Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection-Induced Polyclonal B Cell Activation Is Independent of CD4+T Cells and CD40

Abstract T-helper 17 (Th17) cells constitute a subset of T cells that characteristically secrete IL-17. In addition to their normal adaptive immune functions, Th17 cells also play roles in supporting dysfunctional immune responses found in autoimmunity and cancer. Several studies suggest that Th17 cells play a protective role in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). For example, CLL patients exhibit varied levels of circulating Th17 cells, and elevated levels positively correlate with better clinical outcome regardless of IGHV-mutation status. To understand this relationship and elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Th17 generation in CLL, in particular the role of microRNAs known to affect Th17 development, we investigated cross-talk between naïve CD4+ T cells and CLL B cells. Moreover, since intraclonal leukemic B-cell subpopulations differing in time since cell birth/division can exhibit different functional effects on antigen presentation, we explored the effect of B-cell activation on this T - leukemic B-cell dialogue and how it affects the generation of Th17 cells. To determine potential candidates differentially expressed in CLL, we conducted genome-wide single-cell expression analysis comparing fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)-purified mature Th17 cells (CD3+/CD4+/CD45+/CD161+/CCR6+/ CCR4+/CXCR3-) from CLL patients and healthy donors. Selected candidate genes met the criteria of >7-fold increase in expression in CLL, adjusted p-value <1.5 x 10-6, and link to lymphocyte biology. Among selected candidates, microRNA-155 (miR-155), a critical regulator of Th17 differentiation, was found. Follow-up real time, quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses indicated a significant increase (P < 0.01) in miR-155 expression in CLL Th17 cells as compared to Th17 cells from healthy controls. Since there was no difference in expression between naïve T cells (CD3+/CD4+/CD62L+/CD45RO-) cells, this suggested a CLL-unique mechanism of miR-155 modulation. To determine whether CLL cells directly influence miR-155 levels in naïve CD4+ T cells, co-culture experiments using autologous leukemic or healthy B cells were carried out. FACS-purified peripheral blood naïve CD4+ T cells and B cells from CLL patients and from age-matched healthy controls were co-cultured for 3 days, and expression of T-cell miR-155 was determined by RT-qPCR. In the presence of unstimulated CLL or healthy B cells, miR-155 expression in naïve T cells remained unchanged across all co-cultures. However, upon activation, healthy and leukemic B cells exerted differential effects on miR-155 expression in autologous naïve T cells. In the presence of autologous healthy B cells pre-activated with CpG-ODN2006 and IL-15, miR-155 expression in healthy naïve T cells was significantly increased (P = 0.0313) across all samples. Conversely, CLL naïve T cells co-cultured with autologous, pre-activated leukemic B cells showed heterogeneous modulation of miR-155. Of interest, the magnitude and direction of miR-155 changes in the autologous CLL co-cultures positively correlated not only with circulating Th17 levels (P = 0.019), as determined by flow cytometry, but also with patient time to first treatment (P = 0.0003). Moreover, when samples were divided into 2 groups based on an increase or decrease in miR-155 levels after exposure to activated compared to resting CLL B cells, a significant difference was seen with median survival of 237 months and 67 months, respectively (P = 0.005). Consistent with previous observations from our lab, this correlation was independent of various prognostic markers, including IGHV-mutation status. Our results suggest the existence of a miR-155 modulatory mechanism mediated by CLL B cells that differs based on leukemic B-cell activation state and the degree of change occurring when naïve T cells are exposed to resting vs. activated B cells. Moreover, this variable effect in CLL patients differs from that in normal individuals, and the effect influences number of Th17 cells and patient outcome. Studies are underway to determine the effects that leukemic B cells, unstimulated or CpG-ODN2006 + IL-15 stimulated, have on autologous naïve T-cell maturation into Th17 cells, and the extent that this process depends on the variable miR-155 modulatory capacity of leukemic B cells. Disclosures Chiorazzi: Janssen, Inc: Consultancy; AR Pharma: Equity Ownership.

