In previous studies we showed that a chronic colitis associated with a Th1 T cell response can be induced by the rectal administration of the haptenizing reagent 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). We report here that oral administration of haptenized colonic proteins (HCP) before rectal administration of TNBS effectively suppresses the ability of the latter to induce colitis. This suppression (oral tolerance) appears to be due to the generation of mucosal T cells producing TGF-beta and Th2-type cytokines after oral HCP administration. Peyer's patch and lamina propria CD4+ T cells from HCP-fed animals stimulated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 had a 5-10-fold increase in their production of TGF-beta and secreted increased amounts of IL-4 and IL-10 but lower levels of IFN-gamma in comparison to T cells from ovalbumin-fed control animals. In addition, the colons of HCP-fed mice showed strikingly increased TGF-beta but decreased IL-12 expression by immunohistochemical studies and isolated mononuclear cells from HCP-fed animals secreted less IL-12 heterodimer. Finally, and most importantly, the suppressive effect of orally administered HCP was abrogated by the concomitant systemic administration of anti-TGF-beta or rIL-12 suggesting a reciprocal relationship between IL-12 and TGF-beta on tolerance induction in TNBS-induced colitis. In parallel studies we demonstrated that TNBS-induced colitis can be transferred to naive recipient animals with purified CD4+ T cells from the colon of TNBS-treated animals and that such animals develop lethal pancolitis when exposed to very low doses of TNBS. Feeding of HCP suppressed this sensitivity to TNBS, indicating that oral feeding can suppress the response of pre-committed T cells in vivo. These studies suggest for the first time that TGF-beta production can abrogate experimental granulomatous colitis even after such colitis is established, and thus, that regulation of TGF-beta levels may have relevance to the treatment of human inflammatory bowel disease.

Recent in vitro studies have established that activated B cells express OX40 ligand (L), a member of the tumor necrosis factor/nerve growth factor family of cytokines, and become stimulated to proliferate and secrete immunoglobulin (Ig) after cross-linking of OX40L by its counterreceptor OX40, which is expressed on activated T cells. In the present study we investigated the in vivo role of this receptor-ligand pair for the interaction of T and B cells in the course of the T-dependent B cell response against 2,4,6 trinitro-phenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. First, we showed that OX40 is maximally expressed by T cells in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS) 3 d after primary immunization. These OX40+ cells are located in close proximity to antigen-specific, activated B cells. Second, we demonstrated that blocking of OX40-OX40L interaction with polyclonal anti-OX40 antibody or with antibodies against certain peptide sequences within its extracellular domain resulted in a profound decrease of the anti-hapten IgG response, whereas the antihapten IgM response was grossly unchanged. Third, we showed that this antibody treatment leads to an inhibition of the development of PALS-associated B cell foci, whereas the formation of germinal centers remained intact. Finally, our data suggest that, whereas B cell memory development was not impaired by anti-OX40 administration, OX40-OX40L interaction seems to be crucial in the secondary immune response. We conclude from these data that the OX40-OX40L interaction in vivo is necessary for the differentiation of activated B cells into highly Ig-producing cells, but is not involved in other pathways of antigen-driven B cell differentiation such as memory cell development in the germinal centers.

The recent finding that CD40L on activated T cells induces interleukin (IL) 12 secretion in human peripheral blood monocytes in vitro suggests that the CD40L-CD40 interaction may be of importance in the priming of T helper (Th) 1-type T cells. We therefore investigated the in vivo relevance of this interaction in an experimental model for a Th1-mediated disease, the hapten reagent (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid [TNBS])-induced colitis. The administration of anti-gp39 (CD40L) antibodies during the induction phase of the Th1 response prevented interferon gamma production by lamina propria CD4+ T cells and also clinical and histological evidence of disease. In contrast, the secretion of IL-4, a Th2-type cytokine, was increased after anti-gp39 treatment. In further studies we showed that the prevention of disease activity was caused by an inhibition of IL-12 secretion, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the injection of recombinant IL-12 p70 heterodimer into TNBS + anti-gp39-treated mice reversed the effect of anti-gp39 and resulted in severe disease activity. When anti-gp39 was given after the disease was established, no effect on the disease activity was observed. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the CD40L-CD40 interaction is crucial for the in vivo priming of Th1 T cells via the stimulation of IL-12 secretion by antigen-presenting cells (APC).

