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T Miethke

Publications and source records attributed to T Miethke.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Crosslinked staphylococcal enterotoxin B stimulates CD8+ T cells only in the presence of unlinked costimulator signals.

The superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) binds to class II MHC expressing cells and subsequently causes selective activation of T cells carrying appropriate T cell receptor (TCR) V beta chains. Apparently SEB acts as a bifunctional molecule by bridging class II MHC structures with the appropriate TCR-V beta chains. This assumption predicts that immobilized SEB ought to stimulate purified, class II MHC negative murine T cells. We show here that immobilized SEB lacks the ability to trigger murine CD8 T cells. Responsiveness obtained at a high T cell concentration is due to contaminating class II MHC-positive lymphocytes. Complementation of the culture system with syngeneic irradiated B cells blasts effectively restores responsiveness. The proliferating cells exhibit SEB specific cytotoxicity and a bias for V beta 8 expression. Since no evidence for leakiness of SEB covalently bound to sephadex beads was obtained, the data imply that immobilized SEB in fact binds to the TCR of T cells expressing the appropriate V beta chains. However, for primary activation additional costimulatory signals are required which can be provided in an unlinked fashion by activated B cells. Resting B cells are activated by immobilized SEB to cells expressing high costimulator activity. As such, the data point out a third function of SEB.

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Murine CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are activated by the superantigen (SA) staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and exhibit MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity.

Resting CD8+ and CD4+ murine T cells become efficiently activated by the superantigen (SA) staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Limiting dilution experiments reveal that roughly every third CD8+ or CD4+ T cell could be induced to proliferate. Surprisingly, besides CD8+ T cells, also CD4+ cells acquire a high cytolytic activity upon activation with SEB. Both subpopulations only lyse MHC class II positive target cells in the presence of SEB. However the recognition of SEB by CTL is independent of the haplotype of the MHC, i.e. is MHC-unrestricted. In addition the recognition of SEB is independent of the coreceptor molecules CD4 and CD8, respectively.

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Synergy between interleukin 4 and interleukin 2 conveys resistance to cyclosporin A during primary in vitro activation of murine CD8 cytotoxic T cell precursors.

Even though cyclosporin A (CsA) suppresses in vitro production of lymphokines such as interleukin 2 (IL 2) and responsiveness of cytotoxic T cell (CTL) precursors to IL 2, thereby inhibiting the in vitro generation of CTL, in vivo CsA does not affect the induction of alloreactive CTL. This paradox suggests that CsA-resistant signals are operating in vivo. Using an in vitro model system in which the requirement for antigen-presenting cells during primary activation of resting murine CD8 T cells is bypassed by immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies, we here describe conditions in which IL 4 conveys CsA resistance to murine CD8 T cells triggered by immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies to respond to IL 2. CsA resistance of IL 4 and IL 2-responsive CD8 T cell parallels conditions in which signals provided by IL 4 and IL 2 synergize with each other. CsA dissociates in vitro proliferative and differentiative events by suppressing the former while enhancing the latter. In addition to the known pleiotropic effects of IL 4, our results define an IL 4-dependent, CsA-resistant signal pathway which allows CTL differentiation in the absence of significant cell proliferation.

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Primary activation of murine CD8 T cells via cross-linking of T3 cell surface structures: two signals regulate induction of interleukin 2 responsiveness.

In the model system used here to study the minimal signal requirements for the activation of murine resting CD8 T cells, cross-linking of T cell receptor structures by antigen-presenting cells is substituted for by the use of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies immobilized in Sepharose beads. We show that cross-linking of CD3 structures, even in combination with CD8 structures, is necessary but insufficient to induce responsiveness to the growth-promoting effect of interleukin 2 (IL2), i.e. fails to induce expression of functional IL2 receptors. A macrophage cell line product termed IL2 receptor-inducing factor (RIF), but not IL1, IL3, IL4 or tumor necrosis factor, efficiently functions as costimulator. Once activated, growth of CD8 T cells is entirely driven by IL2. We conclude that two restriction points control the activation of resting CD8 T cells. While cross-linking of CD3 structures is essential as a first step, RIF is required as competence factor to induce IL2 responsiveness. We consider the possibility that the ability of antigen-presenting cells to produce RIF determines the immunogenicity of presented antigen towards antigen-reactive resting CD8 T cells.

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Interleukin 4 (BSF-1) induces growth in resting murine CD8 T cells triggered via cross-linking of T3 cell surface structures.

To analyze the role of interleukin 4 (IL4, BSF-1) during primary activation of resting (high-density) murine CD8 T cells, a model system was used which bypasses antigen-presenting cells by the use of anti-T3 monoclonal antibodies immobilized on Sepharose beads. In high, but not in low cell density cultures, IL4 alone induced cell growth. In low cell density cultures, further to T3 cross-linking a soluble macrophage product was required as co-stimulator to induce sensitivity to IL4. This co-stimulator activity was unrelated to recombinant (r)IL1, rIL6 and rTNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha). In primary CD8 T cell responses rIL4-driven growth was about half of that induced by rIL2, and not inhibitable by anti-IL2 receptor antibodies. Higher concentrations of IL4 down-regulated cell proliferation. In the course of IL4-driven growth, the proliferating cells acquired sensitivity to the growth-promoting effect of IL2. Activated CD4 or CD8 T cells were found to be equally sensitive to the IL4 and IL2-driven growth pathway. Taken together, these results define a physiologic role of IL4 as growth factor during primary activation of resting CD8 T cells and thus extend the spectrum of target cells for IL4.

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Previous cytomegalovirus infection and risk of coronary thrombotic events after stent placement.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection induces upregulation of tissue factor and loss of anticoagulants, including thrombomodulin, prostacyclin, and tissue plasminogen activator. CMV infection may thereby increase the procoagulant properties of coronary artery plaques. This prospective study investigated the effect of previous CMV infection on the early hazard of coronary stent placement. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 551 consecutive patients with successful coronary stent placement, we determined CMV IgG titers. The end point was the composite rate of death, nonfatal Q-wave myocardial infarction, and urgent reintervention during 30-day follow-up. The study population represented the entire spectrum of coronary stenting; an acute coronary syndrome was present in 50% of the patients. A positive CMV IgG titer (>/=1/230) was found in 340 patients (62%). Of these, 10 reached the end point during 30-day follow-up (2 deaths, 4 infarctions, 4 urgent reinterventions). In the group with negative CMV titer, thrombotic events did not occur (P=0.014 versus group with positive CMV titers). After correction for pertinent covariables, a significant relation between positive CMV titer and the 30-day end point prevailed (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Previous CMV infection may increase the risk of coronary thrombotic events after stent placement.

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