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Biomedical subjects

L Gorelik

Publications and source records attributed to L Gorelik.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

TGFbeta-mediated immunoregulation.

T cell homeostasis is required for normal immune responses and prevention of pathological responses. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) plays an essential role in that regulation. Owing to its broad expression and inhibitory effects on multiple immune cell types, TGFbeta regulation is complex. Through recent advances in cell-specific targeting of TGFbeta signaling in vivo, the role of TGFbeta in T cell regulation is emerging. We demonstrated here a critical role for TGFbeta in regulating effector vs regulatory T cell homeostasis.

Animals↗

Immune-mediated eradication of tumors through the blockade of transforming growth factor-beta signaling in T cells.

Despite the existence of tumor-specific antigens and demonstrated presence of tumor-specific immune cells, the majority of tumors manage to avoid immune-mediated destruction. Various mechanisms have been suggested for tumor evasion from immune response. One such mechanism is thought to be mediated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), an immunosuppressive cytokine found at the site of most tumors. We demonstrate here that T-cell-specific blockade of TGF-beta signaling allows the generation of an immune response capable of eradicating tumors in mice challenged with live tumor cells. In addition, we provide mechanisms through which abrogation of TGF-beta signaling leads to the enhancement of anti-tumor immunity. Our data indicate that T-cell-specific blockade of TGF-beta signaling has strong therapeutic potential to shift the balance of the immune response in favor of anti-tumor immunity.

Animals↗

Cutting edge: TGF-beta inhibits Th type 2 development through inhibition of GATA-3 expression.

TGF-beta is an important immunomodulatory cytokine that can inhibit differentiation of effector T cells. In this report, we address the molecular mechanisms through which TGF-beta inhibits differentiation of CD4(+) cells into Th type 2 cells. We demonstrate that TGF-beta inhibits GATA-3 expression in developing Th cells. We also show that inhibition of GATA-3 expression by TGF-beta is a major mechanism of inhibition of Th2 differentiation by TGF-beta as ectopic expression of GATA-3 in developing T cells overcomes the ability of TGF-beta to inhibit Th2 differentiation. TGF-beta likely inhibits GATA-3 expression at the transcriptional level and does so without interfering with IL-4 signaling.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Abrogation of TGFbeta signaling in T cells leads to spontaneous T cell differentiation and autoimmune disease.

Targeted mutation of TGFbeta1 in mice demonstrated that TGFbeta1 is one of the key negative regulators of immune homeostasis, as its absence leads to activation of a self-targeted immune response. Nevertheless, because of the highly pleiotropic properties of TGFbeta and the presence of TGFbeta receptors on most cell types, its biologic role in the regulation of immune homeostasis is not yet understood. To limit the consequences of TGFbeta effects to a single cell type, we developed a transgenic approach to abrogate the TGFbeta response in key immune cells. Specifically, we expressed a dominant-negative TGFbeta receptor type II under a T cell-specific promoter and created a mouse model where signaling by TGFbeta is blocked specifically in T cells. Using this transgenic model, we show that T cell homeostasis requires TGFbeta signaling in T cells.

Animals↗

Requirement for CD154 in the progression of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease of the large arteries, and activation of inflammatory pathways is important in its pathogenesis. Increasing evidence supports the importance of CD40-CD154 interactions in atherosclerosis, interactions originally known to be essential in major immune reactions and autoimmune diseases. CD40 is present on atheroma-derived cells in vitro and in human atheromata in situ. Ligation of CD40 on atheroma-associated cells in vitro activates the production of chemokines, cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, adhesion molecules and tissue factor, substances responsible for lesion progression and plaque destabilization. Administration of antibody against CD154 to low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice has been shown to reduce atherosclerosis and decrease T-lymphocyte and macrophage content; however, only initial lesions were studied. Here, we determined the effect of genetic disruption of CD154 in ApoE-/- mice in both initial and advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Plaque area was reduced 550%. In contrast to previous reports, initial lesion development was not affected. Advanced plaques in CD154-/-ApoE-/- mice had a less-lipid-containing, collagen-rich, stable plaque phenotype, with a reduced T-lymphocyte/macrophage content. These data indicate that CD40-CD154 signaling is important in late atherosclerotic changes, such as lipid core formation and plaque destabilization.

Animals↗

Realization of the therapeutic potential of CTLA-4 blockade in low-dose chemotherapy-treated tumor-bearing mice.

CTLA-4 blockade has been shown by other investigators [D. R. Leach, et al., Science (Washington DC), 271: 1734-1736, 1996; and Y-F. Yang, et al., Cancer Res., 57: 4036-4041, 1997] to retard tumor growth in selected tumor systems. Here, we show that CTLA-4 blockade alone was ineffective in retarding tumor growth in the murine MOPC-315 tumor system. Yet, CTLA-4 blockade offered significant therapeutic benefits to MOPC-315 tumor bearers when combined with a subtherapeutic dose of the chemotherapeutic agent melphalan, which was previously shown (L. Gorelik, et al., Cancer Immunol. Immunother., 39: 117-126, 1994) to shift the cytokine profile in the tumor bearers toward type-1 cytokines. In addition, we show here that anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody enhanced antitumor cytotoxicity when the anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody was added to stimulation cultures of spleen cells from low-dose melphalan-treated MOPC-315 tumor-bearing mice but not from untreated tumor-bearing mice. These results suggest that the therapeutic benefits of CTLA-4 blockade depend on the ability of drugs such as melphalan to promote an immunogenic environment by altering the cytokine profile of tumor-specific T cells.

