Timothy J. Sullivan

Lymphoproliferation in CTLA-4–Deficient Mice Is Mediated by Costimulation-Dependent Activation of CD4+ T Cells

CTLA-4-deficient animals develop a fatal lymphoproliferative disorder. The cellular mechanism(s) responsible for this phenotype have not been determined. Here, we show that there is a preferential expansion of CD4+ T cells in CTLA-4(-/-) mice, which results in a skewing of the CD4/CD8 T cell ratio. In vivo antibody depletion of CD8+ T cells from birth does not alter the onset or the severity of the CD28-dependent lymphoproliferative disorder. In contrast, CD4+ T cell depletion completely prevents all features characteristic of the lymphoproliferation observed in CTLA-4-deficient mice. These results demonstrate that CD4+ T cells initiate the phenotype in the CTLA-4(-/-) mice. Further, these results suggest that the role of CTLA-4 in peripheral CD4+ versus CD8+ T cell homeostasis is distinct.

The Role of CTLA‐4 in the Regulation and Initiation of T‐Cell Responses

The generation of an effective immune response involves antigen-specific T-cell expansion and difTerentiation of effector function. This process involves at least two signals: one mediated by interaction of the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) with specific antigen in association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, and the second an antigen-independent, costimulatory signal. Over the past few years it has become established that the primary source of costimulatory signals is the interaction between CD28 on the T cell with members of the B7 family (CD80, CD86) on the antigen-presenting cell (APC). For several years the functional role of the enigmatic CD28 homologue CTLA-4 in T-cell activation has been both obscure and controversial. In this article we review recent results from our laboratory and others that provide compelling support for an inhibitory role for CTLA-4 in the regulation of T-cell responses. We discuss these results in the context of the two-signal model of T-cell activation, and propose that T-cell responses are regulated by a complex and dynamic interplay of TCR, CD28 and CTLA-4 signals at both early and late stages of T-cell activation. We also discuss the potential offered by emerging information concerning CTLA-4 for the development of new strategies for the manipulation of immune responses in tumour immunolherapy and other clinical situations.

SECONDARY BUT NOT PRIMARY T CELL RESPONSES ARE ENHANCED IN CTLA-4-DEFICIENT CD8+ T CELLS

Negative as well as positive co‐stimulation appears to play an important role in controlling T cell activation. CTLA‐4 has been proposed to negatively regulate T cell responses. CTLA‐4‐deficient mice develop a lymphoproliferative disorder, initiated by the activation and expansion of CD4+ T cells. To assess the function of CTLA‐4 on CD8+ T cells, CTLA‐4−/‐ animals were crossed to an MHC class I‐restricted 2C TCR transgenic mouse line. We demonstrate that although the primary T cell responses were similar, the CTLA‐4‐deficient 2C TCR+ CD8+ T cells displayed a greater proliferative response upon secondary stimulation than the 2C TCR+ CD8+ T cells from CTLA‐4 wild‐type mice. These results suggest that CTLA‐4 regulates antigen‐specific memory CD8+ T cell responses.

Specific blockade of CTLA-4/B7 interactions results in exacerbated clinical and histologic disease in an actively-induced model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

In addition to an antigen-specific signal, T cell activation requires an antigen-independent costimulatory signal provided by interaction of CD28 with B7 (CD80 and CD86) on the APC. By blocking B7 interactions, previous studies demonstrated the requirement for costimulation in the induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Recent studies suggest that unlike CD28, CTLA-4 (a second B7 ligand) delivers an inhibitory signal. To address the regulatory role of CTLA-4 in EAE, we used an antibody directed against CTLA-4 administered at the time of disease induction. This resulted in a significantly more severe clinical course and more inflammatory and demyelinating lesions in the CNS of anti-CTLA-4-treated mice. These data suggest that CTLA-4-mediated inhibitory signals can regulate the clinical severity and histologic parameters of neuroautoimmune disease.

Stabilized immune modulatory RNA compounds as agonists of Toll-like receptors 7 and 8

Viral and synthetic single-stranded RNAs are the ligands for Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 and TLR8. However, single-stranded RNA is rapidly degraded by ubiquitous RNases, and the studies reported to date have used RNA with lipid carriers. To overcome nuclease susceptibility of RNA, we have synthesized several RNAs incorporating a range of chemical modifications. The present study describes one pool of RNA compounds, referred to as stabilized immune modulatory RNA (SIMRA) compounds, in which two RNA segments are attached through their 3′ ends. SIMRA compounds showed greater stability in human serum compared with linear RNA and activated human TLR8, but not TLR7, in HEK293 cells without using lipid carriers. Interestingly, another set of SIMRA compounds containing 7-deazaguanosine substituted for natural guanosine activated human TLR7 and TLR8. Additionally, TLR7- and TLR8-activating compounds, but not the compounds that activated only TLR8, stimulated mouse immune cells in vitro and in vivo and produced dose-dependent T helper 1-type cytokines. Both types of compounds activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but only TLR7- and TLR8-activating compounds activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells and produced high levels of IFN-α. In monkeys, s.c. administration of both types of SIMRA compounds induced transient changes in peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils, and activated T lymphocytes, monocytes, and NK cells. Both types of compounds induced IFN-γ-inducible protein 10, but only the 7-deazaguanosine-containing compound that activated both TLR7 and TLR8 induced IFN-α in monkeys. This is a comprehensive study of RNA-based compounds containing structures and synthetic stimulatory motifs in mouse, monkey, and human systems without using lipid carriers.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) limits the expansion of encephalitogenic T cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-resistant BALB/c mice.

