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J Rozing

Publications and source records attributed to J Rozing.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Direct assessment of junctional diversity in rearranged T cell receptor beta chain encoding genes by combined heteroduplex and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis.

In order to define the extent of T cell heterogeneity and clonality, unique DNA sequences in the junctional region in rearranged T cell receptor (TcR) genes can be studied. For this purpose we have adapted a non-denaturing nucleic acid gel electrophoresis procedure to detect TcR junctional diversity. Detection of junctional diversity is based upon electrophoretic separation of single stranded (ss) and double stranded (ds) DNA molecules via mobility shifts due to nucleotide sequence polymorphism. To examine the capacity of this nucleic acid gel electrophoresis procedure to detect nucleotide sequence polymorphism in the CDR 3 region within TcR V beta gene family sequences polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified TcR V beta 5.1/5.4 and V beta 14 cDNA sequences were analyzed. The results of this study showed that (1) the single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) procedure has a low capacity to discriminate between diverse TcR V beta cDNA sequences due to comigration of the ssDNA molecules, which results in an underestimation of the heterogeneity in a given T cell population; (2) comigrating ssDNA and/or dsDNA (homoduplex) molecules can be separated by the formation of heteroduplex molecules; these heteroduplex molecules provide essential additional information on the degree of nucleotide sequence polymorphism in the CDR 3 region within the TcR V beta cDNA sequences; (3) the double strand conformation polymorphism (DSCP) procedure provides a fast and reliable procedure to detect junctional diversity within the sequences tested. Using DSCP a more detailed assessment of amplified TcR V beta cDNA sequences can be obtained as compared with SSCP analysis only. Data obtained by gel analysis were very similar to those obtained by conventional bacterial cloning and DNA sequencing procedures on the corresponding cDNA clones. In conclusion, this new gel electrophoresis procedure allows a direct assessment of the extent of T cell heterogeneity and clonality by screening junctional diversity in TcR chain encoding sequences in clinical conditions with (oligo)clonal expansion of T lymphocytes.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Differences in dexamethasone-sensitivity between lymphocytes from patients with Alzheimer's disease and patients with multi-infarct dementia.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 40 consecutive patients entering a screening program on cognitive impairment were studied in vitro with respect to their sensitivity to dexamethasone (DEX). Phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation by PBMC from patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) was less sensitive to the inhibitory effect of DEX, compared to PBMC from patients with multi-infarct dementia (MID) and PBMC from patients with miscellaneous causes of cognitive impairment (MISC). An intermediate sensitivity was found with PBMC from patients with clinical signs of both MID and SDAT (= MIXED). These differences could not be explained by differences in the composition of the CD4(+) T cell population, interleukin (IL)-2 or IL-4 production, or quantitative differences in the expression of glucocorticoid receptors as measured by flowcytometry. However, the expression of bcl-2 was higher in PBMC from SDAT patients than in cells from MID patients or from MISC patients, whereas the MIXED group showed an intermediate expression; a high bcl-2 expression correlated with a low DEX-sensitivity. These findings suggest that characteristics of PBMC reflect related changes in the central nervous system and indicate that PBMC may be a useful and accessible tool to obtain more insight into the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗

Induction of microhematuria by an IgA isotype switch variant of a monoclonal anti-Thy-1.1 antibody in the rat.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a chronic form of glomerulonephritis (GN) characterized by the deposition in the glomerular mesangium of mainly IgA. An experimental form of mesangial proliferative GN can be induced in rats by either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies against Thy-1.1, a glycoprotein present on the surface of MC. The IgG-mediated renal inflammation is complement dependent and associated with influx of platelets and monocytes. In the present study we switched an IgG2a anti-Thy-1.1 (ER4G) producing hybridoma to an IgA anti-Thy-1.1 (ER4A) producing clone and analyzed the effects of IgA anti-Thy-1.1 in rats. FPLC analysis by gel filtration revealed that the IgA produced by the hybridoma cells was mainly dimeric and polymeric. Infusion of rats with purified ER4A (1 mg/kg) resulted in the deposition of IgA in a mesangial pattern in the glomeruli, similar to that found with ER4G. While administration of ER4G resulted in proteinuria, no significant urinary protein excretion was found in rats treated with ER4A. However, significant microhematuria was observed in rats receiving either ER4A or ER4G. Furthermore, the administration of ER4A was not accompanied by activation of complement, and no significant influx of monocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes was observed in contrast to the rats receiving ER4G. We conclude that microhematuria is selectively induced in Wistar rats by mouse IgA anti-Thy-1.1 without detectable complement-mediated injury to MC. These studies may be of importance in understanding the mechanisms leading to IgAN in patients.

