Search

Cell-cell adhesion was examined in the developing chick neural retina. A dorsoventral gradient of adhesive specificity in dissociated cells was detected which exhibits a complementarity such that the highest cell-cell affinities are exhibited between cells derived from the extremes of the gradient. If a nasotemporal gradient exists it must exhibit significantly lower cell-cell affinity. The relevance of these findings to pattern formation in the nervous system is discussed.

Murine thymocytes induce the monokine interleukin 1 upon in vitro coculture with a radioresistant Ia-bearing accessory cell [murine Ia molecule is a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen]. The generation of interleukin 1 is critically dependent on the function of I-region gene products on accessory cells. The induced interleukin 1 appears to allow the activation and proliferation of self-MHC-specific thymocytes. Thus, in the absence of added exogenous factors, there is an Ia-dependent thymocyte proliferation. This selective activation of thymocytes is observed with both mature and immature thymic T cells. This in vitro response results in the selective amplification of developing T cells with self-MHC specificity and could be of importance to the in vivo commitment of T cells to MHC determinants that occurs in the thymus.

A method was established for isolating antigen-specific murine helper T cells by selective binding to antigen-pulsed macrophage (Mphi) monolayers. Sheep erythrocyte (SRBC)-primed T cells, which remained strongly adherent to SRBC-pulsed syngeneic Mphi after 20 h in culture, were markedly enriched for helper activity when tested in the in vitro antitrinitrophenol (TNP) response to TNP-SRBC. Successful binding and enrichment occurred only if the Mphi were pulsed with the specific antigen to which the T-cell donors had been primed. The genetic control governing helper function in this system was then examined by using primed F1 T cells isolated on Mphi monolayers from congenic strains bearing parental H-2 haplotypes. SRBC-primed BDF1 (H-2b X H-2d) T cells, which bound to SRBC-pulsed H-2d Mphi, subsequently functioned as helper cells in cultures containing H-2d B cells and Mphi, but not in those containing H-2b B cells and Mphi. They remained unable to collaborate with B cells of the H-2B haplotype even in the presence of additional H-2d Mphi, indicating that H-2 restriction occurs at least at the level of the B cell. Similary, primed BDF1 T cells isolated on H-2b Mphi cooperated preferentially with H-2b B cells and Mphi. In both cases, the haplotype preference of the T cell was not due to alloreactive suppressor activity. These results suggest that primed F1 mice contain individual populations of helper T cells, each of which recognize antigen in association with a parental H-2 gene product(s) expressed during both Mphi-T cell and T cell-B cell interactions.

Most antigenic peptides presented on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are generated during protein breakdown by proteasomes, whose specificity is altered by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). When extended versions of the ovalbumin-derived epitope SIINFEKL are expressed in vivo, the correct C terminus is generated by proteasomal cleavage, but distinct cytosolic protease(s) generate its N terminus. To identify the other protease(s) involved in antigen processing, we incubated soluble extracts of HeLa cells with the 11-mer QLESIINFEKL, which in vivo is processed to the antigenic 8-mer (SIINFEKL) by a proteasome-independent pathway. This 11-mer was converted to the 9-mer by sequential removal of the N-terminal residues, but surprisingly the extract showed little or no endopeptidase or carboxypeptidase activity against this precursor. After treatment of cells with IFN-gamma, this N-terminal trimming was severalfold faster and proceeded to the antigenic 8-mer. The IFN-treated cells also showed greater aminopeptidase activity against many model fluorogenic substrates. Upon extract fractionation, three bestatin-sensitive aminopeptidase peaks were detected. One was induced by IFN-gamma and was identified immunologically as leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). Purified LAP, like the extracts of IFN-gamma-treated cells, processed the 11-mer peptide to SIINFEKL. Thus, IFN-gamma not only promotes proteasomal cleavages that determine the C termini of antigenic peptides, but also can stimulate formation of their N termini by inducing LAP. This enzyme appears to catalyze the trimming of the N terminus of this and presumably other proteasome-derived precursors. Thus, susceptibility to LAP may be an important influence on the generation on immunodominant epitopes.

Most antigenic peptides presented on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are generated by proteasomes. Interferon-gamma, which stimulates antigen presentation, induces new proteasome beta-subunits LMP2 and LMP7, which replace the homologous beta-subunits Y (delta) and X (epsilon). As a result, the capacity of the proteasome to cleave model peptides increases after hydrophobic and basic residues and falls after acidic residues. To clarify the function of these subunits, we examined the effects of overexpressing subunits X (delta) and Y (epsilon). Transfection of the Y gene into HeLa cells stimulated the proteasomal cleavage after acidic residues without altering other peptidase activities. This effect was proportional to the amount of the Y subunits and opposite to the effect of its homolog, LMP2. Y appears to promote cleavages after acidic residues. Furthermore, in mutants lacking the LMP genes (in contrast to wild-type cells), interferon-gamma treatment increased the proteasome content of Y subunits and enhanced postacidic cleavages. Transfection with cDNA for the X subunit reduced hydrolysis after hydrophobic and basic residues, an effect opposite to transfection of LMP2 and LMP7. Surprisingly, transfection of X increased the amounts not only of X, but also of Y, while decreasing LMP2 content. Thus, the loss of the Y subunit upon interferon-gamma treatment or LMP2 transfection accounts for the suppression of postacidic cleavages, and the loss of X contributes to the increased hydrolysis after hydrophobic and basic residues. These adaptations should favor the production of the kinds of peptides that are presented on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules.

Evidence from various antigen systems suggests that antigen processing can be one factor that determines the repertoire of immunogenic peptides. Thus, processing events may account for some of the disparity between the available and expressed helper T-cell repertoires. In this report, we demonstrate that the immunodominant T-cell determinant in ovalbumin [p323-339; ovalbumin-(323-339) heptadecapeptide] is processed differently by two genetically identical antigen-presenting cell lines, M12 and A20. The ovalbumin-specific T-cell-T-cell hybridomas, DO-11.10 and 3DO-54.8, were used to detect processed antigen. These T-T hybridomas have different fine specificities for the p323-339 determinant. A20 cells presented native ovalbumin well to both T-T hybridomas, whereas M12 cells presented native ovalbumin well to 3DO-54.8 but very inefficiently to DO-11.10. M12 and A20 cells effectively stimulated both T-T hybridomas with the same concentrations of the immunogenic synthetic peptide p323-339. Therefore, M12 cells and DO-11.10 can interact with each other, and both T-T hybridomas have similar sensitivities for the same immunogenic peptide. We conclude that genetically identical antigen-presenting cells can display heterogeneity in the fine processing of an immunodominant T-cell determinant, and synthetic model peptides that represent the minimal stimulatory sequence of a T-cell determinant are not necessarily identical to the structure of in vivo processed antigen. Heterogeneity in antigen processing by individual antigen-presenting cells would serve to increase the repertoire of immunogenic peptides that are presented to T cells.

Several amino acid copolymers are potent immunogens under the control of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-encoded Ir genes. We have further characterized their accessory-cell-dependent, MHC-restricted presentation to T lymphocytes. We initially characterized their processing requirements by investigating the ability of paraformaldehyde-fixed antigen-presenting cells (APC) to present these copolymers. Fixed APC can present poly(Glu56Lys35Phe9) and poly(Glu60Ala30Tyr10) provided that they have been incubated with antigen prior to fixation. The inability of these same fixed preparations to present soluble antigen indicates a fixation-sensitive antigen-processing step. In contrast, the antigens poly(Glu55Lys35Leu10) and poly(Glu55Lys35Tyr10) can be presented by APC fixed before antigen exposure. This differential requirement for antigen processing was exploited to analyze the events of antigen presentation in two related systems. First, the ability of isolated APC membranes to process and present antigen was assessed. APC membranes can present the antigens poly(GluLysLeu) and poly(GluLysTyr) in a specific and MHC-restricted manner. However, the isolated membranes fail to present either poly(GluLysPhe) or poly(GluAlaTyr), suggesting that such preparations can present but not process antigen. Second, the distinct properties of the various copolymers were used with fixed APC to test the effects of antigen processing on the phenomenon of antigen competition. APC that had processed poly(GluLysPhe) or poly(GluAlaTyr) were subsequently fixed and used to present antigen in the presence or absence of various antagonists. Under these conditions, poly(GluLysLeu) and poly(Glu50Tyr50) could effect specific inhibition, clearly indicating that antigen competition occurs distal to and does not require antigen processing. In contrast, native antigen with an absolute processing requirement is not capable of competing with preprocessed antigen on fixed APC. Taken together, these results suggest that processing is important for the molecular interactions between the copolymer antigens and the APC cell surface that are relevant to both antigen presentation and competitive inhibition.

