Ig Fusion Protein Research Articles

Chemokine-mediated B cell trafficking in rabbit GALT during diversification of the primary antibody repertoire (160.15)

Abstract Rabbits preferentially rearrange the 3’-most VH gene segment during VDJ gene rearrangement. Early in life, rabbit B cells generate a diversified primary antibody repertoire by mutating their VDJ genes in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in response to signals acquired from intestinal commensals. To gain insight into the cell-cell and cell-microbe interactions required for VDJ gene diversification, we examined B cell surface expression levels of four chemokine receptors that mediate trafficking to important sites within GALT during repertoire diversification. We stained the chemokine receptors CXCR4, CCR6, CXCR5 and CCR7 on appendix B cells from two- through seven-day-old rabbits with fluorescence-labeled antibodies or Ig-fusion proteins of their ligands and analyzed them by flow cytometry. The changes in relative chemokine receptor expression levels we observed during the first week of life suggest that B cells, upon entering appendix follicles, first traffic to the follicle-associated epithelium, where they likely encounter commensal bacteria sampled from the intestinal microbiota. B cells subsequently migrate to, and likely receive additional signals from, the follicular dendritic cell network. Upon becoming activated, B cells then traffic to the basal region of the follicle, where they proliferate and diversify their VDJ genes to generate the primary antibody repertoire.

Delayed Toxicity Associated with Soluble Anthrax Toxin Receptor Decoy-Ig Fusion Protein Treatment

Soluble receptor decoy inhibitors, including receptor-immunogloubulin (Ig) fusion proteins, have shown promise as candidate anthrax toxin therapeutics. These agents act by binding to the receptor-interaction site on the protective antigen (PA) toxin subunit, thereby blocking toxin binding to cell surface receptors. Here we have made the surprising observation that co-administration of receptor decoy-Ig fusion proteins significantly delayed, but did not protect, rats challenged with anthrax lethal toxin. The delayed toxicity was associated with the in vivo assembly of a long-lived complex comprised of anthrax lethal toxin and the receptor decoy-Ig inhibitor. Intoxication in this system presumably results from the slow dissociation of the toxin complex from the inhibitor following their prolonged circulation. We conclude that while receptor decoy-Ig proteins represent promising candidates for the early treatment of B. anthracis infection, they may not be suitable for therapeutic use at later stages when fatal levels of toxin have already accumulated in the bloodstream.

OX40 Ligand Fusion Protein Delivered Simultaneously With the BCG Vaccine Provides Superior Protection Against Murine Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection claims approximately 2 million lives per year, and improved efficacy of the BCG vaccine remains a World Health Organization priority. Successful vaccination against M. tuberculosis requires the induction and maintenance of T cells. Targeting molecules that promote T-cell survival may therefore provide an alternative strategy to classic adjuvants. We show that the interaction between T-cell-expressed OX40 and OX40L on antigen-presenting cells is critical for effective immunity to BCG. However, because OX40L is lost rapidly from antigen-presenting cells following BCG vaccination, maintenance of OX40-expressing vaccine-activated T cells may not be optimal. Delivering an OX40L:Ig fusion protein simultaneously with BCG provided superior immunity to intravenous and aerosol M. tuberculosis challenge even 6 months after vaccination, an effect that depends on natural killer 1.1(+) cells. Attenuated vaccines may therefore lack sufficient innate stimulation to maintain vaccine-specific T cells, which can be replaced by reagents binding inducible T-cell costimulators.

Expression of IL-20 in lesional skin and synovium of patients with psoriatic arthritis compared to rheumatoid arthritis and its response to ALEFACEPT treatment

Backgroundand objectivesPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease associated with psoriasis. Alefacept, a lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-3 Ig fusion protein that binds to CD2 and functions as an antagonist...