Animals↗

No evidence for emergence of autoreactive V beta 6+ T cells in Mls-1a mice following exposure to a thymotoxic dose of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Tolerance to minor lymphocyte stimulatory-1a (Mls-1a) antigens is associated with clonal deletion of cells carrying the T cell receptor variable region V beta 6. Thymic epithelial cells may contribute to the intrathymic negative selection of potentially autoreactive V beta 6+ cells. Because 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) acts on thymic epithelial cells, we hypothesized that it may interfere with intrathymic selection processes. In the present study, this was addressed by exposing Mls-1a DBA/2 mice to a single thymotoxic dose of TCDD. The emergence of V beta 6+ cells in thymus, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes was investigated during the subsequent recovery of TCDD-induced thymic atrophy. In addition, the extrathymic differentiation of T lymphocytes in the liver was studied. TCDD exposure resulted in a severe thymic atrophy, and an increase in hepatic mononuclear cells. However, we were not able to demonstrate any emergence of potentially autoreactive mature V beta 6+ T cells, that differentiated either intrathymically or extrathymically, in TCDD-exposed DBA/2 mice.

Animals↗

Denaturing and non-denaturing gel electrophoresis as methods for the detection of junctional diversity in rearranged T cell receptor sequences.

Two nucleic acid gel electrophoresis techniques were tested as a possible tool for analyzing junctional diversity in rearranged T cell receptor (TcR) sequences in order to define the extent of T cell heterogeneity. For this purpose denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) as well as non-denaturing gel electrophoresis (nDGE) techniques have been studied. Detection of junctional diversity is based on mobility shifts, caused by nucleotide sequence polymorphism, of polymerase chain reaction amplified rearranged TcR sequences. DGGE as well as nDGE procedures are suitable for the detection of junctional diversity in TcR V gene family sequences based on sequence dependent separation. Compared to DGGE, nDGE of DNA is a relatively simple and rapid procedure, with a high separation potential. nDGE permits separation of double stranded (homoduplexes) and/or single stranded DNA molecules of the majority of TcR chain encoding sequences. Formation and detection of unique heteroduplex molecules combined with single stranded DNA molecule analysis in nDGE permits the recognition of the remaining sequences, thus providing additional information on the degree of T cell heterogeneity. In conclusion, these nucleic acid gel electrophoresis techniques allow a direct assessment of the heterogeneity and clonality of T cell populations by the detection of junctional diversity in TcR chain encoding sequences. This analysis can be performed without the need of cell propagation and/or cellular cloning procedures, thereby eliminating the risk of introducing technical artefacts.

Animals↗

Changes in the intestinal lymphoid compartment throughout life: implications for the local generation of intestinal T cells.

The intestinal lymphoid compartment has a rather stable composition throughout life. However, both during early neonatal development and at high age unique cell populations can be recognized at distinct sites in the intestinal tissue. Directly after birth all intestinal CD3+ cells are found in the lamina propria. At this time the epithelium does not contain T cells. These CD3+ lamina propria lymphocytes co-express both TCR beta and TCR delta chains, probably reflecting the expression of a TCR beta delta heterodimer on the cell surface. Cells with this particular phenotype are present in comparable numbers in the lamina propria of both neonatal euthymic and athymic mice, indicating the thymus-independent nature of these cells. During aging the frequency of TCR alpha beta+ CD8 alpha alpha+ intestinal T cells increases. These cells are also considered to be thymus-independent. The appearance of high numbers of CD4+ CD8 alpha alpha+ intestinal T cells in aged mice is even more striking. It is postulated that the neonatal TCR beta delta+ cells, and probably also the CD4+ CD8 alpha alpha+ cells as found in old mice, are intermediates in the extrathymic differentiation pathway of TCR alpha beta+ CD8 alpha alpha+ intestinal T cells.

Aging↗

Role of opioid peptides in the regulation of cytokine production by murine CD4+ T cells.

