Molecular Basis for the High Affinity Interaction between the Thymic Leukemia Antigen and the CD8 Molecule
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免疫学杂志 2005年第6期
Abstract
The mouse thymic leukemia (TL) Ag is a nonclassical MHC class I molecule that binds with higher affinity to CD8 than CD8. The interaction of CD8 with TL is important for lymphocyte regulation in the intestine. Therefore, we studied the molecular basis for TL Ag binding to CD8. The stronger affinity of the TL Ag for CD8 is largely mediated by three amino acids on exposed loops of the conserved 3 domain. Mutant classical class I molecules substituted with TL Ag amino acids at these positions mimic the ability to interact with CD8 and modulate lymphocyte function. These data indicate that small changes in the 3 domain of class I molecules potentially can have profound physiologic consequences.
Introduction
The T region of the mouse MHC encodes several nonclassical or nonpolymorphic class Ib proteins with diverse functions (1). The closely related T3 and T18 genes, with >95% sequence similarity, encode the thymic leukemia (TL)3 Ag, originally identified by serology as a determinant on thymic TLs (2). The TL Ag is also expressed on immature thymocytes of most mouse strains (3), activated peripheral T lymphocytes (4), activated dendritic cells (5), epithelial cells, and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) of the small intestine (6, 7). Cell surface expression of the TL Ag is independent of the TAP but requires 2-microglobulin (2m) (8). The crystal structure of the TL Ag shows that its binding groove is occluded by conformational changes that prevent the presentation of peptides (9). This corroborates the observation that no peptides have been identified in elution experiments with soluble TL expressed in insect cells (8) or bacteria (10). Despite the absence of Ag presentation, TL molecules can serve as transplantation Ags and can mediate a TCR+ or even TCR+ cytotoxic T cell responses (11, 12, 13, 14). This cannot be due to Ag presentation by TL, and in some cases it has been shown that TL Ag-reactive T cells respond to a conformational epitope in the TL12 domains (15).
The homodimeric CD8 molecule, expressed on the vast majority of IEL, was recently shown to bind the TL Ag. TL tetramers, encoded by either T18d or T3b constructs, selectively bind CD8, but not CD8-expressing cells (16, 17). Moreover, direct binding measurements with monomeric TL protein demonstrated that TL binds CD8 with an affinity 10-fold higher than the affinity for CD8 heterodimers (16). The TL Ag affinity for CD8 is low and comparable to those measured between other MHC class I molecules and CD8 or CD8 (16, 18). TL is the only known MHC class I molecule that displays a significant difference in affinity favoring binding of CD8. Studies using IEL and CD8-expressing T cell hybridomas demonstrated that expression of TL on APCs modulates TCR-mediated cytokine release, cytotoxicity, and proliferation (16). Moreover, we have recently shown that a subpopulation of activated CD8+ peripheral T lymphocytes transiently expresses CD8. The CD8 interaction with TL, expressed on activated dendritic cells and perhaps other cell types, may promote the survival and differentiation of activated lymphocytes into memory T cells (5).
The molecular basis for the ability of the TL Ag to interact with CD8 preferentially and with a relatively high affinity is not understood, especially as several of the major binding regions of classical MHC class I molecules for CD8 are conserved in the TL Ag. To understand how the TL Ag binds preferentially to CD8 to carry out its functions, and to gain insight into how other class I molecules might function similarly, we have conducted gain-and-loss of function experiments to define the mechanism for preferential interaction of the TL Ag with CD8 homodimers.
Materials and Methods
DNA constructions
A construct encoding the T18d cDNA in the pET23a vector has been described elsewhere (10). A Kb cDNA in the pET23a vector, an HLA-A2*0201 cDNA in the pHN1 vector, and a construct containing a human 2m cDNA were a gift from Dr. J. Altman (Emory University, Atlanta, GA) (19). Constructs encoding T18d12/Kb3, Kb12/T18d3, and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric class I molecules for recombinant protein production in bacteria were generated by overlapping PCR extension (20). In brief, DNA encoding the T18d12, Kbb12, HLA-A212, T18d3, and Kb3 domains were amplified by PCR using the primers depicted in Table I and were gel purified. To create the T18d12/Kb3 chimeric molecule, the T18d12 PCR fragment was mixed at 1:1 ratio with Kb3 PCR fragments and subjected to overlapping PCR. DNA fragments were denaturated at 95°C for 5 min, annealed at 56°C for 2 min, and extended at 72°C for 5 min. Finally T18d12 sense primers and Kb3 antisense primers were added and the mixture was subjected to a 25-cycle run. The final PCR product was cloned into a TOPO-TA cloning kit (Invitrogen Life Technologies) and positive clones were sequenced. Finally, the T18d12/Kb3 DNA was NdeI-BamHI digested from the TOPO-TA vector and cloned in frame with a biotin-binding cassette (BSP) at the 3' end terminus into the pET23a vector as previously described (10). A similar procedure was applied to generate Kb12/T18d3 and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric molecules. For the generation of T18d recombinant proteins bearing mutations, the T18d cDNA in the pET23a vector was subjected to site directed mutagensis using the GeneEditor kit (Promega) with the mutagenic primers depicted in Table I. Finally, for the generation of Kb recombinant proteins bearing mutations, site directed mutagenesis was performed using the Quick Change mutagenesis kit (Stratagene) with the mutagenic primers depicted in Table I.
Table I. Sequence of the oligonucleotides used in the studya
Tetramer production
The MHC class I H chain-biotin-binding cassette and 2m proteins were expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) (Novagen) after induction with 0.4 M isopropyl--D-thiogalactopyranoside. Inclusion bodies were purified from bacterial lysates and solubilized in 8 M urea. After further dilution with buffered 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, MHC class I H chains and 2m were refolded in 200 ml or 500 ml of refolding buffer (pH 8.3) containing 400 mM L-arginine, 100 mM Tris-HCl, 2 mM EDTA, 5 mM reduced glutathione, 0.5 mM oxidized glutathione, and 0.2 mM PMSF. A total of 1 μM MHC class I H chain, equally distributed in six separated injections (every 12 h) and 2 μM 2m, distributed in two separated injections (performed with the two first injections of MHC class I H chain) were added to the refolding buffer. For Kb and Kb12/T18d3 molecules, OVAp (SIINFEKL) was added at a concentration of 26 μM to the refolding solution before the H chains and 2m injections. For the refolding of the HLA-A2 and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric molecules, a peptide derived from hepatitis B core Ag (HBcAg) (FLPSDFFPSV) was used. The refolded proteins were then filtered through a 0.22-μm filter (Millipore) and concentrated in an Amicon chamber with a 10K-exclusion membrane and separated from aggregated H chain and free human 2m on a S300 gel filtration column (Pharmacia Biotech). Refolded MHC class I molecules were concentrated using a Centricon Filter (Amicon) with a 30K-exclusion membrane. Sephadex columns (Amersham Biosciences) were used for desalting before the refolded 2m/MHC class I complexes were subjected to an enzymatic biotinylation using AviTag technology (Avidity) for 12 h at 25°C. MHC class I tetramers were prepared by mixing the biotinylated protein with streptavidin-PE (Molecular Probes) at a molar ratio of 4:1 for 15 min at 4°C.
