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M J Litton

Publications and source records attributed to M J Litton.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

The distinct role of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells during the anti-tumour effects of targeted superantigens.

To target T-cells to the tumour area we created a recombinant protein of the bacterial superantigen (SAg) Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and the Fab-fragment of a tumour-reactive antibody. This antibody-targeted SAg immunotherapy therapy has been shown to be highly efficient, eliminating > 95% of the pulmonary metastasis in mice carrying established melanoma micrometastases. Earlier studies demonstrated that elimination of the C215-expressing B16-melanoma lung metastasis was dependent on interferon (IFN)-gamma release and expression of perforin. In the present study, therapeutic effector functions were analysed both locally at the tumour site and systemically in the spleen. In order to elucidate the role of each T-cell subset during Fab-SEA therapy, CD4 knock-out (KO) and CD8 KO mice were used. Tumour size reduction was statistically significant in Fab-SEA-based tumour therapy in both types of T-cell-deficient mice compared to wild-type mice. CD4 KO mice displayed a drastic reduction in the number of tumour-infiltrating macrophages and CD8+ T-cells. Therapy-induced accumulation of perforin-containing cells at the tumour site was significantly impaired in CD8 KO mice, and marginally in CD4 KO mice. Moreover, CD4 KO mice failed to produce substantial amounts of the tumour suppressive cytokine IFN-gamma. This is in sharp contrast to normal mice where a massive local release was recorded. CD8 KO mice displayed a spontaneous production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 locally in the tumour. Neither normal nor CD4 KO mice produced detectable levels of these Th-2-associated cytokines. The high level of IL-10 was demonstrated to inhibit Fab-SEA tumour therapy, since the therapeutic efficacy was significantly higher in IL-10 KO mice. These results illustrate the importance of a finely tuned cellular collaboration to regulate the various phases of an efficient anti-tumour immune response.

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PubMed1997

Genetically engineered superantigens as tolerable antitumor agents.

Superantigens (SAg) are a family of bacterial and viral proteins with strong immunostimulatory properties. SAg bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules activate a high frequency of T cells and represent the most potent known activators of T cells to date. To explore the use of SAg for T cell-based tumor therapy we have created a tumor-reactive SAg by engineering a fusion protein composed of a tumor-reactive mAb (C215Fab) and the bacterial SAg staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA). A point mutation D227A was introduced at the major MHC class II binding site in SEA to reduce systemic toxicity. Treatment of tumor bearing mice with the Fab-SEA D227A fusion protein resulted in profound antitumor effects with a markedly reduced toxicity as compared with the wild-type Fab-SEA fusion protein. The reduced toxicity was probably due to a weak distribution of the SEA D227A fusion protein in tissues with a high MHC class II expression and low systemic cytokine levels as exhibited in mice and rabbits. The data presented demonstrate the efficacy of immunoconjugates containing a mutated SAg in directing a T cell attack against tumor cells with minimal systemic immune activation.

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PubMed1997

Cytokine production in synovial tissue of mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

The kinetics of cytokine production in arthritic limbs of mice with CIA was determined by using modified immunohistochemical techniques. Tissue cryostat sections of undecalcified whole paws were analysed for the presence of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta2) and TGF-beta3. Locally produced TNF-alpha, IL-6 and TGF-beta2 were observed within the lining layer, sublining and pannus at all stages of disease. The staining of TNF-alpha was particularly intense at the cartilage-pannus junction. In contrast to the monokines, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta3 were only expressed in scattered cells within the deeper layers of the synovia. Interestingly, IFN-gamma was not present in the late phase of CIA, despite the continued presence of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the pannus. Production of IL-2, IL-4 or IL-5 was not detected in any joint. The observed pattern of a relative paucity of T cell-derived cytokines and an abundance of monokines during the late phase of T cell-dependent CIA indicates that the synovial cytokine pattern previously described in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is fully compatible with a pathogenic role of T cells. The temporal as well as spatial dissociation between expression of T cell-derived cytokines and monokines indicates that T cell-independent mechanisms may also be of importance in the triggering of monokine production during arthritis.

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PubMed1997

Tumor therapy with an antibody-targeted superantigen generates a dichotomy between local and systemic immune responses.

Repeated injections of a fusion protein containing the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) combined with a Fab fragment of a tumor-specific antibody is a highly efficient immunotherapy for mice expressing lung melanoma micrometastasis. In the present study, the systemic and local immune responses generated by this therapy were analyzed at a cellular level. Two distinct but coupled immune reactions occurred after repeated therapy. Tumor necrosis factor and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha and -1 beta were immediately synthesized, in the absence of T lymphocytes, at the local tumor site in the lung. This was followed by the induction of VCAM-1 adhesion molecule expression on pulmonary vascular endothelial cells. Concurrently, the early response in the spleen was characterized by the induction of selective T cells producing interleukin (IL)-2. The primed and expanded SEA-reactive V beta 3- and V beta 11-expressing T lymphocytes accumulated to the tumor area only after Fab-SEA therapy and were not present in the lung when SEA, Fab fragment, or recombinant IL-2 was injected. The tumor-infiltrating T cells produced large amounts of interferon-gamma, but no IL-2 or Th2 type of lymphokines were detected at the tumor site in the Fab-SEA-targeted antitumor immune response. These results emphasize the necessity to investigate several sites of antigen presentation to elucidate the effects of immunotherapy.

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PubMed1996

Human placental cytotrophoblasts produce the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin 10.

