Interleukin-2 promotes the motility of dendritic cells and their accumulation in lung and skin

Langerhans Cells Prevent Autoimmunity via Expansion of Keratinocyte Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells

Langerhans cells (LCs) are antigen-presenting cells in the epidermis whose roles in antigen-specific immune regulation remain incompletely understood. Desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) is a keratinocyte cell-cell adhesion molecule critical for epidermal integrity and an autoantigen in the autoimmune blistering disease pemphigus. Although antibody-mediated disease mechanisms in pemphigus are extensively characterized, the T cell aspect of this autoimmune disease still remains poorly understood. Herein, we utilized a mouse model of CD4⁺ T cell-mediated autoimmunity against Dsg3 to show that acquisition of Dsg3 and subsequent presentation to T cells by LCs depended on the C-type lectin langerin. The lack of LCs led to enhanced autoimmunity with impaired Dsg3-specific regulatory T cell expansion. LCs expressed the IL-2 receptor complex and the disruption of IL-2 signaling in LCs attenuated LC-mediated regulatory T cell expansion in vitro, demonstrating that direct IL-2 signaling shapes LC function. These data establish that LCs mediate peripheral tolerance against an epidermal autoantigen and point to langerin and IL-2 signaling pathways as attractive targets for achieving tolerogenic responses particularly in autoimmune blistering diseases such as pemphigus.

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Langerhans cells take up a keratinocyte-expressed autoantigen, desmoglein 3, via langerin.

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Langerhans cells suppress autoimmunity by expanding regulatory T cells.

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IL-2 receptor signaling occurs in Langerhans cells, conditioning them to mediate peripheral tolerance.

Lymphocytes are critical for combating pathogens, but they can cause autoimmune diseases when misdirected against autoantigens. While past experimental models have provided detailed mechanisms utilizing neo-antigens, immune regulation against naturally-expressed autoantigen(s) remains largely unexplored. Herein, we studied immune responses against desmoglein 3, a bona fide autoantigen in pemphigus, and demonstrated that epidermal Langerhans cells (antigen-presenting cells) take up the autoantigen from surrounding keratinocytes via a C-type lectin receptor to induce regulatory T cells, which are critical for immune suppression. IL-2 signaling in Langerhans cells was required to preferentially expand regulatory T cells, providing new insights into mechanisms that regulate autoimmunity.

A novel modulation of structural and functional changes of mouse bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) by interleukin-2(IL-2)

IL-2 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by T cell after antigen activation of T cell and it is so called T cell growth factor. A large number of documents suggest that Il-2 plays pivotal roles in the immune response and now Il-2 is an approved drug being used for various kinds of diseases such as cancer and dermatitis. (1) The aim of present exploration was to look at effect of IL-2 on structural, phenotypic and functional maturation of murine BMDCs. The structural and phenotypic maturation of BMDCs under influence of IL-2 were evaluated by light microscope and flow cytometry (FCM). The functional maturation of BMDCs was confirmed by cytochemistry assay, FITC-dextran, acid phosphatase (ACP) activity, bio-assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).We elucidated that IL-2 up-regulated the expression of key surface markers such as: CD80, CD83, CD86, CD40 and MHC II molecules on BMDCs, down-regulated phagocytosis activity, induced more production of IL-12 and TNF-α secreted by BMDCs. Therefore it can be concluded that IL-2 effectively enhance the maturation of BMDCs. Our results provide direct evidence to support IL-2 would be used as a potent adjuvant in preparation of DC-based vaccines, as well as an immune remedy for cancer situation.