Tetramer titration
The concentrations of biotinylated, monomeric MHC class I molecules were measured using the BCA protein assay (Pierce). A 1/10 to 1/30,000 dilution of the streptavidin-PE-labeled tetramers was made and used to stain 105 beef insulin (BI)-CD8 cells for 30 min at room temperature. These cells are from the BI-reactive T cell hybridoma BI-141 transfected with a CD8 expression construct (a gift of Dr. C. Micelli, University of California, Los Angeles, CA). The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the tetramer staining on BI-CD8 was measured by flow cytometry using a FACScan instrument (BD Biosciences). As a control, BI-CD8 cells were preincubated with an anti-CD8 mAb RM2200 (Caltag Laboratories), which blocks the T18d-CD8 interaction, before the tetramer staining. The specific MHC class I tetramer staining for CD8 on the BI-CD8 cells was calculated as follows: (MFI in the absence of anti-CD8 mAb) – (MFI in the presence of anti-CD8 mAb). The binding isotherm of the different MHC class I tetramers for CD8 was obtained by plotting the specific MFI against the tetramer concentrations. Scatchard transformation of the binding isotherms was used to calculate the KD.
Animals and primary T lymphocyte isolation
C57BL/6J (C57BL/6) were purchased from The Jackson Laboratory. Inguinal lymph nodes were isolated and prepared as single cell suspension. IEL were isolated as follows: small intestine was removed and cleaned, opened longitudinally, and fecal content was removed. Intestines were then cut into 0.5-cm pieces, transferred into a 50-ml Falcone tube and shaken two times at 250 rpm for 20 min at 37°C in HBSS without Ca2+ or Mg2+ and containing 1 mM DTT and 2% FCS. The cell suspensions were passed through a 60-μl nylon mesh and pelleted by centrifugation. The cell pellets were resuspended in 40% Percoll layered over a 70% Percoll and centrifuged at 900 x g for 20 min. Cells from the interface were collected and washed.
Transfectants
A construct encoding a T18d full-length cDNA in the pCDNA3.1 vector (Invitrogen Life Technologies) was described elsewhere (8). The Kb full-length cDNA in the pCDNA3.1 vector was a gift from Dr. P. Creswell (Yale University, New Haven, CT). DNA constructs encoding T18d12/Kb3 and T18d12/Kb3-D197G/K198D/M228T for generating mouse cell transfectants were generated by overlapping PCR using the same protocol as for generating recombinant proteins (see above), and using the primers described in Table I. Constructs encoding T18d12/Kb3 chimeric molecules, mutated T18d and mutated Kb were sequenced and electroporated into RMA-S and P815 cells using the Gene Pulser II (Bio-Rad) electroporator and a 0.4-cm cuvette (Invitrogen Life Technologies). Neither cell line expresses TL based on FACS analysis. Transfected cells were then kept in culture for 10 days in complete RPMI 1640 with 100 μg/ml geneticin (Invitrogen Life Technologies) and then FACS sorted using anti-T18 mAb 18/20 (21) or anti-H-2Kb mAb, clone MM3604 (Caltag Laboratories), to enrich for transfectants.
LacZ T cell hybridoma activation assay
Activation of the CD8-expressing T cell hybridomas B3Z and 30NX was evaluated as described previously (22). Briefly, transfected RMA-S or P815 cells were incubated with mitomycin C and after extensive washing, were resuspended in HL-1 serum-free medium (Cambrex) and distributed in 96-well plates (2 x 105 cells/well). B3Z or 30NX TCR agonist peptides, SIINFEKL and SSVVGVWYL, respectively, were added to the cells and the plate was incubated for 30 min at 37°C. Finally, 7 x 104 B3Z or 30NX T hybridoma cells (a gift of Dr. N. Shastri, University of California, Berkeley) were added to each well and the plate was incubated for 12 h at 37°C. The plate was washed two times with PBS and 100 μl of Z buffer (100 mM 2-ME, 9 mM MgCl2, 0.125% Nonidet P-40, 15 mM chlorophenol red--D-galactopyranoside in PBS) was added to each well. The plate was incubated for 1–4 h at 37°C and -galactosidase enzymatic activity was measured by spectrophotometry (Spectra Max; Molecular Devices) at 595 nm.
Results
To assess directly the importance of the T18d3 domain in the interaction with CD8, we generated T18d, Kb, and HLA-A2 chimeric recombinant proteins from bacterial inclusion bodies (10) by swapping their constituent 3 domains to form T18d12/Kb3, Kb12/T18d3, and HLA-A212/T18d3 molecules, respectively. Binding of the chimeric proteins to CD8 was evaluated by flow cytometry with PE-labeled tetramers that were used to stain CD8-transfected BI-141 T hybridoma cells (BI-CD8) (23) (Fig. 1A). As previously published, wild-type (wt) T18d tetramers stain BI-CD8 (16) with an avidity of 0.07 μM, measured by a Scatchard transformation of the binding isotherm (Fig. 1B) and staining could be blocked by preincubating the BI-CD8 cells with an anti-CD8 mAb before adding the tetramer (Fig. 1A). As expected, only very weak staining was detectable when Kb and HLA-A2 tetramers were tested on the BI-CD8 cell line. Because of the weak staining, the avidity of these two proteins for mouse CD8 could not be measured by a binding isotherm. T18d12/Kb3 chimeric tetramers were likewise unable to stain the BI-CD8 cells, whereas Kb12/T18d3 and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric tetramers were able to do so, with calculated binding constants of 0.10 μM and 0.53 μM, respectively. These results demonstrate that the T18d3 domain is necessary for the high affinity interaction with CD8.
