Induction of a type 1 regulatory CD4 T cell response following Vβ8.2 DNA vaccination results in immune deviation and protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Infiltrating T-lymphocyte Receptor Vβ Gene Family Utilization in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

The expression of T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) Vβ genes in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) was investigated. RNA was extracted from the thyroid tissue of 23 patients with early-stage Graves' disease, 19 patients with late-stage Graves' disease and 20 patients with Hashimoto's disease. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients and 20 normal subjects (controls) were analysed in parallel. AITD was found to be associated with diminished TCR Vβ gene family utilization. In addition, AITDs appeared to select for specific TCR Vβ families. The Vβ3, Vβ5 and Vβ8 families were expressed more frequently in thyroid-infiltrating T-lymphocytes of early-stage Graves' disease than other Vβ gene families. Selective expression was not observed in infiltrating T-lymphocytes obtained from thyroid tissue of patients with late-stage Graves' disease or Hashimoto's disease. Preferentially expressed TCR Vβ gene families may be useful as molecular targets for targeted immunotherapy of AITDs.

Sercarzian immunology--In memoriam. Eli E. Sercarz, 1934-2009

During his long career as a principal investigator and educator, Eli Sercarz trained over 100 scientists. He is best known for developing hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) as a model antigen for immunologic studies. Working in his model system Eli furthered our understanding of antigen processing and immunologic tolerance. His work established important concepts of how the immune system recognizes antigenic determinants processed from whole protein antigens; specifically he developed the concepts of immunodominance and crypticity. Later in his career he focused more on autoimmunity using a variety of established animal models to develop theories on how T cells can circumvent tolerance induction and how an autoreactive immune response can evolve over time. His theory of "determinant spreading" is one of the cornerstones of our modern understanding of autoimmunity. This review covers Eli's entire scientific career outlining his many seminal discoveries.

Global expression profiling of peripheral Qa-1-restricted CD8αα+TCRαβ+ regulatory T cells reveals innate-like features: implications for immune-regulatory repertoire

Among peripheral regulatory T cells, CD8(+) T cells also play an important role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. A subset of CD8(+) Treg that express αβ T cell receptor (TCR) and CD8αα homodimers can recognize TCR-derived peptides in the context of the class Ib MHC molecule Qa-1. To gain a better understanding of the nature and phenotype of CD8αα(+)TCRαβ+ Treg, a global gene expression profiling using microarray, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and flow-cytometric analysis was performed using functional Treg clones and lines. The study findings show that CD8(+) Treg shared gene profile expressed by innate-like lymphocytes, including murine intraepithelial lymphocytes and thymic CD8αα(+)TCRαβ+ T-cell populations. In addition, this subset displays differential expression of several key regulatory molecules, including CD200. CD8αα(+) Treg expressed higher levels of a number of natural killer cell-related receptors and molecules belonging to the TNF superfamily. Collectively, peripheral class Ib-reactive CD8αα(+)TCRαβ+ T cells represent a unique regulatory population different from class Ia major histocompatibility complex-restricted conventional T cells. These studies have important implications for the regulatory mechanisms mediated by the CD8(+) Treg population in general.

Enhanced presentation of MHC class Ia, Ib and class II-restricted peptides encapsulated in biodegradable nanoparticles: a promising strategy for tumor immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Many peptide-based cancer vaccines have been tested in clinical trials with a limited success, mostly due to difficulties associated with peptide stability and delivery, resulting in inefficient antigen presentation. Therefore, the development of suitable and efficient vaccine carrier systems remains a major challenge.

METHODS

To address this issue, we have engineered polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles incorporating: (i) two MHC class I-restricted clinically-relevant peptides, (ii) a MHC class II-binding peptide, and (iii) a non-classical MHC class I-binding peptide. We formulated the nanoparticles utilizing a double emulsion-solvent evaporation technique and characterized their surface morphology, size, zeta potential and peptide content. We also loaded human and murine dendritic cells (DC) with the peptide-containing nanoparticles and determined their ability to present the encapsulated peptide antigens and to induce tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro.