B7-H4 Treatment of T Cells Inhibits ERK, JNK, p38, and AKT Activation

B7-H4 is a newly identified B7 homolog that plays an important role in maintaining T-cell homeostasis by inhibiting T-cell proliferation and lymphokine-secretion. In this study, we investigated the signal transduction pathways inhibited by B7-H4 engagement in mouse T cells. We found that treatment of CD3+ T cells with a B7-H4.Ig fusion protein inhibits anti-CD3 elicited T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD28 signaling events, including phosphorylation of the MAP kinases, ERK, p38, and JNK. B7-H4.Ig treatment also inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT kinase and impaired its kinase activity as assessed by the phosphorylation of its endogenous substrate GSK-3. Expression of IL-2 is also reduced by B7-H4. In contrast, the phosphorylation state of the TCR proximal tyrosine kinases ZAP70 and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) are not affected by B7-H4 ligation. These results indicate that B7-H4 inhibits T-cell proliferation and IL-2 production through interfering with activation of ERK, JNK, and AKT, but not of ZAP70 or LCK.

Expression of IL-20 in synovium and lesional skin of patients with psoriatic arthritis: differential response to alefacept treatment

IntroductionPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease associated with psoriasis. Alefacept (a lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-3 Ig fusion protein that binds to CD2 and functions as an antagonist to T-cell activation) has been shown to result in improvement in psoriasis but has limited effectiveness in PsA. Interleukin-20 (IL-20) is a key proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The effects of alefacept treatment on IL-20 expression in the synovium of patients with psoriasis and PsA are currently unknown.MethodsEleven patients with active PsA and chronic plaque psoriasis were treated with alefacept (7.5 mg per week for 12 weeks) in an open-label study. Skin biopsies were taken before and after 1 and 6 weeks, whereas synovial biopsies were obtained before and 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. Synovial biopsies from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 10) were used as disease controls. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect IL-20 expression, and stained synovial tissue sections were evaluated with digital image analysis. Double staining was performed with IL-20 and CD68 (macrophages), and conversely with CD55 (fibroblast-like synoviocytes, FLSs) to determine the phenotype of IL-20-positive cells in PsA synovium. IL-20 expression in skin sections (n = 6) was analyzed semiquantitatively.ResultsIL-20 was abundantly expressed in both PsA and RA synovial tissues. In inflamed PsA synovium, CD68+ macrophages and CD55+ FLSs coexpressed IL-20, and its expression correlated with the numbers of FLSs. IL-20 expression in lesional skin of PsA patients decreased significantly (P = 0.04) 6 weeks after treatment and correlated positively with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). IL-20 expression in PsA synovium was not affected by alefacept.ConclusionsConceivably, the relatively limited effectiveness of alefacept in PsA patients (compared with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy) might be explained in part by persistent FLS-derived IL-20 expression.

The high expression level of programmed death-1 ligand 2 in oral lichen planus and the possible costimulatory effect on human T cells

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T-cell-mediated chronic autoimmune disease whose precise etiology is unknown. The recently identified costimulatory programmed death-1 (PD-1) molecule and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, have been identified as CD28-B7 family molecules and constitute a regulatory pathway of potential therapeutic use in immune-mediated diseases. We examined the expression of two ligands of PD-1 at both the protein and gene level in the focal mucosa and peripheral blood of OLP patients using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. Next, we used the PD-L2.Ig fusion protein and observed its effects on T cells, which were co-cultured with IFN-γ-treated keratinocytes (KCs) in the presence of PHA. We found that the expression of PD-L2 at both the gene and protein level was statistically different in peripheral blood and local lesion tissue of patients with OLP compared to the normal controls. The proliferation ability of T cells and the expression level of IFN-γ in the supernatant of the above co-culture model were significantly augmented (P < 0.05). PD-L2.Ig fusion protein significantly aggravated the apoptosis of T cells, inhibited the proliferation of T cells and decreased the release levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ in the model (P < 0.05). These data show that the increased expression of PD-L2, as a costimulatory molecule, may have an important modulatory function on the local immune responses of OLP in vivo.

