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Biomedical subjects

M Inobe

Publications and source records attributed to M Inobe.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Successful gene therapy via intraarticular injection of adenovirus vector containing CTLA4IgG in a murine model of type II collagen-induced arthritis.

We previously constructed an adenovirus vector carrying a gene encoding a soluble form of fusion protein, consisting of the extracellular portion of cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G1 (Adex1CACTLA4IgG). Murine type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was treated with Adex1CACTLA4IgG. A single intraarticular injection of 1 x 10(5) PFU was able to support serum CTLA4IgG at more than 10 microg/ml for at least 12 weeks and was able to inhibit the CIA clinically and histologically. In contrast, intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection of 1 x 10(5) PFU was unable to support a significant level of serum CTLA4IgG and thus was unable to inhibit the development of arthritis. Thus, we demonstrated that (1) a low-dose intraarticular injection of Adex1CACTLA4IgG was effective in delaying the onset of CIA and reducing the severity of arthritis; (2) an intraarticular (knee joint) injection of Adex1CACTLA4IgG effectively blocked the development of arthritis in distal paws; (3) the inhibitory effect of Adex1CACTLA4IgG lasted at least up to 20 weeks; (4) although serum CTLA4IgG at more than 10 microg/ml persisted for at least 12 weeks, mice treated by intraarticular injection of Adex1CACTLA4IgG were not anergic to adenovirus and were able to mount antibody responses against various antigens.

Abatacept↗

Long-term acceptance of allografts by in vivo gene transfer of regulatable adenovirus vector containing CTLA4IgG and loxP.

CTLA4IgG was shown to inhibit the costimulatory signal for T cell activation by interfering with the ligation of CD28 and B7-1 or B7-2. To inhibit various immune responses including acute cellular rejection of allografts, a certain level of serum CTLA4IgG should be maintained for an appropriate period. We previously reported on an adenovirus vector containing CTLA4IgG, which we designated Adex1CACTLA4IgG. Adex1CACTLA4IgG was able to maintain a significant level of serum CTLA4IgG for a long period on intravenous injection, which in turn inhibited various immune responses including protective immunity against infectious agents. To overcome the inhibitory effect, we constructed a new adenovirus vector, Adex1CALoxCTLA4IgGLox, by cloning CTLA4IgG cDNA between two loxP sequences under the control of the CAG promoter. We demonstrated that the administration of adenovirus vector containing Cre recombinase gene (Adex1CACre) at the desired time induced Cre-mediated recombination within a gene derived from Adex1CALoxCTLA4IgGLox vector, and the cDNA of CTLA4IgG was excised from the transduced gene and terminated the expression of CTLA4IgG in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, we also demonstrated that the long-term acceptance of allografts was achieved after the termination of CTLA4IgG expression, while the immune response against adenovirus was restored.

Abatacept↗

The role of osteopontin in the development of granulomatous lesions in lung.

Osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to be expressed by cells in granulomas of various origins, but whether it plays a functional role in granuloma formation is not known. Here we used a cardiomyopathic hamster (TO2) model, to test the hypothesis that OPN contributes functionally to granuloma development. We immunized cardiomyopathic and normal hamsters by subcutaneous injection of bovine serum albumin in complete Freund's adjuvant, and assessed various tissues for both OPN RNA expression and granuloma formation. Cardiomyopathic hamsters expressed OPN, and formed granulomatous lesions, in heart tissue in both immunized and untreated animals. In addition, immunization induced expression of OPN in lung and lymph nodes of cardiomyopathic (but not normal) hamsters, and also induced granuloma formation in these organs. To test whether OPN expression could play a functional role in inducing granulomas, we produced an adenoviral vector containing the murine OPN gene, and introduced this vector intratracheally into the lungs of normal hamsters. The OPN-containing vector, but not the control vector, induced pulmonary granuloma formation. These studies provided direct in vivo evidence that OPN can contribute functionally to the formation of granulomatous lesions, and suggest that OPN expression may be a common factor involved in formation of granulomas of various origin.

Adenoviridae↗

Antibodies to different peptides in osteopontin reveal complexities in the various secreted forms.

We have generated synthetic peptides corresponding to various portions of human osteopontin (OPN) and have immunized rabbits and mice with these peptides to generate polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific to human OPN. We then generated six distinct sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) systems by using different pairs of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against human OPN. These systems allowed us to detect not only various isoforms and truncated forms of recombinant OPN, but also the glycosylated form of native urinary OPN. Most importantly, tumor-derived OPN was differentially detected by the six ELISA systems. The ELISA systems that we have developed will be useful for clarifying the functional roles for OPN in vivo in various physiologic and pathologic conditions.

