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T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) is only expressed by differentiated TH1 cells following their proliferative response to antigen, functioning to terminate TH1-mediated immunity upon binding to the TIM-3 ligand, galectin-9. This critical regulatory process involves Treg cells via their stable expression of galectin-9. Soluble TIM-3-Ig blocks galectin-9 and prevents induction of peripheral tolerance. Here we have looked for evidence that TIM-3-Ig might also break established regulatory tolerance. Using allo-primed spleen cells cultured ex vivo and challenged with irradiated donor-type stimulator cells either alone or together with 20 μg/ml TIM-3-Ig, we measured daily cytokine release [IL2, inferon gamma (INFγ), transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), IL6, IL10] and cellular Foxp3 protein. In allo-tolerance, a specific effect of TIM-3-Ig was some fourfold reduction in TGFβ. Foxp3 was induced in the allo-tolerant response to donor and this was not altered by TIM-3-Ig over the 5-day culture period. No Foxp3 was detected in either rejected or donor stimulator cells at any time. Thus, in an ex vivo model of in vivo tolerance to heart allografts, TIM-3-Ig therapy appears to reduce the stable tolerogenic environment by a rapid and specific repression of TGFβ release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While both direct and indirect allorecognition are involved in allograft rejection, evidence to date suggests that tolerance is primarily dependent on indirect pathway-triggered CD4+CD25+ T cell-mediated immunoregulation. However, the precise influence of these two pathways on CD4+CD25+ T-cell function has not been addressed. In the current study, we have utilized an adoptive transfer model to assess selectively how the absence of either direct or indirect allorecognition affects CD4+CD25+ T-cell function. The effects of the loss of the direct pathway were assessed by transplanting skin grafts from minor histocompatibility mismatched B10.D2 (H-2d) donors onto Balb/c (H-2d) recipients, or by placing bone marrow chimeric DBA/2 (H-2d/H-2b) allografts onto C57BL/6 (H-2b) hosts. The requirement for indirect allorecognition was tested by grafting DBA/2 skin allografts onto either C57BL/6- or MHC-II-deficient C57BL/6 recipients. We report here that although CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells can suppress both directly and indirectly generated alloresponses, immunoregulation is favored when indirect presentation is the sole mechanism of allorecognition. Hence, in the absence of indirect presentation, net CD4+CD25+ T cell-dependent immunoregulation is weak, and high ratios of CD4+CD25+ to CD4+CD25− T cells are required to ensure graft survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On activation, T cells undergo distinct developmental pathways, attaining specialized properties and effector functions. T-helper (TH) cells are traditionally thought to differentiate into TH1 and TH2 cell subsets. TH1 cells are necessary to clear intracellular pathogens and TH2 cells are important for clearing extracellular organisms. Recently, a subset of interleukin (IL)-17-producing T (TH17) cells distinct from TH1 or TH2 cells has been described and shown to have a crucial role in the induction of autoimmune tissue injury. In contrast, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells inhibit autoimmunity and protect against tissue injury. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a critical differentiation factor for the generation of Treg cells. Here we show, using mice with a reporter introduced into the endogenous Foxp3 locus, that IL-6, an acute phase protein induced during inflammation, completely inhibits the generation of Foxp3+ Treg cells induced by TGF-β. We also demonstrate that IL-23 is not the differentiation factor for the generation of TH17 cells. Instead, IL-6 and TGF-β together induce the differentiation of pathogenic TH17 cells from naive T cells. Our data demonstrate a dichotomy in the generation of pathogenic (TH17) T cells that induce autoimmunity and regulatory (Foxp3+) T cells that inhibit autoimmune tissue injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tim-3 is a T helper type 1 (TH1)–specific cell surface molecule that seems to regulate TH1 responses and the induction of peripheral tolerance. However, the identity of the Tim-3 ligand and the mechanism by which this ligand inhibits the function of effector TH1 cells remain unknown. Here we show that galectin-9 is the Tim-3 ligand. Galectin-9-induced intracellular calcium flux, aggregation and death of TH1 cells were Tim-3-dependent in vitro, and administration of galectin-9 in vivo resulted in selective loss of interferon-γ-producing cells and suppression of TH1 autoimmunity. These data suggest that the Tim-3–galectin-9 pathway may have evolved to ensure effective termination of effector TH1 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral tolerance can be achieved in many but not all murine allograft models. The requirements for controlling more aggressive immune responsiveness and generating peripheral tolerance in stringent allograft models are unknown. Understanding these requirements will provide insight toward