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Signal transduction from proinflammatory stimuli leading to NF-κB-dependent gene expression is mediated by the IκB kinase 2 (IKK2/IKKβ). Therefore, IKK2 has become an important drug target for treatment of inflammatory conditions. T cells, whose activation depends to a large extent on the activity of NF-κB transcription factors, play important roles in inflammation and autoimmunity. Ablation of IKK2 specifically in T cells in CD4cre/Ikk2FL mice allows their survival and activation by polyclonal stimuli in vitro, suggesting that IKK2 is dispensable for T cell activation. We report in this study that IKK2-deficient T cells expand efficiently in response to superantigen administration in vivo, but are completely deficient in recall responses, most likely due to inefficient priming. IKK2-deficient T cells provide suboptimal B cell help and fail to support germinal center reactions. Finally, IKK2 is essential for homeostatic expansion of naive T cells, reflected by the inability of IKK2-deficient T cells to induce colitis in lymphopenic hosts.

Human small intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIEL) are a unique population of CD8αβ+ TCR-αβ+ but CD28− T lymphocytes that may function in intestinal epithelial cell immunosurveillance. In an attempt to define novel cell surface molecules involved in iIEL function, we raised several mAbs against activated iIELs derived from the small intestine that recognized an Ag on activated, but not resting, iIELs. Using expression cloning and binding studies with Fc fusion proteins and transfectants, the cognate Ag of these mAbs was identified as the N domain of biliary glycoprotein (CD66a), a carcinoembryonic Ag-related molecule that contains an immune receptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif. Functionally, these mAbs inhibited the anti-CD3-directed and lymphokine-activated killer activity of the P815 cell line by iIELs derived from the human small intestine. These studies indicate that the expression of biliary glycoprotein on activated human iIELs and, potentially, other mucosal T lymphocytes is involved in the down-regulation of cytolytic function.

Intestinal mucosal lymphocytes are defined by their anatomic location within the epithelium (intraepithelial lymphocytes), the interstitium between the epithelial basement membrane and the underlying muscularis mucosa (lamina propria lymphocytes), or in organized lymphoid tissues (Peyer's patches). Although intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes have a distinct localization, their function has not been determined. To define cell surface proteins that are involved in intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte localization or function, cultured human mucosal lymphocytes were used as immunogens to develop mAbs that react predominantly with this cell population in an immunohistochemical screening assay. Three mAbs were selected that subsequently were found by biochemical analysis to identify a 200-kDa homodimeric polypeptide on 88 to 98% of CD3+ mucosal lymphocytes but only 18 +/- 13% of PBLs. Expression on granulocytes and monocytes was also observed. This polypeptide has been termed p126 based on its SDS-PAGE-determined M(r) under reducing conditions. Cleveland digest maps demonstrated similarity between the p126 and CDw101 polypeptides. Determined amino acid sequence analysis of the purified p126 polypeptide revealed that it is the protein product of the recently identified V7 gene, which has structural similarities to members of the Ig gene superfamily. Two of the anti-p126 mAbs were costimulatory with suboptimal concentrations of anti-CD3 mAb inducing proliferation of cultured intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes. Thus, we conclude that p126 is CDw101 encoded by a gene that predicts a seven-Ig domain chain-like structure. It has restricted expression predominantly on mucosal T lymphocytes and appears to have a costimulatory function of special relevance for CD28- T cells and for mucosal lymphocytes.

A new mAb, designated anti-KCA-3, was developed against rat Kupffer cells. The reactivity of anti-KCA-3 was restricted to macrophages with preferential binding to Kupffer cells; only a few macrophages in the spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, and intestine stained with the antibody. A very small number of peritoneal resident and exudate macrophages reacted with the antibody and no reactivity was seen within the thymus, skin, heart, kidneys, brain, peripheral blood, and bone marrow. KCA-3 was expressed predominantly by the Kupffer cells in the periportal region rather than in the centrilobular region of the hepatic lobules. The cells in the portal tract did not stain with the antibody. The staining of the cytosmears and FACS analysis of the Kupffer cell fraction isolated from hepatic sinusoidal cells by centrifugal elutriation revealed that as many as 62% and 49% of the cells were stained with anti-KCA-3, respectively. Immunoelectron microscopic study of the liver indicated that expression of KCA-3 on Kupffer cells was limited to the plasma membrane facing the sinusoid rather than the space of Disse. Immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated KCA-3 to have a m.w. of approximately 50 kDa under both reducing and nonreducing conditions. After treatment of KCA-3 with N-glycanase, there was no significant change in the m.w., indicating KCA-3 was not highly glycosylated. C3b- and iC3b-mediated rosette formation between Kupffer cells and sensitized SRBC was inhibited by the antibody, implying that KCA-3 functioned as a complement C3 receptor or complement receptor-associated molecule. Furthermore, KCA-3 was eluted from C3b-Sepharose but not HSA-Sepharose after incubation with Kupffer cell lysate, indicating that KCA-3 directly binds C3b. The cell distribution, ligand-binding specificity, and biochemical properties of the protein were found to be different from the complement C3 receptors previously described. Because OX42 (antibody reactive with the rat CR3 receptor) inhibited complement C3-mediated rosette formation with peritoneal resident macrophages but not with Kupffer cells, the findings suggest that C3-mediated binding to Kupffer cells and to peritoneal macrophages is mediated by two different receptors. We conclude that anti-KCA-3 recognizes a novel type of complement C3 receptor preferentially expressed on Kupffer cells.