FIGURE 1. The 3 domain of the TL Ag is responsible for high avidity binding to CD8. A, Representative flow cytometry data showing the binding of T18d, H-2Kb, HLA-A2 tetramers, and chimeric T18d 12/Kb3, Kb12/T18d 3, and HLA-A212/T18d 3 tetramers to the T cell hybridoma BI-141-transfected with a CD8. Tetramers at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. Open histograms correspond to the staining on CD8-transfected cells that have been preincubated with an anti-CD8 mAb before the tetramer staining, and the filled histograms correspond to the staining in absence of blocking mAb. B, Binding isotherms of the TL, Kb12/T18d 3, and HLA-A212/T18d 3 chimeric tetramers on the CD8-transfected BI-141 cell line. Numbers in the upper right corner of each panel in A designate the protein used for the corresponding binding isotherm in B. Numbers in parentheses correspond to the calculated KD values. One experiment representative of two is shown.
A subset of unique TL residues is crucial for high affinity interaction with CD8
To determine which amino acids might be important, we focused on those located in the contacting 3 domain for CD8. Structural studies (9) clearly delineated that the CD loop and AB loop of the 3 domain play a pivotal role in CD8 binding (Fig. 2). There are differences in the amino acid composition of these loops between the TL Ag and classical MHC class I. In the CD loop, position 228 is a threonine (T228) in T18d and a methionine (M228) in Kb. We have previously suggested that an extra hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl oxygen of T228 to the carbonyl group of L224 within the CD loop of TL might further rigidify the loop, favoring CD8 binding from an entropic point of view (9). In the AB loop of the T18d molecule, positions 197 and 198 are a glycine (G197) and an aspartic acid (D198) whereas in Kb they are an aspartic acid (D197) and a lysine (K198). One key factor that may augment CD8-binding affinity is the D197G substitution. In TL, the G197 has its carbonyl oxygen hydrogen bonding to the R194 side chain atom NH1, inducing a readjustment of the R194 side chain so that its NH2 atoms now form a hydrogen bond to the main chain carbonyl oxygen of N61 of CD82. The resulting overall consequence is to bring the AB loop of T18d closer to the neighboring C'C'' loop of CD8 as compared with the Kb loop, enhancing the binding. The net gain of this closer approach is four hydrophobic contacts in the interaction of CD8 with T18d as compared with Kb.
FIGURE 2. Sequence and structure comparison of the T18d and Kb molecules. A, Amino acid alignment of the 3 domains of T18d and Kb. Black bars define the amino acids in the AB and CD loops which are important for Kb binding to CD8. B, Superposition of TL/CD8 and Kb/CD8 structures (9 ). On the right side is a ribbon drawing of the two superimposed complexes with two CD8 subunits labeled. The color codes in the TL/CD8 structure are pink for TL, and light pink and red for CD81 and CD82, respectively. In the Kb/CD8 structure, cyan represents Kb, green represents CD81, and blue represents CD82. On the left side is an inset that shows backbone traces with detailed comparative interaction of the MHC molecules AB loop to CD82. For clarity only residues 194 and 197 are shown. Green broken lines represent hydrogen bonds from the T18d arginine at position 194 to T18d glycine at position 197 and to asparagines 64 of CD82.
Based upon these observations, we made a series of mutations in which Kb amino acids were substituted into the T18d molecule or vice versa. A substitution of T18d aspartic acid at position 198 with a lysine (D198K) reduced the tetramer staining on BI-CD8 (Fig. 3A), and the KD from 0.07 μM for the wt T18d (Fig. 1B) to 0.58 μM for the T18d-D198K mutant (Fig. 3B). A T18d molecule in which positions 198 (D198K) and 197 (G197D) were substituted to give the double mutant T18d-G197D/D198K had an equilibrium binding constant of 0.2 μM (Fig. 3B). The substitution of the threonine at position 228 by a methionine (T18d-T228M) did not significantly affect the binding to CD8 (KD = 0.11 μM) (Fig. 3B). In contrast, a triple substitution replacing three T18d residues with Kb residues (G197D/D198K/T228M) caused a 16-fold decrease in CD8 binding (KD = 1.1 μM).
FIGURE 3. Three crucial amino acids determine high avidity binding to CD8. A, Binding of the mutated T18d and Kb tetramers to CD8-transfected BI-141 cells was measured by flow cytometry as described in Fig. 2. The numbers 197, 198, and 228 correspond to the position of the mutations. Tetramers at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. B, Binding isotherms of the mutated T18d and Kb tetramers that had measurable binding to the CD8-transfected cells. Circled numbers designed the nature of the protein (see A). Numbers in the upper right corner of each panel in A designate the protein used for the corresponding binding isotherm in B. One experiment representative of two is shown.
In a second set of mutants, we determined whether there would be a gain of CD8-specific affinity by substituting the 3 domain TL amino acids, identified above, into the Kb molecule. A Kb MHC tetramer with a single substitution M228T had greatly reduced binding to COS7 cells expressing high levels of CD8 compared with wt Kb tetramer (data not shown). Therefore, we did not continue studies with the single substitution. We created a D197G/K198D double substitution and a D197G/K198D/M228T triple substitutions in the Kb molecule and made affinity measurements. The double substitution did not lead to a detectable gain of affinity. Remarkably, however, a Kb molecule with the triple T18d substitutions displayed a relatively high avidity KD of 0.2 μM for CD8 (Fig. 3B).
To formally demonstrate that the gain of affinity of the D197G/K198D/M228T Kb molecule was unique for CD8 and not for CD8, we stained CD8 lymph node cells from a wt mouse. wt T18d and Kb tetramers, as well as T18d and Kb triple mutant tetramers, were unable to stain CD8 lymph node T cells (Fig. 4). In contrast, Kb triple mutant tetramers were able to stain IEL, though the staining was less bright than wt T18d tetramers (Fig. 4). This observation demonstrates that the increase in avidity of the mutated Kb tetramers for CD8 is not restricted to cell lines but also applies for ex vivo isolated lymphocytes.