ultimately achieving tolerance in humans, which are also resistant. We now demonstrate that the combination of donor-specific transfusion, anti-CD45RB, and anti-CD154 uniformly achieves >90-d survival of BALB/c skin allografts on C57BL/6 recipients. Recipients exhibit marked hyporesponsiveness to alloantigen in vitro. In distinct contrast to less rigorous models, engraftment remains absolutely dependent on cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 signaling, even after grafts are healed, suggesting that prolonged engraftment cannot simply be attributed to more effective depletion of alloreactive T cells but is actively maintained by regulation. Concordantly, we show that both CD4 and CD8 regulatory cells are required and can transfer donor-specific tolerance to naïve recipients. Nonetheless, most recipients ultimately develop gradual graft loss (median survival time = 140 d). suggesting that alloreactive cells emerging from the thymus eventually overwhelm regulatory capacity. In agreement adding thymectomy to the regimen results in permanent engraftment (>250 d) and donor-specific tolerance not observed previously in this model. These results highlight the potency of both CD4 and CD8 regulatory cells but also suggest that in stringent settings, regulatory T cell longevity and capacity for infectious tolerance compete with prolonged graft immunogenicity and thymic output. These results provide insight into the mechanisms of tolerance in stringent models and provide a rational basis for innovative tolerogenic strategies in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly identified TIM family of proteins is associated with regulation of T helper type 1 (TH1) and TH2 immune responses. TIM-1 is genetically linked to asthma and is a receptor for hepatitis A virus, but the endogenous ligand of TIM-1 is not known. Here we show that TIM-4, which is expressed by antigen-presenting cells, is the ligand for TIM-1. In vivo administration of either soluble TIM-1-immunoglobulin (TIM-1-Ig) fusion protein or TIM-4-Ig fusion protein resulted in hyperproliferation of T cells, and TIM-4-Ig costimulated T cell proliferation mediated by CD3 and CD28 in vitro. These data suggest that the TIM-1-TIM-4 interaction is involved in regulating T cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the hypothesis that chronic stimulation of T cells with a weak agonistic antigen will generate regulatory T cells and immune tolerance, a study reported in this issue (see the related article beginning on page 1754) employed the redesign of a minor histocompatibility antigen. Using knowledge of residues at which the antigen contacts the T cell receptor, a weak agonist was produced. Pretreatment with this altered antigen produced transplant tolerance, generation of regulatory T cells, and a loss of many antigen-reactive T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T cell Ig mucin (Tim) molecules modulate CD4(+) T cell responses. In keeping with the view that Tim-1 generates a stimulatory signal for CD4(+) T cell activation, we hypothesized that an agonist Tim-1-specific mAb would intensify the CD4(+) T cell-dependant allograft response. Unexpectedly, we determined that a particular Tim-1-specific mAb exerted reciprocal effects upon the commitment of alloactivated T cells to regulatory and effector phenotypes. Commitment to the Th1 and Th17 phenotypes was fostered, whereas commitment to the Treg phenotype was hindered. Moreover, ligation of Tim-1 in vitro effectively deprogrammed Tregs and thus produced Tregs unable to control T cell responses. Overall, the effects of the agonist Tim-1-specific mAb on the allograft response stemmed from enhanced expansion and survival of T effector cells; a capacity to deprogram natural Tregs; and inhibition of the conversion of naive CD4(+) T cells into Tregs. The reciprocal effects of agonist Tim-1-specific mAbs upon effector T cells and Tregs serve to prevent allogeneic transplant tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunosuppressant rapamycin has been shown to inhibit G1/S transition of the cell cycle. This inhibition is thought to be mediated by maintenance of the thresh. old levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p27Kip1 (p27) and inhibition of p70 s6 kinase (p70s6k). However, recent evidence suggests that cells still remain sensitive to rapamycin in the absence of functional p27 or p70s6k. Here, we show that rapamycin represses cyclin D3 levels in activated human T lymphocytes with no inhibitory effects on cyclin D2. Furthermore, rapamycin elicits similar cyclin D3 modulatory effects in B lymphocytes. The overall effect of rapamycin on cyclin D3 leads to impaired formation of active complexes with Cdk4 or Cdk6 and subsequent inhibition of cyclin D3/ CDK kinase activity. Decrease in cyclin D3 protein levels is due to translational repression and not due to attenuated transcription of the cyclin D3 gene. Importantly, stable overexpression of cyclin D3 (2-2.5 fold) in Jurkat T cell transfectants renders them resistant to lower doses (1-10 ng/ml) of rapamycin. These results point to a critical role of eyclin D3 in rapamycin-mediated immunosuppressive effects in T cells and cell cycle regulation in lymphocytes in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]