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D Ramarli

Publications and source records attributed to D Ramarli.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Functional and molecular aspects of human T lymphocyte activation via T3-Ti and T11 pathways.

Two pathways of human lymphocyte activation are known to exist on T-lineage cells. The first involves the T-lymphocyte receptor for antigen (T3-Ti) which operates in conjunction with gene products of the MHC complex and is a molecular complex composed of 5 polypeptide chains. Both the 49KD alpha and 43KD beta chains are immunoglobulin-like and thus contain variable domains responsible for ligand binding. In contrast, the 20-25KD T3 gamma, delta and epsilon chains are monomorphic structures presumably involved in transmembrane signalling. The alpha and beta subunits are disulfide bonded to each other and held in noncovalent association with the T3 chains. The second pathway involves the 50KD T11 sheep erythrocyte binding protein. The T11 pathway is operational during early intrathymic ontogeny, prior to T3-Ti receptor expression. Under physiologic conditions, T3-Ti and T11 pathways appear to function in series with T11, representing a more "nuclear proximal" structure. However, each pathway, independently of the other, can activate the phosphoinositol cascade and lead to elevation in cytosolic free calcium. The latter is critical for transcriptional activation of the endogenous IL-2 gene. The ability of the T3-Ti complex to regulate T11-mediated activation is discussed with reference to its possible role in thymic selection.

Antigens, Surface↗

Selective inhibition of interleukin 2 gene function following thymocyte antigen/major histocompatibility complex receptor crosslinking: possible thymic selection mechanism.

Considerable evidence now exists to support the notion that the 50-kDa sheep erythrocyte-binding protein, T11, represents an essential cell surface component of a human T-cell lineage activation pathway. Furthermore, it is known that the human T3-Ti T-cell antigen/major histocompatibility complex receptor complex is capable of regulating cell growth mediated by the T11 structure. Here we show that, within the T3+ thymocyte compartment, T3-Ti crosslinking rapidly inhibits T11-initiated interleukin 2 (IL-2) gene transcription and translation. This inhibition is restricted to the IL-2 gene (IL2) as transcription of both the IL-2-receptor gene (IL2R) and the Ti beta-chain gene (TCRB) are not affected (human gene designations are in parentheses). Perhaps more importantly, T3-Ti-mediated IL-2 inhibition of this type is not operational in peripheral T lymphocytes. The results imply that the majority of T3+ thymocytes are functionally distinct from peripheral T lymphocytes despite their T3+ phenotype and must possess a unique endogenous regulatory component for suppressing IL-2 gene activity. Moreover, since IL-2 is likely rate-limiting for growth within the thymus, the findings provide one plausible mechanism for thymic selection--namely, T3-Ti crosslinking of thymocytes upon interaction with self-major histocompatibility complex inhibits clonal expansion of high-affinity autoreactive cells.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

The ontogeny, structure and function of the human T lymphocyte receptor for antigen and major histocompatibility complex.

Recent studies using cloned antigen-specific T lymphocytes and monoclonal antibodies directed at their various surface glycoprotein components have led to identification of the human T cell antigen receptor as a surface complex comprised of a clonotypic 90 kDa Ti heterodimer and the invariant 20 and 25 kDa T3 molecules. Approximately 30,000-40,000 Ti and T3 molecules exist on the surface of human T lymphocytes. These glycoproteins are acquired and expressed during late thymic ontogeny, thus providing the structural basis for immunological competence. The alpha and beta subunits of Ti bear no precursor-product relationship to one another and are encoded by separate germline V, D, J and C segments which rearrange during intrathymic differentiation to form an active gene set. Triggering of the T3-Ti receptor complex induces a rapid increase in free cytoplasmic Ca2+ and gives rise to specific antigen-induced proliferation through an autocrine pathway involving endogenous interleukin-2 production, release and subsequent binding to interleukin-2 receptors. The implications of these findings for understanding of human T cell growth and its regulation in disease states are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The structure and function of the T3-Ti molecular complex on human T lymphocytes.

Recent studies using cloned antigen-specific T lymphocytes and monoclonal antibodies directed at their various surface glycoprotein components have led to identification of the human T cell antigen receptor as a surface complex composed of a clonotypic 90-kDa Ti heterodimer and the invariant 20- and 25-kDa T3 molecules. Approximately 30,000-40,000 Ti and T3 molecules exist on the surface of human T lymphocytes. These glycoproteins are acquired and expressed during late thymic ontogeny, thus providing the structural basis for immunologic competence. The Ti alpha and Ti beta subunits bear no precursor-to-product relationship and are encoded by separate germ line V, D, J, and C segments, which rearrange during intrathymic differentiation to form an active gene set. Triggering of the T3-Ti receptor complex induces a rapid increase in free cytoplasmic Ca2+ and gives rise to specific antigen-induced proliferation through an autocrine pathway involving endogenous IL 2 production, release, and subsequent binding to IL 2 receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genes encoding the T-cell receptor alpha and beta subunits are transcribed in an ordered manner during intrathymic ontogeny.