Adult↗

Identification of EPS8 as a Dvl1-associated molecule.

Dishevelled (Dsh) is involved in both Wingless (Wg) and Frizzled (Fz) signaling pathways. To further determine the function of Dsh, we have performed yeast two-hybrid screening and isolated several genes encoding the molecules associated with the PDZ domain of Dvl1, one of the murine Dsh homologs. During the screening, we found that EPS8, which is a substrate for activated EGF receptor (EGFR), specifically interacted with Dvl1. This interaction was also confirmed in vitro. Through transfection studies, we observed the mutual action between Dvl1 and EPS8. Dvl1 was hyperphosphorylated in the presence of EPS8, whereas the tyrosine phosphorylation of EPS8 by activated EGFR was inhibited in the presence of Dvl1. Immunohistochemistry showed that Dvl1 and EPS8 expression overlap in particular tissues during organogenesis. These results indicate that interaction between Dvl1 and receptor tyrosine kinase signal plays certain roles in developmental events.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Vaccination with B7-1+ tumor and anti-adhesion therapy with RGD pseudo-peptide (FC-336) efficiently induce anti-metastatic effect.

We have previously shown that expression of costimulatory ligand B7-1 on MHC class I+ tumor cells (B16-BL6 melanoma) resulted in marked reduction of lung metastasis caused by i.v. injection into immunocompetent syngeneic mice and led to induction of immunity to the challenge by the parental B7-1 negative tumor. Here we investigated the effectiveness of irradiated B7-1 transfected tumor cells as a vaccine on established tumor metastasis and whether or not expression of B7-1 molecule on tumor cells in combination with administration of anti-adhesion peptide FC-336 can augment the antimetastatic efficacy. Immunization with X-irradiated B7-1 transfectants after i.v. injection of B7-1- parental B16-BL6 cells was effective in inhibiting lung metastasis. We also found that vaccination with irradiated B7-1 transfectants after excision of primary tumor on day 21 resulted in significant inhibition of spontaneous lung metastasis by intrafootpad injection of viable parental B16-BL6 melanoma, as compared with the untreated control. However, immunizing twice with mock transfectants did not affect inhibition of spontaneous lung metastasis of wild-type tumors. On the other hand, multiple administration of a pseudo-peptide of RGD sequence (FC-336) after tumor inoculation inhibited spontaneous lung metastasis through the interference of tumor invasion, migration and adhesion. Combined treatment of B7-1 transfected tumor vaccine and anti-adhesive therapy with FC-336 led to the augmentation of the antimetastatic effect in both experimental and spontaneous metastasis models, as compared with either treatment alone. B7-1- and FC-336-mediated inhibition of tumor metastasis may be mediated by different mechanisms at various steps of metastasis, based on the regulation (promotion or inhibition) of tumor interaction with host cells and components.

Animals↗

The functional role of B7 molecules on the induction of thymocyte activation and apoptosis.

To evaluate the role of B7 on thymocyte activation and apoptosis, we took advantage of TCR transgenic mice in which the majority of thymocytes express a uniform TCR that is specific for ovalbumin. We also prepared Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing B7 and appropriate class II molecules. We found that the apoptosis of double-positive thymocytes by TCR-mediated signaling, which presumably represents negative selection, requires a costimulatory signal provided by B7-1 or B7-2. The requirement of B7-1 costimulation for the apoptosis of thymocytes does not change in either low or high antigenic peptide loading. We also demonstrated that two signals through TCR and CD28 augmented the proliferation of thymocytes, and the requirement of CD28-mediated signal by B7-1 or B7-2 for thymocyte proliferation became less evident when high doses of antigenic peptide were loaded, indicating that the intensity of TCR-mediated signal determines the requirement of B7-mediated second signal for thymocyte proliferation.

Animals↗

Costimulatory effect of IL-12 on the activation of naive, memory CD4+ T cells, and Th1 clone.

