Txk, a Nonreceptor Tyrosine Kinase of the Tec Family, Is Expressed in T Helper Type 1 Cells and Regulates Interferon γ Production in Human T Lymphocytes

Differentiation of human T cells into T helper (Th)1 and Th2 cells is vital for the development of cell-mediated and humoral immunity, respectively. However, the precise mechanism responsible for the Th1 cell differentiation is not fully clarified. We have studied the expression and function of Txk, a member of the Tec family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. We found that Txk expression is restricted to Th1/Th0 cells with IFN-γ producing potential. Txk transfection of Jurkat T cells resulted in a several-fold increase of IFN-γ mRNA expression and protein production; interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 production were unaffected. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of Txk specifically inhibited IFN-γ production of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, antigen-specific Th1 clones, and Th0 clones; IL-2 and IL-4 production by the T cells was unaffected. Txk cotransfection led to the enhanced luciferase activity of plasmid (p)IFN-γ promoter/enhancer (pIFN-γ[-538])-luciferase–transfected Jurkat cells upon mitogen activation. Txk transfection did not affect IL-2 and IL-4 promoter activities. Thus, Txk specifically upregulates IFN-γ gene transcription. In fact, Txk translocated from cytoplasm into nuclei upon activation and transfection with a mutant Txk expression plasmid that lacked a nuclear localization signal sequence did not enhance IFN-γ production by the cells, indicating that nuclear localization of Txk is obligatory for the enhanced IFN-γ production. In addition, IL-12 treatment of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells enhanced the Txk expression, whereas IL-4 treatment completely inhibited it. These results indicate that Txk expression is intimately associated with development of Th1/Th0 cells and is significantly involved in the IFN-γ production by the cells through Th1 cell–specific positive transcriptional regulation of the IFN-γ gene.

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Interleukin-12 Is the Optimum Cytokine To Expand Human Th17 Cells In Vitro

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology ◽

10.1128/cvi.00022-09 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 798-805 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Soad Nady ◽

James Ignatz-Hoover ◽

Mohamed T. Shata

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Th17 Cells ◽

Interleukin 12 ◽

Interleukin 17 ◽

Functional Evaluation ◽

Optimum Conditions ◽

T Helper ◽

Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT Recently, a new lineage of CD4+ T cells in humans and in mice has been reported. This T helper cell secretes interleukin-17 (IL-17) and has been defined as T helper 17 (Th17). Th17 cells express the IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) and play an important pathogenic role in different inflammatory conditions. In this study, our aim was to characterize the optimum conditions for isolation and propagation of human peripheral blood Th17 cells in vitro and the optimum conditions for isolation of Th17 clones. To isolate Th17 cells, two steps were taken. Initially, we negatively isolated CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a normal human blood donor. Then, we isolated the IL-23R+ cells from the CD4+ T cells. Functional studies revealed that CD4+ IL-23R+ cells could be stimulated ex vivo with anti-CD3/CD28 to secrete both IL-17 and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Furthermore, we expanded the CD4+ IL-23R+ cells for 1 week in the presence of anti-CD3/CD28, irradiated autologous feeder cells, and different cytokines. Our data indicate that cytokine treatment increased the number of propagated cells 14- to 99-fold. Functional evaluation of the expanded number of CD4+ IL-23R+ cells in the presence of different cytokines with anti-CD3/CD28 revealed that all cytokines used (IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-23) increased the amount of IFN-γ secreted by IL-23R+ CD4+ cells at different levels. Our results indicate that IL-7 plus IL-12 was the optimum combination of cytokines for the expansion of IL-23R+ CD4+ cells and the secretion of IFN-γ, while IL-12 preferentially stimulated these cells to secrete predominately IL-17.

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Differentiation and stability of T helper 1 and 2 cells derived from naive human neonatal CD4+ T cells, analyzed at the single-cell level.

