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C J Boog

Publications and source records attributed to C J Boog.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Two monoclonal antibodies generated against human hsp60 show reactivity with synovial membranes of patients with juvenile chronic arthritis.

Heat-shock proteins have been shown to be critical antigens in a number of autoimmune diseases. In human arthritis and in experimentally induced arthritis in animals, disease development was seen to coincide with development of immune reactivity directed against not only bacterial hsp60, but also against its mammalian homologue. We have developed murine monoclonal antibodies after immunization with recombinant human hsp60. Antibodies with unique specificity for mammalian hsp60, not crossreactive with the bacterial counterpart (LK1), and antibodies recognizing both human and bacterial hsp60 (LK2) were selected. Both antibodies recognize epitopes located between amino acid positions 383 and 447 of human hsp60. In immunogold electron microscopy, the mitochondrial localization of hsp60 in HepG2 cells was shown. Furthermore, both LK1 and LK2 showed a raised level of staining in light microscopy immunohistochemistry of synovial membranes in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis. The increased staining for LK1, with a unique specificity for mammalian hsp60, thus unequivocally demonstrates that this is due to a raised level of expression of endogenously produced host hsp60 and not to deposition of bacterial antigens.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Towards peptide immunotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis: competitor-modulator concept.

By the introduction of single-amino acid substitutions in well-defined T cell epitopes of autoimmunogenic proteins, e.g., mycobacterial heat shock protein (hsp60) in adjuvant arthritis (AA) and myelin basic protein (MBP) in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), efficiently blocking MHC binding peptides were selected. Despite the finding that a substituted variant of epitope 180-188 of hsp60 was 'blocking' not only responses of the 180-188 specific arthritogenic T cell A2b, but also responses of the MBP specific encephalitogenic T cell Z1a, in vivo testing of this competitor peptide revealed a very prominent disease inhibitory activity in AA but not in MBP-induced EAE. The selectivity of this peptide in suppressing the disease in which native 180-188 appears to be of critical relevance, offers the possibility of achieving disease specific immunological intervention. Based on the results collected so far, it seems that, in vivo in addition to blocking activity, a variant peptide itself could trigger responses that confer protective activity in AA. Such combined activities may well be required for achieving full in vivo inhibition of a disease in which multiple distinct epitopes may play a role, possibly through presentation by more than one MHC product.

Animals↗

Adjuvant arthritis and immunity to the mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein.

The mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein (HSP65) is of critical significance in the model of adjuvant arthritis (AA). Arthritogenic and protective T cell clones obtained from arthritic rats recognized the 180-188 sequence of HSP65. Previous reports have shown that administration of HSP65 prior to disease induction led to resistance to arthritis in the AA model and in several other models of experimental arthritis. Here, we report the development of immunity to HSP65 and the critical 180-188 epitope during the course of AA. Following Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) immunization both antibodies and T cell responses to HSP65 were detected. Proliferative responses to the 180-188 epitope were seen exclusively in the local draining lymph node cells at day 14 after immunization. The anatomical distribution and course of T cell responses to HSP65 and its 180-188 epitope are compatible with T cell regulated control of the disease. Although lower HSP65 antibody levels were observed in the animals with severe arthritis, in individual animals no evidence was obtained for a relationship between development of HSP65 humoral immunity and arthritis severity. Nevertheless, during disease exacerbation, elicited by HSP65 immunization during disease development, elevated T cell responses against HSP65 and its 180-188 epitope were found. In contrast, we obtained evidence that successful transfer of arthritis resistance to naive recipients depends on the transfer of HSP65 specific T cells. On the basis of these results, it seems that HSP65 plays a crucial role in the T cell regulatory events involved in both the induction of, and protection against, AA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Antigen-activated T cells inhibit cartilage proteoglycan synthesis independently of T-cell proliferation.

Previously we have shown that blood mononuclear cells (MNC) obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have the capacity to induce depletion of proteoglycans (PG) in human cartilage explants. This was observed especially after stimulating MNC with mycobacterial antigens, rather than with the mitogen Concanavalin A (Con A). We have now co-cultured cartilage explants in the presence of T-cell clone A2b obtained from the rat model of adjuvant arthritis (AA). We show that inhibition of the cartilage PG synthesis is a consequence of antigen-specific T-cell activation and that it is mediated by a humoral factor. This seems to be a cytokine rather than an enzyme. Moreover, at the level of polyclonally responding T cells, inhibition of PG synthesis due to T-cell activation by mycobacterial antigens was shown to depend on prior mycobacterial immunization. Arthritogenic T-cell clone A2b also showed PG synthesis inhibitory effects when co-cultured with cartilage alone. The inhibitory activity was shown to be unrelated to the degree of T-cell proliferation. We conclude that antigen-specific T-cell activation may be one of the initiating events leading to cartilage damage in arthritic processes. The measurement of T-cell-mediated PG synthesis inhibition may be a more sensitive and relevant assay for the detection of pathogenic T cells than T-cell proliferation.