A vaccine strategy with multiple prostatic acid phosphatase-fused cytokines for prostate cancer treatment

Immunotherapy is one of the attractive treatment strategies for advanced prostate cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously approved the therapeutic vaccine, sipuleucel-T, which is composed of autologous antigen-presenting cells cultured with a fusion protein [prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF)]. Although sipuleucel-T has been shown to prolong the median survival of patients for 4.1 months, more robust therapeutic effects may be expected by modifying the vaccination protocol. In the present study, we aimed to develop and validate a novel vaccination strategy using multiple PAP-fused cytokines for prostate cancer treatment. Using a super gene expression (SGE) system that we previously established to amplify the production of a recombinant protein, significant amounts of PAP-fused cytokines [human GMCSF, interleukin-2 (IL2), IL4, IL7 and mouse GMCSF and IL4] were obtained. We examined the activity of the fusion proteins in vitro to validate their cytokine functions. A significant upregulation of dendritic cell differentiation from monocytes was achieved by PAP-GMCSF when used with the other PAP-fused cytokines. The PAP-fused human IL2 significantly increased the proliferation of lymphocytes, as determined by flow cytometry. We also investigated the in vivo therapeutic effects of multiple PAP-fused cytokines in a mouse prostate cancer model bearing prostate-specific antigen (PSA)- and PAP-expressing tumors. The simultaneous intraperitoneal administration of PAP-GMCSF, -IL2, -IL4 and -IL7 significantly prevented tumor induction and inhibited the tumor growth in the PAP-expressing tumors, yet not in the PSA-expressing tumors. The in vivo therapeutic effects with the multiple PAP-fused cytokines were superior to the effects of PAP-GMCSF alone. We thus demonstrated the advantages of the combined use of multiple PAP-fused cytokines including PAP-GMCSF, and propose a promising prostatic antigen-vaccination strategy to enhance the therapeutic effects.

Interleukin-2 is present in human blood vessels and released in biologically active form by heparanase

Interleukin-2 is a multifaceted cytokine with both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive properties. Our laboratory recently demonstrated that the availability of IL-2 is regulated, in part, by association with perlecan, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Given the abundance of perlecan in blood vessels, we asked whether IL-2 is present in vessel walls. Our results indicate that IL-2 is associated with endothelial and smooth muscle cells within the human arterial wall. This IL-2 is released by heparanase, and promotes the proliferation of an IL-2 dependent cell line. Given the presence of IL-2 in human arteries, we asked whether the large vessels of IL-2 deficient mice were normal. The aortas of IL-2 deficient mice exhibited a loss of smooth muscle cells, suggesting that IL-2 may contribute to their survival. In their entirety, these results suggest a here-to-fore unrecognized role of IL-2 in vascular biology, and have significant implications for both the immune and cardiovascular systems.

IL-2 signals through Sgk1 and inhibits proliferation and apoptosis in kidney cancer cells

The interleukin-2 is a cytokine that is essential for lymphocytic survival and function. Ectopic expression of the IL-2 receptor in epithelial tissues has been reported previously, although the functional significance of this expression is still being investigated. We provided novel structural and functional information on the expression of the IL-2 receptor in kidney cancer cells and in other normal and neoplastic human epithelial tissues. In A-498 kidney cancer cells, we showed that IL-2 binding to its own receptor triggers a signal transduction pathway leading to the inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis. We found that the inhibition of proliferation is associated with Erk1/2 dephosphorylation, whereas the survival signals appear to be mediated by Sgk1 activation. This investigation focuses on the IL-2 induced regulation of Sgk1 and describes a role of the IL-2 receptor and Sgk1 in the regulation of epithelial tumor cell death and survival.

Role of IFN-gamma and IL-2 in rat lung epithelial cell migration and apoptosis after oxidant injury

In the present study, IFN-gamma exposure to primary cultures of rat type II epithelial cells (TIIP) upregulated membrane expression of the common gamma-chain of the IL-2 receptor (approximately 2.5- to 4-fold increase) and redistributed receptor affinity in TIIP, as assessed by Western blot, cell, and tissue histochemistry and Scatchard analysis. As for restitution processes of the lung epithelium, functionality of IL-2R on TIIP was conditional to IFN-gamma exposure: 1) IFN-gamma priming promoted a fivefold increase of IL-2-driven TIIP locomotion (P < 0.05 vs. control at 100 U/ml) and 2) IFN-gamma coincubation with IL-2 reduced bleomycin-induced TIIP apoptosis in vitro by 25% (caspase-3 activity) and by approximately 70% (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling/4',6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole assay) as well as in vivo by approximately 90% (caspase-3 activity; P < 0.05 vs. control). Sustained p42/44 extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity played a protective role in this process, whereas specific inhibition by PD-98059 (50 microM) significantly reversed bleomycin-induced TIIP apoptosis (P < 0.05 vs. control). From these in vitro and in vivo data, it is proposed that combinations of IFN-gamma and IL-2 can drive repair activity of TIIP by stimulating migration and preventing programmed cell death, both of which are speculated to be very fast restitution events after oxidant-induced acute lung injury.

