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Prior experimental strategies to induce transplantation tolerance have focused largely on modifying adaptive immunity. However,less is known concerning the role of innate immune signaling in the induction of transplantation tolerance. Using a highly immunogenic murine skin transplant model that resists transplantation tolerance induction when innate immunity is preserved,we show that absence of MyD88,a key innate Toll like receptor signal adaptor,abrogates this resistance and facilitates inducible allograft acceptance. In our model,absence of MyD88 impairs inflammatory dendritic cell responses that reduce T cell activation. This effect increases T cell susceptibility to suppression mediated by CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells. Therefore,this study provides evidence that absence of MyD88 promotes inducible allograft acceptance and implies that inhibiting innate immunity may be a potential,clinically relevant strategy to facilitate transplantation tolerance. View Publication

The human pre-T-cell receptor alpha (TCRalpha; pTalpha) gene encodes a polypeptide which associates with the TCRbeta chain and CD3 molecules to form the pre-TCR complex. The surface expression of the pre-TCR is pTalpha dependent,and signaling through this complex triggers an early alphabeta T-cell developmental checkpoint inside the thymus,known as beta-selection. E2A transcription factors,which are involved at multiple stages of T-cell development,regulate the transcription of the pTalpha gene. Here we show that the regulatory protein Tax of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) efficiently suppresses the E47-mediated activation of the pTalpha promoter. Furthermore,we report that in Tax lentivirally transduced human MOLT-4 T cells,which constitutively express the pTalpha gene,the amount of pTalpha transcripts decreases. Such a decrease is not observed in MOLT-4 cells transduced by a vector encoding the Tax mutant K88A,which is unable to interact with p300. These data underline that Tax inhibits pTalpha transcription by recruiting this coactivator. Finally,we show that the expression of Tax in human immature thymocytes results in a decrease of pTalpha gene transcription but does not modify the level of E47 transcripts. These observations indicate that Tax,by silencing E proteins,down-regulates pTalpha gene transcription during early thymocyte development. They further provide evidence that Tax can interfere with an important checkpoint during T-cell differentiation in the thymus. View Publication

Disruption of pathways leading to programmed cell death plays a major role in most malignancies,including multiple myeloma (MM). ABT-737 is a BH3 mimetic small-molecule inhibitor that binds with high affinity to Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL,preventing the sequestration of proapoptotic molecules and shifting the cell survival/apoptosis balance toward apoptosis induction. In this study,we show that ABT-737 is cytotoxic to MM cell lines,including those resistant to conventional therapies,and primary tumor cells. Flow cytometric analysis of intracellular levels of Bcl-2 family proteins demonstrates a clear inversion of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio leading to induction of apoptosis. Activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was indicated by mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspase cleavage. Additionally,several signaling pathways known to be important for MM cell survival are disrupted following treatment with ABT-737. The impact of ABT-737 on survival could not be overcome by the addition of interleukin-6,vascular endothelial growth factor or insulin-like growth factor,suggesting that ABT-737 may be effective in preventing the growth and survival signals provided by the microenvironment. These data indicate that therapies targeting apoptotic pathways may be effective in MM treatment and warrant clinical evaluation of ABT-737 and similar drugs alone or in combination with other agents in the setting of MM. View Publication

A first step in hematopoiesis is the specification of the lymphoid and myeloid lineages from multipotent progenitor cells in the bone marrow. Using a conditional ablation strategy in adult mice,we show that this differentiation step requires Patched (Ptch),the cell surface-bound receptor for Hedgehog (Hh). In the absence of Ptch,the development of T- and B-lymphoid lineages is blocked at the level of the common lymphoid progenitor in the bone marrow. Consequently,the generation of peripheral T and B cells is abrogated. Cells of the myeloid lineage develop normally in Ptch mutant mice. Finally,adoptive transfer experiments identified the stromal cell compartment as a critical Ptch-dependent inducer of lymphoid versus myeloid lineage commitment. Our data show that Ptch acts as a master switch for proper diversification of hematopoietic stem cells in the adult organism. View Publication

We have previously developed an antibody fusion protein composed of a mouse/human chimeric IgG3 specific for the human transferrin receptor genetically fused to avidin (anti-hTfR IgG3-Av) as a universal delivery system for cancer therapy. This fusion protein efficiently delivers biotinylated FITC into cancer cells via TfR-mediated endocytosis. In addition,anti-hTfR IgG3-Av alone exhibits intrinsic cytotoxic activity and interferes with hTfR recycling,leading to the rapid degradation of the TfR and lethal iron deprivation in certain malignant B-cell lines. We now report on the cytotoxic effects of a conjugate composed of anti-hTfR IgG3-Av and biotinylated saporin 6 (b-SO6),a toxin derived from the plant Saponaria officinalis that inhibits protein synthesis. Conjugation of anti-hTfR IgG3-Av with b-SO6 enhances the cytotoxic effect of the fusion protein in sensitive cells and also overcomes the resistance of malignant cells that show low sensitivity to the fusion protein alone. Our results show for the first time that loading anti-hTfR IgG3-Av with a biotinylated toxin enhances the cytotoxicity of the fusion protein alone. These results suggest that anti-hTfR IgG3-Av has great potential as a therapeutic agent for a wide range of applications due to its intrinsic cytotoxic activity plus its ability to deliver biotinylated molecules into cancer cells. View Publication

