Cell Immunity (cell + immunity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Broad T cell immunity to the LcrV virulence protein is induced by targeted delivery to DEC-205/CD205-positive mouse dendritic cells

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Yoonkyung Do
Abstract There is a need for a more efficient vaccine against the bacterium Yersinia pestis, the agent of pneumonic plague. The F1-LcrV (F1-V) subunit vaccine in alhydrogel is known to induce humoral immunity. In this study, we utilized DC to investigate cellular immunity. We genetically engineered the LcrV virulence protein into the anti-DEC-205/CD205 mAb and thereby targeted the conjugated protein directly to mouse DEC-205+ DC in situ. We observed antigen-specific CD4+ T cell immunity measured by intracellular staining for IFN-, in three different mouse strains (C57BL/6, BALB/c, and C3H/HeJ), while we could not observe such T cell responses with F1-V vaccine in alhydrogel. Using a peptide library for LcrV protein, we identified two or more distinct CD4+ T cell mimetopes in each MHC haplotype, consistent with the induction of broad immunity. When compared to nontargeted standard protein vaccine, DC targeting greatly increased the efficiency for inducing IFN-,-producing T cells. The targeted LcrV protein induced antibody responses to a similar extent as the F1-V subunit vaccine, but Th1-dependent IgG2a and IgG2c isotypes were observed only after anti-DEC-205:LcrV mAb immunization. This study sets the stage for the analysis of functional roles of IFN-,-producing T cells in Y.,pestis infection. [source]


Antigen co-encapsulated with adjuvants efficiently drive protective T cell immunity

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Antje Heit
Abstract Compared to "live" vaccines, the immunogenicity of "subunit" vaccines based on recombinant antigen (Ag) is poor, presumably because exogenous Ag fails to effectively access the endosomal Ag-processing pathways of Ag-presenting cells (APC). To overcome this limitation, we exploited biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic) microspheres (MP) co-entrapping Ag and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 or 7 ligands as an endosomal delivery device. In vitro, microspheres were rapidly phagocytosed by APC and translocated into phago-endosomal compartments, followed by degradation of the Ag and concurrent activation of endosomal TLR. As a consequence, full maturation of and cytokine secretion by APC as well as Ag-cross-presentation ensued. In vivo, "loaded" microspheres triggered clonal expansion of primary and secondary Ag-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells. The efficacy of CD8 T cell cross-priming was comparable to that of live vectors. The potency of T cell vaccination was demonstrated by protective and therapeutic interventions using infection- and tumor-model systems. These preclinical "subunit" vaccination data thus recommend MP as a generally applicable and powerful endosomal delivery device of exogenous Ag plus TLR-based adjuvants to vaccinate for protective and therapeutic CD4 and CD8 T cell immunity. [source]


Bioluminescence imaging allows measuring CD8 T cell function in the liver,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Dirk Stabenow
In vivo evaluation of CD8 T cell effector (cytotoxic T lymphocyte [CTL]) function in peripheral organs such as the liver is currently not possible but would greatly improve our understanding of local immune regulation, because simple determination of antigen-specific CTL numbers does not predict the outcome of immune responses. In particular, measurement of alanine aminotransferase serum levels is not sensitive enough to detect T cell immunity against low numbers of target hepatocytes. We developed a procedure that detects virus-specific effector function of CTLs in the liver after simultaneous adenoviral transfer of reporter and immune target genes into hepatocytes, followed by bioluminescence imaging of reporter genes. Bioluminescence imaging enabled detection of as few as 10,000 infected hepatocytes in vivo, and even more importantly, quantification of antiviral effector function of as few as 50,000 CTLs. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that low numbers of antigen-specific CTLs are sufficient to control viral gene expression and eliminate viral infection from hepatocytes. The experimental system established here is a highly sensitive method to simultaneously detect viral infection of hepatocytes and to quantify antiviral CTL function in the liver in vivo and will help in characterizing principles of hepatic immune regulation. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;51:1430,1437) [source]


The Rubino test for leprosy is a ,2 -glycoprotein 1-dependent antiphospholipid reaction

