented here should give investigators a sensitive, cross-species, nonradioactive alternative to 51Cr-release assays as a means to assess antigen-specific CTL responses in vaccine trials.

How Dna Viruses Perturb Functional Mhc Expression To Alter Immune Recognition

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on how gene products encoded by DNA viruses alter MHC expression and function so as to perturb antigen recognition, and thus potentially provide selective advantage for the virus. Viruses can affect MHC expression by either elevating surface levels to generate inappropriate immune response or lower surface levels to reduce T cell recognition. The chapter summarizes the recent developments in MHC expression and antigen presentation to suggest other potential targets for viral intervention that might prove to be fruitful avenues of inquiry for future studies in virus-induced immune dysfunction because the subject of immune subversion by proteins encoded by DNA viruses is relatively new. The chapter discusses the mechanisms by which poxviruses perturb MHC expression to alter cellular immune responses that reflect the fact that there is a large spectrum in the ability of different poxviruses to evade or depress the cellular immunity. Poxvirus-based vectors can be a powerful tool to analyze the mechanisms of antigen presentation and their optimal usage requires consideration of the potential MHC-modulatory capabilities of the parent poxviral vectors. This chapter focuses on the early genes that affect cell-mediated immunity. A brief description of the adenovirus early gene expression and function follows to provide context for the discussion of early gene viral activities affecting MHC-restricted immune detection and function.

Specificity and function of activating Ly‐49 receptors

Summary: Inhibitory Ly‐49 receptors allow murine natural killer (NK) cells to kill cells with aberrant class I MHC expression while sparing normal cells. This is accomplished by their recognition of specific class I MHC products and prevention of NK‐cell lysis of cells that present a normal repertoire of class I MHC ligands –“the missing self hypothesis”. However, Ly‐49 receptors that lack the cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based inhibitory motif, which is required for inhibition of killing, have also been described. These receptors were found to stimulate NK killing and are therefore referred to as activating Ly‐49 receptors. Interestingly, the activating receptors have class I MHC‐binding domains that are nearly indistinguishable from those of the inhibiting receptors, and binding to class I MHC has now been demonstrated for three activating receptors. Presently, there is no defined physiological role for activating Ly‐49 receptors. Here we present an overview of current knowledge regarding the diversity, structure and function of activating Ly‐49 receptors with a focus on class I MHC specificity, and we discuss their potential role(s) in natural resistance.

NK cells exacerbate the pathology of influenza virus infection in mice

NK cells offer a first line of defense against viruses and are considered beneficial to the host during infection. Nevertheless, little is understood regarding the phenotype and function of NK cells in the lung during influenza virus infection. We found that the frequency of NK cells in mouse lung increased during influenza infection, with the majority of a mature phenotype. Cell surface CD107a and intracellular IFN‐γ were detected in cells expressing multiple NK‐cell receptors in infected lung, suggesting that NK cells were activated during infection. The activating receptor NKp46 was predominantly negative on such cells, possibly as a result of encountering influenza HA. Depletion of NK cells in vivo with anti‐asialo GM1 or anti‐NK1.1 reduced mortality from influenza infection and surviving mice recovered their body weight. Pathology induced by NK cells was only observed with high, not medium or low‐dose influenza infection, indicating that the severity of infection influences NK‐cell‐mediated pathology. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of NK cells from influenza‐infected lung, but not uninfected lung, resulted in more rapid weight loss and increased mortality of influenza‐infected mice. Our results indicate that during severe influenza infection of the lung, NK cells have a deleterious impact on the host, promoting mortality.

IFN-gamma is an absolute requirement for spontaneous acceptance of liver allografts.