Abatacept↗

Importance of the B7-2 molecule for low dose melphalan-induced acquisition of tumor-eradicating immunity by mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor.

We have previously shown that low dose melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard; L-PAM) therapy of hitherto immunosuppressed mice bearing a large (20-mm) s.c. MOPC-315 tumor leads to the acquisition of potent CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity which in turn eradicates the large tumor burden not eradicated by the direct antitumor effects of the drug. Here we show the preferential importance of the B7-2 costimulatory molecule for the curative effectiveness of low dose L-PAM for mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor by demonstrating that treatment with anti-B7-2 mAb, but not anti-B7-1 mAb, reduced the percentage of mice cured by the low dose L-PAM. In addition, we show the preferential importance of the B7-2 molecule for the low dose L-PAM-induced acquisition of the ability of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from MOPC-315 tumor bearers to secrete IL-2 and IFN-gamma as well as to exert an anti-MOPC-315 CTL effect. The preferential importance of the B7-2 molecule may be due to the higher level of B7-2 than of B7-1 expression on B220+ cells and on tumor cells from the s.c. tumor nodule of low dose L-PAM-treated MOPC-315 tumor bearers and the selective up-regulation of the B7-2 molecule in the draining of these mice. Thus, the B7-2 molecule plays a dominant role in the acquisition of T cell-dependent tumor-eradicating immunity in low dose L-PAM-treated mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor, suggesting that one of the mechanisms by which chemotherapy may enhance antitumor immunity is through up-regulation of critical costimulatory molecules that enhance antitumor responses.

Animals↗

Potentiation of antitumor CTL response by GM-CSF involves a B7-dependent mechanism.

We have previously demonstrated the importance of endogenous GM-CSF production for the B7-2-dependent potentiating effect of exogenous TNF for CTL generation by stimulation cultures of splenic cells from mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor. Here we show that addition of GM-CSF to stimulation cultures of such tumor-bearer splenic cells also leads to the generation of enhanced anti-MOPC-315 CTL activity via a B7-dependent mechanism. However, while the potentiating effect of TNF was previously shown to be IL-2-independent, the potentiating effect of GM-CSF is shown here to be completely IL-2-dependent. Still, the potentiating activity of exogenous GM-CSF for the in vitro generation of CTL activity is shown to depend completely on endogenous TNF production. Finally, TNF and GM-CSF may cooperate in enhancing the in vivo generation of CTL activity in MOPC-315 tumor bearers because low-dose melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard) therapy, which was previously shown to lead to the rapid up-regulation of TNF production at the tumor site and the subsequent TNF-dependent in vivo acquisition of potent CTL activity, is shown here to lead to the rapid up-regulation of GM-CSF production at the tumor site.

Animals↗

Insight into the mechanism(s) through which TNF promotes the generation of T cell-mediated antitumor cytotoxicity by tumor bearer splenic cells.

We have shown previously that addition of TNF to stimulation cultures of MOPC-315 tumor bearer splenic cell suspensions containing metastatic tumor cells capable of secreting TGF-beta greatly enhances the generation of anti-MOPC-315 lytic activity by their CD8+ T cells. The current studies were undertaken to gain some insight into the mechanism(s) through which TNF potentiates the in vitro generation of anti-MOPC-315 cytotoxicity by such tumor bearer splenic cells. Here we show that TNF is capable of 1) preventing completely the inhibitory activity of TGF-beta for CTL generation when both cytokines are added at the time of initiation of a 5-day stimulation culture and 2) reversing at least part of the inhibitory activity of TGF-beta when TNF is added as late as 3 days after TGF-beta addition. The costimulatory molecule B7-2 is shown here to be important for the realization of the potentiating activity of TNF for CTL generation by tumor bearer splenic cells. However, despite the importance of the B7-2 molecule, TNF does not mediate its immunopotentiating activity for CTL generation through up-regulation in IL-2 production. In addition, we show here that GM-CSF, but not IL-12, is important for the potentiating effect of TNF for CTL generation by tumor bearer splenic cells. Taken together, these studies identify several factors that are important for the realization of the potentiating effect of TNF for the in vitro generation of antitumor cytotoxicity by tumor-infiltrated splenic cells. It is not known at present, however, whether these factors utilize distinct and/or overlapping mechanisms in realizing the TNF effect.

Animals↗

Importance of TNF production for the curative effectiveness of low dose melphalan therapy for mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor.

