Analysis of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of innate CD4+ T cells selected by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-dependent thymocyte-thymocyte (T-T) interaction (T-T CD4+ T cells) is essential for predicting the characteristics of the antigens that bind to these T cells and for distinguishing T-T CD4+ T cells from other types of innate T cells. Using the TCRmini Tg mouse model, we show that the repertoire of TCRalpha chains in T-T CD4+ T cells was extremely diverse, in contrast to the repertoires previously described for other types of innate T cells. The TCRalpha chain sequences significantly overlapped between T-T CD4+ T cells and conventional CD4+ T cells in the thymus and spleen. However, the diversity of the TCRalpha repertoire of T-T CD4+ T cells seemed to be restricted compared with that of conventional CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, the frequency of the parental OT-II TCRalpha chains was significantly reduced in the process of T-T interaction. This diverse and shifted repertoire in T-T CD4+ T cells has biological relevance in terms of defense against diverse pathogens and a possible regulatory role during peripheral T-T interaction.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antigens, Surface/metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology/*immunology/*metabolism ; Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation/genetics/immunology ; Clonal Evolution ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/*immunology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Transgenic ; Peptide Fragments/chemistry ; Phenotype ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/chemistry/genetics ; Spleen/cytology ; Thymocytes/cytology/immunology/metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of H2-Ab1 in the nasal mucosa of mice with allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Twenty-four female 129/sv mice were divided into 2 groups: ovalbumin (OVA) group and control. The allergic rhinitis models were induced by classical method with OVA. After the last challenge, the pathological differences between the two groups were surveyed. The levels of H2-AB1 were measured by ELISA and quantitative real time PCR. RESULT: The expression of H2-Ab1 is higher in subjects with AR than that in controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The levels of H2-Ab1 were highly increased in allergic rhinitis group, which might be associated with the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.
Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; metabolism

Molecular mechanisms governing peritonitis caused by the presence of aseptic gauze have remained unclear. To identify the genes involved, sterile gauze-exposed omentum was collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h intervals, and analyzed by differential display RT(reverse transcription)-PCR. Among over 1,200 bands, 230 bands were found differentially expressed. These bands represented the fragment sizes of approximately 200 to 1,500 bp. The eight fragments were expressed differentially in the treatment group but not in the control. The sequences of two bands were similar to those of genes associated with the inflammatory process and a band was related to repair and regeneration process. Another one was related with spermatogonia and the rest four were unknown. Additionally, amplicons corresponding to the full-length sequences of two inflammatory gene fragments were synthesized by rapid amplification of cDNA end PCR. One showed 99% similarity to the major histocompatibility complex class II dog leukocyte antigen-DR beta chain and the other was canis familiaris proteasome beta type 3. Results of the present study suggested that sterile gauze induced the differential expression of genes in the omentum involved in inflammation and healing process.
Animals ; *Bandages ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Complementary/analysis ; Dogs/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling/veterinary ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Omentum/*metabolism ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; *Wound Healing

Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Fusion ; Gene Rearrangement ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Pyridines ; therapeutic use ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type IIb ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of different forms of ROS fusions in Chinese patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

METHODSRT-PCR was employed to examine formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded CCA samples from stage I-IV patients for detection of ROS fusions involving Fused in Glioblastoma (FIG), solute carrier protein (SLC34A2) and major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain (CD74). Serpin peptidase inhibitor clade A member 1 (SERPINA1) was detected as the reference gene.

RESULTSIn all the 56 CCA samples, 80.4% (45/56) were positive for SERPINA1 expression as evaluable samples. Of these evaluable samples, none expressed the ROS fusions.

CONCLUSIONROS fusions are not common in Chinese CCA patients.

Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraffin Embedding ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type IIb ; genetics ; metabolism

Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology

BACKGROUNDGenetic modification of dendritic cells (DCs) has been used as an effective approach to enhance anti-tumor immunity. RNA interference (RNAi), which can cause the degradation of any RNA in a sequence-specific manner, is a post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism. In this study, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for the Ii gene was transfected into DCs, and the anti-tumor immunity of Ii-silenced DCs was assessed.

METHODSThe silencing effect of siRNA was evaluated by Western blotting and real-time PCR analyses. In vitro cytotoxic activity of T cells was evaluated using a Cytotox 96(®) non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay kit. The time to tumor onset and the tumor volumes were used as reliable indices to assess the anti-tumor immunity in vivo. To further examine the mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor immunity, flow cytometry analysis was used.

RESULTSThe Ii expression of DCs was significantly reduced after Ii siRNA transfection. Significant in vitro anti-tumor ability was exhibited when DCs were co-transfected with Ii siRNA plus endogenous tumor antigen (P < 0.05). Furthermore, tumor growth was greatly inhibited when mice were immunized with DCs transfected with Ii siRNA plus tumor antigen prior to or subsequent to tumor implantation. Flow cytometry analysis in vitro and in vivo indicated that both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were significantly activated in the Ii siRNA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSilencing of the Ii gene of DCs may offer a potential approach to enhance DC-based anti-tumor immunity.

Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Silencing ; physiology ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate if granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene-modified dendritic cells (DC) enhance antitumor immunity in vitro.

METHODSMice were injected with chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) via the tail vein. Fresh B220(-)CD11c(+) cells were sorted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and cultured into DCs by cytokines.DCs were transfected with AdGM-CSF gene at different ratios of multiplicity of infection (MOI) to determine the optimal gene transfection conditions, and the expression of GM-CSF was detected after transfection. The variation of GM-CSF gene-modifiedDCs were analyzed by morphological examination, phenotype analysis, and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR).DCs were loaded with gastric cancer antigen obtained by freezing and thawing method. The killing effect of DCs vaccine-stimulated T lymphocytes on gastric cancer cells was assessed by MTT assay. INF-gamma production was determined with the INF-gamma ELISA kit.

RESULTSB220(-)CD11c(+) cells increased obviously after CCL3 injection. The ELISA results showed that after GM-CSF gene modification, DCs could produce high level of GM-CSF. When DCs were transfected with AdGM-CSF gene at MOI equal to 100, the GM-CSF level in culture supernatants reached saturation [(130.00 +/- 12.61) pg/ml]. After GM-CSF gene-modification, DCs tend to be more maturated as detected by morphological observation and phenotype analysis. At the same time, the capacity of activating the proliferation of allogeneic T lymphocytes was enhanced greatly. T lymphocytes stimulated by DCs transfected with GM-CSF gene showed a specific killing effect on gastric carcinoma cells and produced high level of INF-gamma [(1245.00 +/- 13.75) pg/ml].

CONCLUSIONAfter GM-CSF gene modification, DCs can produce high level of GM-CSF, which tend to be more maturated, and the capacity of activating the proliferation of allogeneic T lymphocytes is enhanced greatly. GM-CSF gene modified DCs can induce specific CTL to target tumor cells in vitro.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interaction domains between macrophage migration inhibitory factors (MIF) and the extracellular segment of type-II trans-membrane protein CD74 using a yeast two-hybrid system.

METHODSBy using molecular cloning techniques, the DNA fragments encoding MIF, MIF(50-65) and MIF(1-50/65-115) were introduced into the pGBKT7 vector to construct the corresponding recombinant bait plasmids, and the DNA fragments encoding CD74(73-232), CD74(73-109), CD74(1109-149) and CD74(149-232) into the pGADT7 vector to construct the recombinant activation domain (AD) plasmids. PEG/LiAC method was employed to transform the above 3 recombinant bait plasmids paired with each of the 4 recombinant AD plasmids into the chemical competent yeast AH109 cells. The transformed yeast AH109 cells were screened consecutively on SD/-Trp-Leu and SD/-Trp-Leu-Ade-His/X-alpha-gal nutritional media.

RESULTSThe results of restriction endonuclease digestion and DNA sequencing verified the correct construction of all the recombinant plasmids. The yeast AH109 cells transformed with each of the 3 recombinant bait plasmids could grow on SD/-trp nutritional media without autonomous activation effect on the reporter gene MEL1. The cells transformed with each of the 4 recombinant AD plasmids could also grow on SD/-leu nutritional media without activation of the reporter gene MEL1. Only the yeast AH109 cells co-transformed with MIF, MIF(50-65), or MIF(1-50/65-115) plasmid and CD74(73-232) plasmid could grow on SD/-Trp-Leu-Ade-His nutritional media with transcription activation of the reporter gene MEL1.

CONCLUSIONMIF interacts with the intact extracellular segment of CD74 (CD74(73-232)) independent of the functional domain of MIF(50-65).

Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether there is an association between the expression of B7-H1 in HBV transgenic mice and the immune tolerance to HBV.

METHODST cells stimulatory capacity of DC was analyzed using mixed lymphocyte reaction. Expression of MHC-II, CD80, CD86, B7-H1 on DC was detected by Flow Cytometry. IL-2, IFNgamma, IL-10 production of T cells were determined by using ELISA. B7-H1 mRNA and protein expression in liver tissue were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively.

RESULTSThe ability of DC cells from HBV transgenic mice to stimulate T cell proliferation was significantly impaired compared with DC cells from control mice (t = 16.674, 19.674, 21.712, P less than 0.01). Expression of MHC-II, CD80 on DC was markedly decreased in transgenic mice (t = 7.910, 6.413, P less than 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of CD86 and B7-H1 on DC cells in HBV transgenic mice were not significantly different from that in control mice. The levels of IL-2, IFNgamma, IL-10 in supernatant of T cells was significantly lower compared with controls (t = 18.712, 18.712 and 11.683, P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in B7-H1 expression at mRNA and protein levels in liver tissue compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSFunctional defect of DC, partly due to decreased expression of MHC-II, CD80, but not related to B7-H1 expression, is the cause for immune tolerance to HBV in HBV transgenic mice.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; metabolism ; Immune Tolerance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spleen ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism