Transformed T-cell Lines Research Articles

Virions released from cells transfected with a molecular clone of human T-cell leukemia virus type I give rise to primary and secondary infections of T cells

The ability of molecular clones of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) to direct the synthesis of infectious virions has not previously been demonstrated. An HTLV-I provirus originating from an adult T-cell leukemia patient was cloned into a plasmid vector and is designated pCS-HTLV. This molecular clone was shown to direct the synthesis of viral mRNA and proteins in transiently transfected cells; in addition, virus structural proteins were released into the culture medium. Viral proteins were assembled into virions that sedimented at a buoyant density characteristic of retrovirus particles and whose morphology was verified by electron microscopy. Virions concentrated from transiently transfected cell supernatants were incubated with primary cord blood lymphocytes or with transformed T-cell lines to establish that these particles were infectious. Expression of spliced, viral mRNAs in the T-cell cultures after both primary and secondary infections with cell-free virus revealed that pCS-HTLV encodes an infectious provirus.

Primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are relatively resistant to neutralization by monoclonal antibodies to gp120, and their neutralization is not predicted by studies with monomeric gp120.

A panel of anti-gp120 human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs), CD4-IgG, and sera from people infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was tested for neutralization of nine primary HIV-1 isolates, one molecularly cloned primary strain (JR-CSF), and two strains (IIIB and MN) adapted for growth in transformed T-cell lines. All the viruses were grown in mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were tested for their ability to infect these cells in the presence and absence of the reagents mentioned above. In general, the primary isolates were relatively resistant to neutralization by the MAbs tested, compared with the T-cell line-adapted strains. However, one HuMAb, IgG1b12, was able to neutralize most of the primary isolates at concentrations of < or = 1 microgram/ml. Usually, the inability of a HuMAb to neutralize a primary isolate was not due merely to the absence of the antibody epitope from the virus; the majority of the HuMAbs bound with high affinity to monomeric gp120 molecules derived from various strains but neutralized the viruses inefficiently. We infer therefore that the mechanism of resistance of primary isolates to most neutralizing antibodies is complex, and we suggest that it involves an inaccessibility of antibody binding sites in the context of the native glycoprotein complex on the virion. Such a mechanism would parallel that which was previously postulated for soluble CD4 resistance. We conclude that studies of HIV-1 neutralization that rely on strains adapted to growth in transformed T-cell lines yield the misleading impression that HIV-1 is readily neutralized. The more relevant primary HIV-1 isolates are relatively resistant to neutralization, although these isolates can be potently neutralized by a subset of human polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.

The endocytic pathway for H-ferritin established in live MOLT-4 cells by laser scanning confocal microscopy

We have established the intracellular destination of the putative immunoregulatory protein, human recombinant H (heavy)-ferritin, in the transformed T-cell line MOLT-4, by laser scanning confocal microscopy of live cells. A series of confocal images was collected over a 60 min time course using indirect immunofluorescence of H-ferritin and transferrin, their respective monoclonal antibodies, and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled IgG. A marked drop in FITC fluorescence after 40 min of H-ferritin internalization, indicative of an acidic environment, and co-localization with tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate-labelled-dextran strongly suggests that H-ferritin is transferred to the lysosome. In contrast, transferrin was observed to return to the cell surface. Electron microscopy confirmed that H-ferritin was transferred to the lysosome. The receptor-mediated endocytosis and lysosomal delivery of H-ferritin may thus potentiate its putative immunoregulatory activity.

Marek's disease virus-transformed chicken T-cell lines respond to lymphokines

Current assays for chicken interleukin-2 (IL-2) utilize mitogen-activated lymphocytes. However, very high inter-assay variability and sporadic high background proliferation limit their usefulness. In view of the above, several Marek's disease virus (MDV)-transformed T-cell lines (which grow well in a serum-supplemented medium) were tested for a response to chicken IL-2 when grown in serum-free media. Five of six lines examined showed a dose-dependent proliferative response to chicken T-cell conditioned media. One line, MDCC-CU14, was chosen for further studies. In addition to the tumor cells' dose-dependent responses to semi-purified chicken IL-2, they expressed T-cell activation antigens on the cell surface. Furthermore, the level of surface expression was enhanced on cells provided IL-2. Co-incubation of the tumor cells with monoclonal antibody INN-CH-16 (specific for an antigen on the surface of activated T-cells) and IL-2 resulted in a modulation of lymphokine-induced proliferation. Together, these data suggest that signalling mechanisms in MDV T-cell tumors are intact and that these lines can be used as an assay for chicken T-cell lymphokines. Furthermore, they provide an interesting model for the study of avian and mammalian T-cell transformation. Implications for the study of Marek's disease are also discussed.