FIGURE 4. Triple mutant H-2Kb tetramers are able to stain IEL. Representative flow cytometry data showing the binding of T18d, Kb, and Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T tetramers to IEL and lymph node cells (LN) isolated from a C57BL/6 animal. Staining was performed at 20°C for 30 min with tetramers at 10 μg/ml. MFI of the positively stained cells (defined with the marker) is in the upper right corner. Lymphocytes were gated by scatter analysis.
The same subset of TL residues is critical for TL function
To test the functional consequences of the mutated 3 domains, we used an in vitro system that is diagrammed in Fig. 5. The experiment measured the stimulation of a CD8-expressing T cell hybridoma, B3Z-CD8, when activated by its cognate OVA peptide, SIINFEKL (OVAp) bound to Kb. Hybridoma activation can be measured by an enzymatic assay, as the cells have been transfected with a LacZ reporter gene under the control of an IL-2 promoter element (22). As APCs, we used a H-2b haplotype lymphoma cell line, RMA-S that is deficient for the TAP gene. Because of this deficiency, only a low level of MHC class I protein can be detected on the cell surface. By adding exogenous peptide, however, cell surface MHC class I-peptide complexes can be stabilized (24). In contrast to classical MHC class I Ag-presenting molecules, T18d expression is TAP-independent (8). We previously showed that the IL-2 promoter activity and protein expression are increased when the B3Z-CD8 hybridoma is activated by OVAp loaded on Kb APC transfectants that express T18d (16).
FIGURE 5. Loss of function of the mutated TL proteins. B3Z-CD8 hybridoma cells were activated with OVAp (5 μg/ml) loaded, untransfected RMA-S cells, RMA-S cells transfected with wt T18d or RMA-S cells transfected with the indicated T18d mutant proteins. The activation of the B3Z-CD8 cells was analyzed for LacZ by spectrophotometry. For each condition, the OD in the absence of OVAp has been subtracted and measures were done in triplicate. Difference between T18d-198 and T18d-197/198/228 was statistically significant (p = 0.018, Student’s t test). One representative experiment of three is shown.
We generated stable RMA-S transfectants expressing surface T18d molecules bearing the same mutations as the recombinant proteins presented in Fig. 3. The level of surface expression of the mutated T18d constructs in the RMA-S cell transfectants was approximately similar (Fig. 6A). As expected, B3Z-CD8 activated with OVAp loaded RMA-S/T18d transfectants substantially increased the IL-2 promoter activity when compared with OVAp loaded untransfected (parental) RMA-S cells (Fig. 5). In accordance with the avidity measurements (Fig. 3B), RMA-S-expressing T18d with three Kb substitutions (G197D/D198K/T228M) displayed the most severe reduction in IL-2 promoter activity. Despite this reduction, the level of activation was still higher than the one observed with untransfected RMA-S (parental) cell line. In conclusion, the amino acid substitutions in T18d that most affected the binding to CD8 also affected the ability of the T18d-CD8 interaction to modulate immune function.
FIGURE 6. Surface expression of transfectants with wt and mutant class I molecules. A, RMA-S cells transfected with wt and mutated T18d molecules (Fig. 5). Open histograms correspond to the staining of untransfected RMA-S cells. B, P815 cells transfected with wt Kb and the Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant (Fig. 7A). Open histograms correspond to the staining on untransfected P815 cells. C, RMA-S cells transfected with T18d12/wt Kb3 and T18d12/mut Kb3 (Fig. 7B). Open histograms correspond to the staining on untransfected RMA-S cells. D, RMA-S cells transfected with wt Kb and mutant Kb (Fig. 7C). Open histograms correspond to the staining on untransfected RMA-S cells. MFI is in the upper right corner of each flow cytometry profile.
We also tested the mutated Kb molecules for a parallel gain of function. Three approaches were chosen. In the first approach, diagrammed in Fig. 7A, we used the P815 mastocytoma cell line as APC. This cell line is of the d haplotype, and consequently is unable to present OVAp to the B3Z-CD8 hybridoma. We generated P815 transfectants with wt Kb or the Kb triple mutant (Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T). Expression levels of the two transfectants were similar, as shown in Fig. 6B. The capacity of the two P815 transfectants to activate B3Z-CD8 in the presence of different concentrations of OVAp was evaluated. Untransfected control P815 cells were unable to activate B3Z-CD8 (Fig. 7A). wt Kb and Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T-transfected P815 cells were able to activate B3Z-CD8, although B3Z-CD8 activation was stronger at every concentration of OVAp in the presence of the Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T-transfected P815 cells compared with the wt Kb transfectant (Fig. 7A). This result is consistent with the notion that mutated Kb strongly interacts with CD8 on the surface of the B3Z hybridoma, and that this interaction led to an increase in IL-2 promoter activity.
FIGURE 7. Gain of function of the triple mutant H-2Kb protein. A, B3Z-CD8 hybridoma cells were stimulated with untransfected P815 (mock), P815 transfected with a construct encoding wt Kb or a Kb molecule bearing mutations at positions 197, 198, and 228 (Kb-197/198/228). APC were loaded with the indicated concentrations of peptide. A schematic outline of the experimental design is shown at the left of the figure. Measurement of the activation of the hybridomas cells was as described above. One experiment representative of three is shown. B, B3Z-CD8 hybridoma were stimulated with RMA-S cells that have been transfected with constructs encoding two different T18d12Kb3 chimeric molecules: one with a wt Kb 3 domain (T18d12/Kb3) and one with a Kb 3 domain bearing mutations at position 197/198 and 228 (T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228). Untransfected and transfected RMA-S cells were loaded with the indicated concentrations of OVAp and B3Z-CD8 hybridoma activation was measured as described above. One experiment representative of three is shown. C, 30NX-CD8 hybridoma cells specific for the Db-restricted SVL9 peptide were activated with RMA-S APC transfected with a construct encoding wt Kb or Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant. wt Kb and Kb-197/198/228 transfected RMA-S cells were loaded with the indicated concentrations of SVL9 peptide and 30NX-CD8 hybridoma activation was measured. One experiment representative of three is shown.