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Hyaluronate-CD44 Interactions Can Induce Murine B-Cell Activation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v89.8.2901 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 2901-2908 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Asimah Rafi ◽

Mitzi Nagarkatti ◽

Prakash S. Nagarkatti

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Critical Role ◽

Surface Glycoprotein ◽

B Cell Differentiation ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

Cell Surface Glycoprotein ◽

Immunodeficient Mice

Abstract CD44 is a widely distributed cell surface glycoprotein whose principal ligand has been identified as hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent studies have demonstrated that activation through CD44 leads to induction of effector function in T cells and macrophages. In the current study, we investigated whether HA or monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against CD44 would induce a proliferative response in mouse lymphocytes. Spleen cells from normal and nude, but not severe combined immunodeficient mice, exhibited strong proliferative responsiveness to stimulation with soluble HA or anti-CD44 MoAbs. Furthermore, purified B cells, but not T cells, were found to respond to HA. HA was unable to stimulate T cells even in the presence of antigen presenting cells (APC) and was unable to act as a costimulus in the presence of mitogenic or submitogenic concentrations of anti-CD3 MoAbs. In contrast, stimulation of B cells with HA in vitro, led to B-cell differentiation as measured by production of IgM antibodies in addition to increased expression of CD44 and decreased levels of CD45R. The fact that the B cells were responding directly to HA through its binding to CD44 and not to any contaminants or endotoxins was demonstrated by the fact that F(ab)2 fragments of anti-CD44 MoAbs or soluble CD44 fusion proteins could significantly inhibit the HA-induced proliferation of B cells. Also, HA-induced proliferation of B cells was not affected by the addition of polymixin B, and B cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-unresponsive C3H/HeJ strain responded strongly to stimulation with HA. Furthermore, HA, but not chondroitin-sulfate, another major component of the ECM, induced B-cell activation. It was also noted that injection of HA intraperitoneally, triggered splenic B cell proliferation in vivo. Together, the current study demonstrates that interaction between HA and CD44 can regulate murine B-cell effector functions and that such interactions may play a critical role during normal or autoimmune responsiveness of B cells.

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CD8+ and CD4+ T Cells Contribute to the Exacerbation of Class I MHC Disparate Graft-vs-Host Reaction by Concurrent Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection

Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology ◽

10.1006/clin.1993.1048 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 84-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Carolyn Cray ◽

Robert B. Levy

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Cytomegalovirus Infection ◽

Class I ◽

Murine Cytomegalovirus ◽

Host Reaction ◽

Class I Mhc

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Depletion of Collagen II-Reactive T Cells and Blocking of B Cell Activation Prevents Collagen II-Induced Arthritis in DBA/1j Mice

The Journal of Immunology ◽

10.4049/jimmunol.168.8.4164 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 168 (8) ◽

pp. 4164-4172 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Huang-Ge Zhang ◽

PingAr Yang ◽

Jinfu Xie ◽

Zhongyu Liu ◽

Di Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Cell Activation ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

Collagen Ii

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T Cell Accumulation in B Cell Follicles Is Regulated by Dendritic Cells and Is Independent of B Cell Activation

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20021750 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 197 (2) ◽

pp. 195-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Simon Fillatreau ◽

David Gray

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Cell Activation ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

Cell Accumulation ◽

Antigen Presenting ◽

Deficient Mice

We investigated the mechanism of CD4 T cell accumulation in B cell follicles after immunization. Follicular T cell numbers were correlated with the number of B cells, indicating B cell control of the niche that T cells occupy. Despite this, we found no role for B cells in the follicular migration of T cells. Instead, T cells are induced to migrate into B cell follicles entirely as a result of interaction with dendritic cells (DCs). Migration relies on CD40-dependent maturation of DCs, as it did not occur in CD40-deficient mice but was reconstituted with CD40+ DCs. Restoration was not achieved by the activation of DCs with bacterial activators (e.g., lipopolysaccharide, CpG), but was by the injection of OX40L–huIgG1 fusion protein. Crucially, the up-regulation of OX40L (on antigen-presenting cells) and CXCR-5 (on T cells) are CD40-dependent events and we show that T cells do not migrate to follicles in immunized OX40-deficient mice.