In the present experiments, costimulatory effects of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and B7-2 on interleukin 2 receptor alpha chain (IL-2R alpha) expression and IL-2-dependent proliferation of naive and memory CD4+ T cells were studied in comparison with the effect of these molecules on Th1 clones. The naive and memory T cells were negatively sorted on the basis of the expression of CD44 and CD45RB, respectively, to diminish the effect of these antibodies on the activation of these cells. When these three T cell populations were stimulated with allogeneic B cells, the addition of IL-12 elicited IL-2R alpha expression and proliferation of all these T cell populations. With anti-B7-2 being included in culture, these responses of naive T cells were abrogated, whereas those of memory T cells and Th1 clones were affected only marginally. When they were stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3, the inclusion of either IL-12 or Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing B7-2 (B7-2CHO) induced IL-2R alpha expression and enhanced IL-2-dependent proliferation of memory T cells, whereas these responses of naive T cells were induced by the inclusion of B7-2CHO and enhanced by the addition of IL-12, although the addition of IL-12 alone did not affect the responses. The responses of Th1 clones were markedly enhanced by IL-12, but not by B7-2CHO, and the enhancement of the proliferation was augmented further by the addition of both IL-12 and B7-2CHO. In IFN-gamma production B7-2 costimulation was required for the enhancing effect of IL-12 on the responses of naive T cells. IL-2 production of all T cell populations was not affected by IL-12 even in the presence of B7-2CHO. These results indicate that IL-12 provides the costimulation for IL-2R alpha expression and IL-2-dependent proliferation of memory T cells and Th1 clones stimulated with TCR ligation, whereas naive T cells require B7-2 costimulation for their response to IL-12. Possible mechanisms of B7-2 costimulation in the response of T cells to IL-12 is discussed.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of an alternative cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 binding molecule on B cells.

To determine whether alternative cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) binding proteins exist on B cells, we constructed (i) mCTLA4hIgG consisting of the extracellular region of a mouse CTLA4 molecule and the Fc portion of a human IgG1 molecule and (ii) PYAAhIgG, a mutant mCTLA4hIgG, having two amino acid substitutions on the conserved MYPPPY motif in the complementarity-determining region 3-like region and lacking detectable binding to both B7-1 and B7-2 molecules. Using these fusion proteins (mCTLA4hIgG and PYAAhIgG), we demonstrated that a mouse immature B-cell line, WEHI231 cells, expressed alternative CTLA4 binding molecules (ACBMs) that were distinct from both B7-1 and B7-2. ACBMs were 130-kDa disulfide-linked proteins. More importantly, ACBMs were able to provide costimulatory signal for T-cell proliferation in the presence of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. In addition, we demonstrated that more than 20% of B220+ cells obtained from normal mouse spleen expressed ACBMs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The role of the B7-1a molecule, an alternatively spliced form of murine B7-1 (CD80), on T cell activation.

B7 molecules (CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2/B70)) on APCs provide costimulatory signals for T cell proliferation. We previously described the presence of an alternatively spliced form of murine CD80 (previously termed MB7-2 and renamed as B7-1a) that completely lacks the second Ig-like domain coded by exon 3 in activated murine B cells. in this study, we first examined whether B7-1a mRNA can be detected in vivo by RNase protection assay. The expression of B7-1a mRNA was only detected in lymphoid organs although the level of expression was lesser than that of CD80 mRNA. However, we demonstrated that the expression of B7-1a mRNA like CD80 mRNA was considerably augmented in spleen cells treated with either LPS in vitro or OVA/CFA conjugate in vivo. We next determined the functional activity of B7-1a using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected by B7 genes. When resting T cells were cocultured with CHO cells expressing B7-1a molecules in the presence of PMA/ionomycin, T cell proliferation was not detected, while CHO cells either expressing CD80 or CD86 could promote the proliferation of resting T cells. in contrast to resting T cells, CHO cells expressing B7-1a could support the proliferation of activated T cells. Thus, costimulatory activity of B7-1a molecules was dependent upon the activation stage of T cells. Therefore the IgV-like region of CD80 contains a critical region for functional interaction with its ligands and can transduce a costimulatory signal for T cell proliferation.

Alternative Splicing↗

Vaccination of tumor cells transfected with the B7-1 (CD80) gene induces the anti-metastatic effect and tumor immunity in mice.

The present study demonstrates that the transfection of B7-1 or its variant MB7-2 genes into MHC class I+ tumor cells (B16-BL6 or K1735-M2 melanoma) resulted in the remarkable reduction of lung metastasis caused by i.v. injection into immunocompetent syngeneic mice. However, i.v. injection of the transfectants into T cell-deficient nude mice did not affect reduction of lung tumor colonies as compared with parental wild-type tumors, suggesting that such an inhibitory effect was closely associated with T cell-mediated responses. The reduced metastasis of B7+ tumor cells consequently led to the significant prolongation of survival. Expression of B7 on tumor cells did not influence the tumorigenicity in vivo and tumor cell invasion into basement membrane Matrigel in vitro. We also found that immunization of X-irradiated B7 transfectants was effective as a tumor vaccine for preventing lung metastasis caused by i.v. injection of B7- parental B16-BL6 cells but not against other syngeneic 3LL tumors. Thus, the B7-mediated anti-metastatic effect was tumor-specific. Vaccinations of irradiated B7+ tumor cells before and after surgical excision of the s.c. inoculated primary B7- tumors on day 21 achieved effectively the prevention of spontaneous lung metastasis. Our report that vaccination of irradiated B7+ tumor cells led to a therapeutic effect in an established tumor metastasis model clearly expands and confirms previous related observations.