Monoclonal antibodies reactive with T cells, T cell subsets, B cells, monocytes, and natural killer cells were used to characterize the nature of mucosal lymphocytes in the human small intestine by application of the immunoperoxidase technique to tissue sections for light and electron microscopic examination. In addition, for comparison, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBL) were studied by immunoelectron microscopy. Most of the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were T cells (Leu-1+, T3+) and expressed the phenotype associated with cytotoxic/suppressor T cells (Leu-2a+, T8+). In contrast, a majority of T lymphocytes in the lamina propria expressed the phenotype associated with helper/inducer T cells (Leu-3a+, T4+). These observations confirm and extend the findings previously reported. In addition, a small number of cells in the lamina propria with the ultrastructural features of macrophages were found to react with anti-Leu-3a and anti-T4 antibodies. Although many IEL contained cytoplasmic granules and had ultrastructural features similar to those of circulating granular lymphocytes, none of these cells reacted with anti-Leu-7 (HNK-1), anti-T10, or anti-M1 antibodies. This suggests that IEL may not be related to circulating large granular lymphocytes, which are Leu-7+, T10+, M1+ and are associated with natural killer activity. Not only Leu-7+ PBL, but T8+, T4+, or T3+ mucosal lymphocytes or PBL also may contain cytoplasmic granules. Therefore, the cytoplasmic granules are not restricted to one cell type, in particular, to Leu-7+ cells.

We have assessed the phenotype and specificity of infiltrating mononuclear cells in a model of unilateral ascending acute pyelonephritis induced in rats with nephritogenic Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Histologic examination showed a predominance of mononuclear cells in the interstitium at all periods examined (4, 8, 15, 21, and 25 days), although at 4 and 8 days neutrophils were also abundant. Most of the mononuclear cells had the morphologic appearance of large lymphocytes. Immunoperoxidase studies with mAb showed that most of the mononuclear cells were W3/25+; many were W3/13+ and a small proportion were OX8+. Many of the mononuclear cells were Ia+. T cells were propagated in IL-2-containing media from small fragments of renal tissue with pyelonephritic lesions. Most of the propagated cells were W3/25+; fewer than (10%) were OX8+ or Ia+. T cells propagated from kidneys infected with E. coli responded, in proliferation assays, to the infecting strain or other E. coli strains, but not to P. aeruginosa or enterococci. The response to non-p-pilus-bearing E. coli was as great or greater than to E. coli with adhesins. T cells derived from lesions induced by P. aeruginosa responded to the infecting organisms, but not to E. coli. The response to the infecting organism (E. coli or P. aeruginosa) was MHC restricted, as indicated by the requirement for syngeneic APC. The results show that large numbers of T lymphocytes, especially with the "helper/inducer" phenotype, accumulate in the lesions of acute pyelonephritis in rats. Among the infiltrating T lymphocytes are activated cells and cells with specific reactivity to the infecting bacteria (or related strains). The findings indicate that T lymphocytes play a role within the kidney in response to the invading bacteria.

Activation of human B cells by pokeweed mitogen (PWM), protein A, anti-IgM, or EBV infection results in the expression of a new surface antigen, termed BLAST-2 [EBVCS]. This marker appears before the cells undergo blast transformation as assessed by the initiation of DNA synthesis and expression of the BLAST-1 antigen. Thus, the BLAST-2 [EBVCS] antigen is expressed on both activated and lymphoblastoid cells. The antigen is, in addition, restricted to B cells, as it is not found on cells of T or myeloid lineage derived from peripheral blood, cell lines, or neoplastic cells. However, it is readily detected on chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells of B cell origin and in the germinal centers of tonsils and lymph nodes. Like the BLAST-1 antigen, BLAST-2 [EBVCS] is expressed at a high level only on EBV-transformed B lymphoblasts and has a m.w. close to 45,000. Immunoprecipitation experiments show, however, that the two antigens are expressed on distinct populations of molecules.

