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J C Guéry

Publications and source records attributed to J C Guéry.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The mode of protein antigen administration determines preferential presentation of peptide-class II complexes by lymph node dendritic or B cells.

We have compared the capacity of dendritic cells (DC) and B cells to present peptide-class II complexes following administration of protein in adjuvant or in soluble form. Three different antigen-presenting cell (APC) populations were separated from draining lymph node cells from mice immunized s.c. with hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) in adjuvant or with adjuvant only followed by soluble HEL: DC (N418+, class II+, B220-, low buoyant density), large B cells (B220+, low buoyant density) and small B cells (B220+, high buoyant density). HEL peptide-class II complexes displayed by these APC were evaluated by their capacity to activate HEL-specific T hybridoma cells. Following immunization with HEL in adjuvant, DC are the only lymph node APC population expressing detectable HEL peptide-class II complexes. Conversely, after i.v. administration of soluble HEL in mice previously injected with adjuvant only, lymph node B cells are much more efficient than DC in presenting peptide-class II complexes to T cells. Therefore, different modes of protein antigen administration lead to selective expression of antigenic complexes by different APC populations. These data correlate with the observation that, unlike B cells, DC recruited in lymph nodes of mice injected with adjuvant only present in vitro processed protein antigen much less efficiently than synthetic peptides, probably as a consequence of their maturation in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence

Dendritic cells but not B cells present antigenic complexes to class II-restricted T cells after administration of protein in adjuvant.

We have analyzed the relative contribution of dendritic cells (DC) and B cells in the presentation of peptide-class II complexes in an inflammatory situation in vivo. Draining lymph node cells from mice immunized subcutaneously with hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) in adjuvant display HEL peptide-major histocompatibility complex class II complexes able to stimulate, in the absence of any further antigen addition, specific T hybridoma cells. The antigen-presenting capacity of three different antigen-presenting cell (APC) populations recruited in lymph nodes, DC (N418+, class II+, B220-, low buoyant density), large B cells (B220+, low buoyant density), and small B cells (B220+, high buoyant density), was analyzed. After immunization with HEL in adjuvant, DC are the only lymph node APC population expressing detectable HEL peptide-class II complexes. These results indicate that lymph node DC and not B cells are the APC initiating the immune response in vivo after administration of antigen in adjuvant.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Manipulation of the Th1/Th2 cell balance: an approach to treat human autoimmune diseases?

Differentiated T cells produce a restricted set of lymphokines, allowing their subdivision into two major subsets: Th1 and Th2 cells. This has lead to a new paradigm for immunoregulation based on the Th1/Th2 dichotomy. A strict compartmentalization of T cells into Th1 and Th2 is clearly an oversimplification: regulatory and effector mechanisms in the immune system encompass much more than Th1 and Th2 cells. This oversimplification is nevertheless useful to carry out experiments designed to test the paradigm. Based on results obtained in different experimental models of autoimmune diseases, the subdivision of T cells into Th1 and Th2 subsets has been extended to suggest that Th1 cells contribute to the pathogenesis of several organ-specific autoimmune diseases, whereas Th2 cells may inhibit disease development. Although more slowly and maybe less clearly, a similar dichotomy is starting to emerge in human autoimmune diseases. It will soon be possible to formally test immunointervention based on Th1/Th2 cell manipulation in clinical situations: the tools and a conceptual frame are already available. In this review we will examine two key factors affecting the Th1/Th2 balance: antigen and the role of cytokines influencing the development of Th1 and Th2 cells. The rational manipulation of these two variables may ultimately lead to an effective control of Th1 and Th2 cells potentially able to alter the natural course of human autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune Diseases

Dendritic cells are the most efficient in presenting endogenous naturally processed self-epitopes to class II-restricted T cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent APCs, able to induce efficiently primary T cell-mediated responses to foreign Ags. To assess the efficiency of DC, as compared with other APC types, in the in vivo presentation of self-Ags to CD4+ T cells, we analyzed processing and presentation to class II-restricted T cells of endogenous naturally processed self-epitopes constitutively expressed by mouse APC. Mouse beta 2-microglobulin (m beta 2-m) peptides corresponding to residues 26-39 and 24-36 are constitutively presented, in mice expressing m beta 2-m, by I-Ad and I-Ed molecules respectively, as demonstrated by activation of m beta 2-m-specific T cell hybridomas generated in BALB/c beta 2-m-deficient mice. These dominant, naturally processed self-epitopes of m beta 2-m are presented by APC from a variety of tissues, including the thymus. To analyze the relative efficiency of different APC populations in the presentation of self-beta 2-m, the ability of purified DC, macrophages, and large or small B cells to stimulate m beta 2-m-specific T cell hybridomas was tested. Naturally processed self-m beta 2-m epitopes are constitutively presented to T cells by any class II-positive APC tested, but with highest efficiency by splenic and thymic DC, followed by macrophages, large B cells, and small B cells. This hierarchy of self-beta 2-m presentation does not depend on differential processing capacity of these APC populations, and it correlates with expression of CTLA-4 ligands and ICAM-1 molecules, rather than with expression of class II molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence

Constitutive presentation of dominant epitopes from endogenous naturally processed self-beta 2-microglobulin to class II-restricted T cells leads to self-tolerance.

