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Spontaneous acceptance of organ allografts can identify novel mechanisms of drug-free transplantation tolerance. Spontaneous acceptance occurs in both mouse kidney transplants and rat liver transplants however the early immune processes of mouse kidney acceptance have not been studied. Acceptance of C57BL/6 strain kidney allografts in fully MHC-incompatible B10.BR recipients was compared with rejection (REJ) of heart allografts in the same strain combination. Graft infiltrate and antibody deposition were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Expression of mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Apoptosis was examined by TUNEL staining. The majority of kidney allografts were accepted long-term and induced tolerance (TOL) of donor-strain skin grafts, showing that acceptance was not due to immune ignorance. There was an extensive infiltrate of T cells in the TOL kidney that exceeded the level in REJ hearts but subsequently declined. The main differences were deposition of IgG2a antibody in REJ that was absent in TOL, more B cells infiltrating TOL kidneys and a progressive increase in the ratio of CD8:CD4 cells during rejection. There was also significantly greater Foxp3 mRNA expression in TOL. Kidneys from RAG-/- donors were accepted, showing that donor lymphocytes were not necessary for acceptance. Neutralising antibodies to TGF-β administered from day 0 to day 6 did not prevent TOL. On the basis of cytokine expression and apoptosis there was no evidence for immune deviation or deletion as mechanisms of acceptance. In accord with the findings of spontaneous acceptance of liver allografts in rats, the main difference between mouse kidney TOL and heart REJ was in the B cell compartment. The major difference to rat liver allograft acceptance was that apoptosis of infiltrate did not appear to play a role. Instead, increased Foxp3 expression in TOL kidneys implies that regulatory T cells might be important., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although donor leukocytes are only thought to prolong survival when administered before transplantation, recent evidence shows that they are effective at transplantation. This study aims to identify the leukocyte subset that is most active in prolonging kidney allograft survival and examine the cytokine expression in long-term acceptance., Methods: PVG rat kidneys were transplanted to completely MHC class I and class II-mismatched DA recipients. Donor B cells or T cells, purified by negative selection, were injected i.v. at the time of transplantation. Expression of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and transforming growth factor-beta mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Immunohistochemical analysis and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining was used to identify infiltrating cells and apoptotic cells, respectively, in sections of kidney allografts., Results: Median kidney graft survival time (MST) of B cell-treated animals (n=5) was >300 days, compared with 7 days in untreated animals (n=7) (P=0.003), whereas animals treated with the same number of T cells (n=6) had a MST of 17 days (P=0.1 vs. untreated, P=0.03 vs. B cell-treated). Examination of the long-term (>300 days) accepted grafts from B cell-treated recipients showed little evidence of kidney damage but a moderate perivascular infiltrate consisting of T and B cells. This infiltrate seemed to be quiescent because there was no detectable expression of IL-2 receptors or of apoptotic cells. It produced little or no cytokine mRNA, because expression in the long-term accepted grafts was similar to levels in normal kidneys or syngeneic transplants. There was a marked increase of cytokine mRNA early after transplantation in both leukocyte-treated and untreated grafts, with more rapid appearance of IFN-gamma and IL-10 in leukocyte-treated grafts., Conclusions: Donor B cells efficiently induce long-term acceptance of transplanted kidneys in a fully MHC-mismatched rat model when administered at transplantation, by a mechanism that seems to be independent of Th2 cytokine expression within the long-term accepted graft.

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is an EBV-encoded transforming protein that strongly mimics the B cell-activating properties of a normal cellular membrane protein, CD40. LMP1 and CD40 both associate with the cytoplasmic adapter proteins called TNFR-associated factors (TRAFs). TRAFs 1, 2, and 3 bind to a region of LMP1 that is essential for EBV to transform B lymphocytes, carboxyl-terminal activating region (CTAR) 1. However, studies of transiently overexpressed LMP1 molecules, primarily in epithelial cells, indicated that a second region, CTAR2, is largely responsible for LMP1-mediated activation of NF-kappaB and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. To better understand LMP1 signaling in B lymphocytes, we performed a structure-function analysis of the LMP1 C-terminal cytoplasmic domain stably expressed in B cell lines. Our results demonstrate that LMP1-stimulated Ig production, surface molecule up-regulation, and NF-kappaB and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation require both CTAR1 and CTAR2, and that these two regions may interact to mediate LMP1 signaling. Furthermore, we find that the function of CTAR1, but not CTAR2, correlates with TRAF binding and present evidence that as yet unidentified cytoplasmic proteins may associate with LMP1 to mediate some of its signaling activities.

T cell dependent B lymphocyte activation requires interactions between numerous receptor-ligand pairs on the two cell types. Recently, advances have been made both in understanding how these various signals regulate B cell effector functions and in identifying many new receptor-ligand pairs that contribute to the regulation of B cell function by T lymphocytes.