The presence of the opioid peptides alpha- and beta-endorphin (-End) but not methionine enkephalin (Met-enk) in in vitro cultures of purified CD4+ T cells, stimulated with concanavalin A in the presence of irradiated spleen cells, resulted in a threefold stimulation of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma production. The stimulating effect was dependent on the concentration of the peptides and reached optimal values in the dose range from 10(-12) to 10(-10) M. Similar results were obtained when purified CD4+ T cells were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3, indicating a direct effect of opioid peptides on CD4+ T cells. Moreover, in this system a twofold enhancement of IL-6, but not IL-1, secretion was observed. These stimulatory effects were not mediated through opioid receptors since the peptide fragment beta-End6-31 that lacks the N-terminal opioid receptor binding part was still stimulatory. This is in agreement with our finding that beta-End did not affect cAMP, as described for the triggering of classical opioid receptors. Experiments undertaken to reveal the mechanism of action of opioid peptides suggest an overall enhancement of lymphokine production: (1) enhancement of IL-4 production occurred also in the presence of excess IL-2; and (2) neither IL-1 receptor-antagonizing protein nor anti-IL-6 were capable to abrogate the stimulatory effect on IL-2 and IL-4 production. Finally, the presence and activity of opioid receptors in cultures of CD4+ T cells were substantiated by the fact that the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone by itself enhanced cytokine synthesis, which points to the endogenous production by lymphocytes of down-regulating opioid peptides.

Animals↗

Decreased sensitivity to dexamethasone in lymphocytes from patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Cortisol levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are relatively unaffected by a challenge with dexamethasone (DEX) in vivo. The present study demonstrates that DEX is less inhibitory for phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced T cell proliferation in AD patients as compared to age-matched controls. Since no significant differences were found between AD patients and age-matched controls with regard to the fraction of CD45RA+ or CD45RO+ CD4+ T cells nor the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to produce IL-2 or IL-4, it is unlikely that the difference in DEX sensitivity is due to a changed lymphokine profile or a changed composition of the CD4+ T cell population. Sensitivity to DEX was negatively correlated with the ability to produce IL-2 and IL-4 in the controls but not in AD patients. This suggests that IL-2 and IL-4 synthesis in AD patients is less sensitive to regulation by glucocorticoids.

Aged↗

Identification of distinct sites of beta-endorphin that stimulate lymphokine production by murine CD4+ T cells.

We recently demonstrated that the opioid peptide beta-endorphin (beta-End) has the capacity to stimulate interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 production by murine CD4+ T cells. Since opioid peptides have been demonstrated to contain stimulatory as well as inhibitory sites, we studied peptide fragments of beta-End to identify a moiety with exclusive stimulatory capacity. To this end, the effects of various opioid peptides on the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by CD4+ T cells were determined. It appeared that two peptide fragments of beta-End, i.e., beta-End6-31 and beta-End18-31, that lack the N-terminal enkephalin part, enhanced IL-2 and IL-4 production to a similar extent as intact beta-End, indicating that the N-terminal part is not involved in the stimulating effects of beta-End. Also the production of IL-6 and IFN-gamma was increased by these peptides. By contrast, the fragments beta-End24-31 and beta-End28-31 did not stimulate the production of the cytokines. Surprisingly, also alpha-End, which is equivalent to beta-End1-16 and hence lacks the sequence comprising amino acids 18 through 31, was stimulatory. This effect was not prevented by naloxone, indicating that opioid receptors were not involved. Moreover, methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk), which binds to opioid receptors, did not affect cytokine production. Because both alpha-End and beta-End18-31 stimulate cytokine production by CD4+ T cells and do not overlap is sequence, it is concluded that at least two distinct sites of beta-End can exert stimulating effects on cytokine production.

Animals↗

Thymic epithelial defects and predisposition to autoimmune disease in BB rats.

We report an association between thymic epithelial defects and predisposition to autoimmunity. Diabetes-prone (DP) BB rats develop spontaneous hyperglycemia and are deficient in T cell subsets expressing the RT6 alloantigen. Diabetes resistant (DR) BB rats become diabetic if depleted of RT6+ T cells. The inciting immune system defects are unknown. We made the following observations: 1) Regions of thymic cortex and medulla devoid of thymic epithelium exist in DP-BB, DR-BB, and Lewis rats, all of which are susceptible to autoimmune disorders. Such defects were absent in eight normal rat strains. 2) Thymic epithelial defects are absent at birth, but present in BB rats at 4 weeks of age. 3) The genetic predisposition to thymic epithelial defects is an autosomal dominant trait. 4) The observation of thymic defects in (DP x WF)F1 rats led to the prediction that such animals, which never develop spontaneous autoimmunity, might be susceptible to its induction. Following depletion of RT6+ T cells we observed diabetes in 91%, and thyroiditis in 43%, of treated F1 animals (n = 23). Pancreatic insulitis was uniformly present. Because thymic epithelium participates in the positive and negative selection of developing thymocytes, we propose that thymic epithelial defects may play an important role in the predisposition of BB rats to autoimmunity.