A glycoprotein complex of 210,000 and 130,000 m.w., found on mitogen or alloantigen-stimulated human T cells and not on other hematopoietic cells, has been defined by a monoclonal antibody (Mab). The components of this complex are a subset of a larger family of proteins (210,000, 165,000 and 130,000 m.w.) defined by a second Mab. In a panel of hematopoietic cell lines and cell types, only activated T cells (including the cell line HUT-102) express the 210,000/130,000 complex and these cells also express the IL 2 receptor, a characteristic marker for activated T cells. The 210,000/130,000 m.w. complex (reactive with the Mab TS2/7) is present on all long-term activated T cells, including both the OKT4 and OKT8 subsets. The 210,000 m.w. subunit is expressed only on activated T cells. Other lymphoid cells express either the 130,000 m.w. subunit alone (unactivated lymphocytes, thymocytes, HUT-78) or the 130,000 subunit together with a 165,000 subunit (MOLT-4, HSB, and other leukemic T cell lines). The 210,000/130,000 m.w., 165,000/130,000 m.w. and 130,000 m.w. complexes are antigenically related in that all share reactivity with the Mab A- 1A5 . Among non-lymphoid hematopoietic cells and cell lines, none express the 210,000 m.w. chain; adherent cells (monocytes) and myeloid cell lines each express single proteins of 130,000 to 155,000 m.w. Granulocytes and red blood cells are negative and platelets express multiple bands (165,000 and 140,000 m.w.). Immunoperoxidase staining of tissue sections showed that a broad range of tissues and cell types had material cross-reactive with the lymphoid 130,000 m.w. protein. However, only a discrete subset of those tissues and cells including blood vessel walls, connective tissue, smooth muscle, kidney mesangial cells, and some non-cellular matrix tissue, had material cross-reactive with the 210,000 m.w. protein on activated T lymphocytes.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a T cell-mediated neuroimmunologic disease model characterized by meningeal and parenchymal mononuclear cell infiltrates (see preceding companion paper). Here we report enhanced staining for Ia in the central nervous system (CNS) microvasculature endothelium in acute EAE in adult strain 13 guinea pigs (GP) sensitized with GP spinal cord homogenate (SC) or with GP myelin basic protein (MBP) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Cryostat sections of CNS and other tissues were stained with two monoclonal antibodies, 5S2 and 22C4, to GP Ia determinants, and with polyclonal antibody to factor VIII-related antigen (VIII-RA) as an endothelial cell marker. Morphometric techniques were employed on immunoperoxidase counterstained and coded sections to determine the frequency of Ia+ vessels and cells. Rare (approximately 10% of VIII-RA+) vascular endothelial cells were Ia+ in the CNS of normal and CFA-sensitized controls. SC- or MBP-sensitized strain 13 GP sacrificed on day 7, before the onset of neurologic signs (pre-clinical), had no detectable CNS mononuclear cell infiltrates, but had increased (approximately 30% of VIII-RA+) endothelial cell Ia staining over controls (p less than 0.001). The endothelial Ia staining persisted (approximately 35% of VIII-RA+) in vessels as the animals developed paralysis. There were no differences in endothelial cell Ia between SC- and MBP-induced disease. EAE-resistant strain 2 GP sensitized with SC/CFA had no neurologic signs, and had fewer inflammatory foci than strain 13 GP with EAE, but had similar numbers of Ia+ endothelial cells. No differences in endothelial cell Ia staining were found in non-CNS tissues among any GP groups. In EAE, increased endothelial cell Ia is a pre-inflammatory, target organ-specific alteration that persists during inflammation. The findings suggest that in vivo modulation of endothelial cell Ia may be part of the local immune response. Endothelial cells may play a significant role, in antigen presentation or in promoting T cell migration, in the in situ immune response in the CNS.