B cells are induced to express CD95 upon interaction with T cells. This interaction renders the B cells sensitive to CD95-mediated apoptosis, but ligation of proviability surface receptors is able to inhibit apoptosis induction. MHC class II is a key molecule required for Ag presentation to Th cells, productive T cell-B cell interaction, and B cell activation. We demonstrate here for the first time that MHC class II ligation also confers a rapid resistance to CD95-induced apoptosis, an affect that does not require de novo protein synthesis. Signaling through class II molecules blocks the activation of caspase 8, but does not affect the association of CD95 and Fas-associated death domain-containing protein. MHC class II ligation thus blocks proximal signaling events in the CD95-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) plays a critical role in B cell transformation by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and appears to mimic a constitutively active CD40 receptor. Intracellular tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor (TRAF) adapter proteins, shown to contribute to signaling by both CD40 and LMP1, were recruited by both molecules to lipid-enriched membrane rafts. However, we found that TRAFs 2 and 3 were subsequently degraded after CD40- but not LMP1-induced signaling. This degradation was proteasome-dependent and required direct TRAF binding by CD40. Using a model system designed to directly compare the signaling potency of the cytoplasmic domains of LMP1 and CD40 in B lymphocytes, we found that LMP1 more potently activates c-Jun kinase and nuclear factor kappaB and induces higher levels of several B cell effector functions than does CD40. This suggests that LMP1 utilizes a modified CD40 signaling pathway. Failure to regulate TRAFs may contribute to the enhanced capacity of LMP1 to activate B cells as well as promote B cell transformation.

Members of the imidazoquinoline molecule family, including imiquimod and resiquimod (R-848), have potent antiviral and antitumor activities. Imiquimod cream (5%) (Aldara) is currently indicated for treatment of external genital and perianal warts. Previous characterization of these compounds has focused upon their ability to activate monocytes and dendritic cells, but recent studies have shown that resiquimod also stimulates B lymphocytes to proliferate and express an activated phenotype. This suggests that resiquimod could potentially serve as an effective vaccine adjuvant in stimulating a humoral immune response. This study shows that resiquimod mimics effects of the T-dependent CD40 signal in both mouse and human B cell lines. Resiquimod, like CD40, stimulates antibody secretion, cytokine production, protection from apoptosis, and CD80 upregulation. In addition, it shows synergy with signals delivered by the B cell antigen receptor and heightens CD40-mediated B cell activation, demonstrating that resiquimod can enhance antigen-specific responses in B lymphocytes., (Copyright 2001 Academic Press.)

CD40 is a member of the growing tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) family of molecules, and has been shown to play important roles in T cell-mediated B lymphocyte activation. Ligation of B cell CD40 by CD154 expressed on activated T cells stimulates B cell proliferation, differentiation, isotype switching, upregulation of surface molecules contributing to antigen presentation, development of the germinal center, and the humoral memory response. Several distinct structural motifs in the CD40 cytoplasmic domain regulate various CD40 signaling pathways, which involve both the TNF-R associated factors (TRAFs) and additional signaling proteins, and lead to activation of kinases and transcription factors. CD40-mediated B cell activation is mimicked by several biological response modifiers, as well as by a viral oncoprotein encoded by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

The imidazoquinoline R-848, originally identified as a highly effective antiviral agent, has recently been shown to be capable of potent B lymphocyte activation. The B cell-activating properties of R-848 are strikingly similar to the effects of the CD40 ligand CD154. The present study demonstrates that this similarity extends to the intracellular signaling pathways triggered by the compound, although both overlapping and distinct mechanisms of signaling were seen. Like CD40 ligation, R-848 stimulated activation of the stress-activated protein kinases c-Jun kinase and p38 and activated the NF-kappaB family of transcription factors. Both R-848- and CD40-mediated B cell differentiation were dependent upon NF-kappaB activation, although the relative importance of individual NF-kappaB family members appeared to differ between R-848- and CD40-mediated signals. Both signals were partially dependent upon induction of TNF-alpha and IL-6, and the cytoplasmic adaptor molecule TNF receptor-associated factor 2 is involved in both R-848- and CD40-mediated differentiation.