RESULTS

We confirmed that the nanoparticles are not toxic to either mouse or human dendritic cells, and do not have any effect on the DC maturation. We also demonstrated a significantly enhanced presentation of the encapsulated peptides upon internalization of the nanoparticles by DC, and confirmed that the improved peptide presentation is actually associated with more efficient generation of peptide-specific CTL and T helper cell responses.

CONCLUSION

Encapsulating antigens in PLGA nanoparticles offers unique advantages such as higher efficiency of antigen loading, prolonged presentation of the antigens, prevention of peptide degradation, specific targeting of antigens to antigen presenting cells, improved shelf life of the antigens, and easy scale up for pharmaceutical production. Therefore, these findings are highly significant to the development of synthetic vaccines, and the induction of CTL for adoptive immunotherapy.

Involvement of IFN-γ and perforin, but not Fas/FasL interactions in regulatory T cell-mediated suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Autoaggressive, myelin-reactive T cells are involved in multiple sclerosis and its prototype experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. A peripheral negative feedback mechanism involving regulatory CD4+ and CD8+T cells (Treg) operates to suppress disease-mediating T cell responses. We have recently characterized a novel population of Qa-1a-restricted, TCR-peptide-reactive CD8αα+TCRαβ+ Treg that induce apoptotic depletion of the encephalitogenic Vβ8.2 cells in vivo and provide protection from EAE. Here we have used mice deficient in perforin, Fas/FasL and IFN-γ molecules to investigate their role in Treg-mediated regulation of EAE. Data show that Fas/FasL interactions are not involved, but regulation mediated by Treg is dependent on the presence of IFN-γ and the perforin pathway. These data provide a molecular mechanism of Treg-mediated killing of the pathogenic T cells and have important implications in the design of immune interventions for demyelinating disease.

T cell targeted immunotherapy for autoimmune disease

Much emphasis has been placed on the so-called "biologics" in the treatment of immune disorders within the last few years. Here we discuss the expanding horizon of potential strategies for immunotherapies targeting T lymphocytes as key effectors and regulators of autoimmunity. We review emerging reagents in a variety of animal models and human disorders that may offer new therapeutic options in current or modified iterations.

T cell receptors in an IL-10-secreting amino acid copolymer-specific regulatory T cell line that mediates bystander immunosuppression

The T cell receptors from the regulatory IL-10-secreting T cell line induced by the random amino acid copolymers poly(F,Y,A,K,)n in SJL mice (H-2(s)) have been characterized, cloned, sequenced and expressed both in 293T cells and in 2 different TCR alpha(-)/beta(-) T cell hybridomas. The usage of TCR alpha and beta V regions in the cell line was oligoclonal. Four TCR alpha/beta pairs cloned from single cells of the T cell line were inserted into a retrovirus vector linked by an oligonucleotide encoding the 2A peptide that spontaneously cleaves in vivo. After cotransfection of this vector with a CD3 vector into the 293T cells, the TCR were surface expressed. Moreover, after transduction into the 2 T cell hybridomas, all 4 were functional as evidenced by their response to stimulation by poly(F,Y,A,K)n. All 4 pairs were Valpha3.2(3.5)/Vbeta14, a prominent clonotype found in the poly(F,Y,A,K)n-specific T cell line. These V regions are identical to those recently found in a regulatory T cell line that secretes both IL-4 and IL-10 induced in B10.PL mice with a different MHC hapotype (H-2(u)) by a small peptide obtained from an autoimmune TCR of that strain. These data lead to a hypothesis regarding the origin of the epigenetic modifications that lead to selective cytokine secretion in T cells.

Targeting myelin proteolipid protein to the MHC class I pathway by ubiquitination modulates the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a multiple sclerosis model, is induced in mice by injection of myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) encephalitogenic peptide, PLP139-151, in adjuvant. In this study, prior to EAE induction, mice were vaccinated with a bacterial plasmid encoding a PLP-ubiquitin fusion (pCMVUPLP). During the relapse phase of EAE, clinical signs, histopathologic changes, in vitro lymphoproliferation to PLP139-151 and interferon-gamma levels were reduced in pCMVUPLP-vaccinated mice, compared to mock-vaccinated mice (controls). Lymphocytes from pCMVUPLP-vaccinated mice produced interleukin-4, a cytokine lacking in controls. Thus, pCMVUPLP vaccination can modulate the relapse after EAE induction.

