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PubMed2001

Splenic T zone development is B cell dependent.

The factors regulating growth and patterning of the spleen are poorly defined. We demonstrate here that spleens from B cell-deficient mice have 10-fold reduced expression of the T zone chemokine, CCL21, a threefold reduction in T cell and dendritic cell (DC) numbers, and reduced expression of the T zone stromal marker, gp38. Using cell transfer and receptor blocking approaches, we provide evidence that B cells play a critical role in the early postnatal development of the splenic T zone. This process involves B cell expression of lymphotoxin (LT)alpha1beta2, a cytokine that is required for expression of CCL21 and gp38. Introduction of a B cell specific LTalpha transgene on to the LTalpha-deficient background restored splenic CCL21 and gp38 expression, DC numbers, and T zone size. This work also demonstrates that the role of B cells in T zone development is distinct from the effect of B cells on splenic T cell numbers, which does not require LTalpha1beta2. Therefore, B cells influence spleen T zone development by providing: (a) signals that promote T cell accumulation, and: (b) signals, including LTalpha1beta2, that promote stromal cell development and DC accumulation. Defects in these parameters may contribute to the immune defects associated with B cell deficiency in mice and humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

cDNA sequence of the lymphotoxin beta chain from a marsupial, Macropus eugenii (Tammar wallaby).

In humans and mice, the lymphotoxin (LT) complex is a heterotrimer that consists of alpha (LT-alpha) and beta (LT-beta) chains, predominantly in the ratio 1:2 (LT-alpha:LT-beta). LT-beta is a type II membrane-bound protein that anchors the complex to the surface of activated lymphocytes and, in gene targeting experiments in mice, has been shown to be crucial for normal lymphoid organogenesis. However, a similar role for LT in noneutherian mammals has not yet been established. Indeed, there has been no previous evidence for the existence of LT in noneutherian species. We have isolated, by rapid amplification of cDNA ends on mammary lymph node cDNA, the transcript coding for LT-beta from the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii. This constitutes the first report of an LT component from a marsupial and hence from a noneutherian mammal. The predicted amino acid sequence encoded by this transcript shares 63% and 46% sequence identity with mouse and human LT-beta, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

CD40 ligation induces lymphotoxin alpha gene expression in human B cells.

CD40 plays an important role in T cell mediated B cell proliferation and isotype switching. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and lymphotoxin (LT)-alpha are expressed by B cells, and are known to play a role in B cell activation. We have studied TNF-alpha and LT-alpha expression in human tonsillar B cells following stimulation with anti-CD40 mAb. Anti-CD40 induced weak TNF-alpha mRNA expression but strong LT-alpha mRNA expression and had little effect on the constitutive expression of LT-beta mRNA in B cells. Induction of TNF-alpha mRNA was inhibited by actinomycin D suggesting that CD40 ligation results in transcriptional activation of the TNF-alpha and LT-alpha genes. Anti-CD40 caused minimal increase in the expression of TNF-alpha on the B cell membrane and no detectable secretion of TNF-alpha. Anti-CD40 as well as soluble CD40 ligand caused sustained induction of LT-alpha on the membrane of the B cells lasting up to 120 h but induced no detectable secretion of LT-alpha. IL-4, a cytokine known to synergize with anti-CD40 in inducing B cell proliferation and isotype switching, augmented the induction of LT-alpha mRNA and of mLT-alpha expression by anti-CD40. These results indicate that CD40 ligation vigorously induces expression of membrane LT-alpha in B cells and that membrane LT-alpha may play a role in CD40 mediated B cell activation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1997

Selective disruption of lymphotoxin ligands reveals a novel set of mucosal lymph nodes and unique effects on lymph node cellular organization.