Signaling through CD40 in B cells leads to B cell proliferation, Ig and IL-6 secretion, isotype switching, and up-regulation of surface molecules. TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) proteins associate with the cytoplasmic tail of CD40 and act as adapter molecules. Of the six TRAFs identified to date, TRAFs 2, 3, 5, and 6 are reported to associate directly with the cytoplasmic tail of CD40, but previous studies have principally examined transient overexpression of TRAF6 in cells that do not normally express CD40. Thus, we examined the role of TRAF6 in CD40-mediated B lymphocyte effector functions using two approaches. We produced and stably expressed in mouse B cell lines a human CD40 molecule with two cytoplasmic domain point mutations (hCD40EEAA); this mutant fails to bind TRAF6, while showing normal association with TRAFs 2 and 3. We also inducibly expressed in B cells a transfected "dominant-negative" TRAF6 molecule which contains only the C-terminal TRAF-binding domain of TRAF6. Using both molecules, we found that TRAF6 association with CD40 is important for CD40-induced IL-6 and Ig secretion, and that TRAF6 mediates its effects on CD40-stimulated Ig secretion principally through its effects on IL-6 production by the B cell. TRAF6 association with CD40 was also found to be important for B7-1 up-regulation, but not for up-regulation of other surface molecules. Interestingly, however, although we could show TRAF6-dependent CD40-mediated activation of NF-kappaB in 293 kidney epithelial cells, no such effect was seen in B cells, suggesting that TRAF6 has cell-type-specific functions.

CD40, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) superfamily, is expressed on the surface of B cells, where its engagement results in IL-6 secretion. In this study, we characterize the specific molecular requirements for CD40-mediated IL-6 production. Engagement of CD40 on either a B cell line or normal mouse splenic B cells with a membrane-bound form of CD154 (also known as CD40L or gp39) induced IL-6 secretion as well as up-regulation of IL-6 mRNA, but cross-linking CD40 with agonistic anti-CD40 mAb did not, although these mAb induce many other CD40 activation events, including the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Using a mouse B cell line stably transfected with various human CD40 (hCD40) cytoplasmic truncation and point mutants, we show that the region from amino acids 202 to 225 in the cytoplasmic domain of CD40 is necessary for IL-6 secretion. However, the carboxy-terminal 32 amino acids are not, although these residues are required for CD40-mediated NF-kappaB activation. In addition, CD40 mutants previously shown to lack binding to TRAF2 and -3 are fully capable of inducing IL-6 production. Thus, CD40-mediated IL-6 induction is independent of NF-kappaB activation and the binding of TRAF2 and -3, but CD40 must be engaged by trimeric CD154 on cell membranes to activate production of IL-6.

CD95-induced apoptosis contributes to the maintenance of homeostasis in both B and T lymphocyte-mediated immunity. B cells increase CD95 expression in response to activation signals and become susceptible to CD95-induced apoptosis. Protection from CD95-mediated death signals can be induced in mature B cells by signals delivered through the B cell Ag receptor. In this paper we demonstrate for the first time that rescue from apoptosis can occur independently of de novo protein synthesis. This rescue from apoptosis prevents activation of caspase 8, the apical caspase in the CD95 death pathway, and CD95-FADD (Fas-associated death domain containing protein) association does not occur normally. Thus B cell activation signals can biochemically modify proximal elements of the CD95 death pathway and regulate the sensitivity of cells to apoptosis induction at an early stage in programmed cell death.

In B lymphocytes, CD40 signals contribute to the activation of Ab secretion, isotype switching, T cell costimulation, and immunological memory. TRAF proteins appear to be important components of the CD40 signal transduction complex, but their roles in the activation of B cell effector functions are poorly understood. We examined the contributions of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and TRAF3 to CD40-activated differentiation in mouse B cells transfected with inducible TRAF and dominant-negative TRAF cDNAs. We find that binding of TRAF2 and TRAF3 to CD40 is not required for the induction of Ab secretion, but that both TRAF molecules can regulate the activation process. We demonstrate a negative regulatory role for TRAF3 and that this activity is dependent on the availability of an intact TRAF3-binding site in the cytoplasmic domain of CD40. In contrast, TRAF2 appears to play a positive role in B cell differentiation, and this activity is apparent even when its binding site on CD40 is disrupted.

Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is required for EBV-induced immortalization of human B cells, and expression of the protein in the absence of other viral proteins leads to an activated phenotype in B cells. It has been well documented that LMP1 causes B cells to up-regulate adhesion molecules, such as LFA-1 and ICAM-1, and coactivation molecules, such as B7-1 and CD23, as well as to activate NF-kappaB. Ligation of the endogenous B cell CD40 molecule also induces these and other activated phenotypic changes. Here, we report that expression of LMP1 also activates B cells to secrete Ig and IL-6 and rescues them from B cell receptor-mediated growth arrest analogous to CD40 signaling. Furthermore, an HLA-A2LMP1 chimeric construct demonstrates that the oligomerization of the carboxyl-terminal 200 amino acids of LMP1 is sufficient for B cell signaling. Finally, we demonstrate that LMP1 and CD40 signaling pathways interact cooperatively in inducing B cell effector functions.

