Mls Antigens Research Articles

Relationship of B cell Fc receptors to T cell recognition of Mls antigen.

The Mls locus on chromosome 1 controls the expression of cellular determinants that are responsible for stimulating mixed lymphocyte reactions between H-2-identical strains. However, the biochemical nature of Mls antigenic determinants remains undefined. It has been proposed that Ly-17 lymphoid cell surface antigens (also known as Ly.m.20.2 and LyM-1) and Mls antigens could be identical because they are both encoded by loci on chromosome 1 and display similar tissue distribution. The Ly-17 locus encodes polymorphic alleles of the IgG Fc receptor (Fc gamma R). In the present study, two approaches were used to address the question of whether Fc gamma R are involved in T cell recognition of Mls antigen. In the first approach we tested the effect of Fc gamma R blockade by heat-aggregated mouse IgG or anti-Fc gamma R monoclonal antibodies (2.4.G2) on the ability of an Ia+, Fc gamma R+ Mlsa-expressing B cell hybrid (LBB.3.4.16) to stimulate interleukin 2 secretion by an anti-Mlsa-specific T cell hybrid. We show that blockade of Fc gamma R does not inhibit the Mlsa-specific stimulation of T cells during a 24-h culture period in which Fc gamma R remain blocked. In the second approach, we derived irradiation-induced variants of LBB.3.4.16 to dissociate Fc gamma R expression and Mls antigen expression. We describe 2 LBB variants which no longer stimulate Mlsa-reactive T cells but do express Fc gamma R. Compared to parental LBB cells, the capacity of variant LBB cells to present soluble antigen to Ia-restricted T cells is unaffected. Collectively, these results indicate that Fc gamma R expression and Mlsa antigen stimulation can be dissociated. We conclude that Fc gamma R expression may be necessary, but not sufficient for T cell recognition of Mls antigen.

Neonatal tolerance induction in the thymus to MHC-class II-associated antigens. I. Preferential induction of tolerance to Mls antigens and resistance to allo-MHC antigens.

Neonatal tolerance inducibility of self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class II-associated antigens was compared with that of allo-class II antigens. BALB/c (H-2d, Mlsb) mice, less than 24 hr after birth, were intravenously injected with bone marrow cells of either (BALB/c X DBA/2)F1 (H-2d, Mlsb/a, semiallogeneic at the Mls locus) or (BALB/c X B10.BR)F1 (H-2d/k, Mlsb; semiallogeneic at the MHC), as antigens. The mice were tested for in vivo immune activity of class II-reactive T cells by means of the popliteal lymph node-swelling assay. They developed tolerance, irrespective of type of antigens, showing profoundly suppressed host-versus-graft reaction, and those tolerized to the allo-MHC antigens accepted skin grafts of the corresponding allogeneic mice. In the thymus and spleen of the Mls-tolerant mice, antigen-specific class II-reactive T-cell activity was completely abolished, without the apparent involvement of suppressor cells. In contrast, the activity in allo-MHC-tolerant mice was not reduced in either thymus or peripheral lymphoid organs, suggesting that systemic hyporesponsiveness is attributable to reversible suppression of immune competent cells. The resistance for cell-level tolerance induction to allo-class II antigens may not be ascribed to the active participation of allo-MHC antigens in prevention of or in escape from tolerance induction or both, since an injection of bone marrow cells of both Mls and H-2-semiallogeneic (DBA/2 X B10.BR)F1 (H-2d/k, Mlsa/b) mice could induce tolerance to Mlsa-H-2d antigens in newborn thymus cells.

Neonatal tolerance induction in the thymus to MHC-class II-associated antigens. II. Significance of MHC antigens in anti-Mls tolerance.

