scholarly journals Activation of B cells using Schneider 2 cells expressing CD40 ligand for the enhancement of antigen presentation in vitro

2005 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 567-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Hee Yoon ◽  
Hyun Il Cho ◽  
Tai Gyu Kim
PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-280
Author(s):  
Arden Levy ◽  
Andrew Liu

Purpose of the Studies. Hyper-IgM immunodeficiency is characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, normal or elevated IgM, and markedly decreased IgG, IgA, and IgE. Previous research suggested that the T cells of these patients are defective in their ability to help B cells make functional antibody. CD40 ligand (CD4OL) is a membrane glycoprotein on activated T helper cells and binds the CD40 molecule expressed on B cells, and induces proliferation and immunoglobulin class switching (in conjunction with IL-4). The gene for the CD4OL has been mapped to position q26.3-q27.1 on chromosome X (same as the Hyper-IgM gene and the area of isotype switching). Several research groups sought to determine if the immunodeficiency in Hyper-IgM patients is due to defective CD4OL. Findings. The five papers listed above document the work of different research groups that simultaneously found abnormalities in the CD4OL gene in a total of 16 patients with X-linked Hyper-IgM syndrome. Different mutations of the CD4OL gene have been discovered, including point mutations, deletions, and nonsense sequences. Mutant version of CD4OL taken from Hyper IgM patients were unable to "help" B cells in vitro. Thus, deficient CD40/CD40L interactions between B and T cells results in severely impaired immunity. Restricted CD40L gene expression to T cells may ultimately allow gene therapy as treatment. Reviewers' Comments. A concise editorial by Jean Marx entitled "Cell Communication Failure Leads to Immune Disorder" describes this landmark research and accompanies the Spriggs article in the February 12th issue of Science (pp. 896-897). This discovery may not only lead to treatment of this disorder, but also modification of other less favorable immune responses.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-280
Author(s):  
Arden Levy ◽  
Andrew Liu

Purpose of the Studies. Hyper-IgM immunodeficiency is characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, normal or elevated IgM, and markedly decreased IgG, IgA, and IgE. Previous research suggested that the T cells of these patients are defective in their ability to help B cells make functional antibody. CD40 ligand (CD4OL) is a membrane glycoprotein on activated T helper cells and binds the CD40 molecule expressed on B cells, and induces proliferation and immunoglobulin class switching (in conjunction with IL-4). The gene for the CD4OL has been mapped to position q26.3-q27.1 on chromosome X (same as the Hyper-IgM gene and the area of isotype switching). Several research groups sought to determine if the immunodeficiency in Hyper-IgM patients is due to defective CD4OL. Findings. The five papers listed above document the work of different research groups that simultaneously found abnormalities in the CD4OL gene in a total of 16 patients with X-linked Hyper-IgM syndrome. Different mutations of the CD4OL gene have been discovered, including point mutations, deletions, and nonsense sequences. Mutant version of CD4OL taken from Hyper IgM patients were unable to "help" B cells in vitro. Thus, deficient CD40/CD40L interactions between B and T cells results in severely impaired immunity. Restricted CD40L gene expression to T cells may ultimately allow gene therapy as treatment. Reviewers' Comments. A concise editorial by Jean Marx entitled "Cell Communication Failure Leads to Immune Disorder" describes this landmark research and accompanies the Spriggs article in the February 12th issue of Science (pp. 896-897). This discovery may not only lead to treatment of this disorder, but also modification of other less favorable immune responses.


Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 4415-4424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Lømo ◽  
Heidi Kiil Blomhoff ◽  
Sten Eirik Jacobsen ◽  
Stanislaw Krajewski ◽  
John C. Reed ◽  
...  