Despite the fact that the Peyer's patch (PP) is the primary site for antigen uptake in the intestine, the cellular basis of antigen handling after transport into the PP is poorly understood. We performed immunohistology of murine PPs using the dendritic cell (DC)-reactive monoclonal antibodies N418, NLDC-145, M342, and 2A1, as well as antibodies to other T cell, B cell, and macrophage markers. N418+, 2A1+, NLDC-145-, M342- cells form a dense layer of cells in the subepithelial dome (SED), just beneath the follicle epithelium, and are scattered throughout the follicle, sparing the germinal center. In contrast, N418+, 2A1+, NLDC-145+, and M342+ DCs are present in the interfollicular T cell regions (IFR). CD3+ and CD4+, but no CD8+ T cells were present in the SED and the follicle, including the germinal center, while CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells were present in the IFR. B cells and macrophages were poorly represented in the SED as no B220+ cells, only few Mac-1lo cells, and no F4/80+ cells were present at this site. In contrast, Mac-1hi cells were found in the IFR and lamina propria of intestinal villi, while F4/80+ cells were found only in the latter. In further phenotypic studies, we analyzed surface molecules of PP and spleen DCs by flow cytometry and found that these cells had similar fluorescence profiles when stained with N418, NLDC-145, and 33D1 DC-reactive antibodies, and antibodies to the costimulatory molecules B7-1 (1G10) and B7-2 (GL1). In contrast, PP DCs expressed 5-10-fold higher levels of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens (IEk) than spleen DCs. Finally, in functional studies, we demonstrated that both PP and spleen DCs process soluble protein antigens during overnight culture and induce similar levels of proliferation in CD3+ T cells, and CD4+/Mel 14hi T cells from T cell receptor transgenic mice. The in vivo relevance of such presentation was shown by the fact that PP DCs isolated from Balb/c mice after being fed ovalbumin stimulated proliferation in ovalbumin T cell receptor T cells. Taken together, our data suggest that DCs in the SED of the PP are uniquely positioned for the processing of antigens passed into the PP from the overlying M cell, and that PP DCs are effective at processing and presenting oral antigens to naive T cells.

In this study, we describe a novel murine model of chronic intestinal inflammation induced by the hapten reagent 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Rectal application of low doses of TNBS in BALB/c and SJL/J mice resulted in a chronic transmural colitis with severe diarrhea, weight loss, and rectal prolapse, an illness that mimics some characteristics of Crohn's disease in humans. The colon of TNBS-treated mice on day 7 was marked by infiltration of CD4+ T cells; furthermore, in situ polymerase chain reaction studies revealed high levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA in diseased colons. Isolated lamina propria (LP) CD4+ T cells from TNBS-treated mice stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies exhibited a Th1 pattern of cytokine secretion: a 20-50-fold increase in IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels and a 5-fold decrease in IL-4 levels as compared with those of stimulated LP CD4+ T cells from control BALB/c mice. Administration of monoclonal anti-IL-12 antibodies to the TNBS-treated mice both early (at 5 d) and late (at 20 d) after induction of colitis led to a striking improvement in both the clinical and histopathological aspects of the disease and frequently abrogated the established colitis completely. Furthermore, LP CD4+ T cells isolated from anti-IL-12-treated mice failed to secrete IFN-gamma upon in vitro stimulation. In summary, the data demonstrate the pivotal role of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in a TNBS-induced murine model of chronic intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, they suggest the potential utility of anti-IL-12 antibodies in patients with Crohn's disease.

The B cell-specific activator protein (BSAP) is a DNA-binding transcription factor expressed in pro-B, pre-B, and mature B cells, but not in plasma cells. In this study, we explored the role of BSAP in B cell function by assessing how the content of this protein varies in cells driven by proliferative stimuli and, conversely, how artificial manipulation of BSAP activity affects cell proliferation. We found that BSAP activity of nuclear extracts increased when B cells were activated by mitogen (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), antigen receptor-mediated signaling (surface immunoglobulin D [IgD] cross-linking) or T cell-dependent stimulation (CD40 cross-linking). We could suppress BSAP activity by exposure of B cells to phosphorothioate oligonucleotides antisense to the BSAP translation initiation start site, whereas control oligonucleotides were virtually inactive. Antisense-induced BSAP suppression was associated with a striking reduction in LPS-induced proliferation of splenic B cells and in the spontaneous proliferation of B lymphoma cells (CH12.LX), but the antisense oligonucleotide had virtually no effect on proliferation of two cell lines lacking BSAP: the T lymphoma line EL-4 and the plasma cell line MOPC-315. Overexpression of BSAP in splenic B cells or de novo expression in MOPC-315 plasma cells induced by transfection of a BSAP expression plasmid stimulated cell proliferation. Taken together, these results suggest that BSAP activity is a rate-limiting regulator of B cell proliferation. We also found that treatment with the antisense BSAP oligonucleotide downregulated Ig class switching induced by interleukin 4 plus LPS. This effect may be secondary to reduced proliferation or could be mediated through BSAP binding sites in the IgH locus.