Animals↗

T cell reactivity to an epitope of the mycobacterial 65-kDa heat-shock protein (hsp 65) corresponds with arthritis susceptibility in rats and is regulated by hsp 65-specific cellular responses.

Adjuvant arthritis (AA) can be induced in genetically susceptible rats by immunization with heat-killed mycobacteria suspended in mineral oil. From our analysis of arthritogenic T cell clone A2b, obtained from an arthritic Lewis rat and specific for the 180-188 epitope of mycobacterial 65-kDa heat-shock protein (hsp 65), the possible origin of AA was explained by the existence of a molecular mimicry of the 180-188 epitope with a cartilage-associated self antigen. We now have shown that Lewis rats respond to the 180-188 epitope after Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunization and that arthritis-resistant Fisher and (Lewis x Fisher)F1 rats, although major histocompatibility complex class II identical with Lewis, do not respond to this epitope. However, in rare cases of arthritis in Fisher rats, responses to the epitope were seen. We obtained no evidence for a defect at the level of antigen processing and presentation or for suppression in Fisher rats. Thus, non-responsiveness in Fisher rats was likely due to a difference at the level of the T cell repertoire. Previously, we have reported that pretreatment with hsp 65 in experimental arthritis, and not only in AA, caused resistance to arthritis induction. We now present evidence that immunization with hsp 65 or in vitro stimulation with hsp 65 may lead to inhibition of responses specific for epitope 180-188. Thus the hsp 65-induced resistance to arthritis is probably caused by the induction of regulatory control specifically targeted at the 180-188 epitope. Especially in rats that tend to focus their responses on the critical 180-188 sequence, such as Lewis, regulation seems to develop following immunization with hsp 65. Since recent evidence suggests that hsp 65 and also the 180-188 epitope have a role in human arthritic conditions, the present findings are expected to contribute to further experimentation directed at exploiting hsp 65 or its epitopes for the development of new therapeutical approaches in humans.

Animals↗

Antigen processing by endosomal proteases determines which sites of sperm-whale myoglobin are eventually recognized by T cells.

This study reports an identification of the major processing products of an exogenous protein antigen, viz, sperm-whale myoglobin, as obtained after cell-free processing with partially purified macrophage endosomes. It is demonstrated that such a system yields fragments that are indistinguishable by high performance liquid chromatography analysis from those generated after uptake of myoglobin inside live macrophages. The concerted action of the endosomal proteases cathepsin D and cathepsin B can account for nearly all cleavages observed. Cathepsin D appears to be mainly responsible for the initial cleavage of myoglobin, while cathepsin B catalyzes the C-terminal trimming of initially released fragments. The fragments released by cathepsin D contain most, if not all, major epitopes for murine myoglobin-specific helper T cells. Interestingly, each known T cell epitope of myoglobin is located at the very N terminus of a different myoglobin fragment released upon processing. In order to explain this correspondence, noted also in several other protein antigens, a structural relationship is proposed between antigen processing by cathepsin D and antigen recognition by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II products. As is demonstrated here, this relationship may be used as a predictive tool for the identification of MHC-binding sequences as well as of T cell epitopes in their naturally occurring form.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modulation of experimental autoimmunity: treatment of adjuvant arthritis by immunization with a recombinant vaccinia virus.

Live recombinant vaccinia viruses, expressing antigens from pathogenic microorganisms, are studied for their use as vaccines designed for the protection against infectious diseases. Infections with these vaccinia virus recombinants, expressing proteins or epitopes from viruses, parasites, or bacteria, have resulted in the development of specific neutralizing antibodies or cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Here, we describe the generation of a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein (HSP65). A vaccinia recombinant virus was constructed by placing the gene for the Mycobacterium bovis BCG HSP65 under control of a vaccinia virus promoter and inserting this mycobacterial gene in the thymidine kinase locus of the vaccinia virus genome. Mycobacterial HSP65 is a critical antigen in the autoimmune model of adjuvant arthritis induced in Lewis rats by the immunization with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We report the induction of immunity directed to this mycobacterial HSP65 by testing for the presence of specific antibodies and T-cell proliferation. Furthermore, induction of such immunity resulted in a reduction of arthritis severity when given to rats before or, even more interestingly, during development of arthritis. Disease reduction was not found after administration of HSP65 in the absence of vaccinia virus as a vector when given during arthritis development. Therefore, recombinant vaccinia virus may offer new prospectives for specific intervention in autoimmunity.