CD40 stimulation, which is crucial for generating an effective T-dependent humoral response, leads to the activation of transcription factors NF-AT (nuclear factor of activated T cells), AP-1 (activator protein-1), and NF-kappaB (nuclear factor-kappaB). However, which CD40-mediated B cell functions actually require activation of specific transcription factors is unknown. We examined the causal relationship between NF-kappaB activation and CD40 effector functions by evaluating CD40 functions in the presence of an inducible mutant inhibitory kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) superrepressor. IkappaBalphaAA inhibited nuclear translocation of multiple NF-kappaB dimers without the complicating effect of depriving cells of NF-kappaB during development. This approach complements studies that use mice genetically deficient in single or multiple NF-kappaB subunits. Interestingly, only a subset of CD40 effector functions was found to require NF-kappaB activation. Both CD40-induced Ab secretion and B7-1 up-regulation were completely abrogated by expression of IkappaBalphaAA. Surprisingly, up-regulation of Fas, CD23, and ICAM-1 was partially independent, and up-regulation of LFA-1 was completely independent, of CD40-induced NF-kappaB activation. For the first time, it is clear that distinct transcription factors are required for the dynamic regulation of CD40 functions.

CD40 signaling to B cells is important for generating an effective humoral immune response. CD40 ligation leads to B cell activation events such as proliferation, Ig secretion, isotype switching, and up-regulation of cell surface molecules, as well as the generation of memory B cells. Many of these events are dependent upon the ability of CD40 to activate the transcription factor NF-kappa B (NF-kappa B). To define the CD40 signaling components upstream of NF-kappa B activation and the functional consequences downstream of NF-kappa B activation, we examined mouse B cell transfectants expressing wild-type or mutant human CD40. Analysis of CD40 cytoplasmic domain truncation and point mutants defined a 10-amino acid CD40 cytoplasmic signaling determinant required for NF-kappa B activation. A threonine residue at position 234, previously shown to be important for CD40 association with TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), TRAF3, and TRAF5, was not required for NF-kappa B activation. This suggests that in B cells, CD40-induced NF-kappa B activation can occur independently of TRAF2 and TRAF5 association. NF-kappa B activation was independent of the transmembrane domain of CD40, suggesting that it is independent of p23, a molecule that associates with CD40 in a region other than the cytoplasmic domain. Proteasome-dependent inhibitory kappa B alpha (I kappa B alpha) and I kappa B beta degradation occurred downstream of CD40 ligation and preceded CD40-mediated NF-kappa B nuclear translocation. CD40- or pervanadate-mediated I kappa B tyrosine phosphorylation was not detected. NF-kappa B activation correlated with the ability of CD40 to induce Ab secretion and the up-regulation of ICAM-1 and LFA-1. However, NF-kappa B activation was insufficient for CD40-mediated up-regulation of B7-1, Fas, and CD23.

CD40 is a 45- to 50-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein that plays an important role in B cell proliferation, survival, memory, and Ig isotype switching. How CD40 engagement couples to these distal events in B cell activation remains poorly understood. In this study, we have examined signal transduction events mediated by CD40 cross-linking in resting murine splenic B cells. In comparison to signaling via the B cell Ag receptor (BCR), CD40 cross-linking was less effective at activating protein tyrosine kinases. Interestingly, however, CD40 engagement resulted in the phosphorylation of both extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Son of sevenless. In addition, both ERK and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activities were increased after both CD40 and BCR ligation. Overnight treatment of cells with phorbol ester as well as pharmacologic inhibitors of protein kinase C abrogated these signaling events after BCR treatment; however, no effect was seen on CD40-mediated activation of ERK or c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, suggesting that the BCR and CD40 differentially utilize protein kinase C to couple with these signaling pathways.

Class II-mediated signals play potential roles in B cell activation and antigen presentation. The regions of the class II molecule participating in B cell signaling are incompletely defined. Our prior analysis of structural requirements of the cytoplasmic domain of A beta revealed that only the eight membrane-proximal residues are required for signaling. Here, we report that the sequence and position of two of these are critical, and present direct evidence that the A beta transmembrane domain is also involved in signaling, via a pathway distinct from the cytoplasmic domain. These results demonstrate that specific regions in both the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of the class II molecule have distinct signaling functions.

Expression of the Thy-1 membrane antigen is generally confined to thymocytes and T lymphocytes, but its expression on B lymphocytes can be induced by culture with the lymphokine IL-4. IL-4 was first reported as a soluble factor capable of participating in the activation of B cells. However, it has been shown that the proliferative response of B cells to IL-4 is dependent upon both their stage of differentiation and their prior exposure to other activating signals--under some conditions, IL-4 can inhibit B cell functions. The present study was designed to determine whether IL-4 signaling induces Thy-1 expression on all B lymphocytes, or whether this induction is dependent upon IL-4-mediated activation. We examined the role of IL-4 in regulating both mRNA and protein levels of Thy-1 in three mouse B cell lines with distinct growth responses to IL-4. IL-4 was required for Thy-1 expression in cells which were dependent upon IL-4 for continuous growth in culture but markedly decreased Thy-1 expression in cells which are growth-inhibited by IL-4. In a mutant subclone of the latter cells in which IL-4 signaling does not cause growth inhibition, IL-4 did not affect Thy-1 expression. The regulation of Thy-1 expression by IL-4 is manifest at the level of Thy-1 mRNA. Thus, IL-4 can both positively and negatively influence B cell expression of Thy-1, depending on the growth response of the cells to IL-4.