Specificity of anti-Mlsa tolerance induced in BALB/c (H-2d, Mlsb) neonates was investigated by a popliteal lymph node (PLN)-swelling assay for the local graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction by injecting tolerant thymus cells into the footpads of several types of F1 hybrid mice. When thymus cells were obtained from 1-week-old normal BALB/c, they evoked enlargement of PLNs of (BALB/c X DBA/2)F1 (H-2d, Mlsb/a) [CDF1] recipients and of other hybrid recipients, heterozygous in Mlsa,c,d alleles, irrespective of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes. The same thymus cells did not cause the response in MHC-heterozygous F1 hybrids when the hybrids were homozygous in Mlsb, identical with BALB/c mice. Therefore, the PLN response to Mls antigens, known to be closely associated with MHC-class II antigens, was not directed to the class II antigens themselves. This enabled us to examine the effects of MHC on tolerance induction to the Mls antigens. When BALB/c neonates were injected with CDF1 bone marrow cells, complete tolerance to Mlsa-H-2d antigens of CDF1 cells was induced in the thymus, while responsiveness to Mlsa antigens in the context of H-2k and H-2b antigens, was not affected. This indicates MHC-restriction of neonatal tolerance to Mls antigens. Furthermore, when Mls and H-2-heterozygous (BALB/c X AKR)F1 (H-2d/k, Mlsb/a) bone marrow cells served as the tolerogen, thymus cells of BALB/c neonates were also tolerized to Mlsa-H-2k antigens as well as to Mlsa-H-2d antigens, which suggests the involvement of MHC, probably class II antigens of tolerance-inducing cells.

In vivo treatment of neonatal mice with anti-I-A antibodies interferes with the development of the class I, class II, and Mls-reactive proliferating T cell subset.

In this study we investigated the effect of monoclonal anti-I-A Ab treatment of neonatal mice on the development of alloreactive class I-specific, class II-specific, and Mls-specific T cell proliferative responses. Responses to both class I and class II alloantigens, as well as to Mls antigens, were nearly abrogated at the end of the 2- to 3-wk in vivo treatment period in both the thymus and the spleen. Development of suppressor cells could be excluded as the cause of the observed defect. Diminished responsiveness could not be restored by the addition of IL 2-containing supernatant, suggesting that the reduced T cell proliferative response in anti-I-A-treated mice is due to defective or absent MHC-specific T cell precursors. Furthermore, generation of alloreactive class I-specific proliferative responses was dependent on self-class II recognition, thus providing an explanation for the absence of class I-specific proliferating T cells. Finally, a non-Ia-restricted T cell response, i.e., Con A-induced proliferation, was not affected by anti-I-A Ab treatment. It was previously reported that neonatal anti-Ia Ab treatment results in reduced Ia-antigen expression in the thymus, and that the development of the class I-specific CTL precursors proceeds undisturbed in these mice. The present results extend these findings and suggest that in vivo development of class II-restricted T cells is dependent on interaction with Ia-encoded products on cells either in the thymus or at other sites where T cells undergo development. Moreover, these results demonstrate that in vivo development of the alloreactive class II-specific T cell repertoire is dependent on development of self-class II recognition.

Stimulator requirements for primed alloreactive T cells: Macrophages and dendritic cells activate T cells across all genetic disparities

The cellular requirements for stimulating primed alloreactive T cells have been investigated. In vitro-primed secondary alloreactive cells, long-term lines, and Ly 1 +2 − noncytolytic clones which reacted with allo-H-2K, D, or Mls (M locus) antigens were tested. The data indicated that a specialized antigen-presenting cell such as a macrophage or a dendritic cell was required for stimulating primed alloreactive cells across all the genetic disparities tested. B and T lymphocytes were ineffective stimulators. The stimulator requirement for secondary and Ly 1 +2 − clone responses was heterogeneous, since both macrophages and dendritic cells were effective stimulators. Thus, the allostimulator requirement for inducing proliferation and mediator secretion by the primed T-cell populations closely paralleled the requirement for stimulating unprimed populations. The only exception found was the peritoneal washout population, which did not stimulate a primary response but did stimulate secondary responses. The failure of peritoneal macrophages to stimulate a primary response was shown to be due to an inhibitory pathway which did not occur when the responding population was alloantigen primed.

Monoclonal antibody to L3T4 blocks the function of T cells specific for class 2 major histocompatibility complex antigens.

