Biomedical subjects

L H Glimcher

Publications and source records attributed to L H Glimcher.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Bcl-2 is upregulated at the CD4+ CD8+ stage during positive selection and promotes thymocyte differentiation at several control points.

In vivo thymocyte maturation models were used to investigate the differentiation role of Bcl-2. In alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR) class II-restricted transgenic mice, Bcl-2 was upregulated at the CD4+ CD8+ stage during positive selection. The lckpr-bcl2 transgene was bred onto MHC classes I-I- and II-I-, MHC-I-, and alpha/beta TCR backgrounds to determine whether Bcl-2 promoted thymocyte maturation in the absence of coreceptor-MHC interaction. Bcl-2 rescued CD8+ thymocytes in class I-I- and alpha/beta TCR in mice; however, they were not exported to the periphery. Bcl-2 had no effect on CD4 lineage maturation in class II-I- mice. No single-positive thymocytes accumulate in MHC-I- mice despite overexpressed Bcl-2. Thus, Bcl-2 enables selection of certain TCRs on class II molecules and their differentiation along the CD8 pathway; however, Bcl-2 did not substitute for positive selection. In RAG-1-I- mice, Bcl-2 promoted differentiation to the CD4+ CD8+ stage. Bcl-2 can promote thymocyte maturation at several control points.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Peripheral lymphoid development and function in TCR mutant mice.

We describe the development and function of the peripheral lymphoid system of mutant mice rendered deficient in either alpha beta or gamma delta T cells via targeting of TCR genes in embryonic stem cells. In the spleen of alpha beta T cell-deficient mice, gamma delta T cells do not compensate in numbers for the lack of alpha beta T cells, but B cells do. alpha beta T cell-deficient mice are unable to mount an antibody response to ovalbumin and do not reject skin allografts. Natural killer cell function is not impaired in any of the mutant mice. TCR mutant mice will prove useful in dissecting differential functions of alpha beta and gamma delta T cells in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Thymocyte development in major histocompatibility complex-deficient mice: evidence for stochastic commitment to the CD4 and CD8 lineages.

The mechanism resulting in commitment of precursor cells in the thymus to either the CD4 or CD8 lineage remains poorly understood. In principle, this may reflect a stochastic process or may reflect instructional signals from host major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. We have examined the role of MHC products in subset commitment by using mice deficient in class I or class II MHC products. Normal numbers of committed CD4 intermediates (CD4+ CD8lo) develop in the thymus in the absence of class II molecules. Similarly, CD8 transitional cells (CD4loCD8+) are present in the thymus of mice lacking class I products. These findings suggest that commitment of CD4+8+ precursor cells to either lineage is a stochastic process that does not depend on instructive signals from MHC molecules (i.e., expression of alternative differentiative options by uncommitted precursor cells is independent of this environmental signal). These studies also suggest that an interaction between the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) and MHC molecules that is independent of CD4/CD8 coreceptor engagement enhances stochastic coreceptor downregulation substantially and leads to upregulation of TCR expression as a prelude to selective events that require joint coreceptor/TCR engagement. We suggest that this initial interaction molds the TCR repertoire of stochastically generated T-cell subsets toward recognition of self-MHC products.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Regulation of T cell receptor expression in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by p56lck tyrosine kinase: basis for differential signaling by CD4 and CD8 in immature thymocytes expressing both coreceptor molecules.

Signals transduced through the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) are modulated by the src family tyrosine kinase p56lck (lck), which associates in mature T cells with the coreceptor molecules CD4 and CD8. Here we describe a novel function of lck in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, that of regulating TCR expression. Activation of lck in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes by intrathymic engagement of CD4 maintains low TCR expression by causing most TCR components to be retained and degraded within the endoplasmic reticulum. Importantly, activation of lck in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes results from engagement of surface CD4 molecules, but not surface CD8 molecules, despite the nearly fourfold greater surface expression of CD8 than CD4. The competence of CD4 to activate lck in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes relates to the fact that a relatively large fraction of surface CD4 molecules (25-50%) are associated with intracellular lck molecules, whereas only 2% of surface CD8 molecules are associated with lck. The amount of lck associated with CD4 in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is diminished by chronic CD4 engagement in the thymus, as activated lck molecules subsequently dissociate from CD4. Indeed, the amount of lck associated with CD4 in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is markedly increased in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II- mice that lack the intrathymic ligand for CD4 and in which surface CD4 molecules are consequently not engaged. Thus, the present study demonstrates that (a) activation of lck in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes regulates distribution and expression of TCR components; (b) unlike CD4 molecules, CD8 molecules on CD4+CD8+ thymocytes cannot efficiently activate lck despite their significantly greater surface expression; and (c) the amount of lck associated with CD4 in the CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is inversely related to the extent of CD4 engagement by MHC class II molecules in the thymus.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Most gamma delta T cells develop normally in the absence of MHC class II molecules.