Experimental liver allografts undergo spontaneous acceptance despite undergoing rejection during the first few weeks post transplant. We explored the role of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) in the spontaneous acceptance of mouse liver allografts. Strain of mouse (CBA) liver allografts transplanted into normal BALB/c mice developed histologic changes typical of rejection that spontaneously regressed, permitting long‐term survival of these allografts similar to that of syngeneic grafts. In contrast, CBA liver allografts in IFN‐γ‐deficient hosts manifested not only infiltration but also hemorrhage and necrosis, with no survival beyond 14 days. Despite differences in survival, local expression of cytotoxic T‐cell genes in the transplant was not increased in IFN‐γ‐deficient hosts, but livers in interferon‐γ‐deficient mice (GKO) hosts displayed much less induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II expression. To determine whether the difference in survival was secondary to the direct effects of IFN‐γ on the liver, we transplanted livers from IFN‐γ‐receptor‐deficient mice into normal hosts. Liver allografts lacking IFN‐γ receptors also developed hemorrhage and necrosis with minimal induction of MHC expression. Thus IFN‐γ mediates a direct effect on rejecting liver allografts that reduces hemorrhage and necrosis, induces MHC expression, and is absolutely required for spontaneous acceptance.

Ly-49P Activates NK-Mediated Lysis by Recognizing H-2Dd 1

Little is known regarding the ligand specificity of Ly-49 activating receptor subfamily members expressed by NK cells. A new Ly-49 activating receptor related to Ly-49A in its extracellular domain, designated Ly-49P, was recently cloned from 129 strain mice. We independently cloned an apparent allele of Ly-49P expressed by nonobese diabetic and nonobese diabetes-resistant mouse strain NK cells. We found it to be reactive with the A1 Ab thought to recognize a polymorphic epitope expressed only by the Ly-49A inhibitory receptor of the C57BL/6 strain. Rat RNK-16 cells transfected with Ly-49P mediated reverse Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of FcR-positive target cells, indicating that Ly-49P can activate NK-mediated lysis. We determined that RNK-16 lysis of Con A blasts induced by Ly-49P was MHC dependent, resulting in efficient lysis of H-2Dd-bearing targets. We found that the Dd α1/α2 domain is required for Ly-49P-mediated RNK-16 activation, as determined by exon shuffling and transfection. Thus, Ly-49P is the second activating Ly-49 receptor demonstrated to induce NK cytotoxicity by recognizing a class I MHC molecule.

IL-15 transpresentation augments CD8+ T cell activation and is required for optimal recall responses by central memory CD8+ T cells.

Although the adaptive immune system has a remarkable ability to mount rapid recall responses to previously encountered pathogens, the cellular and molecular signals necessary for memory CD8+ T cell reactivation are poorly defined. IL-15 plays a critical role in memory CD8+ T cell survival; however, whether IL-15 is also involved in memory CD8+ T cell reactivation is presently unclear. Using artificial Ag-presenting surfaces prepared on cell-sized microspheres, we specifically addressed the role of IL-15 transpresentation on mouse CD8+ T cell activation in the complete absence of additional stimulatory signals. In this study we demonstrate that transpresented IL-15 is significantly more effective than soluble IL-15 in augmenting anti-CD3ε-induced proliferation and effector molecule expression by CD8+ T cells. Importantly, IL-15 transpresentation and TCR ligation by anti-CD3ε or peptide MHC complexes exhibited synergism in stimulating CD8+ T cell responses. In agreement with previous studies, we found that transpresented IL-15 preferentially stimulated memory phenotype CD8+ T cells; however, in pursuing this further, we found that central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM) CD8+ T cells responded differentially to transpresented IL-15. TCM CD8+ T cells undergo Ag-independent proliferation in response to transpresented IL-15 alone, whereas TEM CD8+ T cells are relatively unresponsive to transpresented IL-15. Furthermore, upon Ag-specific stimulation, TCM CD8+ T cell responses are enhanced by IL-15 transpresentation, whereas TEM CD8+ T cell responses are only slightly affected, both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our findings distinguish the role of IL-15 transpresentation in the stimulation of distinct memory CD8+ T cell subsets, and they also have implications for ex vivo reactivation and expansion of Ag-experienced CD8+ T cells for immunotherapeutic approaches.