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Biomedical subjects

Esther Bachar-Lustig

Publications and source records attributed to Esther Bachar-Lustig.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

VEGF-induced adult neovascularization: recruitment, retention, and role of accessory cells.

Adult neovascularization relies on the recruitment of circulating cells, but their angiogenic roles and recruitment mechanisms are unclear. We show that the endothelial growth factor VEGF is sufficient for organ homing of circulating mononuclear myeloid cells and is required for their perivascular positioning and retention. Recruited bone marrow-derived circulating cells (RBCCs) summoned by VEGF serve a function distinct from endothelial progenitor cells. Retention of RBCCs in close proximity to angiogenic vessels is mediated by SDF1, a chemokine induced by VEGF in activated perivascular myofibroblasts. RBCCs enhance in situ proliferation of endothelial cells via secreting proangiogenic activities distinct from locally induced activities. Precluding RBCCs strongly attenuated the proangiogenic response to VEGF and addition of purified RBCCs enhanced angiogenesis in excision wounds. Together, the data suggest a model for VEGF-programmed adult neovascularization highlighting the essential paracrine role of recruited myeloid cells and a role for SDF1 in their perivascular retention.

Animals↗

Tolerance induction by third-party "off-the-shelf" CD4+CD25+ Treg cells.

OBJECTIVE: Recent reports have shown that donor or host CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells can be used to control GVHD or graft rejection following allogeneic BMT in mice. In the present study we investigated the potential of third-party Treg cells compared to donor-type cells to facilitate BM allografting. METHODS: Graft rejection is assessed in a mouse model of T cell-mediated BM allograft rejection. Lethally irradiated C3H mice are transplanted at day 2 after irradiation with T cell-depleted Balb/Nude BM. Graft rejection is induced by purified host-type T cells infused one day prior to BMT. Cells tested for their facilitating activity are added to the T cell-depleted BM allograft. RESULTS: Naïve or ex vivo-expanded third-party Treg cells can effectively enhance engraftment of T cell-depleted BM allografts, exhibiting reactivity in vitro and in vivo similar to that found for donor-type Treg cells. CONCLUSION: The use of third-party Treg cells in contrast to donor-type cells could allow advanced preparation of a large bank of Treg cells (off-the-shelf), with all the appropriate quality controls required for cell therapy.

Animals↗

Overcoming T cell-mediated rejection of bone marrow allografts by T-regulatory cells: synergism with veto cells and rapamycin.

Recently, we have shown that anti-third-party cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) depleted of alloreactivity against the host are endowed with marked veto activity and can facilitate bone marrow (BM) allografting without graft-versus-host disease. We also demonstrated synergism between rapamycin (RAPA) and the veto cells. CD4(+)CD25(+) T-regulatory (Treg) cells are suppressor cells that can enhance alloengraftment. We investigated whether donor Tregs would be synergistic with veto CTLs and RAPA in augmenting alloengraftment or, conversely, would suppress veto CTL effects. Lethally irradiated C3H mice were transplanted at day 2 after irradiation with Balb-nude BM. Graft rejection was induced by purified host-type T cells infused 1 day prior to BMT. The addition of Tregs led to moderate enhancement of engraftment. RAPA at different doses was synergistic with Tregs. The addition of veto CTLs to Tregs enabled reducing the effective RAPA dose fourfold. Combining all three agents was necessary to overcome rejection at low-dose RAPA. Chimerism analysis at 5 to 9 months revealed a significant presence of host-type cells coexisting with the predominant donor T cells, suggesting that tolerance had been attained. The synergistic effects between Tregs, veto CTLs, and RAPA offer an attractive approach for facilitating alloengraftment.

Animals↗

Large-scale preparation of human anti-third-party veto cytotoxic T lymphocytes depleted of graft-versus-host reactivity: a new source for graft facilitating cells in bone marrow transplantation.