MHC class I and class II molecules are essential for intrathymic maturation of a normal repertoire of alpha beta T cells. The development of gamma delta T cells may similarly require exposure to conventional MHC or MHC-like molecules for appropriate negative and positive selection. The availability of mice that are devoid of cell surface expression of MHC class II molecules allowed us to test directly the hypothesis that conventional class II molecules play a role in the development of gamma delta T cells. The proportions of gamma delta cells in thymus, lymph nodes, and spleens were indistinguishable between class II-deficient mice and littermate controls by FACS analysis. gamma delta T cells from class II-deficient mice proliferated normally in response to anti-TCR mAb. Examination of epidermal sheets from ear, torso, and tail skin demonstrated that class II-deficient mice had the same population density and distribution of gamma delta+ dendritic epidermal T cells as that of control littermates. gamma delta Cells in the epidermis of class II-deficient mice expressed Thy-1 and CD3 and were predominantly V gamma 3+. There were no significant differences in the immunophenotype of class II-deficient mice and their normal littermates in two-color immunofluorescence analysis of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes. Class II-deficient mice and control mice had 29 to 39% gamma delta bearing intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, of which 16 to 21% expressed V delta 4. Dendritic cells that stained positively for Thy-1, CD3, and gamma delta were identified in the vaginal epithelium of class II-deficient mice and their normal littermates. Our results indicate that MHC class II expression is not essential for the development of most gamma delta T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Spontaneous development of inflammatory bowel disease in T cell receptor mutant mice.

We describe the spontaneous development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in several immunodeficient mouse strains created via gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. Chronic colitis was observed in T cell receptor (TCR) alpha mutant, TCR beta mutant, TCR beta x delta double mutant, or class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) mutant mice, but not in recombination-activating gene RAG-1 mutant mice or nude mice kept in the same specific pathogen-free animal facility. This clinical pattern suggests that the disease requires the presence of B lymphocytes and the absence of class II MHC-restricted CD4+ alpha beta T cells. IBD in the mutant mice has some of the features of the human disease ulcerative colitis. Based on these results, we suggest that dysfunction of the mucosal immune system may underly the pathogenesis of some types of IBD in humans.

Aging↗

PubMed1993

Transforming growth factor beta 1 repression of the HLA-DR alpha gene is mediated by conserved proximal promoter elements.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that decreases the expression of class II MHC Ag in the melanoma cell line Hs294T(c). To investigate the mechanism of this repression, we have examined the effect of TGF-beta 1 on expression of the HLA-DR alpha gene. Both the constitutive level of HLA-DR protein and DR alpha mRNA were repressed by treatment with TGF-beta 1. The proximal 176 bp of the DR alpha promoter were sufficient to confer TGF-beta 1 repression on a reporter gene. Deletional and mutational analysis of the DR alpha promoter revealed that the conserved S and X1 promoter elements were important for basal expression of DR alpha and also mediated the down-regulation by TGF-beta 1. Mobility shift assays and in vivo footprinting showed no change in occupancy of the proximal DR alpha promoter after TGF-beta 1 treatment. These results identify the DNA elements that mediate repression of the HLA-DR alpha gene by TGF-beta 1 and suggest that TGF-beta 1 acts at these sites without causing a change in promoter occupancy.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

The regulatory gene, hXBP-1, and its target, HLA-DRA, utilize both common and distinct regulatory elements and protein complexes.