The ability of antibody to Lyt-2 and to the newly described L3T4 antigen to block the functions of helper T cells with specificity for allogeneic class 1 or class 2 MHC subregion antigens was determined. Anti-Lyt-2 blocked both allohelp delivered by unprimed T cells and IL 2 production by primed T cells when the response was directed to class 1 MHC antigens, but had no effect when the response was directed to class 2 MHC or Mls antigens. Anti-L3T4 had reciprocal activity. A control reagent, anti-LFA-1, blocked all responses tested regardless of specificity. This and other reports provide strong evidence that L3T4 is the murine equivalent of the human T cell markers Leu 3/OKT4. The ability of antibodies directed against Lyt-2 and L3T4 to block T cell function in a fashion determined by the class of MHC antigen recognized by the T cell further supports the hypotheses that Lyt-2 and L3T4 molecule in the mouse and Leu-2 and Leu-3 molecules in the human are involved in the interaction of the T cell with class-specific determinants on MHC molecules.

Primary in vivo T Cell Reactivity of NZB Grafts in H-2 Identical Allogenic Hosts

By means of the Simonson GVH-assay and the popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay, the T-cell reactivity of NZB mice against H-2 identical allogenic cells was investigated in vivo and compared to that of normal mice. None of the normal mice did react, but a highly significant NZB response could be demonstrated, which did not depend on differences in Mls antigens. These in vivo results extend previous findings of a T-cell hyperreactivity of NZB mice in primary in vitro reactions. They favour the possibility that the T-cell hyperreactivity might be relevant in vivo in facilitating autoimmune responses.

The role of H-2 in T cell recognition of Mls.

The role of H-2 was evaluated in T cell recognition of Mls-encoded antigens during primary mixed lymphocyte responses (MLR). Mlsc was used as a stimulating determinant in MLR and its recognition by T cells was assessed by linear regression analysis under culture conditions in which (A x B)F1 responder cell number was the factor limiting total response. Results of such experiments indicated the presence of distinct (A x B)F1 responder T cell subpopulations capable of differentially recognizing the foreign Mls antigen in association with one or the other parental H-2 haplotype. These findings demonstrate that T cells do not recognize Mlsc products in isolation, but rather are restricted to recognition of Mlsc in the context of "self" H-2 determinants.

Alloreactive cloned T cell lines. II. Polyclonal stimulation of B cells by a cloned helper T cell line.

A cloned helper T cell line, L2, has been derived that promotes the proliferation of cytolytic T cells with the concomitant expression of cytolytic activity. L2 helper cells also cause a polyclonal stimulation of B cells in the absence of antigen, as measured by the number of total plaque-forming cells (PFC) as well as those generated toward TNP or SRBC. The L2 helper cell function is dependent on cell number, is radioresistant, and is mediated via soluble factor(s). Maximum levels of PFC were generally observed after 4 days of culture, with IgM-secreting B cells being predominantly induced in these cultures. Both the proliferation of and stimulation by L2 helper cells are activated by Misa determinants. F1 progeny from a mating of CBA/N and DBA/2 (Mlsa) that did not bear Mlsa (NDF1) were nonstimulatory, whereas those F1 animals bearing Mlsa (DNF1) induced L2 helper-cell proliferation and function. L2 helper-cell recognition of Mlsa determinants present on the responding B cell surface was not required for polyclonal helper-dependent stimulation in vitro. L2 cells stimulated polyclonal antibody secretion in syngeneic as well as allogeneic B cells. Since Mls antigens are not expressed on T cells, these results indicate that regulatory T cell circuits are initiated by non-T cells, possibly B cells.

Alloreactive cloned T cell lines. I. Interactions between cloned amplifier and cytolytic T cell lines.