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.184.2.473 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 184 (2) ◽

pp. 473-483 ◽

Cited By ~ 186

Author(s):

T Sornasse ◽

P V Larenas ◽

K A Davis ◽

J E de Vries ◽

H Yssel

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Cell Differentiation ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

Cell Phenotype ◽

T Helper ◽

Th1 Cell ◽

Th2 Cell ◽

Th1 And Th2

The development of CD4+ T helper (Th) type 1 and 2 cells is essential for the eradication of pathogens, but can also be responsible for various pathological disorders. Therefore, modulation of Th cell differentiation may have clinical utility in the treatment of human disease. Here, we show that interleukin (IL) 12 and IL-4 directly induce human neonatal CD4- T cells, activated via CD3 and CD28, to differentiate into Th1 and Th2 subsets. In contrast, IL-13, which shares many biological activities with IL-4, failed to induce T cell differentiation, consistent with the observation that human T cells do not express IL-13 receptors. Both the IL-12-induced Th1 subset and the IL-4-induced Th2 subset produce large quantities of IL-10, confirming that human IL-10 is not a typical human Th2 cytokine. Interestingly, IL-4-driven Th2 cell differentiation was completely prevented by an IL-4 mutant protein (IL-4.Y124D), indicating that this molecule acts as a strong IL-4 receptor antagonist. Analysis of single T cells producing interferon gamma or IL-4 revealed that induction of Th1 cell differentiation occurred rapidly and required only 4 d of priming of the neonatal CD4+ T cells in the presence of IL-12. The IL-12-induced Th1 cell phenotype was stable and was not significantly affected when repeatedly stimulated in the presence of recombinant IL-4. In contrast, the differentiation of Th2 cells occurred slowly and required not only 6 d of priming, but also additional restimulation of the primed CD4+ T cells in the presence of IL-4. Moreover, IL-4-induced Th2 cell phenotypes were not stable and could rapidly be reverted into a population predominantly containing Th0 and Th1 cells, after a single restimulation in the presence of IL-12. The observed differences in stability of IL-12- and IL-4-induced human Th1 and Th2 subsets, respectively, may have implications for cytokine-based therapies of chronic disease.

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A Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Stat)4-independent Pathway for the Development of T Helper Type 1 Cells

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.188.6.1191 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 188 (6) ◽

pp. 1191-1196 ◽

Cited By ~ 127

Author(s):

Mark H. Kaplan ◽

Andrea L. Wurster ◽

Michael J. Grusby

Keyword(s):

Delayed Type Hypersensitivity ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

Signal Transducer ◽

T Helper ◽

Th1 Cell ◽

Th Cells ◽

Th Cell ◽

Ifn Γ

The differentiation of T helper (Th) cells is regulated by members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of signaling molecules. We have generated mice lacking both Stat4 and Stat6 to examine the ability of Th cells to develop in the absence of these two transcription factors. Stat4, Stat6−/− lymphocytes fail to differentiate into interleukin (IL)-4–secreting Th2 cells. However, in contrast to Stat4−/− lymphocytes, T cells from Stat4, Stat6−/− mice produce significant amounts of interferon (IFN)-γ when activated in vitro. Although Stat4, Stat6−/− lymphocytes produce less IFN-γ than IL-12–stimulated control lymphocytes, equivalent numbers of IFN-γ–secreting cells can be generated from cultures of Stat4, Stat6−/− lymphocytes activated under neutral conditions and control lymphocytes activated under Th1 cell–promoting conditions. Moreover, Stat4, Stat6−/− mice are able to mount an in vivo Th1 cell–mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity response. These results support a model of Th cell differentiation in which the generation of Th2 cells requires Stat6, whereas a Stat4-independent pathway exists for the development of Th1 cells.

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GATA-3 Requires C-Myb to Auto-Regulate Its Own Expression in Normal Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Undergoing T Helper Type 2 (Th2) Cell Development

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v112.11.2575.2575 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 2575-2575

Author(s):