hXBP-1 is a transcription factor of the leucine zipper (b-zip) family important in the expression of the class II major histocompatibility complex gene, DRA. Studies with mouse-human hybrids have mapped hXBP-1 hybridizing fragments to human chromosomes 5 and 22 and the frequent detection of two mRNA transcripts suggested that hXBP-1 may be a member of a small gene family. To analyze the structure and regulation of hXBP-1 further, cosmid clones from both chromosomes were isolated. Mapping and sequence analyses reveal that chromosome 22 contains the functional hXBP-1 gene while chromosome 5 contains a processed pseudogene. hXBP-1 promoter analysis has revealed that cis-active elements within the 5'-untranslated region of hXBP-1 are essential for full promoter activity. One such element, hX2, is identical to the hXBP-1 target sequence in the DRA promoter. Mutagenesis of the hX2 site substantially decreases promoter activity. This element interacts with four distinct protein complexes in mature B cells and cross-competition experiments show that two of these complexes (complex 1 and complex 4) also interact with the hXBP-1 target sequence (X2) from the DRA promoter. The similarities of the hXBP-1 promoter and of the DRA promoter (the gene that the hXBP-1 protein regulates) are further emphasized by the fact that a Y box element is located 3' of both hX2 and X2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Autoimmune diabetes can be induced in transgenic major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an autoimmune disease marked by hyperglycemia and mononuclear cell infiltration of insulin-producing beta islet cells. Predisposition to IDDM in humans has been linked to the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and islet cells often become aberrantly class II positive during the course of the disease. We have used two recently described transgenic lines to investigate the role of class II molecules and CD4+ T cells in the onset of autoimmune insulitis. Mice that are class II deficient secondary to a targeted disruption of the A beta b gene were bred to mice carrying a transgene for the lymphocytic choriomenigitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein (GP) targeted to the endocrine pancreas. Our results indicate that class II-deficient animals with and without the GP transgene produce a normal cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to whole LCMV. After infection with LCMV, GP-transgenic class II-deficient animals develop hyperglycemia as rapidly as their class II-positive littermates. Histologic examination of tissue sections from GP-transgenic class II-deficient animals reveals lymphocytic infiltrates of the pancreatic islets that are distinguishable from those of their class II-positive littermates only by the absence of infiltrating CD4+ T cells. These results suggest that in this model of autoimmune diabetes, CD4+ T cells and MHC class II molecules are not required for the development of disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Constitutive expression of B7 restores immunogenicity of tumor cells expressing truncated major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.

The inability of the autologous host to reject resident tumor cells is frequently the result of inadequate generation of tumor-specific T cells. Specific activation of T cells occurs after delivery of two signals by the antigen-presenting cell. The first signal is antigen-specific and is the engagement of the T-cell antigen receptor by a specific major histocompatibility complex antigen-peptide complex. For some T cells, the second or costimulatory signal is the interaction of the T-cell CD28 receptor with the B7 activation molecule of the antigen-presenting cell. In the present study, we demonstrate that mouse sarcoma cells genetically engineered to provide both T-cell activation signals stimulate potent tumor-specific CD4+ T cells that cause rejection of both engineered and wild-type neoplastic cells. Two other recent studies have also demonstrated that costimulation via B7 can improve tumor immunity. However, our study differs from these reports by two important observations. (i) One of these studies utilized mouse tumor cells expressing xenogenic viral antigens, and hence, the results are not applicable to wild-type resident tumors. Our study, however, demonstrates that coexpression of B7 by major histocompatibility complex class II+ tumor cells induces immunity in the autologous host that is specific for naturally occurring tumor antigens of poorly immunogenic tumors. (ii) In both earlier studies, only CD8+ T cells were activated after coexpression of B7, whereas in the present report, tumor-specific CD4+ T cells are generated. This report therefore illustrates the role of B7 activation molecule in stimulating potent tumor-specific CD4+ T cells that mediate rejection of wild-type tumors and provides a theoretical basis for immunotherapy of established tumors.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Transcription of the interleukin 4 gene is regulated by multiple promoter elements.

Activation of T helper cell 1 (Th1) and Th2 results in transcription of the interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-4 cytokine genes, respectively. Whereas many of the regulatory elements and factors responsible for IL-2 transcription in T cells are well defined, little is known about parallel mechanisms that drive transcription of the IL-4 gene. Here we have analyzed the murine IL-4 promoter, both in vivo and in a Th2 clone. 3 kb of IL-4 upstream sequence is shown to be sufficient to achieve tissue-specific and inducible expression of a thymidine kinase reporter gene in vivo in a manner that mirrors the expression of endogenous IL-4. Tissue-specific and inducible expression is also demonstrated in a Th2 clone, but not in a B cell line. Deletional and mutational analysis of the IL-4 promoter demonstrated that sequences from -100 to -28 were necessary for a transcriptional response to Concanavalin A or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. An overlapping, yet smaller region, spanning the sequences from -60 to -28 bp was shown to be required for the response to ionomycin. Mutation of an 8-bp region from -43 to -35 of the IL-4 promoter completely abrogated IL-4 gene transcription in response to all stimuli tested. In addition, our results show that the effects of the immunosuppressive agent Cyclosporin A map to the same DNA sequences as the positive control elements. These results identify DNA sequences that are functionally important for the control of IL-4 gene transcription both in vivo and in vitro. Although these sequences are highly conserved in the human and murine IL-4 genes, they are largely not present in the IL-2 enhancer complex. Thus, cytokine-specific cis-acting elements may be one mechanism by which these two cytokine genes are differentially regulated.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Developmental and cytokine-mediated regulation of MHC class II gene promoter occupancy in vivo.