The mouse beta 2-microglobulin (m beta 2-m) peptide corresponding to residues 25-40 binds to the MHC class II molecules I-Ad and I-Ed and is immunogenic in BALB/c beta 2-m-deficient but not in normal BALB/c mice. The self-m beta 2-m peptide 25-40 is presented by both I-Ad and I-Ed class II molecules as demonstrated by the activation of T cell hybridomas specific for this sequence obtained from beta 2-m knock-out mice. By analyzing the effect of N- and C-terminal truncations of m beta 2-m25-40 on binding to class II molecules and on activation of T cell hybridomas, the minimum epitopes recognized by I-Ad and I-Ed-restricted T cells are included within amino acid residues 26-39 and 24-36, respectively. Both sets of T hybridomas are also activated by the corresponding naturally processed self-epitope presented by APC from BALB/c mice and from other H-2d strains, irrespective of their Mls phenotype. Therefore, the sequence 25-40 contains dominant naturally processed self-epitopes of the mouse beta 2-m. Processing of endogenous m beta 2-m is sensitive to protease inhibitors and lysosomotropic amines, and is not caused by reuptake of shed or released protein. These results indicate that self-beta 2-m-peptide-MHC class II complexes derive from constitutive processing of the endogenous intracellular pool of m beta 2-m in an acidic endosomal compartment. Antigenic complexes between m beta 2-m peptides and I-Ad or I-Ed class II molecules are constitutively expressed by APC of different tissues, including the thymus, and they are able to induce T cell tolerance, as shown by the lack of T cell response to m beta 2-m25-40 in BALB/c mice.

Amino Acid Sequence

DR alpha: E beta heterodimers in DRA transgenic mice hinder expression of E alpha: E beta molecules and are more efficient in antigen presentation.

HLA-DRA transgenic (tg) mice on H-2d background were constructed to study assembly, expression and function of DR alpha: E beta class II heterodimers when an alternate E alpha chain is available. Cytofluorimetric analysis and immunoprecipitation studies demonstrate that the majority (90%) of E beta d molecules on class II-positive splenocytes from DRA-tg mice are associated with DR alpha rather than E alpha chains. To characterize the functional role of the interspecies as compared with the wild-type I-E molecules, MHC restriction and T cell epitope immunodominance of synthetic peptides spanning the entire sequence of 65 kDa heat shock protein (hsp) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis were determined in hsp-primed DRA-tg and DBA/2 mice. A similar pattern of responsiveness was observed in both strains, but hsp epitopes recalled a higher response in DRA-tg as compared with DBA/2 mice. A panel of T cell hybridomas specific for two hsp peptides or a hen egg white lysozyme peptide presented by both DR alpha: E beta d and E alpha d: E beta d was studied in detail. Surprisingly, DR alpha: E beta d dimers present these peptides more efficiently than E alpha d: E beta d, even when the TCR was selected in mice expressing only E alpha d: E beta d molecules. The higher efficiency of antigen presentation by DR alpha: E beta d dimers does not appear to depend on increased binding affinity for peptides, as demonstrated by competition for antigen presentation, nor on increased efficiency in the interaction with CD4 molecules. Rather, the higher efficiency of antigen presentation could be explained by a more effective ligand-TCR interaction. This is consistent with molecular modeling based on the class II structure, indicating that 16 out of 17 substitutions between the first domain of E alpha d and DR alpha chains ile outside the peptide binding groove and are potentially available for interaction with the TCR.

Amino Acid Sequence

Processing of endogenously synthesized hen egg-white lysozyme retained in the endoplasmic reticulum or in secretory form gives rise to a similar but not identical set of epitopes recognized by class II-restricted T cells.