Mapping genetic determinants for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 resistance to soluble CD4.

Neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection with soluble CD4 (sCD4) can be achieved over a broad range of concentrations for different virus strains. Laboratory virus strains passaged in transformed T-cell lines are typically sensitive to sCD4 neutralization, whereas primary virus isolates require over 100-fold-higher sCD4 concentrations. Using recombinant viruses generated from a laboratory strain, HIV-1NL4-3, and a primary macrophagetropic strain, HIV-1JR-FL, we mapped a region of gp120 important for determining sensitivity to sCD4 neutralization. This same region has previously been defined as important for macrophage and transformed T-cell line tropism and includes the V3 neutralization domain but does not include regions of gp120 that have been shown to be most important for CD4 binding.

Differential expression of two lck transcripts directed from the distinct promoters in HTLV‐I+ and HTLV‐I− T‐cells

The lck gene encodes a lymphocyte-specific tyrosine protein kinase, p56lck, the expression of which is almost exclusive in T-cells. The expression of lck in human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-transformed T-cell lines is closely associated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) dependence for their growth. That is, IL-2-dependent HTLV-I-transformed cell lines contain the lck message abundantly as HTLV-I-negative T-cell lines, whereas IL-2-independent HTLV-I-transformed cell lines express either no or little lck mRNA, although they are derived from T-cells. The lck gene contains 2 distinct promoters which direct 2 types of lck transcript with different 5' untranslated regions. In this study, we show that HTLV-I-transformed IL-2-dependent T-cell lines contain the upstream promoter-initiated lck transcript exclusively, in contrast to HTLV-I-negative transformed T-cell lines which express the down-stream promoter- as well as the upstream promoter-initiated lck transcript. In addition, lck mRNA disappears transiently in IL-2-dependent HTLV-I-transformed T-cell lines after stimulation for T-cell activation, which is also observed in peripheral blood T lymphocytes. These results indicate that the disappearance of lck mRNA in HTLV-I-transformed, IL-2-independent cell lines is caused by a mechanism which down-regulates the upstream promoter-initiated lck transcript and this IL-2-independent state may represent a further "activated" condition of the IL-2-dependent state by the stimulation which mediates T-cell activation.

Chemoattractant(s) in Culture Supernatants of HTLV-I-Infected T-Cell Lines

Supernatants obtained from four HTLV-I transformed cell lines (MT2, MT4, C91/PL, and 81-66/45) induced in vitro migration of monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and lymphocytes. The MT2, C91/PL, and 81-66/45 cell lines expressed both lymphotoxin (LT) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) mRNA transcripts, and had TNF biological activity. In contrast, the MT4 cells did not express LT mRNA, had low levels of TNF-alpha transcript, and no TNF activity in the supernatant. Anti-TNF-alpha MAb, which blocks the chemotactic activity of recombinant TNF-alpha, had no inhibitory effect on the induction of migration by the MT2 and MT4 supernatants. Hence, no correlation was evident between TNF and chemotactic activity in supernatants of different HTLV-I-infected cell lines. Upon fractionation on Sephadex G50, the monocyte chemoattractant(s) eluted with two peaks in the 8-12 kD region, a size compatible with the chemotactic cytokines IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP). However, anti-IL-8 and anti-MCP antibodies did not have any effect, and Northern blot analysis showed that HTLV-I-transformed cell lines did not express mRNA transcripts of either IL-8 and MCP. These results demonstrate that HTLV-I transformed T-cell lines produce chemoattractant(s) active on PMN and monocytes, distinct from LT, TNF-alpha, IL-8, and MCP. Production of chemoattractants may play a role in the pathogenesis of diseases associated with HTLV-I infection.