The class II genes of the major histocompatibility complex are a family of genes whose expression is regulated developmentally in cells of the B lineage and by IFN-gamma in many other cell types. Using the approach of in vivo footprinting, which allows for the examination of protein-promoter interactions within intact cells, we demonstrated a transition from unoccupied to occupied to once again unoccupied class II promoters in cell lines representing the developmental pathway of B cells. IFN-gamma treatment of HeLa cells led to increased promoter occupancy of the DR alpha and DR beta promoters at the same sites that are constitutively bound in mature B cells. No IFN-gamma-specific binding site was induced. Additionally, an octamer element in the DR alpha gene displayed preferential binding in B cells. These results demonstrate that changes in the transcription of the class II genes are associated with changes in factor binding at the promoter in vivo. Moreover, given the ubiquity of class II promoter binding proteins, these results suggest that throughout B cell development and upon IFN-gamma stimulation, the accessibility of class II promoter DNA is subject to regulation.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PubMed1993

Mice lacking major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules.

Mice lacking major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens were generated by mating beta 2-microglobulin-deficient, and therefore class I-deficient, animals with MHC class II-deficient animals. When housed under sterile conditions, the resulting MHC-deficient mice appear healthy, survive for many months, and breed successfully. Phenotypically, MHC-deficient mice are depleted of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs due to a lack of appropriate restricting elements. In contrast, the B-cell compartment of these animals appears intact, and MHC-deficient mice can mount specific antibody responses when challenged with a T-independent antigen. Spleen cells from MHC-deficient animals are poor stimulators and responders in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. Despite their relatively weak cellular immune responses in vitro, MHC-deficient mice reject allogeneic skin grafts with little delay, and grafts from MHC-deficient animals are rapidly rejected by normal allogeneic recipients. Taken together, these results emphasize the plasticity of the immune system and suggest that MHC-deficient mice may be useful for examining compensatory mechanisms in severely immunocompromised animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

The role of "indirect" recognition in initiating rejection of skin grafts from major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice.

In vitro studies have revealed several pathways by which T cells can respond to alloantigens, including CD4+ direct responses to allogeneic class II antigens, CD8+ direct responses to allogeneic class I antigens, and CD4+ "indirect" responses to peptides of alloantigens presented in association with responder class II molecules. In vivo studies of skin graft rejection, however, have so far provided clear evidence for the contribution of only the two direct pathways and not for indirect recognition. We have used major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice as donors to test the role of indirect recognition in rejection of skin grafts. Class II-deficient skin was always rejected without delay by normal recipients. Removal of recipient CD8+ cells (to leave the animals dependent on CD4+ function) or depletion of recipient CD4+ cells revealed that CD4+ cells were usually involved and sometimes absolutely required in this rapid rejection. Since the donor grafts lacked class II antigens, the CD4+ cells must have recognized donor antigens presented in association with recipient class II molecules. These results therefore indicate that indirect recognition can initiate rapid skin graft rejection.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Class II-positive hematopoietic cells cannot mediate positive selection of CD4+ T lymphocytes in class II-deficient mice.

Generation of immunocompetent alpha/beta T-cell receptor-positive T cells from CD4+CD8+ thymocytes depends upon their interaction with thymic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. This process of positive selection provides mature T cells that can recognize antigens in the context of self-MHC proteins. Previous studies investigating haplotype restriction in thymic and bone-marrow chimeras concluded that radioresistant thymic cortical epithelium directs the positive selection of thymocytes. There is controversy, however, as to whether intra- or extrathymic radiosensitive bone marrow-derived macrophage and dendritic cells also can mediate positive selection. To determine whether CD4+ T cells can be positively selected by hematopoietic cells, we generated chimeric animals expressing MHC class II molecules on either bone marrow-derived or thymic stromal cells by using a recently produced strain of MHC class II-deficient mice. CD4+ T cells developed only when class II MHC molecules were expressed on radioresistant thymic cells. In contrast to what recently has been observed for the selection of CD8+ T lymphocytes, MHC class II-positive bone marrow-derived cells were unable to mediate the selection of CD4+ T cells when the thymic epithelium lacked MHC class II expression. These data suggest that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells may be generated by overlapping, but not identical, mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

B lymphocyte development and activation independent of MHC class II expression.