Abstract Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a novel T-cell–derived cytokine with IL-4–like effects on many cell types. In human B lymphocytes, IL-13 induces activation, stimulates proliferation in combination with anti-IgM or anti-CD40 antibodies, and directs Ig isotype switching towards IgE and IgG4 isotypes. We show here that IL-13 also regulates human B-cell apoptosis. IL-13 reduced spontaneous apoptosis of peripheral blood B cells in vitro, as shown by measurement of DNA fragmentation using the TUNEL and Nicoletti assays. The inhibition of cell death by IL-13 alone was significant but modest, but was potently enhanced in combination with CD40 ligand (CD40L), a survival stimulus for B cells by itself. Interestingly, IL-13 increased the expression of CD40 on peripheral blood B cells, providing a possible mechanism for the observed synergy. IL-13 alone was a less potent inhibitor of apoptosis than IL-4. Moreover, there was no additive effect of combining IL-4 and IL-13 at supraoptimal concentrations, which is consistent with the notion that the IL-4 and IL-13 binding sites share a common signaling subunit. The combination of IL-13 with CD40L augmented the expression of the Bcl-2 homologues Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, suggesting this as a possible intracellular mechanism of induced survival. By contrast, levels of Bcl-2, and two other Bcl-2 family members, Bax and Bak, remained unaltered. Given the importance of the CD40-CD40L interaction in B-cell responses, these results suggest a significant role of IL-13 in the regulation of B-cell apoptosis.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (3) ◽  
pp. C950-C956 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Fang ◽  
K. A. Nath ◽  
M. F. Mackey ◽  
R. J. Noelle ◽  
D. L. Mueller ◽  
...  

Signaling through the CD40 receptor on human and murine B lymphocytes is necessary for germinal center formation and immunoglobulin class switching in vivo and rescues B cells from apoptosis triggered by cross-linking of surface immunoglobulin M in vitro. Ligation of CD40 on the immature mouse B cell line WEHI-231 with recombinant CD40 ligand (CD40L) was found to protect cells from apoptosis after gamma irradiation, as well as that following treatment with the sphingomyelin ceramide or compounds that deplete intracellular glutathione. CD40 signaling led to a rapid increase in the expression of the apoptosis inhibitory protein Bcl-xL. In addition, the apoptosis-induced accumulation of intracellular oxidants in WEHI-231 B cells was rapidly diminished by CD40 crosslinking. This antioxidant response was observed within 1 h and coincided with a preservation of intracellular thiols. These findings indicate that CD40 signaling induces a generalized cellular resistance to apoptosis characterized by an upregulation of Bcl-xL and changes in the intracellular redox potential.


Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 87 (12) ◽  
pp. 5257-5268 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Allman ◽  
A Jain ◽  
A Dent ◽  
RR Maile ◽  
T Selvaggi ◽  
...  

Translocations involving the BCL-6 gene are common in the diffuse large cell subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Invariably, the BCL-6 coding region is intact, but its 5′ untranslated region is replaced with sequences from the translocation partner. The present study shows that BCL-6 expression is regulated in lymphocytes during mitogenic stimulation. Resting B and T lymphocytes contain high levels of BCL-6 mRNA. Stimulation of mouse B cells with anti-IgM or IgD antibodies, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus ionomycin, or CD40 ligand led to a five-fold to 35-fold decrease in BCL-6 mRNA levels. Similar downregulation of BCL-6 mRNA was seen in human B cells stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus plus interleukin-2 or anti-IgM antibodies and in human T lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin. BCL-6 mRNA levels began to decrease 8 to 16 hours after stimulation, before cells entered S phase. Although polyclonal activation of B cells in vitro invariably decreased BCL-6 MRNA expression, activated B cells from human germinal centers expressed BCL-6 mRNA at levels comparable to the levels in resting B cells. Despite these similar mRNA levels, BCL-6 protein expression was threefold to 34-fold higher in germinal center B cells than in resting B cells, suggesting that BCL-6 protein levels are controlled by translational or posttranslational mechanisms. These observations suggest that the germinal center reaction provides unique activation signals to B cells that allow for continued, high-level BCL-6 expression.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2668-2668
Author(s):  
Abdul Tawab ◽  
Yoshiyuki Takahashi ◽  
Childs Richard ◽  
Kurlander J. Roger