Structural and functional studies on PD-1: from crystals to mice (63.17)

Abstract Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibits T and B cell responses upon binding to its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and has crucial role in maintaining peripheral tolerance. We have recently reported the crystal structure of the complex between PD-1 and PD-L2. Performing structure-based mutagenesis studies, high-affinity, and PD-L2-specific PD-1 mutants were identified. High-resolution crystal structures of the high-affinity PD-1 mutant with PD-L1 and PD-L2, respectively, provide the atomic details of the tighter receptor-ligand binding. The crystal structure of the complex between the PD-L2-specific PD-1 mutant and PD-L2 provides the atomic details of the selective interaction of this mutant with PD-L2. Soluble Ig fusion proteins of the two PD-1 mutants were designed to modulate the PD-1 pathway for immunotherapy. Finally, these mutations were introduced into mice by generating “knock-in” mouse strains, which provide novel animal models to study the role of PD-1 in immunity. Current work is focused on analyzing the functional effects of these mutations in PD-1 mediated immune responses. In summary, our data demonstrate the value of structural studies in developing novel immunotherapy and animal models for in vivo studies.

Chemokine-directed B cell trafficking in rabbit GALT during diversification of the primary antibody repertoire (149.4)

Abstract Rabbits preferentially rearrange the 3’-most VH gene segment during VDJ gene rearrangement. Early in life, rabbit B cells diversify these VDJ genes in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in response to signals acquired from intestinal commensal bacteria, and thus generate a diversified primary antibody repertoire. To gain insight into the cell-cell and cell-microbe interactions required for VDJ gene diversification, we examined B cell surface expression levels of four chemokine receptors that mediate trafficking to important sites within GALT during repertoire diversification. We stained B cells from two- through seven-day-old appendix with fluorescence-labeled Ig-fusion proteins of the chemokines CXCL12, CCL20, CXCL13 and CCL21 and analyzed them by flow cytometry. The changes we observed in relative chemokine receptor expression levels during the first week of life suggest a model in which B cells, upon entering appendix follicles, first traffic to the follicle-associated epithelium, where they likely encounter commensal bacteria sampled from the intestinal microbiota. B cells subsequently migrate to, and likely receive additional signals from, the follicular dendritic cell network. Upon becoming activated, B cells then traffic to the basal region of the follicle, where they proliferate and diversify their VDJ genes, thereby generating the primary antibody repertoire.

Rat allogeneic hepatocyte transplantation immune tolerance induced by CTLA4-Ig

Objective To investigate the immunosuppressive effect of cytotoxic T Iymphocyte associated antigen 4 Ig fusion protein (CTLA4-Ig) in rat allograft hepatocyte transplantation model and the mechanisms. Methods Acute liver failure (ALF) model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 10% D-gal solution to SD rates. Collagenase perfusion was performed on SD rats to separate liver cells. SD rats with ALF were subjected to intrasplenic hepatocyte transplantation and randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group received intraperitoneal injection of CTLA4-Ig. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), liver function and histologicy were observed at the 1st,3rd, 5th, 7th day after operation and the T lymphocyte subsets were detected by using immunohistochemistry at the 7th day after operation. Results The levels of ALT and TBil were respectively (6. 5 ±7.3) IU/ml and (5.1 ± 1.6) mmol/L at the 7th day after operation and significantly decreased after injection of CTLA4-Ig ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). IL-2 concentration in the experimental group was ( 1.3138 ± 0. 8508 ) ng/L at the 7th day after operation and significantly decreased (P ＜0. 05). TNF had no significant difference between two groups after operation ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). T lymphocyte subsets, mainly CD4 + , in the experimental group was significantly decreased as compared with control group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), so did the CD4 +/CD8 +. Histological changes: At the 7th day after operation, there were some hepatocytes in the spleen of the experimental group. But in the control group, the changes in the spleen were characterized by severe lymphocyte infiltration. There were no hepatocytes both groups. Conclusion CTLA4-Ig can induce rat allogeneic hepatocytes intrasplenic transplantation immune tolerance. It may improve the liver function of rats with ALF.CTLA4-Ig can decrease T lymphocyte subsets, mainly CD4 + and concentrations of IL-2. Key words: Hepatocytes transplantation; Immune tolerance