Discordant effects of interleukin-2 on viral and immune parameters in human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected monocyte-derived mature dendritic cells

Use of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the immunotherapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has frequently resulted in the restoration of CD4 lymphocyte counts but not of virus-specific responses. We reasoned that the absence of reconstituted functional immune parameters could be related to the inability of IL-2 to correct HIV-induced dysfunctions in antigen-presenting cells. In this study, we used in vitro-differentiated monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and mature dendritic cells (MDDCs), acutely infected with primary HIV-1 isolates, to analyse the effects of IL-2 on virus replication, co-receptor expression, and cytokine or chemokine release. Stimulation of MDMs with IL-2 had no measurable effect on HIV-1 replication, on cytokine secretion, or on CD4 and CXCR4 gene expression. Moreover, although a significant down-regulation of CCR5 mRNA expression could be repeatedly detected in MDMs, this IL-2-mediated effect was not of substantial magnitude to affect virus replication. On the other hand, IL-2 stimulation of MDDCs dramatically increased HIV-1 replication and this effect was highly evident on low-replicating, CXCR4-dependent isolates. Nevertheless, the HIV-enhancing activity of IL-2 in MDDCs was not accompanied by any measurable change in cytokine or chemokine release, in virus receptor and co-receptor mRNA accumulation, or in the surface expression of a battery of receptors implicated in virus entry, cell activation or costimulatory function. Taken together, these findings point to a role for IL-2 in inducing virus purging from dendritic cell reservoirs but indicate no relevant potential of the cytokine in restoring defective elements of innate immunity in HIV infection.

Spontaneous regression of neoplasms: new possibilities for immunotherapy

In mammalian cells, neoplastic transformation is directly associated with the expression of oncogenes, loss or simple inactivation of the function of tumour suppressor genes and the production of certain growth factors. Genes for suppression of the development of the neoplastic cellular immunophenotype, as well as inhibitory growth factors, have regulatory functions within the normal processes of cell division and differentiation. Telomerase (a ribonucleoprotein polymerase) activation is frequently detected in various neoplasms. Telomerase activation is regarded as essential for cell immortalisation and its inhibition may result in spontaneous regression of neoplasms. This phenomenon of neoplasms occurs when the malignant tissue mass partially or completely disappears without any treatment or as a result of a therapy considered inadequate to influence systemic neoplastic growth. This definition makes it clear that the term 'spontaneous regression' applies to neoplasms in which the overall malignant disease is not necessarily cured and to cases where the regression may not be complete or permanent. A number of possible mechanisms of spontaneous regression are reviewed, with the understanding that no single mechanism can completely account for this phenomenon. The application of the newest immunological, molecular biological and genetic insights for more individualised and adequate antineoplastic immunotherapy (alternative biotherapy) is also discussed.

Peribronchiolar accumulation of dendritic cells and their close association with CD4(+) T cells in the murine lung hypersensitivity

In order to understand the interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and helper T (Th) cells in the region exposed to antigens during pulmonary delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), which is considered to be mediated by Th1 cells, we immunohistochemically investigated their spatial relationship in the cellular infiltrate. At 24 hours after intratracheal instillation of hapten in sensitized mice, DCs were preferentially accumulated around the bronchioles, whereas macrophages were more abundant around the accompanying arteries. DCs often formed a cluster, in which they were interconnected with each other by projections. Serial section analysis revealed that clustered DCs made a close apposition to Th cells but much less frequently to cytotoxic T cells and B cells. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that lymphocytes extravasated the capillaries in the peribronchiolar interstitium and made conjugation with DCs. In the interstitial tissue, DCs often adhered to the fibroblasts, suggesting the supportive role of the latter cells in DC migration. Eosinophils were also frequent around the arteries, representing the possible involvement of Th2 cytokines. By contrast, in a chronic type of airway inflammation induced by repeated challenges of aerosolized ovalbumin, DCs were densely and diffusely accumulated around the arteries in the same way as macrophages. The present study demonstrated a close association of DCs with Th cells around the bronchioles during pulmonary DTH, suggesting that local interaction between them in the lung may play important roles in the development of this disorder.

