Soluble Egg Ag Research Articles

Substance P and somatostatin can modulate the amount of IgG2a secreted in response to schistosome egg antigens in murine schistosomiasis mansoni.

Substance P (SP) and somatostatin 1-14 (SOM) have immunoregulatory properties. Cells within the granulomas of murine schistosomiasis mansoni make both. SP enhances, whereas SOM inhibits soluble egg Ag (SEA)-induced, IFN-gamma production. IFN-gamma is important during IgG2a isotype switching. Thus, we investigated whether SP or SOM could affect IgG2a production in murine schistosomiasis. Our results show that SEA and rIFN-gamma stimulate splenic IgG2a secretion in murine schistosomiasis. Moreover, SP at > or = to 10(-10) M substantially increased both polyclonal as well as SEA-specific, IgG2a secretion from spleen cells challenged with SEA. However, cells exposed to SOM at > or = 10(-10)M showed strong inhibition. Also, both SP and SOM modulated the frequency of IgG2a-producing cells. Splenic IgG2a production in response to SEA, SP, and SOM required the presence of Thy 1.2+ cells, whereas, rIFN-gamma- induced IgG2a synthesis did not. Also, experiments using irradiation lymphocytes showed that SP, SOM, or rIFN-gamma modulation of IgG2a release was not dependent on cell proliferation. The highly specific SP receptor antagonist, CP-96,345, completely inhibited the effect of SP but not SOM on IgG2a release. This suggests that SP acted through an authentic NK-1 receptor and that SOM required a different receptor interaction. Granuloma cells secreted IgG2a constitutively. Yet, neither SEA, SP, SOM, rIFN-gamma, nor blocking anti-IFN-gamma mAb could modulate this constitutive IgG2a release during short term culture conditions. Moreover, the IgG2a secretion also continued in the absence of Thy 1.2+ lymphocytes. However, mice treated with CP-96,345 or octreotide (SOM agonist) in vivo produced granulomas that made little or no IgG2a. Spleen cell experiments showed that SEA, SP, SOM, and rIFN-gamma could only affect SEA-induced, IgG2a production during early stages of Ag stimulation. Thus, unlike the spleen, it is probable that the granulomas contain mostly activated B cells that have completed switch recombination.

Granuloma eosinophils enhance IL-5 production by lymphocytes from mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

IL-5 is essential for granuloma eosinophilia in mice infection with schistosomiasis. The granulomas constitutively make IL-5 that originates from granuloma CD4+ T lymphocytes. This observation prompted us to learn whether non-T cell elements in the granuloma can promote constitutive IL-5 production. Neither granuloma eosinophils nor spleen cells from infected mice constitutively produced detectable levels of IL-5. Yet, mixing spleen cells with granuloma eosinophils resulted in spontaneous IL-5 secretion without promoting IL-4 production. Moreover, the admixed cultures were more responsive to anti-CD3 or soluble egg Ag than were cultures containing spleen cells alone. IL-5 ELISPOT assays in Transwell chambers showed that the cellular origin of IL-5 in the admixed cultures was the spleen cells, and that the phenomenon did not require cell-to-cell contact with granuloma eosinophils. Also, admixed cultures of granuloma eosinophils and spleen cells released less IL-5 in the presence of mAb that specifically blocked the biologic activity of either IL-2, IL-2R, or IAk. However, adding rIL-2 to spleen cell cultures at concentrations up to 100 U/ml could not stimulate secretion of IL-5. Because eosinophil supernatants contained no IL-2 as assessed by CTLL-2 bioassay, the release of IL-5 in response to eosinophils was not likely secondary to eosinophil secretion of IL-2. Thus, it appears that eosinophils produce a soluble substance that, with IL-2 and ongoing class II MHC/TCR interaction, enhances lymphocyte IL-5 output.

The cell-mediated response to schistosomal antigens at the clonal level. III. Identification of soluble egg antigens recognized by cloned specific granulomagenic murine CD4+ Th1-type lymphocytes.