Animals↗

N-linked glycan modification on antigen-presenting cells restores an allospecific cytotoxic T cell response.

The B6 anti-bm6 allospecific CTL response is strictly dependent on CD4+ cells when using LPS blasts as stimulator cells. Altering the N-linked carbohydrates on stimulator cells by use of the N-linked trimming glycosidase inhibitors 1-deoxymannojirimycin and swainsonine, or by treatment with bacterial neuraminidase, results in a restoration of the B6 anti-bm6 response in the absence of CD4+ cells. The extent of restoration is inversely correlated with the number of sialic acids present on N-linked glycans of stimulator cells.

Animals↗

Efficient recognition by rat T cell clones of an epitope of mycobacterial hsp 65 inserted in Escherichia coli outer membrane protein PhoE.

PhoE is a pore-forming protein, abundantly expressed in the Escherichia coli outer membrane. Previous investigations have shown the possibility of inserting antigenic determinants in cell surface-exposed regions of PhoE by recombinant DNA techniques without disturbing the biogenesis and the functioning of the protein. This method proved to be successful for foot-and-mouth disease virus B cell determinants. We have now shown for the first time that PhoE can also be used as a carrier molecule for T cell epitopes. A well-characterized T cell epitope (180-188) of the 65-kDa heat-shock protein (hsp 65) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was expressed in PhoE and tested for recognition by specific T cell clones. Specific and efficient T cell proliferation was found after stimulation with this protein construct in vitro. Interestingly, paraformaldehyde fixation of antigen-presenting cells did not abrogate T cell recognition. Thus, in contrast to hsp 65 itself, recognition of epitope 180-188 in the context of PhoE appeared to be independent of antigen-processing events. At the level of polyclonal T cell responses the epitope in the context of PhoE is recognized more efficiently than 180-188 as synthetic peptide or in the context of the hsp 65 molecule itself. These findings indicate that PhoE may serve as attractive vaccine carrier not only for B, but also for T cell epitopes. Furthermore, the possibility for expression of PhoE constructs in attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strains offers the exciting prospect of new types of live oral vaccines expressing selected combinations of B and T cell epitopes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Specific immune responses restored by alteration in carbohydrate chains of surface molecules on antigen-presenting cells.

Two class I major histocompatibility (MHC) mutant mouse strains, H-2bm14 and H-2bm6, differ from the strain of origin C57BL/6 (B6, H-2b) in one and two amino acids of the H-2Db and H-2Kb molecule, respectively. The bm14 Db mutation results in specific failure of female bm14 mice to generate a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (Tc) response to the male-specific antigen H-Y. The allospecific Tc response of CD8+ B6T cells against bm6 Kb mutant spleen cells, in contrast to that against other Kb mutants, is absolutely CD4+ T helper cell dependent. Purified CD8+ T cells completely fail to respond. We now report that the inability to mount these specific immune responses is restored by the use of dendritic cells (DC) as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Comparison of MHC expression on various types of APC by cytofluorimetry and quantitative immunoprecipitation showed very high expression of class I and class II MHC molecules on DC. Strikingly, examination of class I and class II molecules by isoelectric focusing revealed qualitative differences as well. We show that the surface MHC class I molecules of DC are present in greater quantity and carry on average fewer sialic acids than the same molecules isolated from other APC types such as spleen cells, lipopolysaccharide blasts or concanavalin A blasts. That sialic acids on cell surface molecules, including MHC, may play a role in antigen presentation is suggested by our finding that removal of sialic acids, by neuraminidase, can restore specific responses to nonresponder APC as well.

Animals↗

Role of dendritic cells in the regulation of class I restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.

Two class I MHC mutant mouse strains, bm14 and bm13, differ from the strain of origin B6 in one and three amino acids in the alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains of the H-2Db molecule, respectively. These alterations result in specific failure to generate a CTL (Tc) response to the male-specific Ag H-Y. Immunization and/or restimulation in vitro with syngeneic male dendritic cells (DC), expressing very high levels of class I MHC molecules, restored the H-Y-specific Tc response of bm14 but not of bm13 mice. Serologically Db determinants were lost in normal spleen cells of both mutants, because FACS analysis showed a decreased binding of Db domain-specific mAb. Although bm13 DC show a higher fluorescence than bm13 normal spleen cells it is still strongly reduced (30 to 50%) in comparison with B6 DC. Surprisingly, bm14 DC show an equally very strong binding compared with B6 DC with these mAb. The quantitative expression of class I molecules on APC thus appears to be a major determinant in the regulation of Tc responses. In addition, immunization with DC markedly influenced the target cell specificity of the ensuing Tc response. The combined data clearly demonstrate that besides the highly efficient class II-restricted presentation of Ag to Th, shown previously, DC are also superior in the presentation of Ag in the context of class I molecules to Tc. bm14 DC are capable of directly activating H-Y-specific Lyt-2+ Tc memory cells without the need for L3T4+ Th. These biologic effects of DC can at least in part be explained by their very high class I MHC expression. Moreover, these results reiterate that class I MHC Db mutants and different APC can be used to study the contribution of specific class I domains to Tc recognition and restriction specificity.