Activated T cells induce proliferation and differentiation of resting B cells in vitro through their CD40 molecules and lymphokine receptors. However, despite constitutive B cell expression of CD40 and lymphokine receptors, widespread nonspecific polyclonal B cell activation by activated T cells is seldom observed in vivo. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that signals delivered via the B cell antigen (Ag) receptor (membrane immunoglobulin, mIg) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules enhance B cell responsiveness to CD40-mediated signals, providing specificity to the Ag-nonspecific, MHC-unrestricted CD40 signal. To test this hypothesis, both an Ag-specific mouse B cell clone CH12.LX, and freshly isolated resting splenic B cells were cultured with either soluble or membrane-bound forms of the T cell ligand for CD40 (CD40L), in the presence or absence of additional signals provided by Ag or anti-IgM, interleukin-4, and class II-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb). Differentiation of CH12.LX cells and proliferation of splenic B cells in response to both forms of CD40L was greatly enhanced by exposure to mIg-mediated signals, with greatest enhancement seen when cells were cultured with Ag prior to receiving other signals. Response to CD40L was further enhanced by concurrent culture with class II-specific, but not class I-specific mAb. Enhancement was greatest at limiting concentrations of CD40L. The ability of class II MHC-mediated signals to enhance Ag-specific B cell responsiveness to CD40-mediated signaling may selectively promote the activation of B cell clones capable of cognate interactions with helper T cells.

Unmethylated CpG dinucleotides are more frequent in the genomes of bacteria and viruses than of vertebrates. We report here that bacterial DNA and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides induce murine B cells to proliferate and secrete immunoglobulin in vitro and in vivo. This activation is enhanced by simultaneous signals delivered through the antigen receptor. Optimal B-cell activation requires a DNA motif in which an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide is flanked by two 5' purines and two 3' pyrimidines. Oligodeoxynucleotides containing this CpG motif induce more than 95% of all spleen B cells to enter the cell cycle. These data suggest a possible evolutionary link between immune defence based on the recognition of microbial DNA and the phenomenon of 'CpG suppression' in vertebrates. The potent immune activation by CpG oligonucleotides has implications for the design and interpretation of studies using 'antisense' oligonucleotides and points to possible new applications as adjuvants.

Liver allografts in the fully allogenic combination of LEW donor liver to DA recipient (LEW-->DA) are spontaneously tolerated (TOL) with no requirement for immunosuppression, while DA-->LEW allografts are rejected in 12-15 days (REJ). We investigated the mechanism of tolerance induction by identifying differences between TOL and REJ grafts from day 1 to day 9 after transplantation and in normal livers and syngeneic liver graft controls. Infiltrating cell populations were counted after immunohistochemical staining of liver graft sections. There were occasional minor differences between TOL and REJ grafts in the T cell or CD11b/c+ (monocyte/macrophage/granulocyte) infiltrate. In contrast, there was a major difference in B cell infiltrate between TOL and REJ liver grafts. Membrane IgD+ cells were significantly greater in TOL (1796 +/- 225) versus REJ (569 +/- 281) (P = 0.004) portal tracts, as were B220+ cells (1086 +/- 100 vs. 181 +/- 105, P = 0.0004) and CD45RC+ cells (2317 +/- 456 vs. 597 +/- 194, P = 0.004). IgG1, IgG2a, IgM, and IgD deposition in liver allografts, identified by immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections, revealed no IgG or IgD in normal rat liver and low levels of IgM. Deposition of IgG1 was observed in REJ but not in TOL liver on days 7 and 9. IgM was increased in both TOL and REJ liver and appeared to be associated mainly with hepatocytes in REJ and with infiltrate in TOL liver. There was a parallel increase in IgG1-expressing plasma cells in the spleen and lymph nodes of REJ but not TOL animals. Cytokine mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription and semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification of liver RNA. Increased levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, and IFN-gamma were observed, with similar levels of expression in TOL compared with REJ liver. Cytokine mRNA in syngeneic grafts was not different from normal except for IL-6 and transforming growth factor-beta, which were increased. There is no major difference in the T cell component of the infiltrate or in the extent of upregulation of cytokine mRNA between TOL and REJ grafts. There is a major difference in the B cell compartment, with more B cells in TOL livers and deposition of IgG1 in REJ grafts.