Granulomatous inflammation in schistosomiasis is a consequence of T cell-mediated hypersensitivity to parasite egg Ag. In the present study we used three consecutive independent chromatographic procedures to fractionate and identify the soluble egg Ag recognized by schistosome-specific, cloned, murine, CD4+ Th1-type lymphocytes, which had been shown previously to be capable of mediating granuloma formation in vivo when adoptively transferred to normal syngeneic hosts challenged with an i.v. injection of eggs. The stimulatory activity resided in two acidic egg molecules, with apparent molecular masses of 64 to 68 kDa and 38 to 42 kDa, each of which ran as a single band on SDS-PAGE after purification. Fast performance liquid chromatography and SDS-PAGE performed under reducing conditions suggested that the two molecules are related and that the 38- to 42-kDa molecule is a subunit of the 64- to 68-kDa molecule. Polyclonal lymphoid cells from schistosome-infected mice were similarly stimulated by the purified 64- to 68-kDa and 38- to 42-kDa molecules, implying that these are sensitizing Ag in the natural disease.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulates T lymphocytes to release IL-5 in murine schistosomiasis mansoni infection.

In murine schistosomiasis, granulomas form around ova deposited in the liver and intestines of infected mice. The granulomas have eosinophils that produce vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and T cells that display VIP receptors. IL-5 is a lymphokine important for the development and maturation of eosinophils. It seemed plausible that VIP, released from eosinophils, may interact with lymphocyte VIP receptors and modulate IL-5 production as part of a feedback regulatory circuit. Thus, we determined whether granuloma T cells make IL-5 and whether VIP modulates IL-5 production. Isolated granuloma cells enriched for T lymphocytes spontaneously released IL-5. Culture of these cells in the presence of VIP increased IL-5 secretion. Spleen cells were also studied. Spleen cells from infected mice did not spontaneously release IL-5 or express IL-5 mRNA and VIP did not stimulate these resting spleen cells to produce this IL. However, these cells did express IL-5 mRNA and secreted IL-5 in response to Con A or soluble egg Ag. VIP could not appreciably modulate IL-5 release when cells were cultured with VIP and the Ag or mitogen. Spleen cells washed free of Con A ceased IL-5 secretion within 24 h. These preactivated splenic T cells resumed vigorous IL-5 secretion in response to either Con A or VIP. Yet only Con A prominently induced IL-5 mRNA expression. VIP was an effective stimulus at concentrations equal to or above the kDa of the VIP receptor on both splenic and granuloma T cells (10(-8) M). It is concluded that, in murine schistosomiasis, VIP invokes IL-5 release from activated T cells that are not undergoing immediate TCR stimulation.

CD4+ Th2 response induced by Schistosoma mansoni eggs develops rapidly, through an early, transient, Th0-like stage.

Data from recent studies of murine schistosomiasis mansoni have indicated that certain characteristics of this infection, such as eosinophilia and elevated IgE, are due largely to the induction of Th2-like immune responses by parasite ova. The present study was designed to examine more closely the genesis and development of these skewed Th responses to schistosome eggs. Accordingly, eggs isolated from infected mice were injected s.c. into normal mice. After inoculation, draining lymph node (LN) cells were recovered, phenotyped, and tested for their ability to proliferate and secrete IL-2 and IFN-gamma (as markers of Th1 function) and IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 (Th2 cytokines). The results show a maximal LN enlargement of 40- to 100-fold by day 3 after egg inoculation. The CD4/CD8/B cell ratio at this time is similar to that in LN from normal mice, but increases in numbers of cells expressing very low levels of MEL-14 and high levels of Pgp-1 are evident by days 3 and 10, respectively. Surprisingly, the initial detectable Ag-specific response to schistosome eggs, observed at day 1, is the production of IFN-gamma. By day 3, LN cells are capable of proliferating and making IFN-gamma plus IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 when stimulated with soluble egg Ag and, therefore, appear Th0-like. After 7 to 10 days, IFN-gamma production is severely depressed but the response continues to be characterized by IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-2. Depletion studies indicate that CD4 cells are the major population responsible for Ag-mediated proliferation and cytokine production. Results show that schistosome eggs are autonomous inducers of vigorous Th2-like effector responses. Further, our data, from a system that utilizes an in vivo priming step, support the contentions that skewed Th responses develop via an intermediate Th0 stage is accompanied by a loss of the MEL-14 surface marker and an increase in Pgp-1 expression.

In vivo molecular analysis of lymphokines involved in the murine immune response during Schistosoma mansoni infection. II. Quantification of IL-4 mRNA, IFN-gamma mRNA, and IL-2 mRNA levels in the granulomatous livers, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleens during the course of modulation.

