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Linda A Sherman

Publications and source records attributed to Linda A Sherman.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Ptpn22 and Cd2 Variations Are Associated with Altered Protein Expression and Susceptibility to Type 1 Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice.

By congenic strain mapping using autoimmune NOD.C57BL/6J congenic mice, we demonstrated previously that the type 1 diabetes (T1D) protection associated with the insulin-dependent diabetes (Idd)10 locus on chromosome 3, originally identified by linkage analysis, was in fact due to three closely linked Idd loci: Idd10, Idd18.1, and Idd18.3. In this study, we define two additional Idd loci--Idd18.2 and Idd18.4--within the boundaries of this cluster of disease-associated genes. Idd18.2 is 1.31 Mb and contains 18 genes, including Ptpn22, which encodes a phosphatase that negatively regulates T and B cell signaling. The human ortholog of Ptpn22, PTPN22, is associated with numerous autoimmune diseases, including T1D. We, therefore, assessed Ptpn22 as a candidate for Idd18.2; resequencing of the NOD Ptpn22 allele revealed 183 single nucleotide polymorphisms with the C57BL/6J (B6) allele--6 exonic and 177 intronic. Functional studies showed higher expression of full-length Ptpn22 RNA and protein, and decreased TCR signaling in congenic strains with B6-derived Idd18.2 susceptibility alleles. The 953-kb Idd18.4 locus contains eight genes, including the candidate Cd2. The CD2 pathway is associated with the human autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, and mice with NOD-derived susceptibility alleles at Idd18.4 have lower CD2 expression on B cells. Furthermore, we observed that susceptibility alleles at Idd18.2 can mask the protection provided by Idd10/Cd101 or Idd18.1/Vav3 and Idd18.3. In summary, we describe two new T1D loci, Idd18.2 and Idd18.4, candidate genes within each region, and demonstrate the complex nature of genetic interactions underlying the development of T1D in the NOD mouse model.

Alleles↗

Tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells can be deleted by soluble, but not cross-presented antigen.

Under noninflammatory conditions, both naive and central memory CD8 T cells can be eliminated in the periphery with either soluble peptide or cross-presented Ag. Here, we assess the tolerance susceptibility of tissue-resident memory CD8 T cells in mice to these two forms of tolerogen. Soluble peptide specifically eliminated the majority of memory CD8 cells present in both lymphoid and extralymphoid tissues including lung and liver, but was unable to reduce the number present in the CNS. In contrast, systemic cross-presentation of Ag by dendritic cells resulted in successful elimination of memory cells only from the spleen, with no significant reduction in the numbers of tissue-resident memory cells in the lung. The fact that tissue-resident memory cells were unable to access cross-presented Ag suggests that either the memory cells in the lung do not freely circulate out of the tissue, or that they circulate through a region in the spleen devoid of cross-presented Ag. Thus, although tissue-resident memory cells are highly susceptible to tolerance induction, both the form of tolerogen and location of the T cells can determine their accessibility to tolerogen and the degree to which they are successfully deleted from specific tissues.

Animals↗

Recognition of fresh human tumor by human peripheral blood lymphocytes transduced with a bicistronic retroviral vector encoding a murine anti-p53 TCR.

The p53 protein is markedly up-regulated in a high proportion of human malignancies. Using an HLA-A2 transgenic mouse model, it was possible to isolate high-avidity murine CTLs that recognize class I-restricted human p53 epitopes. We isolated the alpha- and beta-chain of a TCR from a highly avid murine CTL clone that recognized the human p53(264-272) epitope. These genes were cloned into a retroviral vector that mediated high efficiency gene transfer into primary human lymphocytes. Efficiencies of >90% for gene transfer into lymphocytes were obtained without selection for transduced cells. The p53 TCR-transduced lymphocytes were able to specifically recognize with high-avidity, peptide-pulsed APCs as well as HLA-A2.1+ cells transfected with either wild-type or mutant p53 protein. p53 TCR-transduced cells demonstrated recognition and killing of a broad spectrum of human tumor cell lines as well as recognition of fresh human tumor cells. Interestingly, both CD8+ and CD4+ subsets were capable of recognizing and killing target cells, stressing the potential application of such a CD8-independent TCR molecule that can mediate both helper and cytotoxic responses. These results suggest that lymphocytes genetically engineered to express anti-p53 TCR may be of value for the adoptive immunotherapy of patients with a variety of common malignancies.