Stabilizing mutations increase secretion of functional soluble TCR-Ig fusion proteins

BackgroundWhereas T cell receptors (TCRs) detect peptide/major histocompatibility complexes (pMHCs) with exquisite specificity, there are challenges regarding their expression and use as soluble detection molecules due to molecular instability. We have investigated strategies for the production of TCR-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion proteins. Two different TCRs that are characteristic of a mouse model for idiotype (Id) dependent immune regulation were engineered. They are structurally unrelated with different variable (V), diversity (D) and joining (J) segments, but each share one V gene segment, either Vα or Vβ, with the well characterized murine TCR, 2C.ResultsSeveral TCR-Ig formats were assessed. In one, the TCR V domains were fused to Ig constant (C) regions. In others, the complete extracellular part of the TCR was fused either to a complete Ig or an Ig Fc region. All molecules were initially poorly secreted from eukaryotic cells, but replacement of unfavourable amino acids in the V regions improved secretion, as did the introduction of a disulfide bridge between the TCR C domains and the removal of an unpaired cysteine. A screening strategy for selection of mutations that stabilize the actual fusion molecules was developed and used successfully. Molecules that included the complete heterodimeric TCR, with a stabilizing disulfide bridge, were correctly folded as they bound TCR-specific antibodies (Abs) and detected pMHC on cells after specific peptide loading.ConclusionsWe show that fully functional TCR-Ig fusion proteins can be made in good yields following stabilizing engineering of TCR V and C region genes. This is important since TCR-Ig fusions will be important probes for the presence of specific pMHCs in vitro and in vivo. In the absence of further affinity maturation, the reagents will be very useful for the detection of kinetic stability of complexes of peptide and MHC.

A Fusion Protein Encoding the Second Extracellular Domain of CCR5 Arrests Chemokine-Induced Cosignaling and Effectively Suppresses Ongoing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

CCR5 is a key CCR that is highly expressed on CD4(+) T cells. It binds three different ligands: CCL3 (MIP-alpha), CCL4 (MIP-beta), and CCL5 (RANTES). Recent studies suggested that the interaction between CCR5 and its ligands is essential not only for attracting these CCR5(+) T cells but also substantial for transuding cosignals for their activation. The current study explores, for the first time, the in vivo consequences of CCR5 as a costimulatory molecule. First, we show redundancy between CCR5 ligands not only in chemoattractive properties but also in their ability to induced cosignals via CCR5. This has motivated us to generate a soluble receptor-based fusion protein that would selectively bind and neutralize all three CCR5 ligands. We show in this study that a 30-aa-based CCR5-Ig fusion protein encoding the second extracellular domain of receptor selectively binds and neutralizes all three CCR5 ligands and, when administered during ongoing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, rapidly suppressed the disease while arresting Ag-specific effector T cell functions. Finally, our results clearly show that although CCR5 ligands induced cosignaling for IL-2 production is directed by CCR5, other proinflammatory properties of these ligands, such as TNF-alpha, IL-17, and IFN-gamma production, are CCR5 independent and therefore likely to be mediated by the other receptors for these ligands. These findings imply that implementing a CCR5-Ig-based therapy would be advantageous over blockade of this receptor or of the use of mAbs for targeting a single CCR5 ligand.