APC use class II molecules of the MHC to present peptide Ag to Th cells. Interaction of the TCR and CD4 with the class II-peptide complex, together with co-stimulatory signals provided by the APC, activates the T cell. B lymphocytes express class II molecules and can also be induced to express co-stimulatory molecules, allowing them to act as APC to Th cells. In addition to T cell activation, class II binding by T cells has been shown to result in the transmission of signals to B cells. Signal transduction via MHC class II has been well documented in B cells of both mice and humans and is implicated in the processes of cellular adhesion, Ag presentation, and Ag-dependent B cell activation. The regions of the class II MHC molecule which are involved in signal transduction to the B cell are not clearly defined. However, previous studies have suggested that the beta chain of the alpha beta heterodimer has a predominant role in B cell signaling. To examine the role of the cytoplasmic domain of this molecule in class II-mediated signaling to a mouse B cell clone, we have prepared and analyzed a set of subclones expressing sequentially truncated forms of A beta b. Our results demonstrate that only the 8 membrane-proximal amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain are required for signaling. However, specific conserved amino acids within this minimal length are required for successful signal transduction; length alone is not sufficient. Examination of the signaling ability of these truncated beta chains suggests that conserved residues at positions 227 and 228 of the cytoplasmic domain may have particularly important effects on signal transduction. A beta b chains from which the entire cytoplasmic domain have been removed are still capable of transmitting a detectable, although reduced, signal to B cells. Thus, the transmembrane and/or extracellular domains may also be involved in the signaling process.

The development of B cell tolerance is believed to involve negative signaling to the B cell derived from the binding of Ag to the B cell surface Ig (sIg). B cell clones that receive negative signals via sIg may provide useful models for studying the mechanisms of negative signaling. We have recently identified a previously undescribed mouse B cell clone, CHB3, which receives growth-inhibitory signals through the binding of IL-4 to its IL-4R or through ligation of its sIgM, but not its sIgD, molecules. Data presented here demonstrate that the negative signal delivered by sIgM, but not that delivered by IL-4R, requires protein kinase C activation and elevated intracellular Ca2+, and is associated with the tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins. Thus, the IL-4R signaling pathway appears to be divergent from the sIgM-mediated pathway. However, growth inhibition mediated via both sIgM and IL-4R can be partially counteracted by a signal delivered through the MHC class II molecule.

The CD5+ B cell lymphoma clone, CH12.LX, endogenously produces IL-4. Blocking the binding of this IL-4 to its cellular receptor inhibited the continuous proliferation of CH12.LX. mAb specific for either IL-4 or the IL-4R profoundly and specifically inhibited the proliferation of CH12.LX cells in a concentration-dependent manner, within 4 h after the addition of mAb. The addition of exogenous rIL-4 alone to CH12.LX cells had no effect on either proliferation or antibody secretion. However, exogenous rIL-4 was able to counteract the effects of anti-IL-4 antibody. Treatment of CH12.LX cells with antisense RNA oligodeoxynucleotides to IL-4 also specifically inhibited cell proliferation and decreased the levels of IL-4 secreted into the culture supernatants by more than 50%, without effect on total RNA or protein synthesis. Effects of antisense IL-4 were also blocked by addition of exogenous IL-4. Control oligodeoxynucleotides of equal size and base composition had no effect, and IL-4 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides did not effect the growth of a B cell lymphoma clone which does not produce IL-4. Blocking the binding of endogenously produced IL-4 to CH12.LX cells did not change the levels of membrane IL-4R or CD5 molecules. However, the constitutive expression of Thy-1 by these B cells was markedly decreased, and anti-Thy-1 antibodies decreased proliferation and PMA-induced aggregation of CH12.LX cells. Autocrine secretion of IL-4 thus appears to be required both for the continuous proliferation of CH12.LX B cells, as well as their expression of Thy-1, which may function either as a homotypic adhesion molecule or a signal transduction molecule for these cells. These findings indicate that endogenously produced lymphokines may play a critical role in the maintenance of B cell hyperproliferative disorders.

By generating phosphorylcholine (PC)-specific, wild-type (mu), and chimeric (mu-I-A alpha) antigen receptor transfectants of mature B cells, we have shown that the COOH terminus of the mu heavy chain is essential for three major functions: immediate signal transduction (measured as changes in intracellular Ca2+), antigen presentation, and induction of immunoglobulin M secretion. A more detailed analysis of structural requirements of the COOH-terminal domains contributing to these functions was achieved by systematically replacing the spacer, cytoplasmic, and transmembranal domains of the mu-I-A alpha chimeric chain with those of mu. Using this rescue approach, we show that the carboxyl two-thirds of the transmembranal domain (proximal to the cytoplasmic domain) is required for induction of intracellular Ca2+, whereas the complete transmembranal domain is required for the function of antigen presentation but is dispensable for induction of antibody secretion.