Growth of normal bone marrow and L2C leukemia cell grafts was studied in lethally irradiated strain 2 and strain 13 guinea pigs by measuring 125IUdR uptake in the spleen and bone marrow and by histologic examination of these tissues. Allogeneic bone marrow cells proliferated as well as syngeneic cells in both strain 2 and 13 animals. Since strains 2 and 13 guinea pigs differ only at the I region of the major histocompatibility complex, this observation indicates that Ia disparities are not relevant to marrow graft rejection in the guinea pig. Both Ia positive and Ia negative L2C leukemia cells of strain 2 origin grew well in the spleen of irradiated strain 2 animals. However, irradiated strain 13 animals showed considerable resistance to the growth of both leukemia cell lines. F1 hybrids (2 × 13) also showed resistance to the growth of the leukemia cells, although resistance was less than in strain 13 animals. These observations suggest the existence of an effector system capable of mediating natural resistance to L2C cells in unimmunized strain 13 and F1 guinea pigs. The nature of antigens recognized by these radiation resistant effector cells are not entirely clear. However, Ia antigens, or tumor-associated antigens dependent upon Ia antigens for immunogenicity, do not seem to be the primary targets in this phenomenon.

We have provided evidence that both major T cell subsets, T4-positive (helper/inducer) and T8-positive (cytotoxic/suppressor), infiltrate human skin allografts. Overall, and in the graft dermis and graft bed, T4-positive cells were predominant (1.5 to 3 times more numerous than T8-positive cells). In contrast, T8-positive cells were relatively more numerous in the epidermis and hair follicles. Rejection probably proceeded by two apparently independent pathways: 1) direct contact killing of graft epithelial cells, presumably by immunologically specific T8-positive cytotoxic cells, and 2) injury of microvascular endothelium of both the graft and graft bed with secondary graft infarction. Although important in first set skin allograft rejection, the mechanism of the second type of killing is uncertain. T4-positive cells were probably involved, as evidenced by their greater numbers; furthermore, studies in mice have shown that transfused helper/inducer cells are able to effect first-set skin graft rejection. It remains to be determined whether T4-positive cells act alone or cooperate with other cells to destroy vessels and bring about graft rejection. Langerhans cells were recognized in epithelial and dermal compartments of both allografts and autografts by their reactivity with anti-T6 and anti-Ia antibodies. We could not determine whether such cells in allografts were of host or donor origin.

The presence of major histocompatibility antigens in malignant melanoma and benign nevomelanocytic lesions and the nature of associated mononuclear inflammatory cells were studied in situ by using monoclonal antibodies and an immunoperoxidase technique. HLA-A,B,C (HLA) and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) were found on malignant melanocytes in primary cutaneous and metastatic melanomas. In contrast, HLA antigens were not identified on nevomelanocytes in benign hyperplasia or nevocellular nevi, although in some cases faint staining for beta 2m was present. The staining of nevomelanocytes for HLA and beta 2 was variable in cases of nevomelanocytic dysplasia. The degree of mononuclear cellular response correlated with the expression of HLA (or beta 2m) on nevomelanocytes. Most of the inflammatory cells were identified as T cells. The majority of T cells were of helper/inducer phenotype, whereas a lesser number were phenotypically suppressor/cytotoxic T cells. The findings suggest that expression of HLA may be involved in triggering or eliciting a cellular immune response against dysplastic or malignant nevomelanocytes.

Previous studies indicated that the human thymus is composed of several discrete compartments. Cortical thymocytes are reactive with a monoclonal antibody, anti-T6 (TL-like) and coexpress antigens defined by antibodies anti-T4 and anti-T8. In contrast, most medullary thymocytes are unreactive with anti-T6, express either T4 or T8 antigens, and more importantly, brightly stain with anti-T3 and anti-T1, which define mature T cell antigens. Only a minor population of cortical thymocytes strongly express T1 and T3 antigens (T1+T3+). In the present study, we characterized this latter subpopulation of brightly staining T1+ cortical thymocytes. Because murine and human cortical thymocytes alone bear receptors for peanut agglutinin (PNA), cortical PNA+ thymocytes were separated from medullary PNA- thymocytes by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and were subsequently fractionated into PNA+T1+ (strongly anti-T1-reactive) and PNA+T1- (unreactive or weakly anti-T1-reactive) populations. The PNA+T1+ cells represented only 10 to 20% of thymic cortical lymphocytes. Whereas the PNA+T1- subset was unresponsive to PHA or alloantigen even in the presence of IL 2, the PNA+T1+ subset gave a brisk response to both stimuli on addition of IL 2. This latter response was similar to that of the PNA-T1+ medullary thymocytes. These results suggest that acquisition of mature T cell antigens is associated with immunocompetence despite a cortical localization.