Germinal center (GC) responses to T-dependent Ags require effective collaboration between Th cells,activated B cells,and follicular dendritic cells within a highly organized microenvironment. Studies using gene-targeted mice have highlighted nonredundant molecules that are key for initiating and maintaining the GC niche,including the molecules of the ICOS,CD40,and lymphotoxin (LT) pathways. Signaling through ICOS has multiple consequences,including cytokine production,expression of CD40L on Th cells,and differentiation into CXCR5(+) follicular Th cells,all of which are important in the GC reaction. We have therefore taken advantage of ICOS(-/-) mice to dissect which downstream elements are required to initiate the formation of GC. In the context of a T-dependent immune response,we found that GC B cells from ICOS(-/-) mice express lower levels of LTalphabeta compared with wild-type GC B cells in vivo,and stimulation of ICOS on T cells induces LTalphabeta on B cells in vitro. Administration of agonistic anti-LTbeta receptor Ab was unable to restore the GC response in ICOS(-/-) mice,suggesting that additional input from another pathway is required for optimal GC generation. In contrast,treatment with agonistic anti-CD40 Ab in vivo recovered GC networks and restored LTalphabeta expression on GC B cells in ICOS(-/-) mice,and this effect was dependent on LTbeta receptor signaling. Collectively,these data demonstrate that ICOS activation is a prerequisite for the up-regulation of LTalphabeta on GC B cells in vivo and provide a model for cooperation between ICOS,CD40,and LT pathways in the context of the GC response. View Publication

Understanding the cellular mechanisms that ensure an appropriate innate immune response against viral pathogens is an important challenge of biomedical research. In vitro studies have shown that natural killer (NK) cells purified from healthy donors can kill heterologous cell lines or autologous CD4+ T cell blasts exogenously infected with several strains of HIV-1. However,it is not known whether the deleterious effects of high HIV-1 viremia interferes with the NK cell-mediated cytolysis of autologous,endogenously HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells. Here,we stimulate primary CD4+ T cells,purified ex vivo from HIV-1-infected viremic patients,with PHA and rIL2 (with or without rIL-7). This experimental procedure allows for the significant expansion and isolation of endogenously infected CD4+ T cell blasts detected by intracellular staining of p24 HIV-1 core antigen. We show that,subsequent to the selective down-modulation of MHC class-I (MHC-I) molecules,HIV-1-infected p24(pos) blasts become partially susceptible to lysis by rIL-2-activated NK cells,while uninfected p24(neg) blasts are spared from killing. This NK cell-mediated killing occurs mainly through the NKG2D activation pathway. However,the degree of NK cell cytolytic activity against autologous,endogenously HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cell blasts that down-modulate HLA-A and -B alleles and against heterologous MHC-I(neg) cell lines is particularly low. This phenomenon is associated with the defective surface expression and engagement of natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) and with the high frequency of the anergic CD56(neg)/CD16(pos) subsets of highly dysfunctional NK cells from HIV-1-infected viremic patients. Collectively,our data demonstrate that the chronic viral replication of HIV-1 in infected individuals results in several phenotypic and functional aberrancies that interfere with the NK cell-mediated killing of autologous p24(pos) blasts derived from primary T cells. View Publication

OBJECTIVE: The T-cell receptor zeta (TCR zeta)-chain is a master sensor and regulator of lymphocyte responses. Loss of TCR zeta-chain expression has been documented during infectious and inflammatory diseases and defines a population of effector T cells (TCR zeta(dim) T cells) that migrate to inflamed tissues. We assessed the expression and functional correlates of circulating TCR zeta(dim) T cells in coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the expression of TCR zeta-chain by flow cytometry in 140 subjects. Increased peripheral blood CD4(+) TCR zeta(dim) T cells were found in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS,n=66; median 5.3%,interquartile 2.6 to 9.1% of total CD4(+) T cells; Ptextless0.0001) compared to chronic stable angina (CSA,n=32; 1.6%; 1.0 to 4.1%) and controls (n=42; 1.5%; 0.5 to 2.9%). Such increase was significantly greater in ACS patients with elevated levels of C-reactive protein,and it persisted after the acute event. Moreover,TCR zeta(dim) cells were also more represented within CD8(+) T cell,NK,and CD4(+)CD28(null) T cell subsets in ACS compared to CSA and controls. Finally,CD4(+) and CD8(+) TCR zeta(dim) T cells isolated from ACS displayed an enhanced transendothelial migratory capacity. CONCLUSIONS: TCR zeta(dim) T cells,an effector T-cell subset with transendothelial migratory ability,are increased in ACS,and may be implicated in coronary instability. View Publication