Immunodominance in the TCR repertoire of a [corrected] TCR peptide-specific CD4+ Treg population that controls experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Immunodominance in self-Ag-reactive pathogenic CD4(+) T cells has been well established in several experimental models. Although it is clear that regulatory lymphocytes (Treg) play a crucial role in the control of autoreactive cells, it is still not clear whether immunodominant CD4(+) Treg clones are also involved in control of autoreactivity. We have shown that TCR-peptide-reactive CD4(+) and CD8(+) Treg play an important role in the spontaneous recovery and resistance from reinduction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in B10.PL mice. We report, by sequencing of the TCR alpha- and beta-chain associated with CD4(+) Treg, that the TCR repertoire is limited and the majority of CD4(+) Treg use the TCR Vbeta14 and Valpha4 gene segments. Interestingly, sequencing and spectratyping data of cloned and polyclonal Treg populations revealed that a dominant public CD4(+) Treg clonotype expressing Vbeta14-Jbeta1.2 with a CDR3 length of 7 aa exists in the naive peripheral repertoire and is expanded during the course of recovery from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Furthermore, a higher frequency of CD4(+) Treg clones in the naive repertoire correlates with less severity and more rapid spontaneous recovery from disease in parental B10.PL or PL/J and (B10.PL x PL/J)F(1) mice. These findings suggest that unlike the Ag-nonspecific, diverse TCR repertoire among the CD25(+)CD4(+) Treg population, TCR-peptide-reactive CD4(+) Treg involved in negative feedback regulation of autoimmunity use a highly limited TCR V-gene repertoire. Thus, a selective set of immunodominant Treg as well as pathogenic T cell clones can be targeted for potential intervention in autoimmune disease conditions.

Revival of CD8+ Treg-mediated suppression

Despite their first recognition almost 40 years ago, CD8(+) 'suppressor' T cells remain poorly characterized. Recent studies of these lymphocytes, now popularly referred to as regulatory CD8(+) T cells (CD8(+) Tregs), have helped clarify their important role in the regulation of autoimmune disease. Here, we review progress related to the identification, phenotype and function of CD8(+) Tregs. We also focus on a newly described subset, CD8alphaalpha(+)TCRalphabeta(+) Tregs, which in mice recognize a T-cell receptor-derived peptide in the context of the class Ib major histocompatibility complex molecule Qa-1. These Tregs target only activated T cells and complement the suppression provided by CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs. Investigations leading to the detailed identification, expansion, maintenance and function of CD8alphaalpha(+) Tregs should result in new therapeutic strategies for human inflammatory diseases.

Vaccines for multiple sclerosis: progress to date

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS, characterized pathologically by a perivascular infiltrate consisting predominantly of T cells and macrophages. Although its aetiology remains unknown, several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that autoimmune mechanisms play a major role in the development of the disease. Several widely used disease-modifying agents are approved for the treatment of MS. However, these agents are only partially effective and their ability to attenuate the more progressive phases of the disease is not clear at this time. Therefore, there is a need to develop improved treatment options for MS. This article reviews the role of several novel, selective vaccine strategies that are currently under investigation, including: (i) T-cell vaccination (TCV); (ii) T-cell receptor (TCR) peptide vaccination; (iii) DNA vaccination; and (iv) altered peptide ligand (APL) vaccination. The administration of attenuated autoreactive T cells induces regulatory networks to specifically suppress pathogenic T cells in MS, a strategy named TCV. The concept of TCV was based on the experience of vaccination against aetiological agents of infectious diseases in which individuals are purposely exposed to an attenuated microbial pathogen, which then instructs the immune system to recognize and neutralize it in its virulent form. In regard to TCV, attenuated, pathogenic T cells are similarly used to instruct the immune system to recognize and neutralize disease-inducing T cells. In experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for MS, pathogenic T cells use a strikingly limited number of variable-region elements (V region) to form TCR specific for defined autoantigens. Thus, vaccination with peptides directed against these TCR structures may induce immunoregulatory mechanisms, thereby preventing EAE. However, unlike EAE, myelin-reactive T cells derived from MS patients utilize a broad range of different V regions, challenging the clinical utility of this approach. Subsequently, the demonstration that injection of plasmid DNA encoding a reporter gene into skeletal muscle results in expression of the encoded proteins, as well as in the induction of immune responses in animal models of autoimmunity, was explored as another strategy to re-establish self-tolerance. This approach has promise for the treatment of MS and, therefore, warrants further investigation. APLs are molecules in which the native encephalitogenic peptides are modified by substitution(s) of one or a few amino acids critical for contact with the TCR. Depending on the substitution(s) at the TCR contact residues of the cognate peptide, an APL can induce immune responses that can protect against or reverse EAE. However, the heterogeneity of the immune response in MS patients requires further study to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from APL therapy. Other potential approaches for vaccines in MS include vaccination against axonal growth inhibitors associated with myelin, use of dendritic cells pulsed with specific antigens, and active vaccination against proinflammatory cytokines. Overall, vaccines for MS represent promising approaches for the treatment of this devastating disease, as well as other autoimmune diseases.