Aging↗

Beta-endorphin stimulates Ia expression on mouse B cells by inducing interleukin-4 secretion by CD4+ T cells.

In the present study we show that the opioid peptide beta-endorphin (beta-End) enhances Ia expression on murine B cells in cultures of unseparated spleen cells, mediated by low concentrations of IL-4 in the absence of antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. Since this effect was not found with purified B cells and no enhancement of IL-4 receptor expression on B cells could be observed, we studied the effect of beta-End on IL-4 production. To this end, purified CD4+ T cells were stimulated with suboptimal concentrations of Con A in the presence of irradiated spleen cells. It was indeed shown that beta-End enhances IL-4 production. To establish the role of macrophages in this process, we measured IL-1 and IL-6 production under the influence of beta-End. Splenic adherent cells as well as peritoneal macrophages produced higher levels of IL-1 and IL-6 in response to beta-End, whereas IL-1 was shown to enhance Ia expression similar to beta-End. Using anti-IL-6 it was demonstrated that IL-6 was required for the stimulation of Ia expression by beta-End. It is concluded that a local increase in beta-End may result in upregulation of Ia expression on B cells, thereby most likely improving their antigen-presenting capacity.

Animals↗

Constitutive expression of Ly-6.A2 on murine keratinocytes and inducible expression on TCR gamma delta+ dendritic epidermal T cells.

We investigated the expression of Ly-6.A2 on isolated murine epidermal cells by flow cytometry. Ly-6.A2 was expressed on 61% of keratinocytes and 6% of dendritic epidermal T cells of C57BL mice. Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C removed Ly-6.A2, indicating that the antigen is anchored to the keratinocyte membrane via a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor similar to its attachment to the membrane of lymphocytes. Induction of dermatitis by topical application of PMA increased the expression of Ly-6.A2 on TCR gamma delta+ dendritic epidermal T cells and did not change its expression on keratinocytes. The increased expression of Ly-6.A2 on dendritic epidermal T cells was transient and reached a peak at 4 days after application of PMA, when 55% of the cells were positive.

Animals↗

Effect of chronic graft-versus-host disease on the intestine in adult BDF1 mice.

This study was performed to characterize the intestinal lesions in chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in mice and to determine a possible role of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (ilEL) in the development of these lesions. Chronic GVHD was induced by transfer of DBA/2 lymphocytes into non-irradiated (C57BL/10 x DBA/2)F1 (BDF1) recipients. There was mild to moderate mucosal oedema with multifocal mixed inflammatory cell infiltrations in the small intestine. The caecum was more severely affected with severe oedema, progressive loss of crypts and severe distortion of the mucosal architecture. The total number of ilEL did not change during the development of chronic GVHD, but there were alterations in the composition of the ilEL population. An increase of CD3+, Thy-1+ cells was accompanied by an increase of TCR alpha beta + cells and a decrease of TCR gamma delta + cells. There was no evidence of infiltration of donor lymphocytes into the intestinal epithelium as determined by the H2K haplotype of the ilEL. These lesions differ from previously described models of chronic GVHD, induced by DBA/2 donor lymphocytes in BDF1 recipients. We suggest that the haemopoietic organs that are used as the source of donor lymphocytes determine the outcome of the GVHD. Modulation of the composition of the donor lymphocyte population may be useful in the establishment of relevant animal models of human enteropathy.

Animals↗

Identification of two moieties of beta-endorphin with opposing effects on rat T-cell proliferation.

In a previous study we demonstrated that beta-endorphin (beta-end) may stimulate rat T-cell proliferation via triggering of non-opioid receptors, whereas this stimulatory effect is abrogated by interaction of beta-end with opioid receptors. In the present study we provide evidence for this dualistic nature of beta-end by the identification of stimulatory and inhibitory sites of beta-end with the use of peptide fragments. The fragments beta-end6-31 and beta-end 18-31, which both lack the opioid receptor binding N-terminal sequence, enhanced rat T-cell proliferation when added directly to the cultures. By contrast, the peptide fragments beta-end24-31 and beta-end28-31 did not stimulate proliferation. Peptides and fragments containing the N-terminal part, i.e. methionine-enkephalin (met-enk), alpha-endorphin (alpha-end), gamma-endorphin, the fragment beta-end1-27, and the intact beta-end, did not influence proliferation by themselves. However, the addition of met-enk or alpha-end to T cells that had been stimulated by the fragments beta-end6-31 or beta-end18-31 resulted in the abrogation of the stimulating effect. These data further support the hypothesis that beta-end is a peptide with a dualistic nature: its C-terminal moiety enhances T-cell proliferation, whereas this stimulatory effect can be prevented by peptides that possess the N-terminal enkephalin sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chemicals trophic for the thymus: risk for immunodeficiency and autoimmunity.