Parasite egg-induced granulomas are the primary pathogenic lesions in murine schistosomiasis mansoni. This cell-mediated granulomatous response is specific for soluble egg Ag and appears to be mediated predominantly by CD4+ Th2 cells. As infection progresses from the acute to the chronic phase, the cell-mediated anti-soluble egg Ag responses attenuate in a process termed modulation. In this study the hypothesis that modulation is effected by a chronic phase increase in Th2-inhibiting Th1 cell activity was investigated. Northern blot quantification of mRNA specific for the Th2 lymphokine, IL-4, and the Th1 lymphokines, IFN-gamma and IL-2, in the spleens, mesenteric lymph nodes, and granulomatous livers of mice infected for various lengths of time over the course of modulation was performed. Also, the capacity of mitogen- and Ag-stimulated spleen cells to produce message for these lymphokines was compared. Peak tissue levels of both IL-4 mRNA and IFN-gamma mRNA were seen in acutely infected mice, and levels of both messages declined as infection became chronic. Stimulated spleen cells from acutely infected mice also produced higher levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma mRNA than cells from chronically infected mice. IL-2 mRNA was never detected in any tissue sample but was detected in the stimulated spleen cells, again with acute phase levels higher than chronic phase levels. Hence, this study shows no evidence for increased Th1 cell activity during chronic infection and suggests that modulation may be effected by a generalized suppression of lymphokine synthesis.

Regulation of granulomatous inflammation in murine schistosomiasis. V. Antigen-induced T cell-derived suppressor factors down-regulate proliferation and IL-2, but not IL-4, production by CD4+ effector T cells.

Acute murine schistosomiasis mansoni is characterized by a vigorous CD4+ delayed-type hypersensitivity T cell-mediated granulomatous immune response to deposited parasite eggs. During the chronic stage of infection the granulomatous response is spontaneously down-modulated by Ag-specific Ts cells and their soluble factors. Recently, we established an in vitro model system whereby soluble egg Ag (SEA)-induced acute and chronic infection-derived Ts cells suppressed the proliferation and IL-2 production of acute infection effector delayed-type hypersensitivity T cells. In the present study, culture supernatants harvested from the induced Ts cell cultures were found to suppress, in a non-cytotoxic manner, the SEA-mediated proliferation and IL-2, but not IL-4 production of acute infection CD4+ splenic T cells. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the factor-mediated suppression of IL-2 in the acute infection cells occurred at the transcriptional level as IL-2 mRNA was suppressed within 10 h of SEA stimulation. The acute (A-TseF) and chronic (C-TseF) infection-derived effector suppressor factors were found to be Ag-specific both in production and elicitation of function, and acted without MHC restriction. Moreover, the A-TseF and C-TseF molecules bear binding sites for SEA and an A-TseF was also shown to bind anti-SEA antibodies. Positive selection by flow cytometry showed that the TseF molecules are produced by Ag-stimulated CD4+ acute or chronic infection splenic cells and that CD4+ cells are the target of the suppression.

Regulation of granulomatous inflammation in murine schistosomiasis. IV. Antigen-induced suppressor T cells down-regulate proliferation and IL-2 production.

In murine schistosomiasis mansoni the cell-mediated immune response to the deposited eggs is mediated by CD4+ delayed-type hypersensitivity effector T (TDH) cells that produce vigorous granulomatous responses in the liver and intestines of acutely infected animals. The response is significantly down-modulated in chronically infected mice by Ag-specific Ts cells. The present study was undertaken to establish an in vitro model by which TDH-Ts cell interactions could be analyzed. To this end, Ts cells were induced in vitro by preculture of chronic or acute infection spleen cells with soluble egg Ag (SEA) for 48 h. The induced cells suppressed the SEA-specific proliferation of acute infection spleen cells by 80 to 95%. The induced suppressor cells were Ag specific in both induction and elicitation of function, and were not cytotoxic to the acute infection splenic target cells. Suppression by the induced cells was manifested within the first 24 h of the SEA-induced response as IL-2 produced by acute infection spleen cells was suppressed 62%. Phenotypic analysis by flow cytometry of the induced suppressor cells showed that CD8+ cells from acute infection spleens and CD4+ and CD8+ cells from chronic infection spleens were effector Ts cells. Taken together, CD4+ and CD8+ SEA-specific Ts cells can be induced in vitro to effectively suppress the SEA-specific lymphoproliferation and IL-2 production of acute infection spleen cells. Establishment of this in vitro model will allow us to further analyze the mechanisms of Ts cell-mediated suppression of TDH cells.