Yuji Nakata ◽

Shenghao Jin ◽

Yuan Shen ◽

Alan M. Gewirtz

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Human Peripheral Blood ◽

Cell Formation ◽

Cell Development ◽

Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes ◽

T Helper ◽

Th1 Cell ◽

Th2 Cell

Abstract The c-myb protooncogene encodes a transcription factor, c-Myb, which is highly expressed in immature hematopoietic cells. c-Myb is required for many critical aspects of blood cell development including lineage fate selection, proliferation, and at multiple time points during early myeloid, and B and T lymphoid cell development. GATA-3, which belongs to a family of zinc finger transcription factors, is also required at several steps in early T cell development, and specifically in regard to this communication, for the development of T helper type 2 (Th2) cells. A recent study by Maurice et al (EMBO2007, 26:3629–3640) reported that c-myb regulates T helper cell lineage commitment in developing mouse thymocytes via regulation of GATA-3 expression. As we were unaware of any studies that have addressed the role of c-Myb and GATA-3 in normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), we explored the potential regulatory relationship between these transcription factors in cells of this type. Proceeding from the murine studies, we performed a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) which showed that c-Myb bound the GATA-3 downstream promoter in naïve CD4+ T cells under conditions designed to promote Th2 growth. Such binding was not observed in cells stimulated under Th1 promoting conditions. The interaction of c-Myb and GATA-3 proteins was also detected in cell lysates under Th2 cell promoting conditions by immunoprecipitation with both anti-c-Myb, and anti-GATA-3 polyclonal antibodies. Of note, immunoprecipitation with these same antibodies did not show binding of either protein to STAT6. Additional studies revealed that c-Myb activated a GATA-3 minimal promoter by direct binding to a conserved c-Myb binding site in peripheral blood T cells. Of even greater interest, in 293T cells, GATA-3 activated its own promoter ~6 fold when c-Myb was co-expressed in 293T cells. In the absence of c-Myb, GATA-3 did not significantly activate its own promoter in these cells. We have recently shown that c-Myb binds to MLL via menin. A ChIP assay also showed that MLL and Menin bound to the GATA-3 promoter suggesting that c-Myb and GATA-3 form a co-activator complex on the GATA-3 promoter with MLL. Finally, to explore the role of c-myb expression in human peripheral blood naive CD4+ T cells, we employed c-Myb targeted, and control, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expressed from a lentivirus vector. This strategy yielded a sequence specific 80–90% knockdown of c-Myb expression in our hands. Stimulation of naive peripheral blood CD4+ T cells expressing the c-Myb directed shRNA with cytokines promoting Th2 cell formation (IL-4, IL-2, and anti-IL-12 antibody) blocked the up-regulation of GATA-3 mRNA expression ~90% compared to cells in which a control shRNA had been expressed. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that intracellular IL-4 expression also was diminished. In contrast, silencing c-myb had no effect on T-bet mRNA expression, or intracellular interferon-expression in the cells induced to undergo Th1 cell formation with IL-12, IL-2 and anti-IL-4 antibody. We conclude from these studies that c-Myb regulates developmental programs specific for Th2, as opposed to Th1, cell development. We hypothesize that such control is exerted in peripheral blood T lymphocytes, at least in part, through direct control of GATA-3, whose expression is auto-regulated with the assistance of c-Myb, and perhaps MLL, acting as transcriptional co-factors.

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Interleukin-2 Family Members and their Role in Demyelinating Disease

Annals of Immunology & Immunotherapy ◽

10.23880/aii-16000125 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

: Mahendra K Bhopale

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Demyelinating Disease ◽

Cytotoxic T Cells ◽

Interleukin 2 ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

T Helper ◽

Th1 Cell ◽

Memory Cd8 T Cells ◽

Regulatory Effects ◽

Negative Regulatory Role

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has a family which includes IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21 cytokines. This family group of an IL-2 cytokine plays important, but different roles in neurologically related demyelinating disease studied in multiple sclerosis (MS) and it’s experimentally induced rodent models. IL-2 play role in strong T-cell expansion and participates in the maintenance of T-regs cells, but also keep in the stimulation and proliferation of pathogenic T cells. IL-4 induces differentiation of naïve helper T cells (Th0) to Th2 cells. IL-7 promotes Th1 cell differentiation. IL-9 is a hematopoietic growth factor for major pathogenic Th17 cells in EAE. IL-15 is necessary for memory CD8+ T cells and plays a negative regulatory role through CD8+ CD122+ T cells in reducing Th17-mediated inflammation. IL-21 has potent regulatory effects on the natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells. IL-21 activates CD4+ and up-regulates the Th2 and Th17 subsets of T helper cells. Based on different roles of each family member in demyelinating disease, bio-agents and therapeutic agents have been attempted in an experimental model to study their role in demyelinating disease is described in the present review.