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2000
A. Panunto-Castelo
Summary We describe the isolation and identification of three components required for the Rubino reaction (RR), which is the rapid sedimentation of formalinized sheep red-blood cells (SRBC) initiated by serum from leprosy patients with defective Mycobacterium leprae -specific cell immunity. The Rubino reaction factor (RRF) required for this phenomenon, previously identified as an immunoglobulin M (IgM), was purified from leprosy patient serum by adsorption to formalinized SRBC. Purified RRF IgM, when added to formalinized SRBC, did not produce a positive RR. However, when the contact was carried out in the presence of normal human serum (NHS), cells rapidly sedimented. The purified cofactor from NHS contained two components of 70 000 and 50 000 molecular weight (MW), as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate,polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS,PAGE). The latter was recognized by the RRF IgM on immunoblot and its N-terminal sequence indicated that it was ,2 -glycoprotein 1 (,2 -GP1), an anionic phospholipid-binding protein. Methanol-treated formalinized SRBC did not support the RR. Thin-layer chromatography of an extract of membranes indicated that the SRBC ligand was a cell-surface phospholipid. Cardiolipin inhibited the RR. These data demonstrate that the RR involves a trimolecular interaction in which IgM, ,2 -GP1 and an SRBC phospholipid participate. By analogy with the antiphospholipid antibodies (anti-PL) that occur in autoimmune processes, serum samples from 29 systemic lupus erythematosus patients with high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies were submitted to the RR. A positive RR was obtained for 45% (13 of 29 patients). These results modify the paradigm of the absolute specificity of the RR for leprosy and demonstrate that RRF IgM is a ,2 -GP1-dependent anti-PL. [source]


Apoptosis of circulating lymphocyte in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction: Role of angiotensin II

NEPHROLOGY, Issue 5 2005
SOMCHIT EIAM-ONG
SUMMARY: Background: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) could induce increased renal angiotensin II (ANG II), which enhances apoptosis of renal tubular cells and renal tissue loss. Systemic ANG II is also increased in UUO. There are no data available about whether UUO can induce apoptosis of circulating lymphocytes or not. Methods: UUO or sham-operated male Wistar rats (n = 8 in each group) were fed a drinking solution containing water, angiotensin II receptor type 1 antagonist (ARA; losartan, 500 mg/L) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI; enalapril: 200 mg/L) for 1 day or 7 days. Blood samples were collected and circulating lymphocyte cells were separated. The apoptotic cells were detected by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT assay)-mediated digoxigenin/antidigoxigenin conjugated fluorescein method and counted under a fluorescence microscope. The apoptotic index was calculated. Results: UUO caused marked increases in the apoptotic index of circulating lymphocytes in UUO rats at both 1 day and 7 days when compared with the respective sham groups (P < 0.001). Neither ARA nor ACEI treatment had an effect on the apoptotic index values in the UUO rats at 1 day. In the UUO rats at 7 days, the apoptosis of circulating lymphocytes was markedly decreased from 29.2 ± 2.7% to 11.9 ± 2.7% (P < 0.01) in the ARA-treated rats and to 7.6 ± 2.7% (P < 0.001) in the ACEI-treated rats. Conclusion: UUO, via stimulation of ANG II, could promptly enhance apoptosis of circulating lymphocytes. The apoptosis persisted throughout the 7 days of the study. Prolonged UUO would impair lymphocyte cell immunity and the host defense mechanism. Continuous treatment with either ARA or ACEI could abrogate ANG II-stimulated circulating lymphocyte apoptosis. [source]


In Vivo Function of Immune Inhibitory Molecule B7-H4 in Alloimmune Responses

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10 2010
K. Yamaura
B7 ligands deliver both costimulatory and coinhibitory signals to the CD28 family of receptors on T lymphocytes, the balance between which determines the ultimate immune response. Although B7-H4, a recently discovered member of the B7 family, is known to negatively regulate T cell immunity in autoimmunity and cancer, its role in solid organ allograft rejection and tolerance has not been established. Targeting the B7-H4 molecule by a blocking antibody or use of B7-H4,/, mice as recipients of fully MHC-mismatched cardiac allografts did not affect graft survival. However, B7-H4 blockade resulted in accelerated allograft rejection in CD28-deficient recipients. B7-1/B7-2-double-deficient recipients are truly independent of CD28/CTLA-4:B7 signals and usually accept MHC-mismatched heart allografts. Blockade of B7-H4 in these mice also precipitated rejection, demonstrating regulatory function of this molecule independent of an intact CD28/CTLA-4:B7 costimulatory pathway. Accelerated allograft rejection was always accompanied by increased frequencies of alloreactive IFN-,-, IL-4- and Granzyme B-producing splenocytes. Finally, intact recipient, but not donor, B7-H4 is essential for prolongation of allograft survival by blocking CD28/CTLA4:B7 pathway using CTLA4-Ig. These data are the first to provide evidence of the regulatory effects of B7-H4 in alloimmune responses in a murine model of solid organ transplantation. [source]


Measuring T cell immunity to influenza vaccination in children after haemopoietic stem cell transplantation

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
W. Nicholas Haining
Summary Quantitative assessment of immunogen-specific T cell responses may provide a meaningful surrogate marker of functional immunity in patients following haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We developed a flow-cytometric assay to quantify antigen-specific T cell immunity to influenza-A and studied the T cell response to influenza vaccination in five children, 3,21 months post-HSCT. All patients showed an increase in influenza-A-specific CD4+ immunity following vaccination while none had a detectable IgG response to the vaccine. This assay proved sufficiently sensitive to evaluate changes in T cell memory in immunocompromised individuals and could be used to better characterize post-HSCT immune reconstitution. [source]