To study the processing and presentation of endogenously synthesized Ag to class II MHC-restricted T cells, hen egg lysozyme (HEL), either tagged with a peptide that confers retention in the endoplasmic reticulum (HEL.KDEL), or in the secretory form (HELs), was stably expressed in LK-35.2 B hybridoma cells. Presentation of HEL peptides bound to class II molecules was assessed by activation of specific T cell hybridomas recognizing seven different epitopes derived from exogenous HEL. The presentation of endogenously synthesized HEL was not caused by reuptake of secreted of shed Ag. All the HEL epitopes examined were efficiently presented after processing of endogenous HEL by HELs-transfected LK-35.2 cells. Processing of HEL tagged with KDEL, however, gave rise to presentation of only six of the seven HEL epitopes. The epitope included in the HEL sequence 112-124 was not presented by HEL.KDEL-transfected B cells. In addition, two of the four T cell hybridomas recognizing HEL 116-129 together with I-Ak molecules were not activated by HEL.KDEL, and three other epitopes were presented with lower efficiency as compared with HELs. Thus, endogenously synthesized HEL in secretory form gives rise to a set of class II-binding epitopes indistinguishable from exogenous HEL, whereas endoplasmic reticulum-retained HEL generates a similar but not identical set of epitopes. The endosomal protease inhibitor leupeptin prevented presentation of the epitope 108-116, but not 46-61, both by HELs and HEL.KDEL transfected cells, indicating a requirement for endosomal processing in both cases. In addition, the presentation of peptides derived from endogenously synthesized, either secretory or endoplasmic reticulum-retained HEL, could be inhibited by lysosomotropic amines, further indicating that the intracellular route of class II molecules presenting peptides derived from endogenous Ag intersects the acidic endosomal compartment.

Amino Acid Sequence

Selective immunosuppression by administration of major histocompatibility complex class II-binding peptides. II. Preventive inhibition of primary and secondary in vivo antibody responses.

The self-mouse lysozyme peptide corresponding to residues 46-62 (ML46-62) binds to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules I-A(k) and it selectively inhibits, when coinjected with antigen, priming of I-A(k)-restricted, antigen-specific T cells. We demonstrate that administration of ML46-62 also inhibits in vivo antibody responses induced by I-A(k)-restricted T helper cells. ML46-62 is able to prevent the primary anti-hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) antibody response induced by the entire HEL molecule in B10.A(4R) mice, expressing only I-A(k) molecules, but not in mice of H-2d haplotype. ML46-62 also strongly decreases, in B10.A(4R) mice, the antibody response to ribonuclease A, a protein antigen unrelated to the MHC blocker, indicating that MHC blockade is the mechanism leading to inhibition of antibody response. This is further supported by the concomitant decrease, in vivo, of complex formation between immunodominant HEL peptides and I-A(k) molecules, preventing I-A(k)-restricted T cell induction. Administration of ML46-62 after antigen priming does not affect ongoing antibody responses, as expected from MHC blockade. A single injection of ML46-62 at the time of protein antigen priming precludes not only the primary, but also the secondary antibody response to a subsequent challenge with soluble protein, even when the challenge is performed several months after priming. Coinjection of antigen and MHC antagonist inhibits production of all antibody isotypes equally well, suggesting that MHC class II blockade affects both Th1- and Th2-type T helper cells. Therefore, these results indicate that administration of MHC class II-binding peptides can efficiently and selectively prevent the induction of T cell-dependent primary and secondary in vivo antibody responses by blocking antigen presentation to class II-restricted T helper cells.

Animals

Selective immunosuppression.

Experimental models of autoimmune diseases have demonstrated that such disease can be prevented or treated by selectively interfering with activation of any of these cell types: antigen-presenting cells, autoreactive T cells and regulatory T cells. Luciano Adorini and colleagues discuss these approaches to selective immunosuppression and examine how similar strategies may become applicable to the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.

Animals

Selective immunosuppression.

Experimental models of autoimmune diseases have demonstrated that such disease can be prevented or treated by selectively interfering with activation of any of these cell types: antigen-presenting cells, autoreactive T cells and regulatory T cells. Luciano Adorini and colleagues discuss these approaches to selective immunosuppression and examine how similar strategies may become applicable to the treatment of human autoimmune diseases.

Animals

MHC class II molecules bind indiscriminately self and non-self peptide homologs: effect on the immunogenicity of non-self peptides.

Synthetic peptides spanning the entire sequence of both human and mouse beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) have been tested for their capacity to bind to three different mouse (I-Ad, I-Ed, and I-Ak) or human (DR1, DR2, and DR5) class II molecules. The results demonstrate that class II molecules do not discriminate between self and non-self peptides. When the immunogenicity of the human beta 2M peptides was measured by their ability to prime H-2d mice for in vitro T cell proliferation, it was found that peptides incapable of binding class II molecules in vitro were also non-immunogenic in vivo. Interestingly, however, several binders, including the human beta 2M peptide 1-16, the best binder in this series to Iad molecules, were found to be non-immunogenic. Since the corresponding mouse beta 2M peptide 1-16 was also capable of binding to Iad molecules, this suggested that lack of responsiveness to the non-self peptide could arise either from central or peripheral tolerance induced by the self homolog. Alternatively, lack of responsiveness could arise from other mechanisms, such as negative selection by other non-homolog sequences or lack of suitable T cell receptor genes. To discriminate between these possibilities, H-2d mice with disrupted beta 2M genes were immunized with the human beta 2M peptide 1-16. This peptide also failed to prime for T cell responsiveness in beta 2M-negative mice, suggesting that a hole in the T cell repertoire for this antigen was not mediated by negative selection or peripheral tolerance induced by self beta 2M peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence

Selective immunosuppression of class II-restricted T cells by MHC class II-binding peptides.