B-Cell-Delivered Gene Therapy Induces Functional T Regulatory Cells and Leads to a Loss of Antigen-Specific Effector Cells

Previous reports have shown that B-cell-mediated gene therapy can induce tolerance in several animal models for autoimmune diseases and inhibitory antibody formation in hemophilia A mice. We know from our previous work that the induction of tolerance following B-cell therapy is dependent upon CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). To extend these studies and identify the effects of this gene therapy protocol on the target CD4 T cells, we have adapted in vitro suppression assays using Tregs isolated from treated and control mice. Using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dilution as a measure of T-cell responsiveness to FVIII, we show that CD25(+) Tregs from treated mice are more suppressive than those from control animals. To monitor the induction of antigen-specific Tregs, we repeated these studies in ovalbumin (OVA) peptide-specific DO11.10 T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice. Tregs from DO11.10 mice treated with a tolerogenic OVA-Ig construct are better than polyclonal Tregs at suppressing the proliferation of responder cells stimulated with OVA peptide 323-339 (pOVA). Furthermore, we show that following B-cell therapy, there is an increase in antigen-specific FoxP3(+) Tregs, and there is also a distinct decrease in antigen-specific CD4(+) effector T cells. These changes in the lymphocyte population shift the balance away from effector function toward a tolerogenic phenotype.

Boosting anti-tumor immunity by combining gp96-Ig vaccination and Ig-mTL1A fusion protein (131.33)

Abstract We previously developed a cell-based vaccine system that secretes heat shock protein gp96 as an Ig fusion protein that efficiently enhances the cross presentation of tumor antigens to CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), leading to a tumor antigen-specific clonal expansion. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the priming site impose a brake that restricts the full potential of this CTL expansion. In independent studies of TNFR25 and its ligand, TL1A, we found that TNFR25 signaling inhibits the suppressive activity of Tregs and blocks their de novo biogenesis. Combination immunotherapy studies using hamster anti-mouse TNFR25 agonist antibody, 4C12, and vaccine show enhanced tumor rejection in comparison to vaccine only. We have genetically engineered Ig-mTL1A fusion proteins that differ in retention of the cleavage site in the extracellular domain fused to the C-terminus of the mIgG Fc fragment. These fusion proteins are expected to show similar tumor rejection when used in combination therapy with vaccine and, unlike 4C12, are not expected to elicit an antibody response due to prolonged use. The in vitro potencies of the secreted fusion proteins were confirmed by cytotoxicity and binding assays and protein molecular weights were determined by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). We will optimize purification methods to produce the most functional Fc-mTL1A resulting in the strongest TNFR25 signaling, which can be utilized in combination with vaccine for therapeutic benefit.

Specific Binding and Chemotactic Activity of mBD4 and Its Functional Orthologue hBD2 to CCR6-expressing Cells

Beta-defensins are small antimicrobial polypeptides that are mainly expressed by epithelial cells and play an important role in the antimicrobial innate immune response. In addition to the direct microbicidal effects of these polypeptides, members of the beta-defensin super family have the capacity to promote local innate inflammatory and systemic adaptive immune responses, which are in part mediated by the CC-chemokine receptor CCR6. Here we report the expression of recombinant mBD4 and its human orthologue hBD2 fused to the constant domain of human IgG(1) to obtain correct folding and to increase stability and solubility using the Drosophila S2 expression system. Purified recombinant mBD4:Ig and hBD2:Ig fusion proteins retained potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, these beta-defensin fusion proteins showed specific binding to CCR6-expressing cells as revealed by flow cytometry. Interestingly, although hBD2:Ig bound to both human and mouse CCR6-expressing cells, mBD4:Ig did only bind to mCCR6-expressing cells but not to hCCR6-expressing cells. Both beta-defensin fusion proteins demonstrated chemotactic activity for cells expressing the mouse CC-chemokine receptor CCR6. The chemokine ligand CCL20 competed with the beta-defensin fusion proteins for specific binding to CCR6 as analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Both beta-defensin fusion proteins demonstrated chemotactic activity for cells expressing the mouse CCR6 receptor, but mBD4:Ig did not induce chemotactic activity of cells expressing human CCR6. This result supports our finding that mBD4 does not interact with human CCR6-expressing cells. Further evidence for specific interaction of the beta-defensin fusion proteins with CCR6-expressing cells is demonstrated by the observation that CCL20 and beta-defensin fusion proteins desensitize each other in inducing chemotactic activity. In addition both mBD4:Ig and hBD2:Ig demonstrated CCR6-independent chemotaxis of freshly isolated mouse resident peritoneal cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, indicating the interaction with another chemotaxis-inducing receptor. Thus, the beta-defensin fusion proteins used in this study retained their biological activity and are a feasible tool to identify and analyze specific beta-defensin receptor interactions.