Lymphotoxin (LT) provides a critical signal for the genesis of lymph nodes (LN) in mice. Here we show that mice treated in utero with LT beta-R-Ig, which binds to the membrane LT alpha 1 beta 2 heterotrimer, lacked most LN, yet retained a set of mucosal surface draining LN. Since mice genetically deficient in LT alpha lack all LN, including the mucosal set, we hypothesize that a novel LT alpha-dependent pathway controls their genesis. This novel set of mucosal LN cannot be discriminated on the basis of addressin expression. The discovery of LN in mice treated with LT beta-R-Ig fusion protein in utero allowed us to compare the roles of membrane LT alpha beta or soluble LT alpha/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the development of cellular organization in LN and spleen. Our results indicate that both membrane LT alpha beta and soluble LT alpha/TNF mediate T-B cell segregation and the organization of B cell follicles in spleen and LN. Interestingly, while antagonism of membrane LT alpha beta or soluble LT alpha/TNF prevented germinal center (GC) formation in spleen, antagonism of soluble LT alpha/TNF had no effect on LN formation. The data suggest that multiple LT/TNF ligands control B cell follicle organization in the spleen and LN of adult mice, and that the requirements for LT/TNF ligands in GC formation are distinct in the different lymphoid organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Early cytokine and chemokine gene expression during Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal infection in mice.

Using a multiprobe RNase protection assay, we examined cytokine and chemokine mRNAs that were expressed after corneal infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice. Cytokines that were upregulated included interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and -1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, IL-11, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, stem cell factor, lymphotoxin beta, transforming growth factor beta1, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Chemokine transcripts that were upregulated included Eotaxin; gamma-interferon-inducible protein 10; monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; macrophage inflammatory proteins 1alpha, 1beta, and 2; and RANTES. Peak expression of these cytokines and chemokines was observed between 1 and 3 days after infection. These responses returned to or approached baseline preinfection levels by 7 days after ocular challenge. Identification of the various cytokines and chemokines upregulated during corneal infection provides important information relevant to unraveling the pathogenesis induced by this bacterium and provides hope that specific molecules can be targeted for therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Lymphotoxin-alpha- and lymphotoxin-beta-deficient mice differ in susceptibility to scrapie: evidence against dendritic cell involvement in neuroinvasion.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders of humans and animals often initiated by oral intake of an infectious agent. Current evidence suggests that infection occurs initially in the lymphoid tissues and subsequently in the central nervous system (CNS). The identity of infected lymphoid cells remains controversial, but recent studies point to the involvement of both follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and CD11c(+) lymphoid dendritic cells. FDC generation and maintenance in germinal centers is dependent on lymphotoxin alpha (LT-alpha) and LT-beta signaling components. We report here that by the oral route, LT-alpha -/- mice developed scrapie while LT-beta -/- mice did not. Furthermore, LT-alpha -/- mice had a higher incidence and shorter incubation period for developing disease following inoculation than did LT-beta -/- mice. Transplantation of lymphoid tissues from LT-beta -/- mice, which have cervical and mesenteric lymph nodes, into LT-alpha -/- mice, which do not, did not alter the incidence of CNS scrapie. In other studies, a virus that is tropic for and alters functions of CD11c(+) cells did not alter the kinetics of neuroinvasion of scrapie. Our results suggest that neither FDC nor CD11c(+) cells are essential for neuroinvasion after high doses of RML scrapie. Further, it is possible that an as yet unidentified cell found more abundantly in LT-alpha -/- than in LT-beta -/- mice may assist in the amplification of scrapie infection in the periphery and favor susceptibility to CNS disease following peripheral routes of infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Blockade of LIGHT/LTbeta and CD40 signaling induces allospecific T cell anergy, preventing graft-versus-host disease.

Previous studies have shown that blockade of LIGHT, a T cell costimulatory molecule belonging to the TNF superfamily, by soluble lymphotoxin beta receptor-Ig (LTbetaR-Ig) inhibits the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to host antigenic disparities and ameliorates lethal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in a B6 to BDF1 mouse model. Here, we demonstrate that infusion of an mAb against CD40 ligand (CD40L) further increases the efficacy of LTbetaR-Ig, leading to complete prevention of GVHD. We further demonstrate that alloantigen-specific CTLs become anergic upon rapid expansion, and persist in the tolerized mice as a result of costimulatory blockade. Transfer of anergic CTLs to secondary F1 mice fails to induce GVHD despite the fact that anergic CTLs can be stimulated to proliferate in vitro by antigens and cytokines. Our study provides a potential new approach for the prevention of lethal GVHD.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Alternate mucosal immune system: organized Peyer's patches are not required for IgA responses in the gastrointestinal tract.