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Hydrophilic Astragalin Galactoside Induces T Helper Type 1-Mediated Immune Responses via Dendritic Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms19103120 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 3120

Author(s):

Jae Jeon ◽

Byung-Cheol Lee ◽

Doman Kim ◽

Daeho Cho ◽

Tae Kim

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Th1 Cells ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

T Helper ◽

Th1 Cell ◽

Ifn Γ

A flavonoid Astragalin (kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, Ast) has several biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-HIV, and anti-allergic effects. Nonetheless, its insolubility in hydrophilic solvents imposes restrictions on its therapeutic applications. In this study, we investigated the effects of water-soluble astragalin-galactoside (kaempferol-3-O-β-d-isomaltotrioside, Ast-Gal) on murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation and T helper (Th) cell-mediated immune responses. Ast-Gal significantly increased maturation and activation of DCs through the upregulation of surface markers, such as cluster of differentiation (CD)80, CD86, and Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II in a dose-dependent manner, while Ast had little effects. Additionally, Ast-Gal-treated DCs markedly secreted immune-stimulating cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-12. Importantly, Ast-Gal strongly increased expression of IL-12, a polarizing cytokine of Th1 cells. In a co-culture system of DCs and CD4+ T cells, Ast-Gal-treated DCs preferentially differentiates naïve CD4+ T cells into Th1 cells. The addition of neutralizing IL-12 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to cultures of Ast-Gal-treated DCs and CD4+ T cells significantly decreased interferon (IFN)-γ production, thereby indicating that Ast-Gal-stimulated DCs enhance the Th1 response through IL-12 production by DCs. Injection with Ast-Gal-treated DCs in mice increased IFN-γ-secreting Th1 cell population. Collectively, these findings indicate that hydrophilically modified astragalin can enhance Th1-mediated immune responses via DCs and point to a possible application of water-soluble astragalin-galactoside as an immune adjuvant.

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Regulation of Interleukin (Il)-18 Receptor α Chain Expression on Cd4+ T Cells during T Helper (Th)1/Th2 Differentiation

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.194.2.143 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 194 (2) ◽

pp. 143-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

Ronald B. Smeltz ◽

June Chen ◽

Jane Hu-Li ◽

Ethan M. Shevach

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

T Helper ◽

Activated T Cells ◽

T Cell Stimulation ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Α Chain ◽

Th 1

Interleukin (IL)-18 has been well characterized as a costimulatory factor for the induction of IL-12–mediated interferon (IFN)-γ production by T helper (Th)1 cells, but also can induce IL-4 production and thus facilitate the differentiation of Th2 cells. To determine the mechanisms by which IL-18 might regulate these diametrically distinct immune responses, we have analyzed the role of cytokines in the regulation of IL-18 receptor α chain (IL-18Rα) expression. The majority of peripheral CD4+ T cells constitutively expressed the IL-18Rα. Upon antigen stimulation in the presence of IL-12, marked enhancement of IL-18Rα expression was observed. IL-12–mediated upregulation of IL-18Rα required IFN-γ. Activated CD4+ T cells that expressed low levels of IL-18Rα could produce IFN-γ when stimulated with the combination of IL-12 and IL-18, while CD4+ cells which expressed high levels of IL-18Rα could respond to IL-18 alone. In contrast, T cell stimulation in the presence of IL-4 resulted in a downregulation of IL-18Rα expression. Both IL-4−/− and signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)6−/− T cells expressed higher levels of IL-18Rα after TCR stimulation. Furthermore, activated T cells from Stat6−/− mice produced more IFN-γ in response to IL-18 than wild-type controls. Thus, positive/negative regulation of the IL-18Rα by the major inductive cytokines (IL-12 and IL-4) determines the capacity of IL-18 to polarize an immune response.

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CTLA-4 Engagement Inhibits Th2 but not Th1 Cell Polarisation

Clinical and Developmental Immunology ◽

10.1080/10446670310001598519 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 13-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Vanessa Ubaldi ◽

Lucia Gatta ◽

Luigia Pace ◽

Gino Doria ◽

Claudio Pioli

Keyword(s):

Transcriptional Activation ◽

Cell Subset ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

T Helper ◽

Th1 Cell ◽

Th Cell ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Culture Supernatants ◽