In this study we determined the role of immunoglobulin (Ig) germline transcripts in the isotype switch differentiation of the cloned lymphoma B cell line CH12.LX. In initial studies, we showed that addition of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin 4 (IL-4), either alone or in combination, augment switching from membrane (m)IgM+ to mIgA+ cells, and that increased switching is preceded and paralleled by an increase in the steady-state level of alpha germline transcripts (alpha GLT). Interestingly, TGF-beta and IL-4 affect switching in different ways, as shown by the fact that IL-4 increases and TGF-beta decreases the number of dual-positive (mIgM+/mIgA+) cells; in addition, TGF-beta and IL-4 have different effects on the time course of induction of alpha GLT. In subsequent studies, we established that we could downregulate alpha GLT levels in CH12.LX B cells by transfecting an expression vector that can be induced to produce transcripts antisense to the I alpha exon. Using this approach we downregulated alpha GLT in CH12.LX B cells undergoing switching in the presence of TGF-beta and IL-4 and showed that such downregulation led to decreased switching, as evidenced by decreased appearance of dual-positive B cells as well as decreased IgA synthesis relative to IgM synthesis. This result was corroborated by the fact that incubation of CH12.LX cells with phosphorothio-oligo antisense DNA to I alpha sequence also led to a decrease in the number of dual-positive cells and in the IgA/IgM secretion ratio. In summary, IgA isotype differentiation in CH12.LX B cell, particularly the steps necessary for the elaboration of mIgM+/mIgA+ switch intermediate cells, is inhibited by downregulation of alpha GLT; it is therefore apparent that alpha GLT plays a key role in the initial stage of isotype switch differentiation.

Our previous studies indicated that cloned T cells obtained from Peyer's patches (PP) (Lyt-1+, 2-, Ia+, and H-2K/D+) evoked immunoglobulin (Ig) class switching of PP B cells from sIgM to sIgA cells in vitro; however, these switch T cells could not in themselves provide optimal help for the differentiation of postswitch sIgA-bearing PP B cells to IgA-secreting cells. Thus, in the present report we described studies focused on mechanisms regulating terminal differentiation of the postswitch PP sIgA-bearing B cells. First, to explore the effect of T cell-derived B cell differentiation factor(s) (BCDF) and macrophage factor(s) (MF) on the terminal maturation of PP B cells, LPS-stimulated PP B cells were co-cultured for 7 d with cloned T cells in the presence or absence of the above factors. In the absence of PP cloned T cells the BCDF and MF had only a modest effect on IgA production, whereas in the presence of PP, but not spleen cloned T cells, IgA production was increased. Next, to investigate the effect of T cells derived from a gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), as well as from spleen on terminal differentiation of postswitch sIgA PP B cells, LPS-driven PP B cells were precultured with the cloned T cells to induce a switch to sIgA, and subsequently cultured with MLN or spleen T cells or a Lyt-2+-depleted T cell subset in the presence of a T-dependent polyclonal mitogen, staphylococcal protein A. Alternatively, in the second culture period BCDF alone was added, instead of T cells and protein A. Here it was found that B cells pre-exposed to switch T cells from PP, but not spleen, were induced to produce greatly increased amounts of IgA in the presence of protein A and T cells or a Lyt-2+-depleted T cell subset as well as in the presence of BCDF alone. Furthermore, in the presence of BCDF alone many B cells expressed cytoplasmic IgA. These observations strongly support the view that the terminal differentiation of postswitch sIgA B cells is governed by helper T cells and macrophages, or factors derived from such cells. Such cells or factors do not affect preswitch B cells.