The progeny of mice treated with lymphotoxin (LT)-beta receptor (LTbetaR) and Ig (LTbetaR-Ig) lack Peyer's patches but not mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). In this study, we used this approach to determine the importance of Peyer's patches for induction of mucosal IgA Ab responses in the murine gastrointestinal tract. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that LTbetaR-Ig-treated, Peyer's patch null (PP null) mice possessed significant numbers of IgA-positive (IgA+) plasma cells in the intestinal lamina propria. Further, oral immunization of PP null mice with OVA plus cholera toxin as mucosal adjuvant resulted in Ag-specific mucosal IgA and serum IgG Ab responses. OVA-specific CD4+ T cells of the Th2 type were induced in MLN and spleen of PP null mice. In contrast, when TNF and LT-alpha double knockout (TNF/LT-alpha-/-) mice, which lack both Peyer's patches and MLN, were orally immunized with OVA plus cholera toxin, neither mucosal IgA nor serum IgG anti-OVA Abs were induced. On the other hand, LTbetaR-Ig- and TNF receptor 55-Ig-treated normal adult mice elicited OVA- and cholera toxin B subunit-specific mucosal IgA responses, indicating that both LT-alphabeta and TNF/LT-alpha pathways do not contribute for class switching for IgA Ab responses. These results show that the MLN plays a more important role than had been appreciated until now for the induction of both mucosal and systemic Ab responses after oral immunization. Further, organized Peyer's patches are not a strict requirement for induction of mucosal IgA Ab responses in the gastrointestinal tract.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Membrane lymphotoxin is required for the development of different subpopulations of NK T cells.

The development of lymphoid organs requires membrane-bound lymphotoxin (LT), a heterotrimer containing LTalpha and LTbeta, but the effects of LT on T cell function have not been characterized extensively. Upon TCR cross-linking in vitro, splenocytes from both LTalpha-/- and LTbeta-/- mice failed to produce IL-4 and IL-10 due to a reduction in NK T cells. Concordantly, LTalpha-/- and LTbeta-/- mice did not respond to the lipoglycan alpha-galactosylceramide, which is presented by mouse CD1 to Valpha14+ NK T cells. Interestingly, both populations of NK T cells, including those that are mouse CD1 dependent and alpha-galactosylceramide reactive and those that are not, were affected by disruption of the LTalpha and LTbeta genes. NK T cells were not affected, however, in transgenic mice in which LT signaling is blocked, beginning on day 3 after birth, by expression of a soluble decoy LTbeta receptor. This suggests that membrane-bound LT is critical for NK T cells early in ontogeny, but not for the homeostasis of mature cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression of TNF cDNA and gene from Japanese flounder Paralychthys olivaceus.

We cloned a cDNA and the gene for Japanese flounder TNF. The TNF cDNA consisted of 1217 bp, which encoded 225 amino acid residues. The identities between Japanese flounder TNF and members of the mammalian TNF family were approximately 20-30%. The positions of cysteine residues that are important for disulfide bonds were conserved with respect to those in mammalian TNF-alpha. The Japanese flounder TNF gene has a length of approximately 2 kbp and consists of four exons and three introns. The positions of the exon-intron junction positions of Japanese flounder TNF gene are similar to those of human TNF-alpha. However, the length of the first intron of Japanese flounder is much shorter than that of the human TNF-alpha gene. There are simple CA or AT dinucleotide repeats in the 5'-upstream and 3'-downstream regions of the Japanese flounder TNF gene. Southern blot hybridization indicted that Japanese flounder TNF exists as a single copy. Expression of Japanese flounder TNF mRNA is greatly induced after stimulation of PBLs with LPS, Con A, or PMA. These results indicated that Japanese flounder TNF is more like mammalian TNF-alpha than mammalian lymphotoxin-alpha, with respect to its gene structure, length of amino acid sequence, number and position of cysteine residues, and regulation of gene expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Lymphoid neogenesis in rheumatoid synovitis.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tissue-infiltrating lymphocytes can be arranged in sophisticated organizations that resemble microstructures usually formed in secondary lymphoid organs. Molecular pathways and host risk factors involved in this process of lymphoid neogenesis remain to be defined. In a series of 64 synovial tissue biopsies, lymphoid follicles with germinal centers (GCs) were found in 23.4% of the patients. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) were exclusively present in tissues with GCs, suggesting that the recruitment or in situ maturation of FDCs is a critical factor for GC formation in the synovial membrane. Primary follicles were absent, emphasizing the role of Ag recognition in the generation of inflammation-associated lymphoid organogenesis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of tissue cytokines and chemokines identified two parameters, in situ transcription of lymphotoxin (LT)-beta and of B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC; BLC/CXCL13), that were predictors for FDC recruitment and synovial GC formation. LT-beta and BLC/CXCL13 were found to be independent variables that could, in part, compensate for each other to facilitate GC formation. Prediction models incorporating in situ transcription of LT-beta and BLC/CXCL13 had high negative yet moderate positive predictive values, suggesting that LT-beta and BLC/CXCL13 are necessary but not sufficient. LT-beta protein was detected on a subset of mantle zone and GC B cells, but also on T cells in follicular structures. BLC/CXCL13 was produced by FDCs in follicular centers, but was predominantly found in endothelial cells and synovial fibroblasts, suggesting heterotypic signaling between cells of the synovial membrane and infiltrating lymphocytes in regulating extranodal lymphoid neogenesis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed2002