Colonization of in vitro-formed cervical human papillomavirus- associated (pre)neoplastic lesions with dendritic cells: role of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of CD1a+ Langerhans/dendritic cells (LCs/DCs) to infiltrate human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated (pre)neoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix. Migration of LCs/DCs in the presence of keratinocytes derived from normal cervix and HPV-transformed cell lines was evaluated in Boyden chambers and in organotypic cultures and correlated with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production by the cells, as determined by ELISA. Conditioned media of HPV-transformed keratinocytes contained lower amounts of GM-CSF and induced a decreased motile response of LCs/DCs in the Boyden chamber assay compared with those of normal cervical keratinocytes. The migration of LCs/DCs in the presence of conditioned media from normal keratinocytes could be blocked by an anti-GM-CSF antibody, and the migration of LCs/DCs in the presence of conditioned media from HPV-transformed keratinocytes could be increased by supplementing the media with recombinant GM-CSF. GM-CSF was also a potent factor in enhancing the colonization of LCs/DCs into organotypic cultures of HPV-transformed keratinocytes, as the infiltration of LCs/DCs in the in vitro-formed (pre)neoplastic epithelium was minimal under basal conditions and dramatically increased after the addition of GM-CSF to the cultures. These results suggest that GM-CSF could play an important role in the recruitment of LCs/DCs into the HPV-transformed (pre)neoplastic cervical epithelium and be useful as a new immunotherapeutic approach for cervical (pre)cancers.

Comparison of Lung Dendritic Cells and B Cells in Stimulating Naive Antigen-Specific T Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized APCs that are important in priming naive T cells and can be manipulated in vitro and in vivo to enhance immunizations against microorganisms and tumors. A limitation in the development of suitable immunotherapeutic vaccines for the lung is incomplete information on the role of DCs and other potential APCs in the lung in priming naive T cells. In the current study, we analyzed the relative contributions of murine lung DCs and B cells to process and present OVA to naive CD4+ OVA323–339-specific (DO11.10) T cells in vitro. We also examined their expression of MHC class II and accessory molecules before and after maturation in culture. Similar to DCs from other sites, freshly isolated lung DCs can process OVA, spontaneously up-regulate MHC class II and accessory molecules during overnight culture, and stimulate naive T cells in an Ag-specific manner. In contrast, freshly isolated lung B cells were unable to both process and present native OVA. Furthermore, under conditions of limited OVA323–339 peptide exposure, B cells had a significantly diminished capacity to stimulate T cells, and this correlated with a decreased density of both MHC class II and important costimulatory molecules as compared with lung DCs.

Immunohistochemical localization of CD1a-positive putative dendritic cells in human breast tumours

The presence of a high number of infiltrating CD1a+ cells in malignant neoplasms has been reported to be associated with an improved prognosis, reduced tumour recurrence and fewer metastases. This study identified a population of CD1a+ cells within the lymphoid cell infiltrate in human ductal breast carcinoma (n = 52), which was significantly different from normal breast tissue, in which only two out of nine cases expressed CD1a+ cells (P = 0.0192). In the majority of cases, the infiltrate was low compared with the number of macrophages and T cells present (results not shown). There was no correlation between the number of CD1a+ cells and tumour grade, with all tumour grades expressing similar numbers of infiltrating CD1a+ cells. There was clear evidence, however, that the CD1a+ cells were closely associated with tumour cells. It is likely that CD1a+ cells have a role in antigen capture and presentation in human tumours, and this study documents the density of CD1a+ cells in a large sample of all histological grades of human breast carcinomas.