Th1 And Th2

CTLA-4 deficient mice show severe lymphoproliferative disorders with T helper sub-population skewed toward the Th2 phenotype. In the present work, we investigated the role of CTLA-4 in T helper cell subset differentiation. Naïve CD4+cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs in the presence of either IL-12 or IL-4 to induce polarisation to Th1 or Th2 cells, respectively. Under these two polarising conditions cells express comparable levels of CTLA-4. CTLA-4 was stimulated by plastic-bound mAb. The frequency of IFN-γ- and IL-4-producing cells were estimated by FACS analysis. In parallel cultures, polarised Th1 and Th2 cells were re-stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs for 48 h and their culture supernatants analysed by ELISA. Results show that CTLA-4 engagement during differentiation inhibits polarisation of naïve CD4+cells to the Th2 but not the Th1 cell subset. At variance, once cells are polarised, CTLA-4 engagement inhibits cytokine production in both effector Th2 and Th1 cells. Altogether these data indicate that CTLA-4 may interfere not only in the signalling involved in acute transcriptional activation of both Th1 and Th2 cells but also in the development of one of the Th cell subsets.

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T Helper Type 2 Cell Differentiation Occurs in the Presence of Interleukin 12 Receptor β2 Chain Expression and Signaling

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.191.5.847 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 191 (5) ◽

pp. 847-858 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Ryuta Nishikomori ◽

Rolf O. Ehrhardt ◽

Warren Strober

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

Interleukin 12 ◽

Th1 Cells ◽

T Helper ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Helper Type

The differentiation of CD4+ T cells into T helper type 1 (Th1) cells is driven by interleukin (IL)-12 through the IL-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2) chain, whereas differentiation into Th2 cells is driven by IL-4, which downregulates IL-12Rβ2 chain. We reexamined such differentiation using IL-12Rβ2 chain transgenic mice. We found that CD4+ T cells from such mice were able to differentiate into Th2 cells when primed with IL-4 or IL-4 plus IL-12. In the latter case, the presence of IL-4 suppressed interferon (IFN)-γ production 10–100-fold compared with cells cultured in IL-12 alone. Finally, in studies of the ability of IL-12 to convert Th2 cells bearing a competent IL-12R to the Th1 cells, we showed that: (a) T cells bearing the IL-12Rβ2 chain transgene and primed under Th2 conditions could not be converted to Th1 cells by repeated restimulation under Th1 conditions; and (b) established Th2 clones transfected with the IL-12Rβ2 chain construct continued to produce IL-4 when cultured with IL-12. These studies show that IL-4–driven Th2 differentiation can occur in the presence of persistent IL-12 signaling and that IL-4 inhibits IFN-γ production under these circumstances. They also show that established Th2 cells cannot be converted to Th1 cells via IL-12 signaling.

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Interferon γ Signaling Alters the Function of T Helper Type 1 Cells

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.192.7.977 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 192 (7) ◽

pp. 977-986 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Gregory Z. Tau ◽

Thierry von der Weid ◽

Binfeng Lu ◽

Simone Cowan ◽

Marina Kvatyuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Interferon Γ ◽

Delayed Type Hypersensitivity ◽

Th2 Cells ◽

Th1 Cells ◽

T Helper ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

And Function

One mechanism regulating the ability of different subsets of T helper (Th) cells to respond to cytokines is the differential expression of cytokine receptors. For example, Th2 cells express both chains of the interferon γ receptor (IFN-γR), whereas Th1 cells do not express the second chain of the IFN-γR (IFN-γR2) and are therefore unresponsive to IFN-γ. To determine whether the regulation of IFN-γR2 expression, and therefore IFN-γ responsiveness, is important for the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th1 cells or for Th1 effector function, we generated mice in which transgenic (TG) expression of IFN-γR2 is controlled by the CD2 promoter and enhancer. CD4+ T cells from IFN-γR2 TG mice exhibit impaired Th1 polarization potential in vitro. TG mice also display several defects in Th1-dependent immunity in vivo, including attenuated delayed-type hypersensitivity responses and decreased antigen-specific IFN-γ production. In addition, TG mice mount impaired Th1 responses against Leishmania major, as manifested by increased parasitemia and more severe lesions than their wild-type littermates. Together, these data suggest that the sustained expression of IFN-γR2 inhibits Th1 differentiation and function. Therefore, the acquisition of an IFN-γ–unresponsive phenotype in Th1 cells plays a crucial role in the development and function of these cells.

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