Control of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by CD4+ suppressor T cells: peripheral versus in situ immunoregulation

The pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) can be efficiently kept under control by specialized subsets of CD4+ T lymphocytes able to negatively regulate the function of T cells with encephalitogenic potential. A number of observations support a role for such suppressor T cells in controlling early phases of disease development at the level of peripheral lymphoid organs but there is also evidence suggesting immunoregulation within the central nervous system (CNS) microenvironment itself. This review evaluates the sites of regulation based on available data from distinct experimental models. We then discuss these aspects with reference to suppressor CD4+ T cells induced through the epicutaneous application of pure CNS antigens that confer long term protection against EAE. Finally, we give an overview of genes recently discovered to be important in regulation of the immune system that may also prove to be key players in the modulation of EAE and MS.

Peripheral deletion of antigen-specific T cells leads to long-term tolerance mediated by CD8+ cytotoxic cells

Peripheral deletion is one mechanism by which potentially self-reactive clones are removed whether they escape thymic deletion. We have examined the consequences of deleting Ag-specific T cells by i.v. injection of soluble Ag. Deletion of DO11.10 T cells by peptide was mediated predominately via a Fas/FasL mechanism. Animals that underwent deletion were tolerant to subsequent immunization with Ag, even when tolerant mice were given fresh Ag-specific DO11.10 T cells before immunization. Tolerance was mediated by CD8(+) T cells that killed the DO11.10-transgenic T cells in vivo. These data demonstrate that the programmed cell death of large numbers of T cells leads to peripheral tolerance mediated by CD8(+) CTLs.

T-cell autoreactivity to Hsp in human transplantation may involve both proinflammatory and regulatory functions

Heat shock proteins (Hsp) are moving from the category of basically intracellular chaperone molecules to important proteins in both innate and acquired immune responses, with great potential for clinical application as immunomodulators. Both proinflammatory and regulatory Hsp-reactive T cells have been described in animal models of autoimmune diseases. To investigate the role of autoreactivity to Hsp60 and Hsp70 in human transplantation, we analyzed, sequentially, peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation and cytokine production before and at different time points after renal transplantation, as well as the modulation of proliferation to Hsp in the presence of exogenous cytokines. Proliferation to Hsp60 and Hsp70 in the pretransplantation (pre-Tx) period was significantly associated with rejection episodes in the first months post-Tx. In contrast, IL-4 production was significantly associated with absence of rejection. Addition of exogenous IL-4 distinctly modulated the proliferative response to Hsp60; inhibiting proliferation in 83% of patients in the early post-Tx period (0-6 months), in which rejection episodes occurred, and inducing proliferation in 62.5% of patients in the later period (>12-24 months), when no rejection was observed. Characterization of autoreactive anti-Hsp60 regulatory T cells may permit new approaches to control the proinflammatory response to the graft, as well as aggressive autoimmunity.