We have demonstrated that although intestinal epithelial cells in fetuses and young rats do not express Ia antigens, in adult rats intestinal epithelial cells do express Ia antigens, as indicated by immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies. Ia expression by intestinal epithelial cells appeared to be related to an increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL). Most of the IEL were T cells and expressed the phenotype associated with cytotoxic/suppressor T cells, and a large number contained cytoplasmic granules. To directly study a possible modulating effect of IEL on intestinal epithelium, an Ia-negative intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC 17) of rat origin was cultured in the presence of supernatants obtained from Con A- or PHA-stimulated lymphocytes. IEL, as well as spleen cells but not bone marrow cells, were able to secrete a factor(s) capable of inducing Ia antigens on IEC 17 cells, as judged by immunoperoxidase staining and radioimmunoassay. Ia-positive IEC 17 cells were detectable after 12 hr and maximum Ia expression was obtained by 48-hr incubation. Persistence of Ia expression by intestinal epithelial cells required the continued presence of Ia-inducing factor in the medium. Lymphocyte proliferation was not essential for the secretion of the Ia-inducing factor(s). The characteristics and the kinetics of secretion of the Ia-inducing factor were similar to that of an interferon-like activity, but not of interleukin 2. Con A-induced supernatants from IEL and spleen cells were also capable of suppressing the growth of IEC 17 cells. The results of this study indicate that IEL, because of their close association with intestinal epithelial cells, may be involved in modulating a variety of epithelial cell functions, including the expression of Ia antigens. This leads us to speculate that Ia-positive epithelial cells, like Ia-positive macrophages and dendritic cells, may be involved in antigen presentation to T lymphocytes.

We have studied the capacity of unfractionated cells, or of purified populations of T and B cells, prepared from the lymph nodes of sensitized guinea pigs with classical delayed hypersensitivity (DH) or with cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH), to induce reactions in normal syngeneic guines pigs after intradermal injection with antigen (ovalbumin, DNP-BGG, or α,DNP-Lysine11). Injections of cells or antigen alone produced little or no reaction. Injections of antigen and cells from DH donors resulted in delayed onset reactions, which were indurated and which usually contained only a few basophils. With cells from CBH donors, delayed onset reactions were also produced, but these were less indurated and the infiltrate generally contained higher percentages of basophils. Thus, the reactions resembled those in actively immunized animals. With cells from DH donors, reactions were consistently produced with unfractionated cells or T cell preparations, with cell doses as low as 0.5 to 1 × 106. B cell preparations also produced reactions, but only with higher cell doses (2 to 3 × 106); these reactions were probably due to contaminating T cells. With cells from CBH donors, reactions were consistently produced with unfractionated cells, T or B cell preparations in the dose range of 2 to 3 × 106 cells. There was no lower dose at which reactions resulting from B cell preparations could be eliminated while still retaining T cell reactivity. Moreover, doubly purified B cell preparations, with 98% Ig-positive cells, were as effective as singly purified preparations (95% Ig positive). These findings indicate that both T and B cells can initiate CBH reactions and support the interpretation that CBH reactivity is heterogeneous.

Lymphocyte activation entails a sequence of events identified by analyzing the time course of expression of various distinctive cell surface molecules on lymphocytes that appear early (before initiation of DNA synthesis), parallel with DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation, or late (after peak proliferation). In this study we present identification of a novel late lymphocyte activation antigen, Act I, utilizing a murine monoclonal antibody. Anti-Act I was identified in a fusion of NS1 with BALB/c spleen cells immunized with a human tetanus toxoid-reactive T lymphoblast line. Flow cytometry analysis shows that Act I antigen is present in markedly greater amounts on activated T and B lymphocytes than on resting, small peripheral blood lymphocytes. Act I expression by these lymphocytes is promoted by PHA, tetanus toxoid, or alloantigens and lags behind maximal thymidine incorporation by 1 to 2 days. Thymocytes can be triggered to express Act I antigen during maturation induced by PHA/T cell growth factor stimulation. In vitro, anti-Act I does not affect antigen- or lectin-stimulated T cell proliferation, T cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity, or T cell growth factor-induced proliferation of T lymphoblasts. By immunoperoxidase analysis, Act I antigen is restricted to lymphoid tissue, staining many lymphocytes in the paracortex, germinal centers, and mantle zones of lymph nodes, tonsil, and spleen. By immunoprecipitation, the Act I antigen is a single band of 63,000 m.w. on reduced or nonreduced SDS gels. The distribution, size, time course, and functional correlates indicate that Act I is different from other known T cell activation markers detected with anti-Tac, OKT9, B3/25, OKT10, 4F2, CBL1, and anti-Ia-like antibodies. Although the function of Act I is still undetermined, it may serve as a useful marker of a late stage of activation in vitro and in vivo.