LAG-3 in Cancer Immunotherapy.

LAG-3 (CD223) is a cell surface molecule expressed on activated T cells (Huard et al. Immunogenetics 39:213-217, 1994), NK cells (Triebel et al. J Exp Med 171:1393-1405, 1990), B cells (Kisielow et al. Eur J Immunol 35:2081-2088, 2005), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (Workman et al. J Immunol 182:1885-1891, 2009) that plays an important but incompletely understood role in the function of these lymphocyte subsets. In addition, the interaction between LAG-3 and its major ligand, Class II MHC, is thought to play a role in modulating dendritic cell function (Andreae et al. J Immunol 168:3874-3880, 2002). Recent preclinical studies have documented a role for LAG-3 in CD8 T cell exhaustion (Blackburn et al. Nat Immunol 10:29-37, 2009), and blockade of the LAG-3/Class II interaction using a LAG-3 Ig fusion protein is being evaluated in a number of clinical trials in cancer patients. In this review, we will first discuss the basic structural and functional biology of LAG-3, followed by a review of preclinical and clinical data pertinent to a role for LAG-3 in cancer immunotherapy.

Dynamics of the Interaction of Human IgG Subtype Immune Complexes with Cells Expressing R and H Allelic Forms of a Low-Affinity Fcγ Receptor CD32A

CD32A, the major phagocytic FcgammaR in humans, exhibits a polymorphism in the ligand binding domain. Individuals homozygous for the R allelic form of CD32A (CD32A(R) allele) are more susceptible to bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases as compared with H allelic CD32A (CD32A(H)) homozygous and CD32A(R/H) heterozygous individuals. To understand the mechanisms behind this differential susceptibility, we have investigated the dynamics of the interaction of these allelic forms of CD32A when they are simultaneously exposed to immune complexes (IC). Binding studies using Ig fusion proteins of CD32A alleles showed that the R allele has significantly lower binding not only to human IgG2, but also to IgG1 and IgG3 subtypes. Competition assays using purified molecules demonstrated that CD32A(H)-Ig outcompetes CD32A(R)-Ig for IC binding when both alleles simultaneously compete for the same ligand. CD32A(H)-Ig blocked the IC binding mediated by both the allelic forms of cell surface CD32A, whereas CD32A(R)-Ig blocked only CD32A(R) and was unable to cross-block IC binding mediated by CD32A(H). Two-dimensional affinity measurements also demonstrated that CD32A(R) has significantly lower affinity toward all three subtypes as compared with CD32A(H). Our data suggest that the lower binding of CD32A(R) not only to IgG2 but also to IgG1 and IgG3 might be responsible for the lack of clearance of IC leading to increased susceptibility to bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases. Our data further suggests that in humans, inflammatory cells from CD32A(R/H) heterozygous individuals may predominantly use the H allele to mediate Ab-coated target cell binding during phagocytosis and Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, resulting in a phenotype similar to CD32A(H) homozygous individuals.

Tolerance Induced by B-Cell Gene Therapy: Expansion and Increased Activity of Antigen-Specific Tregs.