Induction of donor type chimerism in mildly prepared hosts without graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a most desirable goal in bone morrow transplantation. We have recently demonstrated in a mouse model that donor veto cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can facilitate the induction of donor type chimerism in sublethally irradiated recipients without causing GvHD if they are effectively depleted of alloreactivity against host cells by means of stimulation against a third party. We extend this approach to human cells, by preparing CTLs in two major steps: primary culture in the absence of interleukin 2, leading to death by neglect of antihost clones, and addition of interleukin 2 and subsequent dilution of antihost clones as a consequence of the expansion of the anti-third-party clones. CTLs prepared in this way specifically suppress host cytotoxic T cells directed against antigens of the donor, but not against fourth-party antigens, as demonstrated in a standard (51)Cr release assay. We conclude that human anti-third-party CTLs afford a new source of veto cells that are depleted of potential graft-versus-host-reactive clones. The cells generated by this approach could potentially be used to facilitate engraftment of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells.

Animals↗

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation across major genetic barriers: tolerance induction by megadose CD34 cells and other veto cells.

Studies in mice and humans demonstrate that transplantation of hematopoietic progenitors in numbers larger than commonly used overcomes major genetic barriers. In vitro studies suggest that veto cells, within the population of hematopoietic progenitors, facilitate this favorable outcome. Tolerance induction can be further enhanced by other veto cells. Perhaps the most potent veto cell is the CD8(+) CTL. However, this cell is also associated with marked GVHD, which can be separated from the veto activity by generating anti-third party CTLs under IL-2 deprivation.

Animals↗

Tolerance induction by veto CTLs in the TCR transgenic 2C mouse model. I. Relative reactivity of different veto cells.

Several bone marrow cells and lymphocyte subpopulations, known as veto cells, were shown to induce transplantation tolerance across major histocompatibility Ags. Due to the low frequency of the effector T cells against which the veto cells inhibitory activity is aimed, the fate of the effector cells was traditionally followed indirectly by functional limiting dilution assays, which are cumbersome and depend on numerous parameters. In the present study the fate of the effector T cells was monitored directly by FACS, using TCR transgenic mouse CD8(+) T cells in which the transgene is directed against H-2(d) (the 2C model). This assay is validated by demonstrating the potency, selectivity, radiation sensitivity, and contact dependency of anti-third-party CTLs previously demonstrated by the limiting dilution assay. In contrast to veto CTLs, nonactivated CD8(+) T cells lack veto activity. Comparison by FACS in the 2C model revealed a hierarchy of veto cells, in the order of veto CTLs activated NK cells, activated CD4(+) T cells, and activated B cells. The latter cells as well as nonactivated CD4(+) or NK cells were shown to be completely devoid of veto activity.

Animals↗

Tolerance induction by veto CTLs in the TCR transgenic 2C mouse model. II. Deletion of effector cells by Fas-Fas ligand apoptosis.

The direct assay of veto CTLs in the 2C mouse model enables monitoring, by FACS, the fate of the TCR transgenic effector CD8(+) T cells, the transgene of which can be stained with clonotypic Ab 1B2. After the addition of veto cells, CD8(+)1B2(+) effector cells increasingly express annexin V, and maximal apoptosis is attained 72 h after initiation of MLR. This veto activity can be partially blocked by anti-CD8 Abs directed against the allele expressed by the veto CTLs, but not by the effector cells. When effector CD8(+) T cells were from 2C mice, which lack Fas expression ((2CX lpr)F(2)), deletion of effector cells was not exhibited by veto cells. The protein levels of the apoptosis inhibitors FLIP and Bcl2 in purified CD8(+)1B2(+) effector cells at different time points after MLR showed an initial up-regulation of these inhibitors, with marked reduction of FLIP, but not of Bcl2, by 48 h after initiation of culture. Taken together, these results are in accordance with a Fas-FasL-based mechanism in which prolonged binding between the effector cell and the veto cell might be required to allow FLIP to be down-regulated. Such prolonged interaction might be afforded through the interaction of CD8 molecules on the veto cell with the alpha3 domain of H2 class 1 on the effector cell.

Animals↗

Immune regulatory activity of CD34+ progenitor cells: evidence for a deletion-based mechanism mediated by TNF-alpha.