Homeostatic control of immunity by TCR peptide-specific Tregs

Regulation of the immune response is a multifaceted process involving lymphocytes that function to maintain both self tolerance as well as homeostasis following productive immunity against microbes. There are 2 broad categories of Tregs that function in different immunological settings depending upon the context of antigen exposure and the nature of the inflammatory response. During massive inflammatory conditions such as microbial exposure in the gut or tissue transplantation, regulatory CD4+CD25+ Tregs broadly suppress priming and/or expansion of polyclonal autoreactive responses nonspecifically. In other immune settings where initially a limited repertoire of antigen-reactive T cells is activated and expanded, TCR-specific negative feedback mechanisms are able to achieve a fine homeostatic balance. Here I will describe experimental evidence for the existence of a Treg population specific for determinants that are derived from the TCR and are expressed by expanding myelin basic protein-reactive T cells mediating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal prototype for multiple sclerosis. These mechanisms ensure induction of effective but appropriately limited responses against foreign antigens while preventing autoreactivity from inflicting escalating damage. In contrast to CD25+ Tregs, which are most efficient at suppressing priming or activation, these specific Tregs are most efficient in controlling T cells following their activation.

DNA vaccination with CD25 protects rats from adjuvant arthritis and induces an antiergotypic response

Ab's to the alpha-chain of the IL-2 receptor (anti-CD25) are used clinically to achieve immunosuppression. Here we investigated the effects of DNA vaccination with the whole CD25 gene on the induction of rat adjuvant arthritis. The DNA vaccine protected the rats and led to a shift in the cytokine profile of T cells responding to disease target antigens from Th1 to Th2. The mechanism of protection was found to involve the induction of an antiergotypic response, rather than the induction of anti-CD25 Ab's. Antiergotypic T cells respond to activation molecules, ergotopes, expressed on syngeneic activated, but not resting, T cells. CD25-derived peptides function as ergotopes that can be recognized by the antiergotypic T cells. Antiergotypic T cells taken from control sick rats did not proliferate against activated T cells and secreted mainly IFN-gamma. In contrast, antiergotypic cells from CD25-DNA-protected rats proliferated against activated T cells and secreted mainly IL-10. Protective antiergotypic T cells were found in both the CD4+ and CD8+ populations and expressed alpha/beta or gamma/delta T cell receptors. Antiergotypic alpha/beta T cells were MHC restricted, while gamma/delta T cells were MHC independent. Thus, CD25 DNA vaccination may induce protection from autoimmunity by inducing a cytokine shift in both the antiergotypic response and the response to the antigens targeted in the disease.

DNA vaccination with CD25 protects rats from adjuvant arthritis and induces an antiergotypic response

Ab's to the alpha-chain of the IL-2 receptor (anti-CD25) are used clinically to achieve immunosuppression. Here we investigated the effects of DNA vaccination with the whole CD25 gene on the induction of rat adjuvant arthritis. The DNA vaccine protected the rats and led to a shift in the cytokine profile of T cells responding to disease target antigens from Th1 to Th2. The mechanism of protection was found to involve the induction of an antiergotypic response, rather than the induction of anti-CD25 Ab's. Antiergotypic T cells respond to activation molecules, ergotopes, expressed on syngeneic activated, but not resting, T cells. CD25-derived peptides function as ergotopes that can be recognized by the antiergotypic T cells. Antiergotypic T cells taken from control sick rats did not proliferate against activated T cells and secreted mainly IFN-gamma. In contrast, antiergotypic cells from CD25-DNA-protected rats proliferated against activated T cells and secreted mainly IL-10. Protective antiergotypic T cells were found in both the CD4+ and CD8+ populations and expressed alpha/beta or gamma/delta T cell receptors. Antiergotypic alpha/beta T cells were MHC restricted, while gamma/delta T cells were MHC independent. Thus, CD25 DNA vaccination may induce protection from autoimmunity by inducing a cytokine shift in both the antiergotypic response and the response to the antigens targeted in the disease.

Apoptosis, tolerance, and regulatory T cells--old wine, new wineskins

Antigen-specific unresponsiveness (or tolerance) has always been an important area of research. Interest in the fate of apoptotic cells and their ability to tolerize has revived interest in some of the older models involving hapten-modified self. Recently, we have examined the mechanisms by which intravenous injection of trinitrophenol-coupled spleen cells leads to systemic tolerance. These studies have revealed an important role for Fas/Fas ligand interactions, caspases, CD40/CD40L, and regulatory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Extension of these studies to peripheral deletion of T-cell antigen receptor transgenic T cells has shown that deletion and active regulation of immune responses may be important mechanisms for the control of potentially damaging autoimmune responses.

