Common Γ-chain Cytokines Research Articles

IL-2 Is Essential for TGF-β to Convert Naive CD4+CD25− Cells to CD25+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells and for Expansion of These Cells

IL-2 and TGF-beta both have important roles in the induction and maintenance of immunologic tolerance, but whether these cytokines act separately or together to achieve this effect is poorly understood. Although others have reported that IL-2 can directly enhance forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3) transcription factor expression by natural CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells, in this study, we report that the role of IL-2 on the generation of peripheral regulatory CD4(+) cells is indirect. Ab neutralization studies and experiments with IL-2-deficient mice have revealed that IL-2 is required for TGF-beta to induce naive CD4(+)CD25(-) cells to become CD25(+) and express Foxp3, and develop the characteristic properties of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells. This effect of IL-2 on the generation and expansion of these adaptive Foxp3(+) regulatory cells is nonredundant, but IL-4, IL-7, and IL-15, other common gamma-chain cytokines, could sustain Foxp3 expression. Because subjects with autoimmune diseases often have defects in the production of IL-2 and/or TGF-beta, the generation of autologous T regulatory cells ex vivo with these cytokines for transfer in vivo may have considerable therapeutic potential.

Cutting Edge: Decreased Accumulation and Regulatory Function of CD4+CD25high T Cells in Human STAT5b Deficiency

We show that STAT5b is important for the in vivo accumulation of CD4+ CD25(high) T cells with regulatory cell function. A patient homozygous for a missense A630P STAT5b mutation displayed immune dysregulation and decreased numbers of CD4+ CD25(high) T cells. STAT5b(A630P/A630P) CD4+ CD25(high) T cells had low expression of forkhead box P3 and an impaired ability to suppress the proliferation of or to kill CD4+ CD25- T cells. Expression of CD25, a component of the high-affinity IL-2R, was also reduced in response to IL-2 or after in vitro propagation. The impact of the STAT5b mutation was selective in that IL-2-mediated up-regulation of the common gamma-chain cytokine receptor and perforin, and activation-induced expressions of CD154 and IFN-gamma were normal. These results indicate that STAT5b propagates an important IL-2-mediated signal for the in vivo accumulation of functional regulatory T cells.

Constitutive Activation of STAT5 Supersedes the Requirement for Cytokine and TCR Engagement of CD4+ T Cells in Steady-State Homeostasis

The transcription factor STAT5 is one of several signaling mediators activated via common gamma-chain cytokine receptors. As such, it plays an important role in lymphocyte survival and proliferation during normal homeostasis as well as under lymphopenic conditions. Transgenic mice expressing a constitutively activated form of STAT5b have been shown previously to contain increased numbers of peripheral CD4+CD25- T cells. To define the mechanism(s) for this occurrence, we have used adoptive transfer studies to examine the effects of STAT5 activity on steady-state CD4+ T cell homeostasis. We observed that constitutive STAT5 signaling induced 4- to 7-fold increased levels of basal steady-state proliferation, which was accompanied by a comparable increase in T cell recovery. Most strikingly, steady-state CD4 T cell proliferation occurred independently of both MHC class II and IL-15. These observations demonstrate that the STAT5-driven pathway is important to lymphocyte homeostasis and can supersede the need for both TCR engagement and cytokine stimulation. This suggests that the need for TCR stimulation to induce common gamma-chain cytokine receptor expression, and thus STAT5 activation, is a key factor in maintaining normal CD4+ T cell homeostasis.

Immunomodulatory and antitumor effects of interleukin-21 in patients with renal cell carcinoma

Interleukin (IL)-21 is a class I cytokine with sequence homology to the IL-2 cytokine superfamily. IL-21 signals through a heterodimer of a unique IL-21 receptor and the common γ-chain cytokine receptor. Preclinical murine models suggested strong antitumor activity of IL-21 in renal cell carcinoma, melanoma and other tumor models. IL-21 antitumor activity was superior to IL-2 in these tumor models. A Phase I clinical trial of IL-21 in humans with metastatic renal cell carcinoma or melanoma began in May 2004. Clinical regressions were observed in renal cell carcinoma. Preliminary immunological and clinical findings of patients receiving IL-21 will be reviewed.