The role of epitope-specific TCR repertoire diversity in the control of HIV-1 viremia is unknown. Further analysis at the clonotype level is important for understanding the structural aspects of the HIV-1 specific repertoire that directly relate to CTL function and ability to suppress viral replication. In this study,we performed in-depth analysis of T cell clonotypes directed against a dominantly recognized HLA B57-restricted epitope (KAFSPEVIPMF; KF11) and identified common usage of the TCR beta-chain TRBV7 in eight of nine HLA B57 subjects examined,regardless of HLA B57 subtype. Despite this convergent TCR gene usage,structural and functional assays demonstrated no substantial difference in functional or structural avidity between TRBV7 and non-TRBV7 clonotypes and this epitopic peptide. In a subject where TRBV7-usage did not confer cross-reactivity against the dominant autologous sequence variant,another circulating TCR clonotype was able to preferentially recognize the variant peptide. These data demonstrate that despite selective recruitment of TCR for a conserved epitope over the course of chronic HIV-1 infection,TCR repertoire diversity may benefit the host through the ability to recognize circulating epitope variants. View Publication

Animal models of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have been used to analyze the turnover of bone marrow-derived cells and to demonstrate the critical role of recipient antigen-presenting cells (APC) in graft versus host disease (GVHD). In humans,the phenotype and lineage relationships of myeloid-derived tissue APC remain incompletely understood. It has also been proposed that the risk of acute GVHD,which extends over many months,is related to the protracted survival of certain recipient APC. Human dermis contains three principal subsets of CD45(+)HLA-DR(+) cells: CD1a(+)CD14(-) DC,CD1a(-)CD14(+) DC,and CD1a(-)CD14(+)FXIIIa(+) macrophages. In vitro,each subset has characteristic properties. After transplantation,both CD1a(+) and CD14(+) DC are rapidly depleted and replaced by donor cells,but recipient macrophages can be found in GVHD lesions and may persist for many months. Macrophages isolated from normal dermis secrete proinflammatory cytokines. Although they stimulate little proliferation of naive or memory CD4(+) T cells,macrophages induce cytokine expression in memory CD4(+) T cells and activation and proliferation of CD8(+) T cells. These observations suggest that dermal macrophages and DC are from distinct lineages and that persistent recipient macrophages,although unlikely to initiate alloreactivity,may contribute to GVHD by sustaining the responses of previously activated T cells. View Publication

Glatiramer acetate (GA or Copaxone) is a drug used to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice and multiple sclerosis in human. Here,we describe a new mechanism of action for this drug. GA enhanced the cytolysis of human NK cells against autologous and allogeneic immature and mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). This drug reduced the percentages of mature DCs expressing CD80,CD83,HLA-DR or HLA-I. In contrast,it did not modulate the percentages of NK cells expressing NKG2D,NKp30,or NKp44. Nonetheless,anti-NKp30 or anti-CD86 inhibited GA-enhanced human NK cell lysis of immature DCs. Hence,CD86,and NKp30 are important for NK cell lysis of immature DCs,whereas CD80,CD83,HLA-DR and HLA-I are important for the lysis of mature DCs when GA is used as a stimulus. Further,GA inhibited the release of IFN-gamma 24 h but increased the release of TNF-alpha 48 h after incubation with NK cells. View Publication

Macroautophagy plays an important role in the regulation of cell survival,metabolism,and the lysosomal degradation of cytoplasmic material. In the immune system,autophagy contributes to the clearance of intracellular pathogens,MHCII cross-presentation of endogenous Ags,as well as cell survival. We and others have demonstrated that autophagy occurs in T lymphocytes and contributes to the regulation of their cellular function,including survival and proliferation. Here we show that the essential autophagy gene Atg7 is required in a cell-intrinsic manner for the survival of mature primary T lymphocytes. We also find that mitochondrial content is developmentally regulated in T but not in B cells,with exit from the thymus marking a transition from high mitochondrial content in thymocytes to lower mitochondrial content in mature T cells. Macroautophagy has been proposed to play an important role in the clearance of intracellular organelles,and autophagy-deficient mature T cells fail to reduce their mitochondrial content in vivo. Consistent with alterations in mitochondrial content,autophagy-deficient T cells have increased reactive oxygen species production as well as an imbalance in pro- and antiapoptotic protein expression. With much recent interest in the possibility of autophagy-dependent developmentally programmed clearance of organelles in lens epithelial cells and erythrocytes,our data demonstrate that autophagy may have a physiologically significant role in the clearance of superfluous mitochondria in T lymphocytes as part of normal T cell homeostasis. View Publication