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Interaction of B cells with activated T cells reduces the threshold for CD40-mediated B cell activation

International Immunology ◽

10.1093/intimm/11.1.71 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 71-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Gerry G. B. Klaus ◽

Mary Holman ◽

Caroline Johnson-Léger ◽

Jillian R. Christenson ◽

Marilyn R. Kehry

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Cell Activation ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

Activated T Cells

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CD154:CD40 Co-Stimulatory Blockade: A Novel Approach To Prevent Sensitization to Donor Alloantigens.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v106.11.1273.1273 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 106 (11) ◽

pp. 1273-1273

Author(s):

Hong Xu ◽

Jun Yan ◽

Suzanne T. Ildstad

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Immune Responses ◽

B Cell ◽

Germinal Center ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Cell Tolerance ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

B Cell Tolerance ◽

Adaptive Immune Responses ◽

Adaptive Immune

Abstract Introduction: Recipient sensitization is one of the most critical problems facing clinical transplantation. Allosensitized recipients often rapidly reject vascularized solid organ grafts as a result of preformed anti-donor antibody. Similarly, bone marrow transplantation for sickle cell disease and thalassemia is limited by sensitization from transfusion. A method to prevent sensitization would have a significant impact on transplant outcomes. Until recently, T cells were believed to be the primary effector cell in the induction of adaptive immune responses. We recently found that humoral immunity provides a dominant barrier in allosensitization to MHC antigens. B cell activation occurs through T-cell-dependent responses via signaling from the co-stimulatory molecule CD154 (on T cells) to its ligand CD40 (on B cells). Here, we examined whether blocking the costimulatory interaction between T and B cells during exposure to alloantigen would prevent allosensitization. Materials and Methods: Mice deficient for CD154 molecule (CD154−/ −, H-2b), α β-TCR+ T cells (TCRβ −/ −, H-2b); or wild type B6 (H-2b) mice received allogeneic BALB/c (H-2d) skin grafts (SG) on day 0. Some B6 mice were also treated with anti-CD154 (day0 and day+3) and/or anti-α β-TCR mAb (day-3) peritransplant. Antibodies were detected by flow cytometry cross-match (FCM) assay and reported as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). Results: CD154−/ − mice rejected primary BALB/c SG with a time course similar to normal B6 controls (12.4 ± 2.1 vs. 12.7 ± 2.4 days). TCRβ −/ − mice accepted SG permanently (>120 days). Notably, anti-donor antibody was not generated in either the CD154−/ − or TCRβ −/ − mice (MFI: 4.1 ± 0.1 and 4.2 ± 0.4) after SG compared with Ab in naïve serum (3.0±0.2). Sensitized B6 mice had significantly higher antibody titers (106.8 ± 35.1) 4 weeks after SG rejection. A second SG transplanted 5 to 7 weeks after the first graft was rejected at an accelerated rate (9.0 ± 0.8 days, P < 0.05) in the CD154−/ − mice, but no anti-donor MHC antibody was produced. Second grafts placed on TCRβ −/ − mice were accepted, as were the primary SG. In normal B6 recipients pretreated with anti-CD154 or anti-α β-TCR alone, SG survival was not significantly prolonged. The Ab titers were only slightly higher in mice treated with anti-CD154 (5.9±3.4; P>0.05) than in naïve mice, and significantly higher in mice treated with mAb anti-α β-TCR (45.1±25.6; P=0.03). The combined treatment with both mAbs resulted in complete abrogation of Ab production (4.2±0.9) and 70% of skin grafts survived >100 days. Germinal center formation, reflective of B cell activation, was completely disrupted in mice treated with anti-CD154 alone or combined with anti-α β-TCR. Conclusion: These results suggest that the CD40/CD154 co-stimulatory pathway is critically important in B cell activation to generate alloantibody. Notably, blocking molecular interactions between CD40/CD154 abrogated the generation of antibody and blocked germinal center formation, inducing B cell tolerance. The additional removal of recipient T cells in the context of co-stimulatory blockade resulted in the induction of T as well as B cell tolerance. These findings are the first demonstration that sensitization can be prevented through blockade of co-stimulatory interactions in the generation of adaptive immune responses and could have a significant impact on management of sensitized recipients in the clinic.

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