Previous studies suggest that cells within the CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cell compartment are endowed with immune regulatory activity. Furthermore, it is possible to expand the human regulatory cells upon short-term culture of purified CD34+ cells with an early-acting cytokine cocktail. We now show that addition of anti-CD28, anti-CD2, interleukin-2 (IL-2), anti-IL-10, or IL-12 to the bulk mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) cannot reverse the inhibitory activity of the CD34+ cells, ruling out anergy-based mechanisms or mechanisms involving Th1-Th2 skewing. Furthermore, phenotyping of cells present after addition of CD34+ cells to the bulk MLR ruled out potential induction of plasmacytoid dendritic precursors, known to be endowed with regulatory activity. In contrast, the inhibitory activity of CD34+ cells could be reversed by adding the caspase inhibitor BD-FMK to the bulk MLR, indicating a deletion-based mechanism. The deletion can be inhibited by anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) and not by anti-transforming growth factor-beta (anti-TGF-beta), suggesting a potential role for TNF-alpha in the regulatory activity of CD34+ cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Anti-third-party veto CTLs overcome rejection of hematopoietic allografts: synergism with rapamycin and BM cell dose.

Several bone marrow cells and lymphocyte subpopulations, known as "veto cells," were shown to induce transplantation tolerance across major histocompatibility antigens. Some of the most potent veto cells are of T-cell origin, and in particular a very strong veto activity was documented for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) lines or clones. However, these cells also possess marked graft-versus-host (GVH) reactivity. In the present study we evaluated a new approach to deplete CTLs of antihost clones by stimulating the donor T cells against third-party stimulators in the absence of exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2). We demonstrate that such CTLs are depleted of GVH reactivity while maintaining marked veto activity in vitro. Furthermore, marked synergism was exhibited between the veto CTLs and rapamycin when tested in a murine model, which measures T-cell-mediated bone marrow allograft rejection, or in sublethally irradiated allogeneic hosts. Our results suggest that engraftment of early progenitors could be enhanced by using host-nonreactive anti-third-party CTLs, in conjunction with nonmyeloablative rapamycin-based conditioning protocols, thereby significantly reducing the toxicity of allogeneic transplantation.

Animals↗

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation across major genetic barriers: tolerance induction by megadose CD34 cells and other veto cells.

Studies in mice and humans demonstrate that transplantation of hematopoietic progenitors in numbers larger than commonly used ("megadose" transplants) overcomes major genetic barriers. In vitro studies suggest that veto cells, within the population of hematopoietic progenitors, facilitate this favorable outcome. Thus, when purified CD34(+) cells were added to bulk mixed-lymphocyte reactions (MLRs) they suppressed CTLs against the donor's stimulators, but not against stimulators from a third party. This tolerizing activity depends on cell contact and can be blocked by the caspase inhibitor BD-FMK, suggesting that the effector host T cells are deleted by apoptosis upon interaction with the CD34(+) cells. Early myeloid CD33(+) cells generated by short-term ex vivo expansion of CD34(+) cells also exhibit veto activity, and these cells can be grown in large numbers. Tolerance induction can be further enhanced by other veto cells. Perhaps the most potent veto cell is the CD8+ CTL. However, this cell is also associated with marked GVHD (graft-versus-host disease. GVHD can be separated from the veto activity by generating anti-third party CTLs under IL2 deprivation. Under such selective pressure only the stimulated clones which make IL2 can survive, while anti-host clones die. In vivo studies show that such anti-third party veto CTLs can be used safely for tolerance induction without GVHD.

Animals↗

Crossing the HLA barriers.

Studies in mice and humans demonstrate that transplantation of hematopoietic progenitors in numbers larger than commonly used ("megadose" transplants) overcomes major genetic barriers. In vitro studies suggest that veto cells, within the population of hematopoietic progenitors, facilitate this favorable outcome. Thus, when purified CD34+ cells were added to bulk mixed-lymphocyte reactions (MLRs), they suppressed CTLs against donor's stimulators but not against stimulators from a third party. This tolerizing activity depends on cell contact and can be blocked by the caspase inhibitor BD-FMK, suggesting that the effector host T cells are deleted by apoptosis upon interaction with the CD34+ cells. Early myeloid CD33+ cells generated by short-term ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells also exhibit veto activity, and these cells can be grown in large numbers. Tolerance induction can be further enhanced by other veto cells. Perhaps the most potent veto cell is the CD8+ CTL. However, this cell is also associated with marked graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD can be separated from the veto activity by generating anti-third party CTLs under IL2 deprivation. Under such selective pressure, only the stimulated clones which make IL2 can survive, while anti-host clones die. In vivo studies show that such anti-third party veto CTLs can be used safely for tolerance induction without GVHD.

Animals↗