Lymphoid cell infiltration during breast cancer growth: a syngeneic rat model

The systematic study of potential alterations in lymphoid infiltrates during tumour growth is extremely limited in humans. Therefore, development of a model utilizing a spontaneously arising mammary adenocarcinoma in Dark Agouti rats was adopted for the study of the dynamics of lymphoid cell infiltration during tumour development. Syngeneic rats were inoculated with tumour cell suspensions and the tumours were resected from 5 to 15 days. Serial sections were immunohistochemically stained using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Irrespective of tumour age, ED2 (macrophages) and W3/25 (CD4)-positive cells were the most prominent cell infiltrates in tumours. There were no significant differences in cell counts for any marker between 8-day and 15-day tumours. However, in 5-day tumours there were significantly fewer macrophages, OX19+ T cells, W3/25+ cells, OX8+ (CD8) cells and OX62+ dendritic cells. Interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain expression was low at all examined stages of tumour growth, indicating a lack of tumour infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) activation and/or possible TIL anergy. B cell staining was absent in all tumours, negating the possibility of these cells mediating coregulatory signals for TIL activation in the micro-environment of established tumours. The results parallel previous immunohistochemical findings in humans, suggesting that a dysfunctional local immune response in breast cancer may be determined very early during tumour development.

Host Reactive Donor T Cells Are Associated With Lung Injury After Experimental Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation

Noninfectious lung injury is common after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but its association with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is unclear. Using a murine BMT system where donor and host differ by multiple minor histocompatibility (H) antigens, we investigated the nature of lung injury and its relationship both to systemic GVHD and host-reactive donor T cells. Lethally irradiated CBA hosts received syngeneic BMT or allogeneic (B10.BR) T-cell–depleted (TCD) bone marrow (BM) with and without the addition of T cells. Six weeks after BMT, significant pulmonary histopathology was observed in animals receiving allogeneic BMT compared with syngeneic controls. Lung damage was greater in mice that received allogeneic T cells and developed GVHD, but it was also detectable after TCD BMT when signs of clinical and histologic acute GVHD were absent. In each setting, lung injury was associated with significant alterations in pulmonary function. Mature, donor (Vβ6+and Vβ3+) T cells were significantly increased in the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of all allogeneic BMT recipients compared with syngeneic controls, and these cells proliferated and produced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) to host antigens in vitro. These in vitro responses correlated with increased IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the BAL fluid. We conclude that alloreactive donor lymphocytes are associated with lung injury in this allogeneic BMT model. The expansion of these cells in the BAL fluid and their ability to respond to host antigens even when systemic tolerance has been established (ie, the absence of clinical GVHD) suggest that the lung may serve as a sanctuary site for these host reactive donor T cells. These findings may have important implications with regard to the evaluation and treatment of pulmonary dysfunction after allogeneic BMT even when clinical GVHD is absent.

Host Reactive Donor T Cells Are Associated With Lung Injury After Experimental Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation

Noninfectious lung injury is common after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but its association with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is unclear. Using a murine BMT system where donor and host differ by multiple minor histocompatibility (H) antigens, we investigated the nature of lung injury and its relationship both to systemic GVHD and host-reactive donor T cells. Lethally irradiated CBA hosts received syngeneic BMT or allogeneic (B10.BR) T-cell–depleted (TCD) bone marrow (BM) with and without the addition of T cells. Six weeks after BMT, significant pulmonary histopathology was observed in animals receiving allogeneic BMT compared with syngeneic controls. Lung damage was greater in mice that received allogeneic T cells and developed GVHD, but it was also detectable after TCD BMT when signs of clinical and histologic acute GVHD were absent. In each setting, lung injury was associated with significant alterations in pulmonary function. Mature, donor (Vβ6+and Vβ3+) T cells were significantly increased in the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of all allogeneic BMT recipients compared with syngeneic controls, and these cells proliferated and produced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) to host antigens in vitro. These in vitro responses correlated with increased IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the BAL fluid. We conclude that alloreactive donor lymphocytes are associated with lung injury in this allogeneic BMT model. The expansion of these cells in the BAL fluid and their ability to respond to host antigens even when systemic tolerance has been established (ie, the absence of clinical GVHD) suggest that the lung may serve as a sanctuary site for these host reactive donor T cells. These findings may have important implications with regard to the evaluation and treatment of pulmonary dysfunction after allogeneic BMT even when clinical GVHD is absent.