Cutting edge: selective impairment of CD8+ T cell function in mice lacking the TNF superfamily member LIGHT.

Interactions of LIGHT and its receptors, herpesvirus entry mediator on T cells and lymphotoxin beta receptor on stromal cells, are implicated in the regulation of lymphoid organogenesis, costimulation of T cells, and activation of dendritic cells. In this work we report that LIGHT-deficient mice had normal lymphoid organs with T cells and APCs that normally responded to Ag stimulation and normally stimulated T cells. Although the number of Vbeta8(+) T cells in naive LIGHT(+/+) and LIGHT(-/-) mice was identical, Vbeta8(+)CD8(+) T cell proliferation in response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B was significantly lower in LIGHT(-/-) mice. Consistently, induction and cytokine secretion of CD8(+) CTL to MHC class I-restricted peptide was also reduced in LIGHT(-/-) mice. However, the proliferative response of Vbeta8(+)CD4(+) T cells to staphylococcal enterotoxin B was comparable in LIGHT(-/-) and LIGHT(+/+) mice. Our results suggest that LIGHT is required for activation of normal CD8(+) T cells but not CD4(+) T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Postgestational lymphotoxin/lymphotoxin beta receptor interactions are essential for the presence of intestinal B lymphocytes.

Lymphotoxin (LT), a cytokine belonging to the TNF family, has established roles in the formation of secondary lymphoid structures and in the compartmentalization of T and B lymphocyte areas of the spleen. In this study, we examine the role of LT in directing the composition of intestinal lymphocytes. We report that mice deficient in LT have a normal composition of intestinal lamina propria (LP) T lymphocytes, and an absence of intestinal LP B lymphocytes. We further refine this observation to demonstrate that the interaction of LT with the LTbetaR is essential for the presence LP B lymphocytes. The LT/LTbetaR-dependent events relevant for the presence of LP B lymphocytes occur after birth, do not require the presence of Peyer's patches, lymph nodes, or the spleen; and therefore, are distinct and independent from the previously identified roles of LT/LTbetaR. The LT-dependent signal relevant for the presence of LP B lymphocytes is optimally supplied by a LT-sufficient B lymphocyte, and requires a LTbetaR-sufficient radio-resistant, non-bone marrow-derived cell. Based upon the severity of the deficit of LP B lymphocytes we observed, these novel LT/LTbetaR-dependent events are of primary importance in directing the entry and residence of LP B lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Nonmitogenic CD3 antibody reverses virally induced (rat insulin promoter-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus) autoimmune diabetes without impeding viral clearance.

Treatment with nonmitogenic CD3 Ab reverses established autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice by restoring self-tolerance, and is currently under clinical evaluation in patients presenting recent onset type I diabetes. Due to the immunosuppressive potential of this strategy, it was relevant to explore how this treatment would influence the outcome of concomitant viral infections. In this study, we used a transgenic model of virally induced autoimmune diabetes (rat insulin promoter-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus) that allows for more precise tracking of the autoaggressive response and choice of the time point for initiation of autoimmunity. CD3 was most effective during a clearly defined prediabetic phase and prevented up to 100% of diabetes by drastically lowering activation of autoaggressive CD8 lymphocytes and their production of inflammatory cytokines. Interestingly, reversion of established disease could be achieved as well, when nonmitogenic CD3 was administered late during pathogenesis to overtly diabetic recipients. Most importantly, competence to clear viral infections was maintained. Thus, administration of nonmitogenic CD3 prevents diabetes by sufficient systemic reduction of (auto)aggressive lymphocytes, but without compromising antiviral immune competence.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

Innate direct anticancer effector function of human immature dendritic cells. II. Role of TNF, lymphotoxin-alpha(1)beta(2), Fas ligand, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.