Regulatory T cells control autoimmunity in vivo by inducing apoptotic depletion of activated pathogenic lymphocytes

Clinical autoimmunity requires both activation of self-reactive T cells as well as a failure of peripheral tolerance mechanisms. We previously identified one such mechanism that involves regulatory T cells recognizing TCR V beta 8.2 chain-derived peptides in the context of MHC. How this regulation affects the fate of target V beta 8.2(+) T lymphocytes in vivo that mediate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis has remained unknown. The present study using immunoscope and CFSE-labeling analysis demonstrates that the expansion of regulatory CD4 and CD8 T cells in vivo results in apoptotic depletion of the dominant, myelin basic protein-reactive V beta 8.2(+) T cells, but not subdominant V beta 13(+) T cells. The elimination of only activated T cells by this negative feedback mechanism preserves the remainder of the naive V beta 8.2(+) T cell repertoire and at the same time results in protection from disease. These studies are the first in clearly elucidating the fate of myelin basic protein-specific encephalitogenic T cells in vivo following regulation.

Protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis generated by a recombinant adenovirus vector expressing the V beta 8.2 TCR is disrupted by coadministration with vectors expressing either IL-4 or -10

Adenovirus vectors are increasingly being used for genetic vaccination and may prove highly suitable for intervention in different pathological conditions due to their capacity to generate high level, transient gene expression. In this study, we report the use of a recombinant adenovirus vector to induce regulatory responses for the prevention of autoimmune diseases through transient expression of a TCR beta-chain. Immunization of B10.PL mice with a recombinant adenovirus expressing the TCR Vbeta8.2 chain (Ad5E1 mVbeta8.2), resulted in induction of regulatory type 1 CD4 T cells, directed against the framework region 3 determinant within the B5 peptide (aa 76-101) of the Vbeta8.2 chain. This determinant is readily processed and displayed in an I-A(u) context, on ambient APC. Transient genetic delivery of the TCR Vbeta8.2 chain protected mice from Ag-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. However, when the Ad5E1 mVbeta8.2 vector was coadministered with either an IL-4- or IL-10-expressing vector, regulation was disrupted and disease was exacerbated. These results highlight the importance of the Th1-like cytokine requirement necessary for the generation and activity of effective regulatory T cells in this model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: cytokines, effector T cells, and antigen-presenting cells in a prototypical Th1-mediated autoimmune disease

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is widely depicted as the prototypical CD4+ Th1-mediated autoimmune disease. Microglia and perivascular macrophages are believed to act as antigen-presenting cells during the effector phase of EAE. In this article, recent data that challenge these conceptions are reviewed. Several recent studies have shown that myelin-reactive CD8+ T cells can mediate inflammatory demyelination. Furthermore, dendritic-like cells have been detected in EAE lesions and implicated in encephalitogenic T-cell activation. Although Th1 polarizing monokines, such as interleukin-12 (IL-12) and possibly IL-23, are critical for the manifestation of EAE, individual Th1 effector cytokines were found to be dispensible.

Inhibition of adjuvant arthritis by a DNA vaccine encoding human heat shock protein 60

Adjuvant arthritis (AA) is an autoimmune disease inducible in rats involving T cell reactivity to the mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein (HSP65). HSP65-specific T cells cross-reactive with the mammalian 60-kDa heat shock protein (HSP60) are thought to participate in the modulation of AA. In this work we studied the effects on AA of DNA vaccination using constructs coding for HSP65 (pHSP65) or human HSP60 (pHSP60). We found that both constructs could inhibit AA, but that pHSP60 was more effective than pHSP65. The immune effects associated with specific DNA-induced suppression of AA were complex and included enhanced T cell proliferation to a variety of disease-associated Ags. Effective vaccination with HSP60 or HSP65 DNA led paradoxically to up-regulation of IFN-gamma secretion to HSP60 and, concomitantly, to down-regulation of IFN-gamma secretion to the P180-188 epitope of HSP65. There were also variable changes in the profiles of IL-10 secretion to different Ags. However, vaccination with pHSP60 or pHSP65 enhanced the production of TGFbeta1 to both HSP60 and HSP65 epitopes. Our results support a regulatory role for HSP60 autoreactivity in AA and demonstrate that this control mechanism can be activated by DNA vaccination with both HSP60 or HSP65.