One caveat of this experimental setting is that the same transfected mutated Kb molecule, in addition to interacting with CD8, could simultaneously present OVAp to the B3Z-CD8 TCR. Therefore, one cannot exclude the possibility that the simultaneous interaction of mutated Kb with the TCR and CD8 could lead to a different outcome than for TL, which only interacts with CD8 and not with conventional TCRs. To exclude this possibility, we used a second approach in which RMA-S cells were transfected with a chimeric construct encoding either T18d12/Kb3 or a T18d12/Kb3 mutant with substitutions in positions D197G, K198D, and M228T of the Kb 3 domain (T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228). Expression levels of the transfectants are depicted in Fig. 6C. The presence of the T18d12 domains in these two chimeric molecules renders them unable to present OVAp to B3Z-CD8 cells. OVAp can still be presented to the B3Z-CD8 hybridoma, however, through endogenously expressed Kb molecules produced by the RMA-S cells and stabilized on the cell surface by exogenous peptide. Therefore, as diagrammed in Fig. 7B, in this experimental setting the TCR and CD8 interactions are mediated by different MHC class I molecules. Endogenously expressed Kb will present OVAp to the TCR and the T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228 chimeric class I molecule should interact with CD8, whereas the T18d12/Kb3 chimera should not.
Analysis of B3Z-CD8 activation showed that RMA-S cells expressing T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228 induced an activation level comparable to the one measured with RMA-S-expressing T18d (Fig. 7B). By contrast, RMA-S cells expressing the T18d12/Kb3 chimera induced a level of activation comparable to the untransfected RMA-S cells (parental). This result demonstrated that the T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228 chimeric molecule can recapitulate the ability of T18d to deliver a signal through CD8, and moreover, it highlights the importance of the 197, 198, and 228 amino acids in the 3 domain with regard to the high affinity interaction with CD8.
Because chimeric T18d/Kb molecules were used as a T18d surrogate molecule, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that amino acids in the T18d 1 and 2 domains participate in the interaction with CD8, and that we are therefore measuring a cumulative effect of CD8 interactions with the T18d12 domains in addition to the Kb3 domain mutated at positions 197, 198, and 228. To investigate this possibility, we used a third approach in which native Kb molecules bearing amino acid substitutions at positions 197/198/228 were not involved in Ag presentation. RMA-S cells were transfected with constructs encoding either wt Kb or the Kb-D197G-K198D-M228T 3 domain triple mutant. A low level of Kb expression could be detected on the surface of transfected RMA-S cells, even in absence of exogenous peptide (Fig. 6D). This probably reflects the overall increased level of Kb mRNA expression in the transfected RMA-S cells, compared with their endogenous level of Kb, perhaps combined with inefficient TAP-independent loading of peptides.
To measure the function of wt Kb vs the Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant in delivering a signal through CD8 without involving the TCR, we used a CD8-expressing T hybridoma, 30NX/B10–1 (or 30NX), specific for the SVL9 peptide (SSVVGVWYL), derived from the H13 minor histocompatibility locus presented by Db (25). Similar to B3Z, the 30NX hybridoma expresses the LacZ reporter construct. As schematically described in Fig. 7C, the SVL9 peptide is presented to the 30NX hybridoma by endogenously expressed Db molecules stabilized on the surface of the RMA-S cells by the added peptide, whereas the CD8 interaction and signaling should be provided separately by the Kb-D197G-K198D-M228T mutant MHC class I molecule. wt Kb-transfected RMA-S cells were used as a control, and they did not deliver a high affinity signal through CD8. Activation of the 30NX hybridoma cells with RMA-S cells transfected with the Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant protein was increased compared with the control RMA-S cells transfected with wt Kb as measured by IL-2 promoter activity (Fig. 7C).
Discussion
The TL Ag is a mouse, MHC-encoded, nonclassical class I molecule with an unusual structure, expression pattern, and function. The function of this class I molecule is defined not by Ag presentation, but rather by its relatively high affinity binding to CD8 compared with CD8 (16). The interaction of the TL Ag with CD8 homodimers has an important influence on the behavior of different categories of T lymphocytes. Given the importance of this interaction for T cell biology, we set out to identify the molecular basis for the preferential binding of the TL Ag to CD8.
We demonstrated that the 3 domain of the TL Ag is required for the relatively high avidity binding to CD8, and that amino acids 197 and 198 on the AB loop, and 228 on the CD loop, carry much of the specificity of TL Ag binding. There is less influence of the 2 domain or other portions of the class I molecule. This is demonstrated most clearly by the ability of tetramers of the Kb molecule with T18d substitutions at positions 197, 198, and 228 to bind to CD8-expressing cells with an avidity similar to the intact T18d molecule itself. Tetramers of the HLA-A2/T18d chimera bound CD8 less avidly than T18d, indicating that the 12 domains play a minor role.
The importance of a few amino acids in the 3 domain for preferential CD8 binding is consistent with several previous reports. Mutations in CD8 amino acids contacting the 3 domain that greatly reduced binding of CD8 to classical class I molecules also greatly reduced CD8 binding to TL (26). Based on this, we concluded that CD8 likely contacted the 3 domain of Kb and TL in a similar manner. This was confirmed by x-ray diffraction analysis of TL-CD8 cocrystals, which demonstrated that the contacts of Kb for CD8 are conserved in TL, and therefore that subtle changes in the TL 3 domain might be responsible for the strengthened interactions of TL with CD8 (9).
The existence of a human homologue for the TL Ag remains unresolved. Substantial numbers of human peripheral blood T cells express CD8 homodimers in the absence of CD8 expression (27) or coexpressed CD4 and CD8 (28), as do some human IEL. Moreover, biochemical evidence indicates that CD8+ T cells also can coexpress CD8 homodimers, especially when they are activated (Ref.29 , and H. Cheroutre and M. Kronenberg, unpublished data). Therefore, it is plausible that a human homologue of the TL Ag adapted for preferential CD8 binding exists. One potential candidate is HLA-G, which has a restricted expression pattern and which binds to CD8 (30), but has unusual substitutions at positions 197 (tyrosine for histidine) and 228 (valine for threonine). Moreover, HLA-G has been reported to influence T cell function by binding to CD8 (31–37). Despite these similarities, HLA-G does not bind human CD8 with an exceptionally high affinity (33). Another potential candidate for a functional human homologue of the TL Ag is the gp180 molecule, expressed on the intestinal epithelial cells, which interacts with CD8 when gp180 is associated with the nonclassical MHC class I molecule CD1d (34). The CD1d-gp180 complex activates the CD8-associated kinase p56lck. Interestingly, interaction of the CD1d-gp180 complex with CD8 is mediated by gp180 and not by CD1d molecule (35). Therefore, gp180 could be a functional homologue of TL in humans, although it is not a structural homologue.