To further characterize sequential events involved in activation of genes encoding the T-cell receptor (a complex of T3 molecules and a disulfide-linked heterodimer designated Ti, T3-Ti) for antigen and the major histocompatibility complex during intrathymic ontogeny, cDNA probes specific for Ti alpha and Ti beta subunits were used for transcriptional analysis. Ti beta transcript levels were minimal in stage I thymocytes, maximal in stage II thymocytes, and intermediate in state III thymocytes. In contrast, Ti alpha transcriptional activity was virtually undetectable in stage I, was low in stage II, and achieved high levels only in the stage III compartment. Analysis of tumor populations derived from individual stages of thymic differentiation confirmed these observations and demonstrated that clonal stage I-II cells often express Ti beta RNA in the absence of Ti alpha RNA. The latter was not a consequence of functional Ti alpha-subunit isotypy because each of 13 interleukin 2-dependent T-cell clones, including inducer, suppressor, and cytotoxic T cells, contain transcripts that hybridize with the Ti alpha probe. From these data it is concluded that Ti beta gene activation precedes Ti alpha gene activation. Moreover, the high level of Ti beta mRNA preceding Ti alpha mRNA expression implies that Ti beta mRNA and/or its protein products may regulate Ti alpha gene transcription.

Aging↗

The human T lymphocyte receptor complex for antigen and MHC.

Recent studies using cloned antigen specific T lymphocytes and monoclonal antibodies directed at their various surface glycoprotein components have led to identification of the human T cell antigen receptor as a surface complex comprised of a clonotypic 90 KD Ti heterodimer and the in-variant 20 and 25 KD T3 molecules. Approximately 30,000-40,000 Ti and T3 molecules exist on the surface of human T lymphocytes. These glycoproteins are acquired and expressed during late thymic ontogeny, thus providing the structural basis for immunologic competence. The alpha and beta subunits of Ti bear no precursor-product relationship to one another and are encoded by separate germline V, D, J and C segments which rearrange during intrathymic differentiation to form an active gene set. Triggering of the T3-Ti receptor complex induces a rapid increase in free cytoplasmic Ca2+ and gives rise to specific antigen-induced proliferation through an autocrine pathway involving endogenous IL-2 production, release, and subsequent binding to IL-2 receptors. The implications of these findings for understanding of human T cell growth and its regulation in disease states are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The same human alloreactive T cell clone can help both B lymphocytes and specific cytotoxic precursors.

Human alloreactive proliferating T cell clones have been compared for their capacity to provide help for B cell activation and the generation of a specific cytotoxic response. The results demonstrate that, when triggered by the relevant alloantigen, the same T cell clone can induce a strong polyclonal B cell activation and serve as the only source of helper cells for the generation of a specific cytotoxic response by any source of CTL precursors against any stimulator cell present in culture.

B-Lymphocytes↗

A monoclonal anti-DC1 antibody selectivity inhibits the generation of effector T cells mediating specific cytolytic activity.

The products of the DC locus have been shown to be structurally different from those of the DR locus. In this paper it is shown that, unlike anti-DR antibodies, a monoclonal antibody directed against DC1 does not affect proliferation of T cells in response to alloantigens or soluble antigens or production of Ig in a pokeweed mitogen-stimulated in vitro culture. However, the anti-DC1 inhibits the generation of effector T cells mediating specific cytolytic activity, whereas no inhibitory effect can be observed on natural killer and antibody-dependent cytotoxic cell activities.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Abnormalities of immunocompetent cells in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic progressive liver disease frequently associated with various immunological abnormalities. We have studied the influence of normal and PBC adherent cells (AC) on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) colony growth both in liquid and soft agar culture. Co-culture experiments with different combinations of AC and PBL of PBC patients and normal donors provided evidence that PBC adherent cells function abnormally. However, this impaired function is not the sole factor involved, since the number of colonies formed by PBC lymphocytes in the presence of normal AC was twice the normal value. The possibility that this increase is correlated with the state of activation of T cells is discussed in the light of the high number of DR-positive T cells found in the PBC patients studied. Finally, none of these immunological abnormalities was related to the stage of the disease.

Adult↗

Studies of cell-mediated immunity in patients with Crohn's disease.

A defect of cell-mediated immunity was reported in patients with Crohn's disease. In attempting to evaluate the possible role of serum factor(s) in the pathogenesis of this defect we studied the effect of sera from patients with Crohn's disease on normal lymphocyte E rosette formation and in vitro PHA responsiveness. An impairment of E rosette formation and PHA response was detected when normal donor lymphocytes were incubated with patients' sera. We concluded that the defect of cell-mediated immunity in Crohn's disease may be due to the presence of serum inhibitory factor(s) and of nutrient serum deficiencies. This defect is not correlated with clinical parameters and the duration of the disease; it is not affected by surgical resection.

Adolescent↗

Effect of bile acids on E rosette formation and PHA stimulation.

The effect of bile acids on E rosette formation and lymphocyte response to PHA was studied. Pooled conjugated and unconjugated bile acids decreased normal lymphocyte E rosette formation in vitro. This inhibition is related to bile acid concentration. Unconjugated bile acids induced a depression of PHA stimulation in comparison to controls. These findings suggest that bile acids can play a role in the depression of cellular immunity observed in patients with cholestasis.

Animals↗