Abstract In vitro stimulation of human peripheral blood B cells with recombinant IL-4 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) markedly increases their expression of MHC and costimulatory molecules, thus enhancing antigenic peptide presentation to T cells. Because these cells proliferate extensively in vitro (unlike monocytes or dendritic cells), they represent a promising and convenient reagent for the generation and maintenance of antigen-specific T cells for use in a variety of experimental or therapeutic settings. However, the impact of this type of B cell APC on cytokine production by responder T cells has hitherto not been examined. To address this issue, we stimulated normal human T cells with either allogeneic B cells (generated in vitro) or with MNCs obtained from the same donor. After 7 days, T cells were washed and re-challenged with the same APCs. The resulting alloreactive cytokine response was measured using quantitative ELISPOT methods and expressed as the frequencies of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-5 producing cells per thousand responder cells added. B cell- and MNC-primed cell lines both produced vigorous lymphokine responses, but B cell-stimulated T cells consistently produced more IL-5 spots (mean of 265 vs. 98/1000 responders, p<0.002) and fewer IFN-γ spots (163 vs 386/1000 cells, p<0.005) than MNC-stimulated cells. Further, the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-5 spots was almost ten-fold lower in B cell-stimulated cultures compared to MNC-induced cultures (0.67 vs. 5.2, p<0.001). ELISPOT studies assessing the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4 spots and ELISA assays comparing IFN-γ and IL-5 levels from culture supernatants demonstrated the same pattern of marked type 2 skewing by B cells. This pattern was unaffected by the presence of anti-IL-4 antibody suggesting type 2 skewing was not mediated by IL-4. Cytokine skewing produced by B cells or MNC could be partially reversed by swapping MNC and B cells during re-stimulation on day 7, but this plasticity was markedly reduced after 3 (weekly) cycles of B cell or MNC re-stimulation in vitro. Type 2 skewing by B cells was enhanced when monocytes were removed from responder T cell populations by either depleting CD14+ positive cells or by positive selection of T cells prior to stimulation. In contrast, type 2 polarization could be prevented using recombinant IL-12. Not all cells of B-cell origin share the same propensity to type 2 skewing observed with IL-4/CD40L-stimulated B cells; under identical conditions, EBV-transformed B cells stimulated alloimmune T cells to produce a strong type 1 cytokine response comparable to that produced by MNCs. In summary, IL-4/CD40L-stimulated B cells strongly promote a type 2 T cell response during primary alloimmune challenge; this skewing can become fixed after repeated B cell stimulation. Investigators using these cells as APC should be aware of this potential phenomenon, particularly during primary T cell responses. It is also important to consider the factors described above that may exacerbate or ameliorate this effect.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1482-1482
Author(s):  
Seung-Tae Lee ◽  
Yun Fang Jiang ◽  
Soung-Chul Cha ◽  
Hong Qin ◽  
Larry W. Kwak ◽  
...  

Abstract Advanced stage follicular lymphoma remains an incurable disease with a median survival of 8 to 10 years that has not significantly changed over the last four decades. Therefore, novel treatment options are necessary to improve the clinical outcome in these patients. The observation of spontaneous regressions in a small percentage of patients suggested that augmenting the host immune response could potentially control this malignancy. Strategies using active specific immunotherapy with idiotype vaccines led to induction of clinical and molecular responses in a few patients but have met with only limited success possibly due to the low frequency of antigen-specific T cells induced in the patients. In contrast to active immunization, T cells of a given specificity and function may be selected and expanded in vitro to the desired number for adoptive cell transfer. Towards this goal, we stimulated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from five follicular lymphoma patients with CD40 ligand-activated autologous tumor cells at approximately ten-day intervals in the presence of IL-2 and IL-15. After four rounds of stimulations, T cell lines generated from 3/5 patients recognized autologous unmodified tumor cells by producing significant amounts of TNF-α, GM-CSF and/or IFN-γ. By phenotypic analysis, the T cell lines were predominantly CD4+ T cells (&gt; 70%), and intracellular cytokine assay showed that up to 40% of the CD4+ T cells were tumor-reactive. The inhibition of cytokine production by anti-HLA class II but not class I blocking antibodies confirmed that the CD4+ T cells were tumor-reactive. Further characterization revealed that the T cells from one patient recognized autologous tumor but not autologous normal B cells suggesting that they were tumor-specific. While in a second patient CD4+ T cell clones generated from the T cell line by limiting dilution recognized autologous tumor and autologous normal B cells but not autologous monocytes suggesting that they were B cell lineage-specific. We conclude that follicular lymphoma-specific T cells exist and can be efficiently expanded in vitro from both TILs and PBMCs using CD40 ligand-activated autologous tumor cells for adoptive T cell therapy. Additionally, identification of antigens recognized by these T cells could lead to development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for lymphomas.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 935-935
Author(s):  
Yvonne A. Efebera ◽  
Tahamtan Ahmadi ◽  
Amanda Flies ◽  
David H. Sherr