Our recent studies have demonstrated that human immature dendritic cells (DCs) are able to directly and effectively mediate apoptotic killing against a wide array of cultured and freshly-isolated cancer cells without harming normal cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that this tumoricidal activity is mediated by multiple cytotoxic TNF family ligands. We determine that human immature DCs express on their cell surface four different cytotoxic TNF family ligands: TNF, lymphotoxin-alpha(1)beta(2), Fas ligand, and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand; while cancer cells express the corresponding death receptors. Disruptions of interactions between the four ligands expressed on DCs and corresponding death-signaling receptors expressed on cancer cells using specific Abs or R:Fc fusion proteins block the cytotoxic activity of DCs directed against cancer cells. The novel findings suggest that DC killing of cancer cells is mediated by the concerted engagement of four TNF family ligands of DCs with corresponding death receptors of cancer cells. Overall, our data demonstrate that DCs are fully equipped for an efficient direct apoptotic killing of cancer cells and suggest that this mechanism may play a critical role in both afferent and efferent anti-tumor immunity.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1999

Constitutive expression and role of the TNF family ligands in apoptotic killing of tumor cells by human NK cells.

Natural killer cells mediate spontaneously secretory/necrotic killing against rare leukemia cell lines and a nonsecretory/apoptotic killing against a large variety of tumor cell lines. The molecules involved in nonsecretory/apoptotic killing are largely undefined. In the present study, freshly isolated, nonactivated, human NK cells were shown to express TNF, lymphotoxin (LT)-alpha, LT-beta, Fas ligand (L), CD27L, CD30L, OX40L, 4-1BBL, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), but not CD40L or nerve growth factor. Complementary receptors were demonstrated to be expressed on the cell surface of solid tumor cell lines susceptible to apoptotic killing mediated by NK cells. Individually applied, antagonists of TNF, LT-alpha1beta2, or FasL fully inhibited NK cell-mediated apoptotic killing of tumor cells. On the other hand, recombinant TNF, LT-alpha1beta2, or FasL applied individually or as pairs were not cytotoxic. In contrast, a mixture of the three ligands mediated significant apoptosis in tumor cells. These findings demonstrate that human NK cells constitutively express several of the TNF family ligands and induce apoptosis in tumor cells by simultaneous engagement of at least three of these cytotoxic molecules.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1999

TNF and lymphotoxin beta cooperate in the maintenance of secondary lymphoid tissue microarchitecture but not in the development of lymph nodes.

Inactivation of genes encoding members of TNF and TNF receptor families reveal their divergent roles in the formation and function of secondary lymphoid organs. Most lymphotoxin alpha (ltalpha)- and all lymphotoxin beta receptor (ltbetar)-deficient mice are completely devoid of lymph nodes (LNs); however, most lymphotoxin beta (ltbeta)-deficient mice develop mesenteric LNs. Tnf- and tnfrp55-deficient mice develop a complete set of LNs, while ltbeta/tnfrp55 double-deficient mice lack all LNs, demonstrating cooperation between LTbeta and TNFRp55 in LN development. Now we report that ltbeta/tnf double-deficient mice develop the same set of mucosal LNs as do ltbeta-deficient mice, suggesting that ligands other than TNF signal through TNFRp55 during LN development. These LNs retain distinct T and B cells areas; however, they lack follicular dendritic cell networks. Structures resembling germinal centers can be found in the LNs from immunized ltbeta-deficient mice but not in ltbeta/tnf double-deficient mice. Additionally, stromal components of the spleen and LNs appear to be more severely disturbed in ltbeta/tnf double-deficient mice as compared with ltbeta-deficient mice. We conclude that LTbeta and TNF cooperate in the establishment of the correct microarchitecture of lymphoid organs.

Animals↗