To explore mechanisms of T cell regulation governing mucosal IgA immune response, concanavalin A-induced cloned T cell lines from Peyer's patches (PP) as well as spleen were established. The cloned cell lines expressed Thy- 1.2(+), Lyt-l(+)2(-) and were radioresistant (1,500 rad). The capacity of the cloned T cells to regulate Ig synthesis was determined by measuring their effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced polyclonal Ig synthesis by PP B cells. In initial studies Ig secreted by B cells was determined by double antibody radioimmunoassay. LPS in the absence of cloned T cells induced abundant amounts of IgM (average 8,860 ng/2 × 10(5) B cells) and IgG (average 1,190 ng/2 × 10(5) B cells), but little or no IgA. The addition of PP cloned T cells markedly suppressed production of IgM (88 percent at the highest T/B cell ratio, 4:1), but the addition of spleen cloned T cells suppressed only a little or not at all. IgG production was inhibited by both PP and spleen T clone cells (70 percent at the 4:1 T/B ratio), wheras IgA synthesis was enhanced by both clones, but only to a limited degree. In subsequent studies the expression of class-specific surface Ig (sIg) and cytoplasmic Ig (cIg) on/in unseparated PP B cells as well as Ig class- specific PP B cells and spleen B cells during culture with or without the cloned T cells was determined by immunofluorescence. The major findings were as follows: (a) Compared with unseparated B cell cultures and cultures of purified sIgM B cells derived from PP containing LPS alone, cultures containing LPS and PP cloned T cells showed a marked decrease in cIgM-, sIgG-, and cIgG-expressing cells that was accompanied by a striking increase in sIgA-bearing, but not cIgA-containing, cells. In contrast, unseparated B cell cultures and cultures of purified sIgM B cells derived from PP containing LPS and spleen cloned T cells did not show any increase in sIgA- bearing cells. (b) Compared with purified sIgG-bearing PP B cell cultures containing LPS alone, purified sIgG-bearing PP B cell cultures containing both LPS and PP cloned T cells showed no substantial change in sIgG- or cIgG- expressing cells, and no sIgA- or cIgA- expressing cells appeared. (c) Compared with sIgA-bearing PP B cell cultures containing LPS alone, purified sIgA-bearing PP B cell cultures containing both LPS and PP cloned T cells showed no increased proliferation, and cIgA cells did not occur. Cultures of purified sIgM B cells derived from spleen containing LPS and PP cloned T cells showed qualitatively similar changes. From these results we conclude that PP cloned T cells induced class-specific switching from sIgM- to sIgA- bearing B cells, whereas spleen cloned T cells lacked this property, although they may have induced an IgM {arrow} IgG or intersubclass IgG switch. These processes seem to be in part tissue dependent. Furthermore, the PP switch T cells appear to operate as true switch cells, which govern the pathway of DNA recombination events, rather than as classical helper cells, which act to expand already differentiated cells. Finally, these switch T cells probably account for the fact that PP are an important source of IgA B cells and also a major site of IgA heavy chain class switching during gut-associated mucosal B cell proliferation and differentation.

In studies reported here, the polyclonal activator lipopolysaccharide was used to stimulate the synthesis and secretion of IgM, IgA, and IgG in cultures of mouse lymphoid cells. The total immunoglobulin of each class which resulted was measured by specific double-antibody radioimmunoassays. The effect of Con A-activated T cells from various tissues on such immunoglobulin synthesis was then assessed. Variations in regulatory T-cell activity among the various lymphoid tissues for IgA but not for IgM or IgG was observed. In particular, Peyer's patches T cells were found to contain a high level of IgA T-cell helper activity compared to that of spleen or peripheral lymph node. The independent variation of T-cell regulatory activity for IgA as compared to that for IgM and IgG among the different tissues is most consistent with there being a separate subset of T cells specifically regulating IgA. The significance of these findings for the understanding of the secretory immune system is discussed.

We have investigated suppressor T-cell activity in female NZB/NZW F1 mice using PWM-driven IgM biosynthesis in vitro as an indicator system. In initial we studied we observed that spleen cells from normal mice (BALB/c, C57BL/6), as well as from young (4 wk) and adult (18 wk) NZB/NZW mice, cultured in the presence of PWM synthesize 860 +/- 120 ng IgM/10(6) cells/7 days. However, when Con A (at 2 mug/ml) was added directly to the cultures (along with PWM), cells obtained from adult normal mice and young NZB/NZW mice showed a 94% suppression of IgM synthesis, whereas cells obtained from adult NZB/NZW mice were suppressed significantly less. To analyze these findings we studied the effect of Con A-induced suppressor cells (cells cultured with Con A for 24 h and washed free of Con A) on PWM-driven IgM biosynthesis. Spleen cells obtained from normal mice cultured in the presence of Con A-pulsed cells obtained from normal mice and young NZB/NZW mice showed an 83-88% suppression of PWM-driven IgM synthesis. Similarly, supernates obtained from Con A-pulsed cells of normal mice or of young NZB/NZW mice suppressed PWM-driven IgM synthesis. This suppression by Con A-pulsed cells and their supernates required T cells since T-cell fractions but not B-cell fractions eluted from anti-Fab Sephadex columns mediated suppression of co-cultured normal cells; in addition, Con A-pulsed cells treated with anti-theta and complement do not mediate suppression. These studies of Con A-induced suppressor cell activity in normal mice and young NZB/NZW mice contrast with studies of Con A-induced suppressor cell activity in adult NZB/NZW mice. We found that adult NZB/NZW Con A-pulsed cells and supernates obtained from the Con A-pulse cells had vastly decreased suppressor potential; in this case the Con A-pulse cells and supernatant fluids derived from such cells did not suppress PWM-driven IgM synthesis by normal cells. Finally, whereas spleen cells from young and adult NZB/NZW mice differ in their suppressor cell potential, cells from both sources could respond equally to suppressor signals in that Con A-pulsed normal cells or supernates derived from such cells caused equivalent suppression of PWM-driven IgM synthesis by young and adult NZB/NZW cells. These observations allow us to conclude that NZB/NZW mice lose suppressor T-cell activity as they age.