Abstract 2129Poster Board II-106Patients with hemophilia A treated with coagulation co-factor VIII (FVIII) may mount a response against this therapeutic protein, thus forming antibodies that block FVIII function (inhibitors). To treat those currently forming inhibitors (or to prevent inhibitor formation), a B-cell based gene therapy has been used that employs a chimeric antigen-Ig tolerogenic construct comprised of FVIII C2 and A2 domains. We have shown that hemophilic mice receiving B cells transduced with these Ig fusion proteins have diminished Bethesda titers, even after further FVIII treatment. Tolerogenic B-cell therapy requires the presence of CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). We have recently shown that tolerogenic B-cell treatment results in the increase of antigen-specific Treg cells and a selective loss of antigen-specific responder cells. To extend these studies, we have adapted in vitro suppression assays using Tregs isolated from treated and control mice. Using CFSE dilution as a measure of T-cell responsiveness to FVIII, we now show that Tregs from treated mice are more suppressive than those from control treated animals. In order to follow antigen-specific Tregs, we repeated these studies in DO11.10 T-cell receptor transgenic mice that recognize an OVA peptide. Tregs from DO11.10 mice treated with an OVA-Ig construct are also more suppressive than polyclonal Tregs when stimulated with OVA peptide. Although functionally superior, there appear to be no discernible phenotypic differences in these Treg populations. These changes in the lymphocyte population shift the balance away from effector function towards a tolerogenic phenotype and may provide the basis for future therapies in hemophilia A patients with inhibitors. (Supported by NIH RO1 HL061883, NIH T32 HL007698, and AHA Fellowship 0815219E) Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The Chicken Leukocyte Receptor Complex Encodes a Family of Different Affinity FcY Receptors

Chicken Ig-like receptors (CHIR) form a large family in the leukocyte receptor complex on microchromosome 31 with inhibitory, activating, and bifunctional receptors. Recently, we characterized CHIR-AB1 as a high-affinity, primordial FcY receptor. Given that the CHIR family represents a multigene family, it is plausible that more than a single receptor binds to IgY. Therefore, after comparing CHIR-AB1-like sequences in databases, we cloned CHIR-AB1 homologues from two individual chickens representing the lines M11 and R11 with primers binding to highly conserved regions. In both lines this approach yielded 18 different CHIR-AB amino acid versions, with one sequence out of each line that was identical with the previously characterized B19 CHIR-AB1 Ig domain and two additional R11-M11 identical sequence pairs. All M11-derived CHIR-AB homologues were then expressed as soluble human Ig fusion proteins. Following standardization of the fusion protein concentration with an ELISA, the IgY, IgM, and IgA binding activities were determined by ELISA. Six fusion proteins recognized IgY, whereas none bound to IgM and IgA. The affinities of selected fusion proteins were determined using surface plasmon resonance yielding an equilibrium binding constant between 25 nM for high binders and 260 nM for low binders. Sequence comparisons and subsequent mutational analysis of selected residues identified five amino acids that are potentially involved in IgY binding. These results imply that multiple FcY receptors of variable affinity are encoded by the CHIR locus and that different chicken lines may express both unique as well as highly conserved FcY receptors.

CXCL12 (SDF-1α) suppresses ongoing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by selecting antigen-specific regulatory T cells

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a T cell–mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system induced by antigen-specific effector Th17 and Th1 cells. We show that a key chemokine, CXCL12 (stromal cell–derived factor 1α), redirects the polarization of effector Th1 cells into CD4+CD25−Foxp3−interleukin (IL) 10high antigen-specific regulatory T cells in a CXCR4-dependent manner, and by doing so acts as a regulatory mediator restraining the autoimmune inflammatory process. In an attempt to explore the therapeutic implication of these findings, we have generated a CXCL12-immunoglobulin (Ig) fusion protein that, when administered during ongoing EAE, rapidly suppresses the disease in wild-type but not IL-10–deficient mice. Anti–IL-10 neutralizing antibodies could reverse this suppression. The beneficial effect included selection of antigen-specific T cells that were CD4+CD25−Foxp3−IL-10high, which could adoptively transfer disease resistance, and suppression of Th17 selection. However, in vitro functional analysis of these cells suggested that, even though CXCL12-Ig–induced tolerance is IL-10 dependent, IL-10–independent mechanisms may also contribute to their regulatory function. Collectively, our results not only demonstrate, for the first time, that a chemokine functions as a regulatory mediator, but also suggest a novel way for treating multiple sclerosis and possibly other inflammatory autoimmune diseases.