A murine model of MHC class II deficiency created by targeted gene disruption was used to investigate whether class II expression influences B cell maturation and function. There appeared to be fewer total B cell precursors, a higher proportion of which were in a very early stage of maturation, in class II-deficient vs control bone marrow; however, the differences did not reach statistical significance. Mature B cells were unaffected; IgM, IgD, B220, and CD5 surface expression were similar in class II-deficient and control animals. Serum Ig determinations revealed that the class II-deficient animals had elevated IgM but decreased IgG1 (and, variably, IgE) compared to control. The antibody response against thymic-independent Ag was intact in class II-animals, as was the in vitro response of small resting B cells from class II deficient animals to stimulation with polyclonal B cell activators. Preactivated T cells were able to induce differentiation and proliferation of class II-deficient, small resting B cells. Together, these data indicate that B cell development, T cell-independent, and T cell-dependent B-cell activation, can occur independently of class II MHC expression.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

In situ hybridization studies suggest a role for the basic region-leucine zipper protein hXBP-1 in exocrine gland and skeletal development during mouse embryogenesis.

The spatial and temporal distribution of transcripts for the TRE/CRE-binding basic region-leucine zipper protein hXBP-1 was determined by in situ hybridization. Analysis of embryos from day 10.5 to 18.5 pc revealed high level expression of hXBP-1 RNA in two developing organ systems: 1) in bone and cartilage cells of the developing skeleton and toothbuds, and 2) in exocrine glands including the pancreas and the submandibular and salivary glands. High level expression was also found in whisker follicles and in selected cells in brown adipose tissue. In the developing skeleton, hXBP-1 RNA was expressed starting on day 11.5 pc in osteoblasts of newly formed intramembranous bone. Thereafter, hXBP-1 was expressed in both osteoblasts and preosteoblasts in bone formed directly by intramembranous formation as well as in bone formed during endochondral ossification. The most intense signal was observed in preosteoblasts and osteoblasts of newly forming bone. At day 11.5 pc low level hXBP-1 expression was also observed in matrix secreting chondroblasts of bones which are formed initially of cartilage, at the stage where they consist entirely of cartilage. Signal was also present in matrix producing chondroblasts of the mature zone of the growth region during endochondral ossification although at significantly lower level than in osteoblasts. hXBP-1 is thus the first transcription factor described, to our knowledge, whose level of expression is modulated during the osteoblast developmental sequence in vivo. The pattern of expression of hXBP-1 in the developing skeleton was found to be very similar to that of the genes encoding the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase and alkaline phosphatase throughout development. These observations suggest that hXBP-1 may play a role in regulating the expression of tissue specific genes (TIMP, osteonectin, osteopontin, osteocalcin) expressed in osteoblasts. It is intriguing that the promoter regions of several such genes contain potential hXBP-1 binding sites.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1993

Promoter accessibility within the environment of the MHC is affected in class II-deficient combined immunodeficiency.

Class II-deficient combined immunodeficiency (CID) is a hereditary disease resulting in abrogation of transcription of the class II genes of the major histocompatibility complex, due to a defect in a trans-acting regulatory factor. Cell lines from certain CID patients lack factor binding at multiple sites in class II promoters in vivo. A mutation in one of the promoter binding proteins could explain this 'bare' phenotype only if these factors bind cooperatively or in a temporal hierarchy. Alternatively, the mutation could affect the configuration of the promoter within the MHC locus. Here, we provide evidence that the factor(s) defective in class II-deficient CID controls the accessibility of class II promoters within the environment of the MHC. The in vivo occupancy of wild type and mutated class II promoter constructs was examined in stable transfectants of normal and CID-derived cell lines. The CID promoter phenotype could not be reproduced in a normal cell line by eliminating binding at any one promoter element, suggesting that these factors bind independently, both spatially and temporally. In contrast, promoter occupancy was partially restored in two CID lines at a randomly integrated wild type promoter, implying that the promoter is inaccessible to factors in its native environment, but accessible when moved to another location in the genome.

Base Sequence↗