Expression of cross-reactive, shared idiotypes on anti-SEA antibodies from humans and mice with schistosomiasis.

Immunoaffinity-purified antibodies against Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg Ag (SEA) from infected patients' sera differ idiotypically according to the donor's clinical form of the disease. The Id differ both by their ability to stimulate proliferation of anti-Id T cells and their recognition by anti-Id-specific sera. Also, mice infected with S. mansoni develop anti-Id T and B cell responses against mouse anti-SEA antibodies. We now show that anti-SEA antibodies from serum pools of chronic, but asymptomatic patients (AM1 and AM5) stimulate proliferation of spleen cells from mice infected with S. mansoni. However, AM8, anti-SEA antibodies from hepatosplenic patients, did not stimulate these spleen cells. The murine responses directly parallel patient studies where AM1 and AM5 Id-stimulated human PBMC, but AM8 Id did not. In competitive ELISA, using AM1 or AM-5-specific rabbit antisera or human anti-SEA mAb E5-specific rabbit antiserum, sera from mice infected for 8 and 16 wk (but not from uninfected mice) compete with AM1, AM5, or E5. These sera do not compete in the AM8/anti-AM8 competitive ELISA. Sera from 8-wk-infected mice inhibit more against AM1, AM5, and E5 than do sera from later infections, and anti-SEA immunoaffinity-purified antibodies from 8-wk-infected mice stimulate spleen cells from infected mice more than anti-SEA antibodies from sera of mice late in infection. However, spleen cells from more chronically infected mice are more responsive to either the murine or human anti-SEA antibody preparations than cells from mice with earlier infections. Both the ELISA data and lymphocyte responses indicate that anti-SEA antibodies from mice infected with S. mansoni for 8 wk bear Id cross-reactive with those expressed on anti-SEA antibodies from humans with chronic, asymptomatic schistosomiasis, but not those from hepatosplenic patients.

Changing patterns of lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 production and utilization, and IL-2 receptor expression in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

In murine schistosomiasis mansoni the soluble egg Ag (SEA)-induced L3T4+ T cell-mediated circumoval granulomatous response peaks at the acute stage (8w) and undergoes Lyt-1+, Lyt-2+ suppressor cell mediated down-modulation at the chronic stage (20w) of the infection. In the present study lymphoproliferation, IL-2 production, utilization, and IL-2R display were examined in splenic lymphocytes of infected mice. The L3T4+ subset was the major SEA-specific proliferative population at both stages of the infection. Chronic infection spleen cells or the L3T4+ subset proliferated less compared with their acute infection counterparts. Elimination of the Lyt-2+ subset did not improve diminished proliferation. Chronic infection cells and the Lyt-2+ subset stimulated with SEA and exogenous rIL-2 regained their proliferative ability to a level comparable with acute infection cells. Ag-stimulated acute infection T cells produced 40 to 50 chronic infection cells less than 5 U/ml IL-2. Elimination of L3T4+ T cells diminished, and the Lyt-2+ T cells left unchanged IL-2 production in the acute infection cells. Elimination of Lyt-2+ subset from the chronic infection population did not enhance IL-2 production. Exogenously added rIL-2 was equally utilized by acute or chronic infection T cells. Scatchard plots of [125I]IL-2 binding showed similar numbers of high affinity receptors on acute (189) and chronic infection cells (118), but the number of low affinity receptors was higher on the acute (2229) vs the chronic infection lymphocytes (578). Analysis of IL-2R expression by two-color fluorescence and flow cytometry revealed that 30 to 40% of the acute, chronic infection L3T4+ cells displayed receptor. Receptor expression increased by added SEA, or SEA + rIL-2. R display among Lyt-2+ cells was only 12 to 18%. SEA stimulation enhanced receptor display more among the acute, SEA + rIL-2 stimuli raised receptor expression only among chronic infection lymphocytes. These data do not show inherent defect in IL-2R display, or utilization in chronic infection T cells. Diminished IL-2 production appears to be the cause of decreased T cell responsiveness.

Immune responses during human schistosomiasis mansoni. XVI. Idiotypic differences in antibody preparations from patients with different clinical forms of infection.

Antibodies were purified from pooled sera from patients with different clinical forms of schistosomiasis mansoni on immunoaffinity columns of schistosome soluble egg Ag (SEA). As previously reported, T lymphocytes in PBMC preparations from schistosomiasis patients (but not control subjects who have never been infected) proliferate when cultured in the presence of certain of these anti-SEA purified antibodies. We now show that PBMC from most patients with chronic schistosomiasis, regardless of the clinical form of their infection, respond to anti-SEA antibodies from sera of asymptomatic (intestinal) or hepatointestinal patients. In stark contrast, none responds to anti-SEA antibodies purified from sera of acute or hepatosplenic patients. All of these multiclonal anti-SEA antibody preparations were active in anti-SEA ELISA assays and gave comparable patterns of reactivity with SEA upon immunoblotting analysis. Immunization of rabbits with some of these anti-SEA antibody preparations, followed by absorption of the rabbit antisera on absorbents of normal Ig, produced specific anti-Id reagents. Use of these reagents in competitive ELISA systems demonstrated that the Id in stimulatory and nonstimulatory anti-SEA antibody preparations differ with regard to the proportion of the serologically defined Id expressed by each. It appears possible to screen patients' plasmas for the presence of shared Id by use of suitable Id/anti-Id competitive ELISA assays. Taken together these data indicate that only certain Id-positive preparations are stimulatory to patients' PBMC, and the expression of these T cell stimulatory, immunoregulatory Id on anti-SEA antibodies correlates with the clinical form of a patient's infection.

Generation and functional characterization of T cell lines and clones specific for Schistosoma japonicum egg antigen in humans.

T cell lines specific for Schistosoma japonicum egg Ag were established in vitro from patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica, and investigated their possible immunopathologic roles by testing lymphokines production and in vitro granuloma formation assay. All lines tested had surface phenotypes of CD3+ CD4+ CD8-, and showed S. japonicum soluble egg Ag (SEA)-specific proliferation requiring HLA-DR-restricted Ag presentation. Of these fractions of SEA separated by gel filtration, Fraction II (m.w. 7,000 to 18,000) and III (m.w. 7,000) induced strong proliferation of T cell lines, whereas fraction I (m.w. 18,000+) failed to induce detectable proliferation to any T cell lines tested. One of the T cell lines was cloned by micromanipulation: two of eight clones responded only to fraction II, and six to both fractions II and III. We observed that four of eight clones tested produced IL-2 in response to SEA, and three of them were able to transfer S. japonicum egg-specific granulomatous hypersensitivity in vitro to an HLA haplo-identical individual without previous schistosome infection. These immunopathologic functions of T cell clones seemed to be activated by at least two distinct epitopes of SEA. Our present observations suggest that at least two distinct CD4+ human T cells, both of which recognize epitopes expressed on SEA molecules of less than 18 kDa, might have critical roles in granulomatous hypersensitivity to eggs of S. japonicum in humans.

Monoclonal anti-idiotypic and anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies from mice immunized with a protective monoclonal antibody against Schistosoma mansoni.

To study the role of idiotypic anti-idiotypic interactions in schistosomiasis, mice were immunized with a mAb, E.1, which bound to soluble egg and larval stage Ag and also passively transferred resistance to cercarial challenge in mice. Subsequently, hybridomas were produced from E.1 immunized mice and tested for the ability to inhibit E.1 binding to soluble egg Ag. The results showed that anti-idiotypic mAb (Ab2) were produced. The range of inhibitory activity was from 33 to 100%. By using a direct Ab2 binding assay, the Ab2 were shown to be idiotypic specific, not isotype specific. It was also found that six of the hybridomas bound to soluble egg Ag and were therefore anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab3). Ab3 were shown to be inhibited from binding to soluble egg Ag by Ab2. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that an in vivo network relevant to an infectious organism has been reproduced in vitro such that both Ab2 and Ab3 were produced from the same animals independent of exposure to parasite Ag.

Smoke inhalation in firemen.

Thirty firemen were studied with pulmonary function tests immediately after a severe smoke exposure and then one and a half and 18 months later in order to evaluate acute and chronic changes in their spirometry. The results were compared with predicted values and with those from a group of closely matched control subjects. We found no significant differences between the acute post-exposure spirometry values and those recorded at six weeks and 18 months later. A trend toward an increased rate of volume loss in the FVC and FEV1 was noted which is similar to other published observations. However, we did find a significant decrement in FVC compared with predicted value, and in FVC and FEV1 compared with control subjects. This is further evidence that firemen may develop lung disease related to their occupational exposure.