Animals↗

Identification of an alternatively spliced form of the murine homologue of B7.

B7 on antigen presenting cells is a costimulatory ligand necessary for full activation of T cell. Receptors for B7 have been known as CD28 or CTLA4. We here show that in addition to B7 mRNA, an alternatively spliced mRNA (designated as MB7-2 mRNA), that immunoglobulin (Ig)C-like domain coded by exon 3 has been spliced out, is found in activated murine splenic B cells by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with MB7-2 bound CTLA4Ig less well than those expressing B7, but bound CD28Ig to a similar extent, indicating that IgV-like domain contains the complete binding site for CD28. In addition, IgC-like domain may participate in an increase in the affinity for CTLA4. Thus, MB7-2 represents a new form of the murine B7 with different receptor binding properties.

Alternative Splicing↗

In vivo cytokine gene expression in various T cell subsets of the autoimmune MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mouse.

We have used the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique to assess the expression of cytokine genes in various T cell subsets of autoimmune-prone mice. Our study confirmed the previously described features in lpr mice that IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta were transcribed by various T cell subsets. We in this study demonstrated that double negative (DN) T cells, the major cell population in lpr mice, failed to express interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6 genes that influence B cell growth and activation. In contrast, DN T cells expressed Eta-1 gene that is shown to augment polyclonal activation of B cells and immunoglobulin production. Thus, it is conceivable that T cell-derived B cell-stimulatory activities in MRL/lpr mice can be attributed to Eta-1, rather than IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 or IL-6. We also demonstrated that CD4+ T cells infiltrating into kidney tissues of MRL/lpr mice expressed various cytokine genes such as IL-1, IL-5, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta and TGF-beta.

Animals↗

Functional and phenotypical analysis of subsets of rat CD4+ T cells.

Rat CD4+ T cells were divided into two distinct subsets by a monoclonal antibody RTH-1 recognizing a unique epitope on rat CD45R. Cellular distribution of OX-22- and RTH-1-defined antigens was the same. However, OX-22 and RTH-1 recognized different epitopes that exist on rat CD45R. The expression of IL-4 gene was detected only in RTH-1low CD4+ T cell subset upon various stimulations. In contrast, the expression of IL-2 and IFN-gamma gene varied depending upon the nature of stimuli. The increased cell surface expression of CD44 was detected in RTH-1high CD4+ T cell subset. Conversely the increased expression of CD2 was detected in RTH-1low CD4+ T cell subset. The expression of CD3 and LFA-1 was not significantly different between RTH-1high and RTH-1low subsets.

Animals↗

The dysfunction of calcium-ATPase pump in double negative T cells of autoimmune-prone mice.

Double negative (DN) T cells expanding in peripheral lymphoid tissues in mice bearing lymphoproliferation (lpr) gene are generally unresponsive to mitogens, antigens, and anti-T cell receptor (TCR) or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAb). In response to the stimulation with 0.125-5.0 microM ionomycin, control T cells sustained an increase in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), while DN lpr T cells showed a gradual fall following initial rapid increase in [Ca2+]i. Such gradual fall in [Ca2+]i was overcome by the addition of endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor or high dose (10 microM) of ionomycin. The requirement of high concentration of calcium ionophore for the sustained increase of [Ca2+]i in lpr DN T cells is due to dysfunction of Ca(2+)-ATPase pump.

Animals↗

The induction of J11d antigen on double negative T cells of MRL/Mp-Lpr/Lpr mice by high dose calcium ionophore.

Mice homozygous for the lymphoproliferation (lpr) gene spontaneously develop autoimmune syndrome. These mice were characterized by the massive accumulation of double negative (DN) T cells. Although peripheral T cells in normal mice do not express J11d antigen, those abnormal DN T cells in autoimmune-prone mice express J11d antigen. In this study, the mechanisms that control the expression of J11d antigen are analyzed. High concentration of calcium ionophore alone induces the expression of J11d antigen, but not of CD4, CD8, and activation antigens such as interleukin 2 receptor as well as transferrin receptor by J11d- DN T cells from lpr mice. The expression of J11d antigen is primarily regulated at the transcription level rather than the post transcription level. Experiments using metabolic inhibitors reveal that the induction of J11d antigen requires the activation of not only a Ca2+/calmodulin- but also protein kinase C-dependent signaling pathway. Furthermore, J11d- DN thymocytes from control mice share the similar functional property with DN lpr T cells in J11d antigen inducibility.

Animals↗