Comparison of Common γ-Chain Cytokines, Interleukin-2, Interleukin-7, and Interleukin-15 for the In Vitro Generation of Human Tumor-Reactive T Lymphocytes for Adoptive Cell Transfer Therapy

The adoptive transfer of human tumor-reactive T lymphocytes into autologous patients can mediate the regression of metastatic melanoma. Here, the in vitro generation of melanoma-reactive T lymphocytes was compared using 3 common gamma-chain cytokines, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, and IL-15, alone or in combination. The proliferation, function, and phenotype were evaluated for tumor-reactive T cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients previously immunized with the melanoma-associated peptide gp100:209-217(210M) and PBMCs transduced with a retrovirus encoding the alpha and beta chains of a gp100-reactive T-cell receptor (TCR). IL-7 alone did not induce significant proliferation of any tumor-reactive T-cell population, whereas IL-2 and IL-15 induced significant proliferation of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes from both sources. Cells cultured in the presence of IL-2 or IL-15 secreted comparable amounts of interferon-gamma and IL-2 in response to melanoma cells in vitro and were phenotypically similar in terms of costimulatory molecules (CD27 and CD28), cytokine receptors (CD25, CD122, and CD127), and a lymphoid homing molecule (CD62L). In addition, the proliferation, function, and phenotype of T cells cultured with combinations of IL-2, IL-7, and IL-15 were similar to those grown with IL-2 alone. The effects of these cytokines on TCR stimulation of CD45RA+ naive cells derived from adult patients and from human umbilical cord blood were also compared. Similar to the data with activated tumor-reactive T lymphocytes, IL-7 alone did not support significant proliferation of naive T cells after TCR stimulation with anti-CD3, although IL-2 and IL-15 induced comparable proliferation of T lymphocytes with similar phenotypic attributes.

Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Stringently Regulates Distinct Functions of IL-7 and IL-15 In Vivo during T Lymphocyte Development and Homeostasis

SOCS1(-/-) mice accumulate within the thymus and periphery CD8(+) lymphocytes that express memory cell markers and display heightened in vitro responses to common gamma-chain cytokines. To investigate whether dysregulated homeostasis of T lymphocytes and acquisition of memory phenotype by CD8(+) cells in SOCS1(-/-) mice were mediated by IL-7 and/or IL-15 in vivo, we have generated SOCS1(-/-)IL-7(-/-), SOCS1(-/-)IL-15(-/-) and SOCS1(-/-)IL-7(-/-)IL-15(-/-) mice. We observed that in mice lacking SOCS1, either IL-7 or IL-15 skewed thymocyte development toward CD8 lineage, whereas IL-15 is the principal mediator of dysregulated homeostasis in the periphery. Homeostatic proliferation of SOCS1(-/-) CD8(+) lymphocytes in Rag1(-/-), Rag1(-/-)IL-7(-/-), Rag1(-/-)IL-15(-/-), and Rag1(-/-)IL-7(-/-)IL-15(-/-) mice showed that SOCS1 deficiency did not overcome the requirement for IL-7 and IL-15 to sustain homeostatic expansion. Differential expression of memory phenotype markers CD44, CD122, and Ly6C by SOCS1(-/-)IL-15(-/-) CD8(+) lymphocytes suggest that multiple signals contributed to the memory cell differentiation program. To address whether increased IL-15 responsiveness of SOCS1(-/-) CD8(+) lymphocytes required prior TCR sensitization, we generated SOCS1(-/-) H-Y TCR transgenic (Tg) mice. Using female SOCS1(-/-) H-Y TCR(tg) mice in Rag1(+/+) and Rag1(-/-) backgrounds, we show that acquisition of the memory phenotype by SOCS1-deficient CD8(+) lymphocytes did not require prior antigenic stimulation, but required the presence of activated T cells. SOCS1 deficiency accelerated the maturation of CD8 single-positive thymocytes expressing Tg TCR, but did not compromise negative selection in HY-TCR(tg) males. Our findings illustrate distinct functions for IL-7 and IL-15 in T lymphocyte development and homeostasis, and stringent regulation of these processes by SOCS1.