Cellular and Molecular Characteristics of Transformed T Cells from an Antigen‐Specific T‐Cell Line

An antigen-specific T-cell line which transforms into T-lymphoma cells in vitro but apparently not in vivo is described. Membrane markers, tumorigenicity and T-cell receptor (TcR) V alpha and V beta-gene usage of the in vitro transformed T-cell line were analysed to investigate whether the transformation event was poly-, oligo-, or monoclonal. The results indicate that the T lymphoma has no chromosome abnormalities, contains no tumour-inducing virus, can induce clone-specific immunity, and is oligoclonal with respect to TcR V alpha and V beta expression. The nature of the transformation event and clinical application of vaccination against T lymphomas is discussed. In addition, the expressed TcR V alpha and V beta repertoire of Con A T blasts was apparently not affected by the Igh-l or the MHC haplotype, as investigated in Igh-l and MHC congeneic C57Bl mice.

Recombinant hydrophilic region of murine retroviral protein p15E inhibits stimulated T-lymphocyte proliferation.

Retroviral envelope protein p15E and antigenically related proteins have been implicated as potential mediators of immune dysfunction associated with retroviral infections and with neoplasia. Due to its extreme hydrophobicity, purified p15E has not been available in a nondenatured form or in sufficient quantities for detailed studies on the mechanisms of its immunosuppressive effects. Therefore, a plasmid was constructed to direct the synthesis in Escherichia coli of the major hydrophilic region of murine p15E. The purified recombinant p15E derivative, soluble under physiological conditions, inhibited by up to 60% (EC50 = 7.5 nM) the anti-CD3-driven proliferation of human T lymphocytes but had no effect on the proliferation of the transformed T-cell line Jurkat. The recombinant protein also inhibited, by up to an average of 92% (EC50 = 2.1 microM), the proliferation of the murine T-cell line CTLL-2. These data (i) provide direct evidence that a retroviral envelope protein can itself inhibit lymphoproliferative function and (ii) map the inhibitory activity to a specific region of p15E. The availability of soluble, recombinant p15E should facilitate studies of the pathogenesis of the immunosuppression accompanying retroviral infections and neoplastic diseases.

Transcription of IL-2 receptor gene is stimulated by ATL-derived factor produced by HTLV-I(+) T cell lines

In HTLV-I transformed T-cell lines established from the patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), there is a constitutive activation of the normal IL-2 receptor (IL-2-R) gene. These cell lines continuously produce an ATL-derived factor (ADF), an IL-2-R inducing factor without IL-2 activity. ADF enhances the expression of the IL-2-R through the augmentation of the IL-2-R mRNA in the HTLV-I(+) T-cell line (ED) as well as the NK cell line cells (YT). In YT cells, the transcriptional initiation of the promoter of the IL-2-R gene was enhanced by ADF but not by IL-2. Production of ADF by HTLV-I(+) T-cell lines may be involved in the abnormal expression of IL-2-Rs on these cells.

Transformation of human leukocytes by co-cultivation with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy patients' leukocytes.

Sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM) were analyzed by Western blotting, and normal human leukocytes were transformed by co-cultivation with HAM patients' leukocytes. The sera and CSF from all HAM patients formed specific bands with HTLV-1 viral proteins, including p19, p24, p28, p32, p40 and p53. After 2-3 weeks of co-cultivation, scattered foci of cell aggregates were noted on macrophage sheets. Surface markers of the transformed cells were OKT3(+), OKT4(+), OKT8(-), IL-2 receptor(+) and EBNA(-). Chromosome analysis showed a normal karyotype. HTLV-1 viral genome was integrated into DNA isolated from transformed cell lines. Electron microscopy revealed type C virus particles in transformed T-cell lines. These results indicate that peripheral leukocytes from HAM patients can transform HTLV-1-negative leukocytes and HAM patients have the potential to acquire adult T-cell leukemia in the future.

Acetylcholine receptor-specific suppressive T-cell factor from a retrovirally transformed T-cell line.

In both experimental and human myasthenia gravis an impairment in the immune regulation leads to an increased synthesis of antibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AcChoR). The present work reports the establishment of an AcChoR-specific suppressive T-cell line obtained by viral transformation of AcChoR-enriched murine T lymphocytes. Enriched T cells from Torpedo AcChoR-primed mice, prestimulated in vitro with antigen, were infected with radiation leukemia viruses and injected intravenously in congeneic recipient mice. Six months later lymphomas were observed in 20% of the injected mice and two of them, of donor origin, were established as permanent continuous cell lines in vitro. One of these lines, named LA41, expresses Thy-1.2, Lyt-2, and I-Jb surface markers. Culture supernatants of LA41 cells suppress the antigen-specific in vitro proliferation of Torpedo AcChoR-primed lymphocytes. This suppression is antigen-specific since the response induced by fetal calf AcChoR and by other antigens is not affected by addition of LA41 culture supernatant in the proliferative assay. LA41 culture supernatant injected in vivo at the time of antigen-priming suppresses also significantly the production of anti-AcChoR antibodies but not the synthesis of antibodies against other antigens--i.e., fetal calf AcChoR or alpha-bungarotoxin. These data show that LA41 cells constitutively produce Torpedo AcChoR-specific suppressor factor.