Cells of the mouse B cell clone, CH12.LX, receive Ag-dependent differentiative signals through their surface membrane class II molecules. The present study was performed to determine the role of class II cross-linking and cAMP in the successful delivery of these signals. Delivery of differentiative signals by anti-Ek mAb was increased by further cross-linking with a secondary anti-isotype antibody. Intact or (Fab')2, but not Fab forms of anti-Ek successfully delivered the Ag-dependent differentiative signal. Inability of monovalent Fab fragments to deliver the signal could not be attributed to an inability to adequately bind Ek molecules. The requirement for cAMP for class II-mediated signaling was also examined, because previous studies have implicated elevated cAMP levels as necessary for class II signaling. Both Ag-dependent, Ek-mediated differentiation and the Ek-mediated inhibition of Ag-independent LPS-induced differentiation were inhibited by the adenyl cyclase inhibitor 2'5'ddA, although elevation of cAMP was not in itself sufficient to deliver the differentiative signal. Inhibition of LPS-induced differentiation could be mediated by mAb binding to either Ek, Abk, or Abb on CH12.LX or an Ab-bearing transfectant, CH12.ABB1. This inhibition was abrogated by 2'5'ddA in the case of Ek or Abb, both of which deliver Ag-dependent differentiative signals to CH12.LX cells. In the case of Abk, which does not deliver such signals to CH12.LX, 2'5'ddA did not abrogate anti-Abk-mediated inhibition of the LPS response. The effects of 2'5'ddA were reversed by the cAMP analog, dibutyryl cAMP, and Ag-dependent-induced differentiation of CH12.LX or CH12.ABB1 was accompanied by an increase in cAMP levels.

Cells of the mouse B cell clone, CH12.LX, secrete IgM when cultured with nominal antigen (sheep erythrocytes, SRBC) and mAbs which bind their membrane Ek molecules. To determine whether anti-Ig antibodies can substitute for antigen in the induction of IgM secretion by CH12.LX, the B cells were cultured with anti-Ek mAbs and anti-IgM or anti-idiotype antibodies. Anti-IgM antibodies were capable of cross-linking the membrane IgM of CH12.LX, and inhibited mitogen-induced differentiation of the B cells. However, anti-IgM could not substitute for SRBC in delivering a major histocompatibility complex-restricted differentiative signal. In contrast, either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies specific for the CH12.LX Ig idiotype were fully capable of substituting for antigen in the induction of IgM secretion by CH12.LX. The binding of anti-IgM antibodies did not prevent anti-idiotype antibodies from delivering a differentiative signal. Thus, binding of ligand to different parts of the membrane Ig molecule can result in the delivery of different biological signals to the B cell.

The topics covered in this review include: the origin and availability of murine B cell lymphomas bearing immunoglobulins of known antigen reactivity; their etiology and the role of antigen in lymphomagenesis; the extent to which such tumors are true analogs of normal B cells; and the knowledge of B cell differentiation which has been derived from the study of these cells. There is little or no evidence that B lymphomas with preselected antigen specificity can be induced at will. However, there is evidence that genetic factors influencing idiotype specific regulation can predispose particular subsets of B cells to neoplastic transformation, and thereby indirectly influence the antigen specificity of the resultant lymphomas. The bulk of evidence suggests that, except for growth control characteristics, recently derived B cell lymphomas retain many of the features of normal lymphocytes. Thus, mechanisms elucidated by study of lymphomas are probably reflective of normal B cell biology.

To investigate the mechanisms by which cyclosporine (CsA) inhibits B-cell function, the effect of this agent on murine B-lymphoma cell lines of the CH series was tested. These lymphomas appear to be derived from a restricted B-cell population on the basis of their common expression of the Ly-1 cell surface marker and autoantibody products. Proliferation of each of the six cell lines tested was inhibited by CsA at doses without effect on the nonlymphoid HeLa cell line. The cell lines, however, differed from each other in their sensitivity to this agent. To correlate this sensitivity to other functional B-cell properties, the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the proliferation of the CH cell lines was tested. Three of the lines showed enhanced proliferation to LPS; two were inhibited while one was unaffected. The cell lines that responded with increased proliferation to LPS were the most sensitive to CsA. These results indicate that sensitivity to CsA may be a common property of B cells of certain lineages, although the degree of sensitivity may be influenced by the activation properties of these cells.