Primary Human T Lymphocytes Engineered with a Codon-Optimized IL-15 Gene Resist Cytokine Withdrawal-Induced Apoptosis and Persist Long-Term in the Absence of Exogenous Cytokine

IL-15 is a common gamma-chain cytokine that has been shown to be more active than IL-2 in several murine cancer immunotherapy models. Although T lymphocytes do not produce IL-15, murine lymphocytes carrying an IL-15 transgene demonstrated superior antitumor activity in the immunotherapy of B16 melanoma. Thus, we sought to investigate the biological impact of constitutive IL-15 expression by human lymphocytes. In this report we describe the generation of a retroviral vector encoding a codon-optimized IL-15 gene. Alternate codon usage significantly enhanced the translational efficiency of this tightly regulated gene in retroviral vector-transduced cells. Activated human CD4+ and CD8+ human lymphocytes expressed IL-15Ralpha and produced high levels of cytokine upon retroviral transduction with the IL-15 vector. IL-15-transduced lymphocytes remained viable for up to 180 days in the absence of exogenous cytokine. IL-15 vector-transduced T cells showed continued proliferation after cytokine withdrawal and resistance to apoptosis while retaining specific Ag recognition. In the setting of adoptive cell transfer, IL-15-transduced lymphocytes may prolong lymphocyte survival in vivo and could potentially enhance antitumor activity.

IL-21 Sustains CD28 Expression on IL-15-Activated Human Naive CD8+ T Cells

Human naive CD8+ T cells are able to respond in an Ag-independent manner to IL-7 and IL-15. Whereas IL-7 largely maintains CD8+ T cells in a naive phenotype, IL-15 drives these cells to an effector phenotype characterized, among other features, by down-regulation of the costimulatory molecule CD28. We evaluated the influence of the CD4+ Th cell-derived common gamma-chain cytokine IL-21 on cytokine-induced naive CD8+ T cell activation. Stimulation with IL-21 did not induce division and only slightly increased IL-15-induced proliferation of naive CD8+ T cells. Strikingly, however, IL-15-induced down-modulation of CD28 was completely prevented by IL-21 at the protein and transcriptional level. Subsequent stimulation via combined TCR/CD3 and CD28 triggering led to a markedly higher production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in IL-15/IL-21-stimulated cells compared with IL-15-stimulated T cells. Our data show that IL-21 modulates the phenotype of naive CD8+ T cells that have undergone IL-15 induced homeostatic proliferation and preserves their responsiveness to CD28 ligands.

Inhibition of T cell apoptosis in the aqueous humor of patients with uveitis by IL-6/soluble IL-6 receptor trans-signaling.

A fundamental mechanism of immune privilege in the eye is the induction of T lymphocyte apoptosis. Intraocular inflammation in uveitis implies compromise of immune privilege. This study sought to determine whether apoptosis of T cells is actively inhibited in patients with uveitis and by what pathways this may occur. Apoptotic lymphocytes were found to be absent from aqueous humor (AqH) of virtually all patients with recent-onset uveitis. However, T cells removed from the eye were highly susceptible to both spontaneous and Fas ligand-induced apoptosis in vitro. AqH from patients with uveitis had no modulatory effect on Fas ligand-induced apoptosis, but strongly suppressed survival factor deprivation-induced apoptosis. In contrast, noninflammatory AqH from patients undergoing cataract surgery had no modulatory effects on apoptosis at all. These data suggest that triggering of the Fas pathway is diminished in uveitis, and also that homeostatic resolution through survival factor deprivation-induced apoptosis is inhibited by factors present in AqH. The most widely recognized pathways, common gamma-chain cytokines and type I IFNs, did not contribute to AqH-mediated T cell survival. High levels of both IL-6 and soluble IL-6R were found in AqH. IL-6 alone did not induce T cell survival, because IL-6R expression on T cells in AqH was too low to facilitate signaling. However, combinations of IL-6 and soluble IL-6R were highly effective inhibitors of T cell apoptosis, suggesting that the trans-signaling pathway is likely to be a key mediator of T cell apoptosis inhibition mediated by uveitis AqH.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 regulates IL-15 receptor signaling in CD8+CD44high memory T lymphocytes.