We have previously shown the importance of the acquisition of CD8+ T cell-dependent tumor-eradicating immunity for the curative effectiveness of low dose melphalan (L-PAM, L-phenylalanine mustard) for mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor. Here we show the importance of TNF production for the curative effectiveness of low dose L-PAM for such tumor-bearing mice. Studies regarding the mechanism(s) through which TNF exerts its antitumor effects in L-PAM-treated MOPC-315 tumor-bearing mice (L-PAM TuB mice) revealed that MOPC-315 tumor cells are not sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of TNF either before or after the chemotherapy. However, TNF is essential for the in vitro generation of potent CTL activity by CD8+ T cells from L-PAM TuB mice. Moreover, addition of exogenous TNF to in vitro stimulation cultures of spleen cells from untreated mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor resulted in the generation of a greatly enhanced CTL activity against MOPC-315-associated Ags. Finally, we have previously shown that TCR V beta 8+/CD8+ T cells are involved in the curative effectiveness of low dose L-PAM for mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor. Here we show that TNF is important for the ability of MOPC-315-specific V beta 8+/CD8+ T cell lines from L-PAM TuB mice to bring about tumor eradication upon adoptive transfer into tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, these studies illustrate that low dose L-PAM mediates its therapeutic effectiveness for mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor, at least in part, via TNF production (e.g., by V beta 8+/CD8+ T cells), which in turn promotes the generation of anti-MOPC-315 CTL activity.

Animals↗

Low-dose-melphalan-induced up-regulation of type-1 cytokine expression in the s.c. tumor nodule of MOPC-315 tumor bearers and the role of interferon gamma in the therapeutic outcome.

We have previously shown the importance of endogenous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production for the curative effectiveness of low-dose melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard) for mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor. In the current study we demonstrate that low-dose melphalan is actually associated with enhanced expression of mRNA for TNF alpha in the s.c. tumor nodule. Moreover, the expression of mRNA for interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and interleukin-12 (IL-12; p40) is also elevated at the tumor site. However, while elevation in the expression of mRNA for TNF alpha and IFN gamma is evident within 24 h after the chemotherapy, elevation in the expression of mRNA for IL-12(p40) is first evident 72 h after the chemotherapy. Moreover, neutralizing anti-IFN gamma mAb, like neutralizing anti-TNF mAb but not neutralizing anti-IL-12 mAb, reduced the curative effectiveness of low-dose melphalan for MOPC-315 tumor bearers. Studies into the mechanism through which IFN gamma mediates its antitumor effect in low-dose-melphalan-treated MOPC-315 tumor-bearing mice revealed that MOPC-315 tumor cells, which are not sensitive to the direct antitumor effects of TNF, display some sensitivity to the antiproliferative activity of high concentrations of IFN gamma. However, unlike TNF alpha, IFN gamma is unable to promote the generation of anti-MOPC-315 cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and, in fact, exerts an inhibitory activity on CTL generation. Taken together, our studies illustrate that low-dose melphalan therapy of MOPC-315 tumor bearers is associated with the rapid elevation in the expression of mRNA for IFN gamma and TNF, two cytokines which are important for the curative effectiveness of low-dose melphalan, and which mediate their antitumor effect, in part, through distinct mechanisms.

Animals↗

Low-dose melphalan-induced shift in the production of a Th2-type cytokine to a Th1-type cytokine in mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor.

The current studies demonstrate that MOPC-315 tumor cells secrete large amounts of interleukin-10 (IL-10), which contributes to the inhibitory activity of MOPC-315 culture supernatants for the in vitro generation of antitumor cytotoxicity by MOPC-315-"immune" spleen cells. Moreover, addition of neutralizing monoclonal anti-IL-10 antibody to the in vitro stimulation cultures of cells from the tumor infiltrated spleens of mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor resulted in the generation of enhanced anti-MOPC-315 cytotoxicity. In contrast, addition of monoclonal anti-IL-10 antibody to the in vitro stimulation cultures of splenic cells from mice that are in the final stages of immune-mediated tumor eradication as a consequence of low-dose melphalan (L-phenylalanine mustard; L-PAM) therapy (and whose spleens no longer contain metastatic tumor cells) did not lead to enhancement in the in vitro generation of antitumor cytotoxicity. The cessation of IL-10 secretion as a consequence of low-dose L-PAM therapy of MOPC-315 tumor bearers was found to be accompanied by the acquisition of the ability to secrete interferon gamma (IFN gamma) by the splenic cells. In addition, by day 2 after low-dose L-PAM therapy a drastic decrease in the amount of IL-10 secreted by the s.c. tumor nodules was noted, which preceded the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes capable of secreting IFN gamma. Thus, low-dose L-PAM therapy of mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor leads to a shift in cytokine production from a Th2-type cytokine to a Th1-type cytokine, and it is conceivable that this shift in cytokine production plays an important role in the low-dose L-PAM-induced acquisition of antitumor immunity by hitherto immunosuppressed mice bearing a large MOPC-315 tumor.

Animals↗