CH12.LX, an in vitro subclone of a murine B cell lymphoma that makes IgM reactive with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC), has cell surface receptors for the lymphokine interleukin 2 (IL 2). The binding of recombinant murine IL 2 to these receptors did not stimulate CH12.LX cells to differentiate and secrete antibody. However, the binding of either of two monoclonal antibodies (Mab) specific for the IL 2 receptor increased the proportion of CH12.LX cells that secrete hemolytic IgM. The effect did not require the presence of antigen. One of the Mab, 3C7, is known to block the binding of IL2 to its receptor on T cells, whereas the other, 7D4, which also reacts with the IL 2 receptor, does not block the binding of IL 2. The differentiation of CH12.LX induced by 3C7, but not that induced by 7D4, was inhibited by recombinant IL 2. Neither IL 2 (up to 200 U/ml) nor 3C7 (up to 10 micrograms/ml) had any significant influence on incorporation of [3H]thymidine; 7D4 at 10 micrograms/ml decreased thymidine incorporation by about 60%. Mitomycin C and hydroxyurea, which both inhibit the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into CH12.LX cells, also both induce antibody secretion. In both cases, the concentration necessary to cause differentiation is substantially lower than that needed to cause detectable inhibition of thymidine uptake. We conclude that the IL 2 receptor on CH12.LX cells is a functional signal transducing molecule, and we discuss the possible inverse relationship between proliferation and differentiation.

The mouse B-cell clone, CH12.LX (Iak, Ly-1+, mu+, delta+), can be induced to differentiate and secrete antibody in an antigen-specific, H-2-restricted manner. Induction requires two signals. One must be provided by the binding of specific antigen to the membrane IgM; the other is delivered by the binding of Ek-specific T-cell hybridomas to the Ek molecules of CH12.LX (Bishop and Haughton 1986). Previous studies demonstrated that Ek-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) could substitute for T cells in delivering the second differentiative signal (Bishop and Haughton 1986). Although CH12.LX cells present Ak to Ak-restricted or alloreactive T-helper cells, neither T cells nor mAbs specific for Ak induce differentiation (Bishop and Haughton 1986). However, since the Akspecific mAbs tested previously were beta-chain-specific and the Ia epitope specificity of the T cells used was unknown, it is possible that the differentiative signal delivered to the CH12.LX class II molecule is chain-specific. Here we report the effects of ten additional Iak-specific mAbs upon the differentiation of CH12.LX. In addition, a cDNA library was prepared from CH12.LX cells, clones corresponding to the alpha and beta chains of the Ak molecule were isolated, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Finally, the Ak and Ek molecules of CH12.LX and H-2k spleen cells were compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to examine possible post-translational differences in the Iak molecules of CH12.LX.

The spleens of normal B10.H-2aH-4bp/Wts (2a4b) mice contain cells which, in response to mitogen stimulation, secrete hemolytic antibody specific for a determinant present on both sheep and bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes. These cells were found to be Ly-1 positive. Approximately 50% of these cells bear surface immunoglobulin (sIg) with the same idiotype as the sIg of a 2a4b-derived B-cell lymphoma, CH12. Backcross analysis revealed H-2 control of the frequency of the idiotype-positive B cell. The regulatory gene did not correlate with the Igh-1 allotype, and analysis of 22 inbred mouse strains mapped the gene to the I-E subregion. Surprisingly, only strains homozygous for Ek alpha expressed the idiotype, and expression was a recessive trait. Possible mechanisms for this control of idiotype expression and its relation to lymphomagenesis are discussed.

The present study used cocultures of clonally derived B and T cells, together with an antigen reactive with the membrane Ig of the clonal B cells, to address the issue of B-cell differentiation requirements. The B cells were CH12.LX, an in vitro grown subclone of a murine B-cell lymphoma, which bears surface IgM reactive with sheep erythrocytes. The T cells were alloreactive T-helper-cell hybridomas. Very small numbers of T-helper cells could induce differentiation of cloned B cells without the presence of accessory cells, but such induction was dependent upon the presence of the antigen recognized by the B cell. Induced differentiation of the B cells did not depend on metabolic activity of the T cells, and metabolically active T cells could be replaced by fixed cells or by monoclonal antibody reactive with the class II molecule of the B cell to deliver an Ia-specific differentiative signal. T cells, or alloantibody that reacted with the I-E molecule, induced differentiation of the B cells; those that reacted with the I-A molecule did not. These results define the minimal requirements for major histocompatibility complex-restricted, T-cell-mediated induction of B-cell differentiation.

CH12.LX B cells are responsive to antigen-dependent differentiative signals transmitted through their surface Ek molecules. Although CH12.LX cells express surface Ak molecules with normal protein sequence, the Ak molecules do not deliver differentiative signal to these B cells. To determine whether introduction of a new A molecule into CH12.LX cells would correct this deficiency, CH12.LX cells were transfected with the genes encoding new Aalpha and/or Abeta molecules. It was found that transfected cells responded to antigen-specific signals delivered via the Ealphak Ebetak, Aalphab Abetab, or Aalphak Abetab molecule. However, the B cells did not respond to signals generated by the molecule Aalpha kAbetak, Aalphab Abetak, Aalphak Abetad, or Aalpha kAbetau. Comparison of these sequences suggests that two Abeta residues, His-47 and Trp-197, are important to the transmission of differentiative signals to B cells.