Several T cell clones have been derived by limiting dilution of secondary mixed leukocyte culture cells stimulated by H-2- and M locus (Mls)-disparate spleen cells. When examined for the expression of cytolytic activity and the ability to proliferate, these cell clones can be classified into two major categories. One type of cell is noncytolytic; when cultured with irradiated spleen cells, such clones proliferate in response to Mls determinants. Some, but not all, of these clones express Lyt-1 alloantigens. The other type of cell is cytolytic; these clones do not proliferate when cultured with irradiated allogeneic spleen cells unless supernatant fluid (SF) is added. These cytolytic clones express Lyt-2 alloantigens. Some cytolytic clones are specific for H-2Kd and others for H-2Dd alloantigens. Still other cytolytic cell clones exhibit cross-reactive lysis of different H-2-bearing tumor and Con A blast target cells. Noncytolytic T cell clones, when stimulated by Mls antigens, were examined for their ability to promote proliferation of cytolytic T cell clones. All of the noncytolytic cell clones tested were able to promote proliferation of cytolytic cell clones with the concomitant expression of cytolytic activity directed toward the original stimulating alloantigen (H-2d). Amplification of cytolytic activity was dependent upon stimulation of the noncytolytic amplifier T cell clones by Mls antigens. Specific alloantigen (signal 1), however, was not required for proliferation of the cytolytic cell clones; the amplifying signal (signal 2), delivered by the amplifier cell clones, was sufficient alone to promote proliferation of the cytolytic cell clones. Whereas proliferation of the amplifier cells was radiosensitive, the generation of the soluble amplifying signal was radioresistant. Amplification of cytolytic activity was observed when either amplifier cells were physically separated from responding cytolytic cells in Marbrook cultures or when cytolytic cells were cultured with SF collected from amplifier cell cultures. The amplifying factors were neither antigen specific nor strain specific and could be produced by Lyt-1- cells. The availability of cloned T cell lines that retain specific biologic function offers unique opportunities to characterize cell surface proteins and cell-cell interactions.

In Vivo Generation of Hapten-Specific Killer T Cells without Elimination of Suppressor Cells

Abstract We have provided evidence to demonstrate that hapten-specific killer cells can be generated in vivo toward hapten-conjugated syngeneic splenic cells. The critical aspect is to provide an auxiliary cellular antigenic stimulus in addition to the hapten-conjugated syngeneic cells. In our experiments this stimulus was CBA/J splenic cells that possess Mls disparate but H-2 compatible antigens with C3H/HeN hosts. The Mls antigen has been shown by others to activate helper T cells in vitro to synthesize KAF, a signal that prekiller cells require besides target antigen. Killer cells (shown to be T cells) as well as helper T cells were found to be derived from the C3H host. Induction in the host animal of partial tolerance to the auxiliary cells possessing Mls antigen abrogated the response. This system, besides providing a better understanding of the control mechanisms involved in the development of T killer cells in vivo, points to a way in which the latter may be generated toward haptenic moieties on syngeneic cells without the necessity for eliminating suppressor cells. The latter principle may prove highly useful in certain clinical situations.

Search for specific effector functions of C3H X CBA lymphocytes which have proliferated in the spleens of irradiated CBA mice.

Injection of C3H X CBA hybrid lymphocytes into CBA mice specifically reduces the pool of host T cells which are reactive against the Mls antigen determined by the C3H genome. Since C3H X CBA lymphocytes are triggered to cell division in the spleens of irradiated CBA mice we have now examined if such activated cell populations exhibit any effector functions against CBA lymphocytes which are reactive against C3H-determined antigens. It was observed that such 'educated' cell populations were unable to significantly kill CBA lymphocytes which are triggered to cell division in C3H X CBA hosts or CBA lymphocytes which can inhibit proliferation of transplanted C3H X CBA bone marrow cells. Moreover, there was no evidence that such 'educated' cell populations can specifically kill anti-C3H-reactive CBA lymphocytes in vitro or damage CBA bone marrow cells in vivo. Thus, these results do not demonstrate that C3H X CBA lymphocytes acquire any effector functions against CBA T cells which are reactive against C3H-determined antigens.

F1-hybrid anti-parental-strain reactivity. I. Impaired proliferation of CBA lymphocytes in the spleens of irradiated C3H X CBA mice pretreated with CBA spleen cells.

Previous investigations have indicated that C3H X CBA hybrid lymphocytes can neutralize lymphocytes which are reactive against the C3H-determined Mls antigen when injected into the H-2-compatible strain CBA. In this study we have inoculated C3H X CBA hybrids with CBA spleen cells and 2 weeks later lethally irradiated the mice and injected them with CBA lymphocytes to study their proliferation in the host spleen. Proliferation of lymphocytes from CBA mice, but not from C57Bl mice, was significantly impaired in such hosts, indicating that the hybrids had become immunized against the parental cells. In contrast, such an effect was not detected by treating CBA X C57Bl mice with CBA spleen cells. Humoral antibodies in the C3H X CBA hybrids capable of blocking the response of CBA lymphocytes against C3H X CBA cells could not be detected, indicating that inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation is cell mediated rather than by humoral factors.