The set of nonclassical class I molecules have a strikingly diverse set of functions despite sharing a similar fold. In addition to recognition by TCRs and NK cell receptors, their functions include roles in iron transport, Ig transport, and Ig serum half life, and they may function as molecular chaperones (36). This functional plasticity encompasses the more membrane proximal 3 domain, which has an Ig fold, as well as the 1 and 2 domains, which fold to form the Ag-binding groove. In this study, we demonstrate that small changes in the highly conserved 3 domain can alter the selective binding for the different isoforms of CD8.
Disclosures
The authors have no financial conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We thank Stéphane Sidobre for help in isotherm binding data analysis, Peter Jensen for the bacterial T18d construct, Carrie Micelli for providing the BI-CD8 hybridoma, and Praveena Kasarabada for secretarial assistance.
Footnotes
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
1 This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants DK54451 and AI50263 (to H.C.), AI40617 (to M.K.), GM56008 (to J.-h.W.), and CA048115 (to P.K.), and by the Swiss Foundation for Medical-Biological Grants (to A.A). This is manuscript number 664 from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology.
2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Paula Kavathas, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, TAC, S641A, New Haven, CT 06520-8011. E-mail address: paula.kavathas{at}yale.edu
3 Abbreviations used in this paper: TL, thymic leukemia; IEL, intraepithelial lymphocytes; 2m, 2-microglobulin; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity; wt, wild type; BI, beef insulin.
Received for publication September 9, 2004. Accepted for publication December 28, 2004.
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The mouse thymic leukemia (TL) Ag is a nonclassical MHC class I molecule that binds with higher affinity to CD8 than CD8. The interaction of CD8 with TL is important for lymphocyte regulation in the intestine. Therefore, we studied the molecular basis for TL Ag binding to CD8. The stronger affinity of the TL Ag for CD8 is largely mediated by three amino acids on exposed loops of the conserved 3 domain. Mutant classical class I molecules substituted with TL Ag amino acids at these positions mimic the ability to interact with CD8 and modulate lymphocyte function. These data indicate that small changes in the 3 domain of class I molecules potentially can have profound physiologic consequences.
Introduction
The T region of the mouse MHC encodes several nonclassical or nonpolymorphic class Ib proteins with diverse functions (1). The closely related T3 and T18 genes, with >95% sequence similarity, encode the thymic leukemia (TL)3 Ag, originally identified by serology as a determinant on thymic TLs (2). The TL Ag is also expressed on immature thymocytes of most mouse strains (3), activated peripheral T lymphocytes (4), activated dendritic cells (5), epithelial cells, and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) of the small intestine (6, 7). Cell surface expression of the TL Ag is independent of the TAP but requires 2-microglobulin (2m) (8). The crystal structure of the TL Ag shows that its binding groove is occluded by conformational changes that prevent the presentation of peptides (9). This corroborates the observation that no peptides have been identified in elution experiments with soluble TL expressed in insect cells (8) or bacteria (10). Despite the absence of Ag presentation, TL molecules can serve as transplantation Ags and can mediate a TCR+ or even TCR+ cytotoxic T cell responses (11, 12, 13, 14). This cannot be due to Ag presentation by TL, and in some cases it has been shown that TL Ag-reactive T cells respond to a conformational epitope in the TL12 domains (15).
The homodimeric CD8 molecule, expressed on the vast majority of IEL, was recently shown to bind the TL Ag. TL tetramers, encoded by either T18d or T3b constructs, selectively bind CD8, but not CD8-expressing cells (16, 17). Moreover, direct binding measurements with monomeric TL protein demonstrated that TL binds CD8 with an affinity 10-fold higher than the affinity for CD8 heterodimers (16). The TL Ag affinity for CD8 is low and comparable to those measured between other MHC class I molecules and CD8 or CD8 (16, 18). TL is the only known MHC class I molecule that displays a significant difference in affinity favoring binding of CD8. Studies using IEL and CD8-expressing T cell hybridomas demonstrated that expression of TL on APCs modulates TCR-mediated cytokine release, cytotoxicity, and proliferation (16). Moreover, we have recently shown that a subpopulation of activated CD8+ peripheral T lymphocytes transiently expresses CD8. The CD8 interaction with TL, expressed on activated dendritic cells and perhaps other cell types, may promote the survival and differentiation of activated lymphocytes into memory T cells (5).
The molecular basis for the ability of the TL Ag to interact with CD8 preferentially and with a relatively high affinity is not understood, especially as several of the major binding regions of classical MHC class I molecules for CD8 are conserved in the TL Ag. To understand how the TL Ag binds preferentially to CD8 to carry out its functions, and to gain insight into how other class I molecules might function similarly, we have conducted gain-and-loss of function experiments to define the mechanism for preferential interaction of the TL Ag with CD8 homodimers.
Materials and Methods
DNA constructions
A construct encoding the T18d cDNA in the pET23a vector has been described elsewhere (10). A Kb cDNA in the pET23a vector, an HLA-A2*0201 cDNA in the pHN1 vector, and a construct containing a human 2m cDNA were a gift from Dr. J. Altman (Emory University, Atlanta, GA) (19). Constructs encoding T18d12/Kb3, Kb12/T18d3, and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric class I molecules for recombinant protein production in bacteria were generated by overlapping PCR extension (20). In brief, DNA encoding the T18d12, Kbb12, HLA-A212, T18d3, and Kb3 domains were amplified by PCR using the primers depicted in Table I and were gel purified. To create the T18d12/Kb3 chimeric molecule, the T18d12 PCR fragment was mixed at 1:1 ratio with Kb3 PCR fragments and subjected to overlapping PCR. DNA fragments were denaturated at 95°C for 5 min, annealed at 56°C for 2 min, and extended at 72°C for 5 min. Finally T18d12 sense primers and Kb3 antisense primers were added and the mixture was subjected to a 25-cycle run. The final PCR product was cloned into a TOPO-TA cloning kit (Invitrogen Life Technologies) and positive clones were sequenced. Finally, the T18d12/Kb3 DNA was NdeI-BamHI digested from the TOPO-TA vector and cloned in frame with a biotin-binding cassette (BSP) at the 3' end terminus into the pET23a vector as previously described (10). A similar procedure was applied to generate Kb12/T18d3 and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric molecules. For the generation of T18d recombinant proteins bearing mutations, the T18d cDNA in the pET23a vector was subjected to site directed mutagensis using the GeneEditor kit (Promega) with the mutagenic primers depicted in Table I. Finally, for the generation of Kb recombinant proteins bearing mutations, site directed mutagenesis was performed using the Quick Change mutagenesis kit (Stratagene) with the mutagenic primers depicted in Table I.