T lymphocyte survival, proliferation, and death in the periphery are dependent on several cytokines. Many of these cytokines induce the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1), a feedback inhibitor of JAK kinases. However, it is unclear whether the cytokines that regulate T lymphocyte homeostasis are critically regulated by SOCS1 in vivo. Using SOCS1(-/-)IFN-gamma(-/-) mice we show that SOCS1 deficiency causes a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by decreased CD4/CD8 ratio due to chronic accumulation of CD8+CD44(high) memory phenotype T cells. SOCS1-deficient CD8+ T cells express elevated levels of IL-2Rbeta, show increased proliferative response to IL-15 and IL-2 in vitro, and undergo increased bystander proliferation and vigorous homeostatic expansion in vivo. Sorted CD8+CD44(high) T cells from SOCS1(-/-)IFN-gamma(-/-) mice respond 5 times more strongly than control cells, indicating that SOCS1 is a critical regulator of IL-15R signaling. Consistent with this idea, IL-15 stimulates sustained STAT5 phosphorylation in SOCS1-deficient CD8+ T cells. IL-15 strongly induces TNF-alpha production in SOCS1-deficient CD8+ T cells, indicating that SOCS1 is also a critical regulator of CD8+ T cell activation by IL-15. However, IL-15 and IL-2 induce comparable levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) in SOCS1-deficient and SOCS1-sufficient CD8+ T cells, suggesting that cytokine receptor signals required for inducing proliferation and cell survival signals are not identical. These results show that SOCS1 differentially regulates common gamma-chain cytokine signaling in CD8+ T cells and suggest that CD8+ T cell homeostasis is maintained by distinct mechanisms that control cytokine-mediated survival and proliferation signals.

IL-7 enhances the survival and maintains the size of naive T cells.

T cells require continual presence of extrinsic signals from their in vivo microenvironment to maintain viability. T cells removed from these signals and placed in tissue culture atrophied and died in a caspase-independent manner. Atrophy was characterized by smaller cell sizes, delayed mitogenic responses, and decreased glycolytic rate. Bcl-2 expression remained constant in vitro despite ongoing cell death, indicating that endogenous Bcl-2 expression is insufficient to explain the life span and size control of lymphocytes in vivo and that cell-extrinsic signals provided may be required to maintain both cell viability and size in vivo. One such signal, IL-7, was found to maintain both the size and survival of neglected T cells in vitro. IL-7 was not unique, because the common gamma-chain cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and IL-15, as well as the gp130 cytokine IL-6, also promoted both T cell survival and size maintenance. IL-7 did not induce resting T cells to proliferate. Instead, IL-7 stimulated neglected T cells to maintain their metabolic rate at levels comparable to freshly isolated cells. The survival and trophic effects of IL-7 could be separated because IL-7 was able to promote up-regulation of Bcl-2 and maintain cell viability independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin activity but was unable to prevent cellular atrophy when phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin were inhibited. These data demonstrate that T cells require the continuous presence of extrinsic signals not only to survive but also to maintain their size, metabolic activity, and the ability to respond rapidly to mitogenic signals.

Human recent thymic emigrants--identification, expansion, and survival characteristics.