F1-hybrid anti-parental-strain reactivity. II. Proliferation of C3H X CBA hybrid lymphocytes in the spleens of irradiated CBA mice.

Experiments were conducted to explore whether C3H X CBA lymphocytes can react by proliferation when they meet parental CBA spleen cells. MLC tests could not detect such a reaction, but infusion of C3H X CBA lymph node cells into irradiated CBA hosts resulted in rapid cell proliferation in the host's spleen. Such a cell proliferation was also observed after infusion of T-cell-enriched lymph node cell preparations or thymic cells from C3H X CBA donors. Upon transfer to new irradiated mice these proliferating cells continued to proliferate in CBA mice but not in C3H X CBA mice. Further evidence that the injected T-cells were the proliferating emerged from experiments where AKR X CBA lymphocytes were found to proliferate in spleens of irradiated CBA mice and that most of these cells posessed the theta antigen determined by AKR. Proliferation of F1-hybrid lymphocytes in the spleens of its irradiated parental strains was found not to be a general phenomenon and is probably restricted to some Mls-antigen-compatible strain combinations. The possibility that the C3H X CBA hybrid lymphocytes are stimulated to proliferations by CBA lymphocytes reactive against the C3H-determined Mls antigen is discussed.

Immunological properties of Fc receptor on lymphocytes: 3. Stimulating activities of Fc receptor-bearing and -nonbearing cells in mixed-lymphocyte reaction

By separating FcR + and FcR − cells from stimulator spleens using an EA rosetting procedure, it was found that EA-rosetting (FcR +) cells stimulate mixed-lymphocyte culture reaction (MLR) far more effectively than do non-EA-rosetting (FcR −) cells. The difference in stimulatory activity is observed in MLR of both H-2 and M-locus different combinations and cannot be explained by the proportion of B cells and macrophages contained in each population. The finding that FcR + cells can stimulate allogeneic responding T cells more effectively than FcR − cells suggests a close association of FcR with Ia and Mls antigens on the cell surface.

Influence of an M-locus difference on the cellular and humoral immunological reactivity against H-2 determined antigens of the mouse.

Studies were initiated to determine whether an immune response to the Mls antigen of C3H mice could modify responses of CBA lymphocytes (H-2-compatible) to a foreign H-2 complex. CBA lymphocytes, partially tolerant to the C3H-determined Mls antigen, generated less effector cell activity against C57Bl cells (H-2-incompatible) than lymph node cells from normal CBA donors when infused into irradiated C3H X C57Bl hosts. Effector cell activity was measured as the capacity of the cells in the irradiated spleens to inhibit CBA X C57Bl bone marrow proliferation. In contrast, immunization of CBA mice with C3H X C57Bl cells yielded lower antibody titers against C57Bl cells than immunization with CBA X C57Bl cells. Furthermore, preinjection of CBA mice with C3H X CBA cells strongly reduced the capacity of the animals to produce antibodies against C57Bl cells. Thus, these data support the conclusion that an immune response to a foreign Mls antigen may either enhance or suppress an immune response to H-2-incompatible cells.

Induction of tolerance against the Mls antigen in mice no need for Mls-bearing cells

Infusion of CBA mice with spleen cells from the H-2-compatible, but Mis antigen-incompatible, strain C3H leads to a specific reduction of the MLC reactivity of the host's lymphocytes. One explanation of the reduced reactivity could be that the specifically Mls antigen-responsive CBA T cells become exhausted by intense antigen stimulation or that the infused cells actively neutralize specifically responsive cells. In this investigation, we have shown that depletion of membrane Ig-positive cells from C3H × CBA spleen cell preparations strongly reduces their capacity to stimulate CBA lymphocytes in the MLC, indicating that the Mls antigen is expressed on B but not on T cells. However, such B-cell depleted cell preparations were fully capable of reducing the MLC response of CBA hosts. Cell preparations of spleen and lymph nodes exhibited high stimulatory and inhibitory effects. Thymic cells lacked both these characteristics, whereas bone marrow cells were weak stimulators but relatively strong inhibitors. The results support the proposal that the observed reduction of MLC reactivity is due to an active process of the injected cells. The cell type which is working as an inhibitor has not been clearly defined yet.