Table I. Sequence of the oligonucleotides used in the studya
Tetramer production
The MHC class I H chain-biotin-binding cassette and 2m proteins were expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) (Novagen) after induction with 0.4 M isopropyl--D-thiogalactopyranoside. Inclusion bodies were purified from bacterial lysates and solubilized in 8 M urea. After further dilution with buffered 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, MHC class I H chains and 2m were refolded in 200 ml or 500 ml of refolding buffer (pH 8.3) containing 400 mM L-arginine, 100 mM Tris-HCl, 2 mM EDTA, 5 mM reduced glutathione, 0.5 mM oxidized glutathione, and 0.2 mM PMSF. A total of 1 μM MHC class I H chain, equally distributed in six separated injections (every 12 h) and 2 μM 2m, distributed in two separated injections (performed with the two first injections of MHC class I H chain) were added to the refolding buffer. For Kb and Kb12/T18d3 molecules, OVAp (SIINFEKL) was added at a concentration of 26 μM to the refolding solution before the H chains and 2m injections. For the refolding of the HLA-A2 and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric molecules, a peptide derived from hepatitis B core Ag (HBcAg) (FLPSDFFPSV) was used. The refolded proteins were then filtered through a 0.22-μm filter (Millipore) and concentrated in an Amicon chamber with a 10K-exclusion membrane and separated from aggregated H chain and free human 2m on a S300 gel filtration column (Pharmacia Biotech). Refolded MHC class I molecules were concentrated using a Centricon Filter (Amicon) with a 30K-exclusion membrane. Sephadex columns (Amersham Biosciences) were used for desalting before the refolded 2m/MHC class I complexes were subjected to an enzymatic biotinylation using AviTag technology (Avidity) for 12 h at 25°C. MHC class I tetramers were prepared by mixing the biotinylated protein with streptavidin-PE (Molecular Probes) at a molar ratio of 4:1 for 15 min at 4°C.
Tetramer titration
The concentrations of biotinylated, monomeric MHC class I molecules were measured using the BCA protein assay (Pierce). A 1/10 to 1/30,000 dilution of the streptavidin-PE-labeled tetramers was made and used to stain 105 beef insulin (BI)-CD8 cells for 30 min at room temperature. These cells are from the BI-reactive T cell hybridoma BI-141 transfected with a CD8 expression construct (a gift of Dr. C. Micelli, University of California, Los Angeles, CA). The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the tetramer staining on BI-CD8 was measured by flow cytometry using a FACScan instrument (BD Biosciences). As a control, BI-CD8 cells were preincubated with an anti-CD8 mAb RM2200 (Caltag Laboratories), which blocks the T18d-CD8 interaction, before the tetramer staining. The specific MHC class I tetramer staining for CD8 on the BI-CD8 cells was calculated as follows: (MFI in the absence of anti-CD8 mAb) – (MFI in the presence of anti-CD8 mAb). The binding isotherm of the different MHC class I tetramers for CD8 was obtained by plotting the specific MFI against the tetramer concentrations. Scatchard transformation of the binding isotherms was used to calculate the KD.
Animals and primary T lymphocyte isolation
C57BL/6J (C57BL/6) were purchased from The Jackson Laboratory. Inguinal lymph nodes were isolated and prepared as single cell suspension. IEL were isolated as follows: small intestine was removed and cleaned, opened longitudinally, and fecal content was removed. Intestines were then cut into 0.5-cm pieces, transferred into a 50-ml Falcone tube and shaken two times at 250 rpm for 20 min at 37°C in HBSS without Ca2+ or Mg2+ and containing 1 mM DTT and 2% FCS. The cell suspensions were passed through a 60-μl nylon mesh and pelleted by centrifugation. The cell pellets were resuspended in 40% Percoll layered over a 70% Percoll and centrifuged at 900 x g for 20 min. Cells from the interface were collected and washed.
Transfectants
A construct encoding a T18d full-length cDNA in the pCDNA3.1 vector (Invitrogen Life Technologies) was described elsewhere (8). The Kb full-length cDNA in the pCDNA3.1 vector was a gift from Dr. P. Creswell (Yale University, New Haven, CT). DNA constructs encoding T18d12/Kb3 and T18d12/Kb3-D197G/K198D/M228T for generating mouse cell transfectants were generated by overlapping PCR using the same protocol as for generating recombinant proteins (see above), and using the primers described in Table I. Constructs encoding T18d12/Kb3 chimeric molecules, mutated T18d and mutated Kb were sequenced and electroporated into RMA-S and P815 cells using the Gene Pulser II (Bio-Rad) electroporator and a 0.4-cm cuvette (Invitrogen Life Technologies). Neither cell line expresses TL based on FACS analysis. Transfected cells were then kept in culture for 10 days in complete RPMI 1640 with 100 μg/ml geneticin (Invitrogen Life Technologies) and then FACS sorted using anti-T18 mAb 18/20 (21) or anti-H-2Kb mAb, clone MM3604 (Caltag Laboratories), to enrich for transfectants.
LacZ T cell hybridoma activation assay
Activation of the CD8-expressing T cell hybridomas B3Z and 30NX was evaluated as described previously (22). Briefly, transfected RMA-S or P815 cells were incubated with mitomycin C and after extensive washing, were resuspended in HL-1 serum-free medium (Cambrex) and distributed in 96-well plates (2 x 105 cells/well). B3Z or 30NX TCR agonist peptides, SIINFEKL and SSVVGVWYL, respectively, were added to the cells and the plate was incubated for 30 min at 37°C. Finally, 7 x 104 B3Z or 30NX T hybridoma cells (a gift of Dr. N. Shastri, University of California, Berkeley) were added to each well and the plate was incubated for 12 h at 37°C. The plate was washed two times with PBS and 100 μl of Z buffer (100 mM 2-ME, 9 mM MgCl2, 0.125% Nonidet P-40, 15 mM chlorophenol red--D-galactopyranoside in PBS) was added to each well. The plate was incubated for 1–4 h at 37°C and -galactosidase enzymatic activity was measured by spectrophotometry (Spectra Max; Molecular Devices) at 595 nm.