Physicochemical studies on the antigen-antibody complexes of two monoclonal antibodies against rabbit thymocytes

We have characterized two monoclonal antibodies directed against rabbit thymocyte antigens. Using internally labelled MD, cells (a transformed T-cell line), ART-F immunoprecipitated a membrane glycoprotein of 95,000 mol. wt, while ART-A immunoprecipitated two major glycoproteins, one of 95,000 mol. wt, the other of 105.000mol.wt as analysed on reduced SDS-PAGE. ART-A recognizes 650,000 sites both on rabbit thymocytes and MD 3 cells with an association constant of 1.5 × 10 5/ M. ART-F shows a biphasic binding curve with a high affinity constant of 3.3 and 0.6 × 10 8/ M and a low affinity constant of 2.2 and 6.9 × 10 5/ M for thymocytes and MD 3 cells respectively. The numbers of high affinity and low affinity antigens are 200,000 for the former and 800,000 for the latter. On the basis of the kinetic data, the difference between low and high affinity is attributed to the difference in association-rate constants. The affinity constants calculated from the reaction-rate constants are in good agreement with those obtained from equilibrium measurements. While ART-F prevents the binding of ART-A, ART-A does not inhibit the affinity binding of ART-F. The analysis of the equilibrium, inhibition and kinetic data allow us to present a model for the structural relation of the epitopes recognized on the T-cells by the two monoclonal antibodies.

Human normal CTL clones: generation and properties.

This study reports the production of clones of human killer T cells grown in the presence of TCGF4 following sensitization in MLC against (1) allogeneic cells, (2) autologous Bebv+ lymphocytes, or (3) autologous lymphoma cells. Sensitization against the tumor cells required the addition of macrophages. The expression of the cytotoxic activity of the cloned T lymphocytes required re-stimulation with the specific stimulator cells. The cytotoxic activity seemed to be MHC-restricted, since (1) cloned allosensitized CTL lysed their corresponding allogeneic targets, but did not lyse autologous Bebv+ cell or K562 cells; (2) cloned CTL sensitized against autologous Bebv+ cells lysed their autologous targets but not allogeneic Bebv+ targets or K562 cells; and (3) cloned CTL sensitized against autologous Burkitt lymphoma cells lysed their corresponding lymphoma targets or autologous Bebv+ targets but did not lyse allogeneic lymphoma cells or Bebv+ cells from the same allogeneic lymphoma cells or Bebv+ cells from the same allogeneic donors. The cloned CTL were homogeneous in expressing the OK T8 molecules and in being negative for T4, T10 or M1. At any given time, 25-45% of the cloned cells manifested lytic activity. The ultrastructural properties and cell surface OK T markers were different from those of cloned human NK cells. Emphasis is focused on the differences between the structural, functional and culture characteristics of CTL clones produced by direct isolation of MLC responder cells forming conjugates with specific target cells and those of clones from transformed T-cell lines or from T hybridomas.

Cell-mediated immune response of marmosets to herpesvirus-associated antigens in vitro

Immune responses in vitro of some species of marmosets to herpesvirus-associated antigens expressed on virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) were studied by determining lymphocyte proliferation, interferon production, and the induction of cytotoxic effector cells in mixed lymphocyte-LCL cultures (MLLC). Autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B-cell lines induced neither lymphocyte proliferation nor interferon production in MLLC, while autologous Herpesvirus ateles (HVA)-transformed T-cell lines stimulated responder cell DNA synthesis and interferon production. Both EBV-LCL and HVA-LCL failed to induce cytotoxic effector cells in autologous MLLC responder cells. These findings differ markedly from the human immune response to autologous EBV-LCL in vitro and may have implications for the unusual susceptibility of marmosets to the induction of lymphoproliferative disease following inoculation with oncogenic herpesviruses.