Animals↗

CD8+ T cell tolerance in nonobese diabetic mice is restored by insulin-dependent diabetes resistance alleles.

Although candidate genes controlling autoimmune disease can now be identified, a major challenge that remains is defining the resulting cellular events mediated by each locus. In the current study we have used NOD-InsHA transgenic mice that express the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) as an islet Ag to compare the fate of HA-specific CD8+ T cells in diabetes susceptible NOD-InsHA mice with that observed in diabetes-resistant congenic mice having protective alleles at insulin-dependent diabetes (Idd) 3, Idd5.1, and Idd5.2 (Idd3/5 strain) or at Idd9.1, Idd9.2, and Idd9.3 (Idd9 strain). We demonstrate that protection from diabetes in each case is correlated with functional tolerance of endogenous islet-specific CD8+ T cells. However, by following the fate of naive, CFSE-labeled, islet Ag-specific CD8+ (HA-specific clone-4) or CD4+ (BDC2.5) T cells, we observed that tolerance is achieved differently in each protected strain. In Idd3/5 mice, tolerance occurs during the initial activation of islet Ag-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes where CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) effectively prevent their accumulation. In contrast, resistance alleles in Idd9 mice do not prevent the accumulation of islet Ag-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes, indicating that tolerance occurs at a later checkpoint. These results underscore the variety of ways that autoimmunity can be prevented and identify the elimination of islet-specific CD8+ T cells as a common indicator of high-level protection.

Alleles↗

The fate of low affinity tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in tumor-bearing mice.

A major challenge in tumor immunology is how best to activate the relatively low avidity self-specific and tumor-specific T cells that are available in the self-tolerant repertoire. To address this issue, we produced a TCR transgenic mouse expressing a class I-restricted hemagglutinin (HA)-specific TCR (clone 1 TCR) derived from a mouse that expressed HA as a self-Ag in the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreatic islets (InsHA) mice. Upon transfer of clone 1 TCR CD8(+) T cells into InsHA mice, very few cells were activated by cross-presented HA, indicating that the cells were retained in InsHA mice because they ignored the presence of Ag, and not because they were functionally inactivated by anergy or tuning. Upon transfer into recipient mice in which HA is expressed at high concentrations as a tumor-associated Ag in spontaneously arising insulinomas (RIP-Tag2-HA mice), a high proportion of clone 1 cells were activated when they encountered cross-presented tumor Ag in the pancreatic lymph nodes. However, the activated cells exhibited very weak effector function and were soon tolerized. The few activated cells that did migrate to the tumor were unable to delay tumor progression. However, when HA-specific CD4 helper cells were cotransferred with clone 1 cells into RIP-Tag2-HA recipients and the mice were vaccinated with influenza, clone 1 cells were found to exert a significant level of effector function and could delay tumor growth. This tumor model should prove of great value in identifying protocols that can optimize the function of low avidity tumor-specific T cells.

Animals↗

Distinct requirements for deletion versus anergy during CD8 T cell peripheral tolerance in vivo.

Activation of naive T cells by quiescent APCs results in tolerance through deletion and anergy. The underlying basis for these distinct fates is unclear. Using clone 4 TCR transgenic animals as a source of naive CD8 T cells, we examined the requirements for peripheral deletion in vivo. Our results demonstrate that independent of the amount of Ag used for stimulation, a single dose was insufficient to achieve complete clonal deletion. Instead, further antigenic exposure was required to completely eliminate all of the activated T cells. Additionally, consecutive stimulations with low doses of Ag were highly effective in promoting deletion. In contrast, although stimulation with high doses of Ag initially led to the apoptosis of many of the activated T cells, it induced hyporesponsiveness in a portion of the responding cells, thereby sparing them from further activation and deletion. These data explain why some conditions promote tolerance through clonal deletion whereas others promote anergy. Furthermore, these data provide a framework to devise protocols for effective deletion of potentially autoreactive T cells.