We and others previously reported that cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) regulates the severity of peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mouse strains that are inherently susceptible to the disease. In this report, we show that CTLA-4 engagement also controls disease susceptibility in BALB/c mice, a strain considered to be resistant to EAE induction. Although immunization of BALB/c mice with syngeneic spinal cord homogenate or an I-Ad-binding myelin peptide antigen failed to result in EAE, immunization with either antigen preparation in conjunction with anti-CTLA-4 resulted in both clinical and histological EAE. CTLA-4 blockade also resulted in a preferential increase in the frequency of antigen-specific T cells secreting IFN-γ. We conclude that CTLA-4 controls susceptibility in BALB/c mice by limiting the expansion of autoreactive T cells present in the periphery, suggesting a mechanism whereby CTLA-4 contributes to the maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance to self antigens.

Stimulation by Alcohols of Cyclic AMP Metabolism in Human Leukocytes: POSSIBLE ROLE OF CYCLIC AMP IN THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF ETHANOL

In this study ethanol and certain other short-chain aryl (benzyl and phenethyl) and aliphatic (methyl, propyl, butyl, and amyl) alcohols produced up to 10-fold increases in cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentrations in purified human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Ethanol concentrations as low as 80 mg/dl produced significant elevations in lymphocyte cAMP. Significant but less marked augmentation of cAMP in response to alcohols was observed in human platelets, human granulocytes, and rabbit alveolar macrophages. The mechanism of the alcohol-induced cAMP accumulation is probably secondary to membrane perturbation and consequent activation of adenylate cyclase, because ethanol directly stimulated this enzyme in lymphocyte membrane preparations but had no effect on lymphocyte phosphodiesterase activity. Lysosomal enzyme release, by phagocytosing human leukocytes, and aminoisobutyric acid transport in mitogen-stimulated human lymphocytes were shown to be inhibited by ethanol and other alcohols at concentrations which also elevate cAMP. In general, the magnitude of the inhibition of these inflammatory processes correlated with the ability of the alcohol to elevate cAMP concentrations. Lectin-and anti-thymocyte globulin-induced lymphocyte mitogenesis was inhibited or unaffected depending upon both the concentration and type of mitogenic stimulus and the concentration and type of alcohol utilized. Inflammatory mediator release from rat mast cells also was inhibited by ethanol and certain other alcohols, but whole cell cAMP was not increased. Ethanol may alter these inflammatory responses and other biologic processes at least in part by modulating cellular levels of cAMP.

CTLA-4 Overexpression Inhibits T Cell Responses through a CD28-B7-Dependent Mechanism

CTLA-4 has been shown to be an important negative regulator of T cell activation. To better understand its inhibitory action, we constructed CTLA-4 transgenic mice that display constitutive cell surface expression of CTLA-4 on CD4 and CD8 T cells. In both in vivo and in vitro T cell responses, CTLA-4 overexpression inhibits T cell activation. This inhibition is dependent on B7 and CD28, suggesting that overexpressed CTLA-4 inhibits responses by competing with CD28 for B7 binding or by interfering with CD28 signaling. In addition, expression of the transgene decreases the number of CD25+Foxp3+ T cells in these mice, but does not affect their suppressive ability. Our data confirm the activity of CTLA-4 as a negative regulator of T cell activation and that its action may be by multiple mechanisms.

Lack of a role for transforming growth factor-β in cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4-mediated inhibition of T cell activation

Similarities in the phenotypes of mice deficient for cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) or transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and other observations have led to speculation that CTLA-4 mediates its inhibitory effect on T cell activation via costimulation of TGF-β production. Here, we examine the role of TGF-β in CTLA-4-mediated inhibition of T cell activation and of CTLA-4 in the regulation of TGF-β production. Activation of AND TCR transgenic mouse T cells with costimulatory receptor-specific antigen presenting cells results in efficient costimulation of proliferation by CD28 ligation and inhibition by CTLA-4 ligation. Neutralizing antibody to TGF-β does not reverse CTLA-4-mediated inhibition. Also, CTLA-4 ligation equally inhibits proliferation of wild-type, TGF-β1−/−, and Smad3−/− T cells. Further, CTLA-4 engagement does not result in the increased production of either latent or active TGF-β by CD4+ T cells. These results indicate that CTLA-4 ligation does not regulate TGF-β production and that CTLA-4-mediated inhibition can occur independently of TGF-β. Collectively, these data demonstrate that CTLA-4 and TGF-β represent distinct mechanisms for regulation of T cell responses.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel antagonist compounds of Toll-like receptors 7, 8 and 9.

Oligonucleotides containing an immune-stimulatory motif and an immune-regulatory motif act as antagonists of Toll-like receptor (TLR)7 and TLR9. In the present study, we designed and synthesized oligonucleotide-based antagonists of TLR7, 8 and 9 containing a 7-deaza-dG or arabino-G modification in the immune-stimulatory motif and 2′-O-methylribonucleotides as the immune-regulatory motif. We evaluated the biological properties of these novel synthetic oligoribonucleotides as antagonists of TLRs 7, 8 and 9 in murine and human cell-based assays and in vivo in mice and non-human primates. In HEK293, mouse and human cell-based assays, the antagonist compounds inhibited signaling pathways and production of a broad range of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-α, IL-1β and interferon gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, mediated by TLR7, 8 and 9. In vivo in mice, the antagonist compounds inhibited TLR7- and TLR9-mediated cytokine induction in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from antagonist compound-treated monkeys secreted lower levels of TLR7-, 8- and 9-mediated cytokines than did PBMCs taken before antagonist administration. The antagonist compounds described herein provide novel agents for the potential treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.