Animals↗

Failure or success in the restoration of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response defects by dendritic cells.

C57BL/6 (B6, H-2b) mice are CTL responders to both Sendai virus and Moloney leukemia virus. In the former response the H-2Kb class I MHC molecule is used as CTL restriction element, in the latter response the H-2Db molecule. B6 dendritic cells (DC) are superior in the presentation of Sendai virus Ag to CTL in comparison with B6 normal spleen cells. Con A blasts have even less capacity to present viral Ag than NSC, and LPS blasts show an intermediate capacity to present viral Ag. H-2Kb mutant bm1 mice do not generate a CTL response to Sendai virus, but respond to Moloney leukemia virus, as demonstrated by undetectable CTL precursors to Sendai virus and a normal CTL precursor frequency to Moloney virus. Compared to B6 mice, other H-2Kb mutant mice show decreased Sendai virus-specific CTL precursor frequencies in a hierarchy reflecting the response in bulk culture. The Sendai virus-specific CTL response defect of bm1 mice was not restored by highly potent Sendai virus-infected DC as APC for in vivo priming and/or in vitro restimulation. In mirror image to H-2Kb mutant bm1 mice, H-2Db mutant bm14 mice do not generate a CTL response to Moloney virus, but respond normally to Sendai virus. This specific CTL response defect was restored by syngeneic Moloney virus-infected DC for in vitro restimulation. This response was Kb restricted indicating that the Dbm14 molecule remained largely defective and that a dormant Kb repertoire was aroused after optimal Ag presentation by DC. In conclusion, DC very effectively present viral Ag to CTL. However, their capacity to restore MHC class I determined specific CTL response defects probably requires at least some ability of a particular MHC class I/virus combination to associate and thus form an immunogenic complex.

Animals↗

Stimulation with dendritic cells decreases or obviates the CD4+ helper cell requirement in cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.

We investigated the need for CD4+ helper T (Th) cells in the induction of murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (Tc) responses across minor or major histocompatibility (MHC) antigenic differences with either normal spleen cells (NSC) or purified dendritic cells (DC) as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Generation of a secondary in vitro class II MHC-specific Tc response was totally CD4+ Th cell-dependent with both types of APC. Likewise, male antigen (H-Y)-primed class II mutant bm12 T cells, which do not respond to H-Y presented on NSC, do respond to H-Y presented on DC in a completely CD4+ Th cell-dependent fashion. All other Tc responses, including primary anti-class I MHC, primary anti-class I + II MHC plus anti-minor H, and secondary C57BL/6 (B6) anti-H-Y, although not completely CD4+ Th cell dependent, were greatly augmented in the presence of CD4+ Th cells, but only with NSC as APC. In contrast, with DC as APC these responses were entirely or largely CD4+ Th cell independent. Similarly, H-Y primed class I MHC mutant bm14 T cells, which do not respond to H-Y presented on NSC, do respond to H-Y presented on DC in a completely CD4+ Th cell-independent fashion. The combined results indicate that DC can directly present class I MHC alloantigen or class I MHC plus nominal antigen (e.g. minor H) to CD8+ cells and generate a Tc response by these cells without the requirement for CD4+ Th cells.

Animals↗

H-2 class I mutants utilize novel restriction specificities in the trinitrophenyl-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response.

In antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses H-2 class I mutations usually result in a decreased recognition of the antigen in association with the mutant molecule by CTL from the strain of origin. However, the influence of class I mutations on the magnitude and specificity of CTL responses in the mutants has been studied in only a few instances, in which usually a partial or complete loss of responsiveness was found. We now report that class I mutants extensively use gained (novel) CTL restriction sites, generated by the mutations in the CTL response against the hapten trinitrophenyl (TNP), demonstrated both at the population level and in limiting dilution. TNP-specific CTL clones, restricted by mutant-specific determinants, were detected in all mutants. The percentages mutant-specific CTL clones in limiting dilution experiments were 43, 40, 35, and 13 in the Kb mutants bm1, bm8, bm3 and bm5, respectively, and 35 in the Db mutant bm 14. It is concluded that H-2 class I mutations led to changes in the TNP-specific CTL repertoire resulting in gain of CTLs uniquely restricted to the mutant molecule.

Animals↗