Animals↗

Cooperation of human tumor-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after redirection of their specificity by a high-affinity p53A2.1-specific TCR.

Efficient immune attack of malignant disease requires the concerted action of both CD8+ CTL and CD4+ Th cells. We used human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201 (A2.1) transgenic mice, in which the mouse CD8 molecule cannot efficiently interact with the alpha3 domain of A2.1, to generate a high-affinity, CD8-independent T cell receptor (TCR) specific for a commonly expressed, tumor-associated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope derived from the human p53 tumor suppressor protein. Retroviral expression of this CD8-independent, p53-specific TCR into human T cells imparted the CD8+ T lymphocytes with broad tumor-specific CTL activity and turned CD4+ T cells into potent tumor-reactive, p53A2.1-specific Th cells. Both T cell subsets were cooperative and interacted synergistically with dendritic cell intermediates and tumor targets. The intentional redirection of both CD4+ Th cells and CD8+ CTL by the same high-affinity, CD8-independent, tumor-specific TCR could provide the basis for novel broad-spectrum cancer immunotherapeutics.

Animals↗

Peripheral tolerance of CD8 T lymphocytes.

Whereas high-avidity recognition of peptide-MHC complexes by developing T cells in the thymus results in deletion and promotes self-tolerance, such recognition by mature T cells in the periphery results in activation and clonal expansion. This dichotomy represents the basis of a dilemma that has stumped immunologists for many years, how are self-specific T cells tolerized in the periphery? There appear to be two important criteria used to achieve this goal. The first is that in the absence of inflammatory pathogens, tolerance is promoted when T cells recognize antigen presented by quiescent dendritic cells (DCs) expressing low levels of costimulatory molecules. A second critical factor that defines "self" and drives tolerance through deletion, anergy, or suppression is the persistence of antigen.

Antigen Presentation↗

A spontaneously arising pancreatic tumor does not promote the differentiation of naive CD8+ T lymphocytes into effector CTL.

In this report, we address whether a growing tumor provides sufficient inflammatory signals to promote activation, clonal expansion, and acquisition of effector functions by naive tumor-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes. CD8(+) T lymphocytes obtained from hemagglutinin (HA)-specific clone 4 TCR-transgenic mice were injected into recipient mice that spontaneously develop pancreatic tumors expressing HA as a tumor-associated Ag (RIP-Tag2-HA mice). When 3 x 10(6) clone 4 CD8(+) T cells were transferred into tumor-bearing mice, the cells became activated in the pancreatic lymph nodes where they proliferated and acquired effector functions such as cytolytic activity and IFN-gamma production. Surprisingly, reducing the number of adoptively transferred CD8(+) T cells led to a parallel reduction in the proportion of the activated cells that exhibited effector functions, suggesting that CTL differentiation was induced by the large numbers of activated CD8(+) T cells and not the tumor environment. Provision of tumor-specific CD4(+) helper cells provided the signals required to promote both the development of CTL effector functions and increased clonal expansion, resulting in tumor eradication. Considering that only small numbers of tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells would be present in a conventional T cell repertoire, these data suggest that tumor growth alone may not provide the inflammatory signals necessary to support the development of CD8(+) T cell effector functions.

Adoptive Transfer↗

In a transgenic model of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes, expression of a protective class II MHC molecule results in thymic deletion of diabetogenic CD8+ T cells.