This study shows that, in humans at birth, circulating T cells represent recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) as reflected in their high level of expression of TCR excision circles. RTEs express "thymocyte-like" characteristics with regard to rapid rate of apoptosis. In the presence of common gamma-chain cytokines, in particular IL-7, they show enhanced potential to survive, entry into cell cycle, and proliferation. Although common gamma-chain cytokines were also potent antiapoptotic stimuli for mature adult-derived naive CD4+CD45RA+ T cells, these cells were refractory to IL-7-induced expansion in vitro. RTEs cultured with IL-7 could not reinduce recombination-activating gene-2 gene expression in vitro. These data suggest that postthymic naive T cells in the periphery during early life are at a unique stage in ontogeny as RTEs, during which they can undergo homeostatic regulation including expansion and survival in an Ag-independent manner while maintaining their preselected TCR repertoire.

CD45 tyrosine phosphatase controls common gamma-chain cytokine-mediated STAT and extracellular signal-related kinase phosphorylation in activated human lymphoblasts: inhibition of proliferation without induction of apoptosis.

The objective of this study was to test whether CD45 signals can influence signaling processes in activated human lymphoblasts. To this end, we generated lymphoblasts which proliferate in response to common gamma-chain cytokines, but readily undergo apoptosis after cytokine withdrawal. In experiments with the CD45R0 mAb UCHL-1, but not control CD45 mAbs, we found significant inhibition of proliferation. Interestingly, the pan-CD45 mAb GAP8.3, which is most effective in inhibition of OKT-3-mediated proliferation in quiescent lymphocytes, was ineffective in lymphoblasts. Addition of CD3 mAb OKT-3 had no influence on IL-2-mediated proliferation (with or without UCHL-1). In contrast, after addition of OKT-3 to IL-4- and IL-7-stimulated proliferation assays, UCHL-1 signals could not significantly alter cellular proliferation. We did not find induction of apoptosis following CD45R0 signaling. In Western blots using mAbs detecting phosphorylated STAT-3, STAT-5, STAT-6, or extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2, we found that CD45R0 signaling could effectively diminish phosphorylation of these intracellular signaling components. Using RT-PCR, we found that CD45R0 signaling inhibited IL-2 mRNA production without major influence on IL-13, IL-5, or IFN-gamma mRNA levels. Costimulation with OKT-3 and IL-2 optimally induced secretion of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-5, which was not decreased by CD45 signals. In conclusion, we illustrate that CD45R0 signals control early cytokine receptor-associated signaling processes and mRNA and DNA synthesis in activated human lymphoblasts. Furthermore, we show the existence of CD45 epitopes (GAP8.3), which are active and critical for signaling in quiescent lymphocytes, but are nonfunctional in activated human lymphoblasts.

Bcl-2 expression by eosinophils in a patient with hypereosinophilia

The hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) represents a heterogenous group of disorders characterized by hypereosinophilia in the blood and bone marrow, as well as eosinophilic tissue infiltration. The mechanisms of eosinophilic accumulation in HES are largely unknown. It has been recently suggested that the tissue eosinophilia observed in allergic disorders is, at least partially, caused by inhibition of eosinophil apoptosis by T cell‐, mast cell‐, and eosinophil-derived cytokines.1 Therefore we hypothesized that abnormalities in the process of eosinophil apoptosis may play a part in the etiology of HES. Members of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are important regulators of apoptosis in many cellular systems.2 The first member of the family, Bcl-2, was originally cloned from the breakpoint of a t(14;18) translocation present in many human B-cell lymphomas. Increased production of Bcl-2 protein as a result of t(14;18) translocations contributes to neoplastic B-cell expansion by preventing B-cell death. 2 In this article we describe an unusual case of HES with blood and tissue eosinophils that expressed, in contrast to normal eosinophils, the Bcl-2 gene. Because it was impossible to induce the Bcl-2 gene by IL-5 or GM-CSF in normal eosinophils, it is unlikely that the observed eosinophil Bcl-2 expression in this subject was the result of stimulation with eosinophil hematopoietins in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of Bcl-2 was associated with delayed death of blood eosinophils in vitro, suggesting that Bcl-2 did act as an apoptosis repressor in this cellular system.