Abstract Background: An increased understanding of the requirements for antigen presentation has encouraged development of cell-based cancer vaccines. Trials using dendritic cells (DC) as antigen presenting cells (APC) for immunotherapy of several malignancies have shown considerable success. However, the difficulty in generating large numbers of DC required for these immunizations has led to the search for alternative APC. One such candidate is the CD40 ligand (CD40L)-activated B cell, populations of which can readily be expanded in vitro. To be an effective vehicle for antigen presentation to T cells, CD40L-activated B cells must be capable of migrating to secondary lymphoid organs. Therefore, CD40L-activated B cell migration following subcutaneous or intravenous injection was evaluated. Methods: Splenic B cells from GFP transgenic mice were activated with CD40L + IL-4 and expanded in vitro prior to i.v. or s.c. injection of 3–4 x 107 into C57BL/6 mice. Recipient mice were sacrificed 2 hrs or 1–14 days thereafter and the percentage of GFP+/B220+ B cells quantified in spleens and lymph nodes by flow cytometry. Localization of these cells within lymphoid organs was determined by immunohistochemistry. In some experiments, activated C57BL/6 B cells were labeled with carboxy fluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) to evaluate cell growth in vivo. Results: Murine B cell populations were readily expanded by culture on CD40L-transfected L cells in the presence of IL-4. CD40L-activated B cells expressed high levels of CD80, CD86, and LFA-1 but decreased levels of L-selectin relative to naive cells. Following i.v. injection, activated B cells were detected in spleens and lymph nodes within 1 day. Peak concentrations of activated B cells were noted in spleens and lymph nodes on days 7 (4.8% of injected cells) and 10 (1.25% of injected cells) respectively, suggesting expansion of the activated B cell population in vivo. Naive B cells injected i.v. were detected within 1 day but their number declined precipitously thereafter. Following s.c. injection, peak levels of CD40L-activated B cells were noted on day 5 (spleens) and day 7 (lymph nodes). As determined by immunohistochemistry, both CD40L-activated and naïve B cells injected i.v. appeared in B cell regions of spleens and lymph nodes. While the kinetics of accumulation of CD40L-activated B cells injected s.c. or i.v. were similar, s.c. injected CD40L-activated B cells homed to the T cell regions of spleens and lymph nodes. CFSE experiments indicated that these activated B cells continue to grow in vivo. In contrast, naïve B cells injected s.c. only appeared in B cell regions. Conclusion: CD40L-activated B cell populations can readily be expanded in vitro, CD40L-activated B cells migrate to secondary lymphoid organs even when injected s.c., activated B cell populations expand in vivo, and s.c. injected, CD40L-activated B cells preferentially home to T cell regions of secondary lymphoid organs. These results suggest that this effective APC may serve as an important vehicle for delivery and presentation of exogenous (e.g. tumor) antigens to T cells in vivo.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-280
Author(s):  
Arden Levy ◽  
Andrew Liu