The antibiotic lactacystin was reported to covalently modify beta-subunit X of the mammalian 20 S proteasome and inhibit several of its peptidase activities. However, we demonstrate that [3H]lactacystin treatment modifies all the proteasome's catalytic beta-subunits. Lactacystin and its more potent derivative beta-lactone irreversibly inhibit protein breakdown and the chymotryptic, tryptic, and peptidylglutamyl activities of purified 20 S and 26 S particles, although at different rates. Exposure to these agents for 1 to 2 h reduced the degradation of short- and long-lived proteins in four different mammalian cell lines. Unlike peptide aldehyde inhibitors, lactacystin and the beta-lactone do not inhibit lysosomal degradation of an endocytosed protein. These agents block class I antigen presentation of a model protein, ovalbumin (synthesized endogenously or loaded exogenously), but do not affect presentation of the peptide epitope SIINFEKL, which does not require proteolysis for presentation. Generation of most peptides required for formation of stable class I heterodimers is also inhibited. Because these agents inhibited protein breakdown and antigen presentation similarly in interferon-gamma-treated cells (where proteasomes contain LMP2 and LMP7 subunits in place of X and Y), all beta-subunits must be affected similarly. These findings confirm our prior conclusions that proteasomes catalyze the bulk of protein breakdown in mammalian cells and generate the majority of class I-bound epitopes for immune recognition.

Our previous studies have defined a highly specific competitive inhibition between a pair of structurally related antigens (GT and GAT) for antigen presentation by accessory cells. The present report investigates this phenomenon in a second antigenic system, which is controlled by a distinct Ir gene product. Two GL phi-specific, I-Ed-restricted, interleukin 2-producing T cell hybridomas were constructed. The antigenic fine specificity of these two hybrid clones was distinct. One hybrid reacted solely with GL phi while the second cross-reacted with GLleu and GLT. These latter two copolymers, as well as the antigen GL, were found to inhibit the GL phi response of the non-cross-reactive hybrid. The structurally related antigen G phi was not inhibitory for this clone's response. The cross-reactive GL phi hybrid could also be inhibited, but, in this case, G phi and not GL caused the inhibition. Reciprocal inhibitions could be demonstrated between these and other hybrids (e.g., GAT responsive), indicating a very high degree of specificity to the inhibition. The inhibition caused by the various copolymers was reversible by increasing the concentration of GL phi, This effect was localized to the antigen-presenting cell and not the T cell hybridoma. Functionally, this competition did not appear to be for antigen uptake or general antigen processing. These findings generalize the phenomenon of antigen competition to a second antigen system in the context of a second Ia molecule. The possible mechanisms accounting for the complex pattern of specificities in this system are discussed.

Antigen-specific I region-restricted, interleukin 2-producing T cell hybridomas were produced by fusing GAT-specific T cell blasts with BW5147. Two antigen-specific phenotypes were identified, one autoreactive and one nonautoreactive. All of the antigen-specific and autoreactive clones were H-2 restricted, mapping to the IA subregion by genetic analysis and monoclonal antibody inhibition. Both the antigen-specific and autoreactive stimulation are the property of a single cell and required no known exogenous antigens.