The mechanism by which the mammalian mother accepts the implanting fetus as an allograft remains unexplained, but is likely to be the result of a combination of factors. Mononuclear cytotrophoblasts, the specialized fetal cells of the placenta that invade the uterus, play an important role. These cells express HLA-G, an unusual major histocompatibility complex class I-B molecule, and secrete cytokines and pregnancy-specific proteins that can regulate immune function. We investigated whether cytotrophoblasts secrete interleukin 10 (IL-10), a cytokine that potently inhibits alloresponses in mixed lymphocyte reactions. Cytotrophoblasts from all stages of pregnancy produced IL-10 in vitro, but neither placental fibroblasts nor choriocarcinoma (malignant trophoblast) cell lines did so. Spontaneous IL-10 production averaged 650, 853, and 992 pg/10(6) cells in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. IL-10 secretion dropped approximately 10-fold after the first 24 h of culture, and was paralleled by a decrease in messenger RNA. IL-10 messenger RNA was detected in biopsies of the placenta and the portion of the uterus that contains invasive cytotrophoblasts, suggesting that this cytokine is also produced in vivo. IL-10 secreted by cytotrophoblasts in vitro is bioactive, as determined by its ability to suppress interferon gamma production in an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction. We conclude that human cytotrophoblast IL-10 may be an important factor that contributes to maternal tolerance of the allogeneic fetus.

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PubMed1996

Antibody-targeted superantigen therapy induces tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, excessive cytokine production, and apoptosis in human colon carcinoma.

Bacterial superantigens are the most potent known activators of human T lymphocytes. To engineer superantigens for immunotherapy of human colon carcinoma, the superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was genetically fused to the Fab region of the colon carcinoma-reactive monoclonal antibody C242. In the present study the effector mechanisms involved in the anti-tumor response to C242 Fab-SEA were characterized. Immunohistochemistry and computer-aided image analysis were used in studies of cryopreserved tumor tissue to evaluate the phenotype of infiltrating cells and their cytokine profiles in response to therapy. Human T cells and monocytes were recruited to the tumor area and penetrated the entire tumor mass within hours after injection of C242 Fab-SEA. The production of cytokines at the single-cell level was found to be dominated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and transforming growth factor-beta, whereas IL-1-alpha, IL-1ra, IL-1 beta, TNF-beta, IL-3, IL-6, and IL-8 were undetectable. Most of the TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-gamma were made by the infiltrating human leukocytes, while the colon carcinoma cells were induced to produce IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-alpha. Up-regulation of IFN-gamma receptors and TNF R p60 receptors was found, while the TNF R p80 receptor was absent. The cytokine production, T cell infiltration, and CD95 Fas receptor expression concomitantly occurred to induce programmed cell death in the tumor cells. This was followed by a strong reduction of the tumor mass that was seen within 24 h after C242 Fab-SEA infusion. These findings demonstrate that antibody-superantigen proteins efficiently recruit tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes actively producing a variety of cytokines likely to be essential for the therapeutic effects observed in the model. Although the humanized SCID model has obvious limitations in its predictive value for treatment of human cancer, we believe that these results encourage clinical evaluation of antibody-targeted superantigens.

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PubMed1994

Early expression of cytokines in lymph nodes after treatment in vivo with Staphylococcus enterotoxin B.

Excessive cytokine expression induced by superantigen may be one aspect of the pathophysiology associated with Gram positive bacteremia. We have undertaken a study of the kinetics of cytokine production in lymph nodes obtained from in vivo Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) treated animals. This study was designed to evaluate the short term cytokine profile observed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in BALB/c mice injected intraperitoneally (i.p.). The observed immunohistochemical kinetic profiles were corroborated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) RNA analysis. We report here that TNF, IL-2, and IFN-gamma are the principal cytokines which were detected within hours of SEB administration, and that other cytokines such as IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, GM-CSF and M-CSF were undetectable. TNF and IL-2 appeared very early following SEB priming, and were observed by 1 h. IFN-gamma which appeared later (maximally at 14 h) was produced predominantly by CD8+ cells. In contrast, the TNF and IL-2 were produced primarily by CD4+ cells. Identical results were obtained by IHC and RT-PCR; the kinetics of mRNA expression slightly preceded the appearance of protein. The TNF and IFN-gamma staining patterns observed in lymph node sections were indicative of Golgi-localized cytokine. The IL-2 staining pattern observed in lymph node sections was distinctive, covering a significant local area of cells. This local regional concentration of IL-2, which may result from cytokine attached to extracellular binding components, may be an important aspect of the activation phase of a developing immune response. Rapid induction and excessive cytokine production elicited by superantigen in vivo, may ultimately help to explain the shock and death associated with SEB.

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PubMed1994

Immunocytochemical detection of cytokines in the lymph nodes and brains of mice resistant or susceptible to toxoplasmic encephalitis.

BALB/c mice develop toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) but the pathology resolves; in contrast, CBA/Ca mice develop progressive TE. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed peak staining for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in lymph nodes of both strains on day 7 of infection, with elevated levels of IFN-gamma and TNF persisting in CBA/Ca mice. TNF was present in the central nervous systems (CNS) of both strains of mice and correlated with severity of pathology. Interleukin (IL)-2 was detected in lymph nodes and CNS of CBA/Ca mice after day 52 of infection and only in the lymph nodes of BALB/c mice between days 14 and 21 after infection. Highest levels of IL-10 were observed in lymph nodes and CNS of infected CBA/Ca mice. Variations in cytokine levels in lymph nodes and CNS of these mouse strains may account for differences in their susceptibility to TE.

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