Purpose of the Studies. Hyper-IgM immunodeficiency is characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, normal or elevated IgM, and markedly decreased IgG, IgA, and IgE. Previous research suggested that the T cells of these patients are defective in their ability to help B cells make functional antibody. CD40 ligand (CD4OL) is a membrane glycoprotein on activated T helper cells and binds the CD40 molecule expressed on B cells, and induces proliferation and immunoglobulin class switching (in conjunction with IL-4). The gene for the CD4OL has been mapped to position q26.3-q27.1 on chromosome X (same as the Hyper-IgM gene and the area of isotype switching). Several research groups sought to determine if the immunodeficiency in Hyper-IgM patients is due to defective CD4OL. Findings. The five papers listed above document the work of different research groups that simultaneously found abnormalities in the CD4OL gene in a total of 16 patients with X-linked Hyper-IgM syndrome. Different mutations of the CD4OL gene have been discovered, including point mutations, deletions, and nonsense sequences. Mutant version of CD4OL taken from Hyper IgM patients were unable to "help" B cells in vitro. Thus, deficient CD40/CD40L interactions between B and T cells results in severely impaired immunity. Restricted CD40L gene expression to T cells may ultimately allow gene therapy as treatment. Reviewers' Comments. A concise editorial by Jean Marx entitled "Cell Communication Failure Leads to Immune Disorder" describes this landmark research and accompanies the Spriggs article in the February 12th issue of Science (pp. 896-897). This discovery may not only lead to treatment of this disorder, but also modification of other less favorable immune responses.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3168-3168
Author(s):  
Emilia Glezer ◽  
Alessandra Ferrajoli ◽  
James M. Reuben ◽  
Laura G Corral

Abstract Lenalidomide, an approved drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes with 5q deletion is currently undergoing clinical investigation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Although the exact mechanism of action of lenalidomide in CLL is not known, it was shown to augment anti-CD40 induced cytotoxicity in human multiple myeloma cells (Tai et al. Cancer Res. 2005) and is currently being evaluated in combination with an anti-CD40 agent in a multiple myeloma clinical trial. While signaling of the costimulatory receptor CD40 promotes survival, proliferation, and differentiation of normal B cells, it can cause activation-induced cell death in malignant B cells. In addition, ligation of CD40 by CD40L (CD154) was shown to sensitize B-CLL cells to apoptosis (Dicker et al. Blood 2006). In a phase II clinical study (Ferrajoli et al. Blood 2008), blood samples from 12 CLL patients were collected at baseline and after 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months of treatment with lenalidomide. Samples were shipped overnight to (San Diego) for the phenotypic monitoring of CD40 expression on CD19+CD5+ B-CLL cells by flow cytometry. Changes in CD40 expression were also measured in B-CLL cells treated in vitro with lenalidomide. In addition, samples were used for in vitro cytotoxicity assays that included treatment with fludarabine or valproic acid in combination with lenalidomide; and a CD40-induced cytotoxicity assay using CD40 Ligand (CD154)-transfected murine fibroblasts and lenalidomide. In 6 out of 12 patients, lenalidomide therapy significantly upregulated the expression of CD40 on B-CLL cells above pretreatment levels (4.5±4.5% vs. 49.5±32.7 %, p=0.020). Moreover, B-CLL cells obtained at baseline from 6 patients and treated in vitro with 1 μM of lenalidomide (a concentration corresponding to clinically achievable plasma levels) for 24h and/or 48h exhibited significantly higher expression of CD40 than B-CLL cells exposed to DMSO vehicle (1.95±0.23 fold increase; p=0.038). Exposure to lenalidomide in vitro neither caused apoptosis of B-CLL cells nor increased their sensitivity to fludarabine or valproic acid cytotoxicity (n=9). However, when B-CLL cells obtained at baseline from 6 patients were treated in vitro with lenalidomide, they became more sensitive to apoptosis induced by CD40 Ligand (CD154)-transfected murine fibroblasts than DMSO treated cells (62.6±16.8% lenalidomide vs. 43.2±16.1% DMSO; p=0.032). Lenalidomide had no significant effect on the viability of B-CLL cells co-cultured with control non-transfected murine fibroblasts. Our data suggest a potential therapeutic use of lenalidomide in combination with CD40 ligation in CLL and warrant further investigation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document