Administration of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-binding synthetic peptides can induce selective immunosuppression via different mechanisms of action. In this review four different ways to induce selective immunosuppression by peptide administration will be examined: MHC blockade, T cell receptor (TCR) antagonism, induction of peripheral tolerance, and activation of regulatory cells. These approaches to selective immunosuppression target three types of cells: antigen-presenting cells, antigen-specific T cells, and regulatory T cells. Understanding these forms of immunosuppression will provide new insights in basic immunology and may offer strategies for selective immunointervention in autoimmune diseases, allograft rejection, and allergy.

Animals

Selective immunosuppression by administration of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-binding peptides. I. Evidence for in vivo MHC blockade preventing T cell activation.

Draining lymph node cells (LNC) from mice immunized with hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) display at their surface antigen-MHC complexes able to stimulate, in the absence of any further antigen addition, HEL peptide-specific, class II-restricted T cell hybridomas. Chloroquine addition to these LNC cultures fails to inhibit antigen presentation, indicating that antigenic complexes of class II molecules and HEL peptides are formed in vivo. MHC class II restriction of antigen presentation by LNC from HEL-primed mice was verified by the use of anti-class II monoclonal antibodies. Coinjection of HEL and the I-Ak-binding peptide HEL 112-129 in mice of H-2k haplotype inhibits the ability of LNC to stimulate I-Ak-restricted, HEL 46-61-specific T cell hybridomas. Similar results are obtained in mice coinjected with the HEL peptides 46-61 and 112-129. Inhibition of T hybridoma activation can also be observed using as antigen-presenting cells irradiated, T cell-depleted LNC from mice coinjected with HEL 46-61 and HEL 112-129, ruling out the possible role of either specific or nonspecific suppressor T cells. Inhibition of T cell proliferation is associated with MHC-specific inhibition of antigen presentation and with occupancy by the competitor of class II binding sites, as measured by activation of peptide-specific T cell hybridomas. These results demonstrate that administration of MHC class II binding peptide competitors selectively inhibits antigen presentation to class II-restricted T cells, indicating competitive blockade of class II molecules in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence

Exogenous peptides compete for the presentation of endogenous antigens to major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted T cells.

Antigen-presenting cells (APC) transfected with a construct encoding the hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) amino acid sequence 1-80 constitutively present HEL peptides complexed to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules to specific T cell hybridomas, indicating that endogenous cellular antigens can be efficiently presented to class II-restricted T cells. Here we show that exogenous peptide competitors added to HEL-transfected APC can inhibit the presentation of endogenous HEL peptides to class II-restricted T cells. The inhibition is specific for the class II molecule binding the competitor peptide, and it affects to the same extent presentation of exogenous or endogenous HEL peptides. These results, demonstrating that an exogenous competitor can inhibit class II-restricted T cell activation induced by endogenous as well as exogenous antigen, suggest lack of strict compartmentalization between endogenous and exogenous pathways of antigen presentation. Since autoreactive T cells may recognize endogenous, as well as exogenous antigens, the results have implications for the treatment of autoimmune diseases by MHC blockade.

Actins

Inhibition of T cell activation by blockade of MHC class II molecules.

Autoimmune diseases result from the activation of self-reactive T cells induced by autoantigens or by foreign antigens cross-reactive with an autoantigen. A striking characteristic of autoimmune diseases is the increased frequency of certain HLA alleles in affected individuals. Moreover, as demonstrated for example in rheumatoid arthritis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, class II alleles positively associated with autoimmune diseases share amino acid residues in the hypervariable HLA regions involved in peptide binding. Therefore, it is likely that disease-associated HLA class II molecules have the capacity to bind the autoantigen and present it to T cells, thereby inducing and maintaining, under appropriate conditions, the autoimmune disease. The data reviewed here demonstrate MHC-selective inhibition of antigen-induced T cell responses in vivo by parenterally administered soluble, MHC-binding peptide competitors, under conditions in which the competitor is not immunogenic. This suggests the feasibility of a therapeutic approach based on MHC blockade in the treatment of HLA-linked autoimmune diseases.

Animals