H-2(d) mice expressing both the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) as a transgene-encoded protein on pancreatic islet beta cells (InsHA), as well as the Clone 4 TCR specific for the dominant H-2K(d)-restricted HA epitope, can be protected from the development of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes by expression of the H-2(b) haplotype. Protection occurs due to the deletion of K(d)HA-specific CD8+ T cells. This was unexpected as neither the presence of the InsHA transgene nor H-2(b), individually, resulted in thymic deletion. Further analyses revealed that thymic deletion required both a hybrid MHC class II molecule, Ebeta(b) Ealpha(d), and the K(d) molecule presenting the HA epitope, which together synergize to effect deletion of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes. This surprising example of protection from autoimmunity that maps to a class II MHC molecule, yet effects an alteration in the CD8+ T cell repertoire, suggests that selective events in the thymus represent the integrated strength of signal delivered to each cell through recognition of a variety of different MHC-peptide ligands.

Animals↗

Deletion of naive CD8 T cells requires persistent antigen and is not programmed by an initial signal from the tolerogenic APC.

Activation of naive CD8 T cells in vivo requires the recognition of cognate peptide-MHC complexes on APCs. Depending upon the activation status of the APC, such recognition will promote either a vigorous immune response or T cell tolerance and deletion. Recent studies suggest that the initial signals provided by APCs are sufficient to program the proliferation of naive CD8 T cells and their differentiation into effector cells. In this study, we sought to determine whether an initial encounter with tolerogenic APCs was sufficient to program deletion of naive CD8 T cells. Surprisingly, we find that regardless of whether naive CD8 T cells were stimulated by activated or quiescent APCs, transfer of the activated T cells into an Ag-free host was sufficient to ensure survival. Thus, although the extent of clonal expansion and development of effector function is determined by the activation status of the stimulatory APC, peripheral clonal deletion requires persistent Ag and is not determined by the initial stimulatory event.

Adoptive Transfer↗

CD4+ T cells pass through an effector phase during the process of in vivo tolerance induction.

An important process in the generation of tolerance to peripheral self-Ags is the induction of unresponsiveness in mature specific T cells. Although the end stage of this process, termed anergy, is well defined, the pathway by which naive T cells become anergic remains to be elucidated. Using an in vivo self-tolerance model, we demonstrate that CD4(+) T cells pass through a significant effector stage on their way to an anergic state. This stage is characterized by production of effector cytokines, provision of help for CD8(+) T cells, and induction of in vivo pathology within organs that express cognate Ag. These results suggest that the initial activation stage in T cell tolerance is similar to that seen in memory induction. They also suggest that autoimmune pathology can result during the natural process of tolerance induction rather than requiring that tolerance be broken.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Uncoupling of proliferative potential and gain of effector function by CD8(+) T cells responding to self-antigens.

Professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are capable of transporting self-antigens from peripheral tissues to secondary lymphoid organs where they are presented to potentially autoreactive CD8(+) T cells. In the absence of an inflammatory response, this results in immune tolerance. The presence of activated, antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells converts this tolerogenic encounter into an immunogenic one by promoting extensive proliferation of CD8(+) T cells and their development into effectors. Surprisingly, activation of APCs with an agonistic antibody specific for CD40 could not substitute for CD4(+) help in this task. Anti-CD40 induced recruitment of dendritic cells expressing high levels of B7 costimulatory molecules into the lymph nodes, which in turn, greatly enhanced activation and expansion of CD8(+) T cells. However, these activated CD8(+) cells did not demonstrate effector function. We conclude that proliferative potential and gain of effector function are separable events in the differentiation program of CD8(+) T cells.

Animals↗

Memory CD8(+) T cells undergo peripheral tolerance.

Memory T cells differ from naive T cells in that they respond more rapidly and in greater numbers. In addition, memory T cells are generally believed to be less susceptible to tolerance induction than naive T cells. In this study, we show that this is not the case. Using two different methods of tolerance induction, peptide-induced tolerance and crosstolerance, we present evidence that memory CD8(+) T cells are as susceptible to tolerance as naive cells. These results have a direct impact on manipulating T cell responses to self-antigens in order to improve immunotherapy of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