The thymus is considered as the privileged site of T-lymphocyte generation. The organ is extremely vulnerable to the toxic action of chemicals. The classical example is the "acute stress-induced involution" mediated by glucocorticoid steroid hormones from the adrenal cortex. Nowadays a number of substances have been identified that act in a differential way on the thymus. Examples presented are some organotin compounds acting on immature lymphoblasts in the outer cortex, glucocorticosteroids acting on small thymocytes in the cortex, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin acting on epithelial cells in the cortex, and cyclosporin acting on dendritic cells and epithelium in the medulla. The mechanisms of toxicity include receptor binding (Ah, aryl hydrocarbon receptor; dioxin); the Ca(2+)-dependent activation of an endogenous endonuclease resulting in DNA fragmentation ("programmed cell death" or apoptosis; dioxin and glucocorticosteroids); and interference with cell proliferation (some organotin compounds). The consequences of toxicity can be a decrease in thymic output of newly-generated T-lymphocytes (i.e. generation of a new T-cell repertoire), or induction of autoimmune symptoms by the creation of unwanted repertoire. This latter phenomenon may be applicable to cyclosporin that under specified conditions can induce so-called syngeneic graft-vs-host disease. This survey presents a brief description of the function of the thymus and the various thymic cell populations involved. Thereafter the susceptibility to toxic insults and the mechanisms of toxicity are reviewed. Finally, the consequences of toxic action for the host defence system, and hence the health status, are considered.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-linked membrane protein expression by intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes.

Murine intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (ilEL) represent a heterogeneous population of cells which contains both TCR alpha beta+ and TCR gamma delta+ cells. In contrast to the TCR alpha beta+ cell population in peripheral lymphoid organs, the TCR alpha beta+ ilEL contain high numbers of Thy-1- cells. This negativity of ilEL for Thy-1, a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-linked membrane protein, is not the result of conformational changes of the Thy-1 molecule. The absence of Thy-1 on TCR gamma delta+ and a subset of TCR alpha beta+ ilEL is furthermore not caused by a general defect in the processing of GPI-linked proteins, since Thy-1- ilEL mainly express another GPI-linked protein, Qa-2. However, TCR alpha beta+ and TCR gamma delta+ ilEL are also virtually negative for two other members of this family of activation-associated GPI-linked proteins, Ly-6A and Ly-6C. This unusual pattern of GPI-linked protein expression on TCR+ ilEL may be related to differences in cellular activation and signal transduction pathways between TCR+ ilEL and regular peripheral T cells.

Animals↗

Macrophage subpopulations in normal and transplanted heart and kidney tissues in the rat.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the phenotype of macrophages that infiltrate normal and transplanted rat tissues. The macrophage monoclonal antibodies ED1, ED2, ED3, 52-1D4, ER15, and OX43, together with antibodies against lymphocyte and class II MHC antigens, were used in an indirect immunofluorescence technique with sections of normal tissues and heart and renal grafts that experienced long-term survival or rejection. A small number of ED1- and ED3-positive interstitial cells were detected in normal heart and renal tissues and their number increased dramatically in rejection. Normal heart tissue contained a population of ED2-positive cells with dendritic morphology that was not detected in renal tissue. Following transplantation, a diffuse increase of rounded ED2-positive cells was observed in heart grafts; no ED2-positive cells were detected in grafts removed after 20-30 days from nonimmunosuppressed recipients. Grafts from CsA-treated animals or grafts that survived greater than 50 days in nonimmunosuppressed recipients exhibited the interstitial dendritic pattern of ED2-positive cells. Only very few rounded ED2-positive cells were observed in renal allografts; if present, they were mostly located in the medulla. OX43, which bound in normal tissues to vessel endothelium and a population of macrophages, stained in allografts an additional small population of graft-infiltrating cells, and in F344 renal allografts a population of multinucleated giant cells. We conclude that the posttransplant macrophage infiltration pattern of heart and renal allografts, defined by the monocyte/macrophage antibodies ED1, ED3, 52-1D4, and ER15, is very similar for both types of organs, although the antibody ED2 and the endothelial-macrophage antibody OX43 revealed remarkable differences between the two types of organ allografts.

Animals↗