Results
To assess directly the importance of the T18d3 domain in the interaction with CD8, we generated T18d, Kb, and HLA-A2 chimeric recombinant proteins from bacterial inclusion bodies (10) by swapping their constituent 3 domains to form T18d12/Kb3, Kb12/T18d3, and HLA-A212/T18d3 molecules, respectively. Binding of the chimeric proteins to CD8 was evaluated by flow cytometry with PE-labeled tetramers that were used to stain CD8-transfected BI-141 T hybridoma cells (BI-CD8) (23) (Fig. 1A). As previously published, wild-type (wt) T18d tetramers stain BI-CD8 (16) with an avidity of 0.07 μM, measured by a Scatchard transformation of the binding isotherm (Fig. 1B) and staining could be blocked by preincubating the BI-CD8 cells with an anti-CD8 mAb before adding the tetramer (Fig. 1A). As expected, only very weak staining was detectable when Kb and HLA-A2 tetramers were tested on the BI-CD8 cell line. Because of the weak staining, the avidity of these two proteins for mouse CD8 could not be measured by a binding isotherm. T18d12/Kb3 chimeric tetramers were likewise unable to stain the BI-CD8 cells, whereas Kb12/T18d3 and HLA-A212/T18d3 chimeric tetramers were able to do so, with calculated binding constants of 0.10 μM and 0.53 μM, respectively. These results demonstrate that the T18d3 domain is necessary for the high affinity interaction with CD8.
FIGURE 1. The 3 domain of the TL Ag is responsible for high avidity binding to CD8. A, Representative flow cytometry data showing the binding of T18d, H-2Kb, HLA-A2 tetramers, and chimeric T18d 12/Kb3, Kb12/T18d 3, and HLA-A212/T18d 3 tetramers to the T cell hybridoma BI-141-transfected with a CD8. Tetramers at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. Open histograms correspond to the staining on CD8-transfected cells that have been preincubated with an anti-CD8 mAb before the tetramer staining, and the filled histograms correspond to the staining in absence of blocking mAb. B, Binding isotherms of the TL, Kb12/T18d 3, and HLA-A212/T18d 3 chimeric tetramers on the CD8-transfected BI-141 cell line. Numbers in the upper right corner of each panel in A designate the protein used for the corresponding binding isotherm in B. Numbers in parentheses correspond to the calculated KD values. One experiment representative of two is shown.
A subset of unique TL residues is crucial for high affinity interaction with CD8
To determine which amino acids might be important, we focused on those located in the contacting 3 domain for CD8. Structural studies (9) clearly delineated that the CD loop and AB loop of the 3 domain play a pivotal role in CD8 binding (Fig. 2). There are differences in the amino acid composition of these loops between the TL Ag and classical MHC class I. In the CD loop, position 228 is a threonine (T228) in T18d and a methionine (M228) in Kb. We have previously suggested that an extra hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl oxygen of T228 to the carbonyl group of L224 within the CD loop of TL might further rigidify the loop, favoring CD8 binding from an entropic point of view (9). In the AB loop of the T18d molecule, positions 197 and 198 are a glycine (G197) and an aspartic acid (D198) whereas in Kb they are an aspartic acid (D197) and a lysine (K198). One key factor that may augment CD8-binding affinity is the D197G substitution. In TL, the G197 has its carbonyl oxygen hydrogen bonding to the R194 side chain atom NH1, inducing a readjustment of the R194 side chain so that its NH2 atoms now form a hydrogen bond to the main chain carbonyl oxygen of N61 of CD82. The resulting overall consequence is to bring the AB loop of T18d closer to the neighboring C'C'' loop of CD8 as compared with the Kb loop, enhancing the binding. The net gain of this closer approach is four hydrophobic contacts in the interaction of CD8 with T18d as compared with Kb.
FIGURE 2. Sequence and structure comparison of the T18d and Kb molecules. A, Amino acid alignment of the 3 domains of T18d and Kb. Black bars define the amino acids in the AB and CD loops which are important for Kb binding to CD8. B, Superposition of TL/CD8 and Kb/CD8 structures (9 ). On the right side is a ribbon drawing of the two superimposed complexes with two CD8 subunits labeled. The color codes in the TL/CD8 structure are pink for TL, and light pink and red for CD81 and CD82, respectively. In the Kb/CD8 structure, cyan represents Kb, green represents CD81, and blue represents CD82. On the left side is an inset that shows backbone traces with detailed comparative interaction of the MHC molecules AB loop to CD82. For clarity only residues 194 and 197 are shown. Green broken lines represent hydrogen bonds from the T18d arginine at position 194 to T18d glycine at position 197 and to asparagines 64 of CD82.
Based upon these observations, we made a series of mutations in which Kb amino acids were substituted into the T18d molecule or vice versa. A substitution of T18d aspartic acid at position 198 with a lysine (D198K) reduced the tetramer staining on BI-CD8 (Fig. 3A), and the KD from 0.07 μM for the wt T18d (Fig. 1B) to 0.58 μM for the T18d-D198K mutant (Fig. 3B). A T18d molecule in which positions 198 (D198K) and 197 (G197D) were substituted to give the double mutant T18d-G197D/D198K had an equilibrium binding constant of 0.2 μM (Fig. 3B). The substitution of the threonine at position 228 by a methionine (T18d-T228M) did not significantly affect the binding to CD8 (KD = 0.11 μM) (Fig. 3B). In contrast, a triple substitution replacing three T18d residues with Kb residues (G197D/D198K/T228M) caused a 16-fold decrease in CD8 binding (KD = 1.1 μM).
FIGURE 3. Three crucial amino acids determine high avidity binding to CD8. A, Binding of the mutated T18d and Kb tetramers to CD8-transfected BI-141 cells was measured by flow cytometry as described in Fig. 2. The numbers 197, 198, and 228 correspond to the position of the mutations. Tetramers at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. B, Binding isotherms of the mutated T18d and Kb tetramers that had measurable binding to the CD8-transfected cells. Circled numbers designed the nature of the protein (see A). Numbers in the upper right corner of each panel in A designate the protein used for the corresponding binding isotherm in B. One experiment representative of two is shown.
In a second set of mutants, we determined whether there would be a gain of CD8-specific affinity by substituting the 3 domain TL amino acids, identified above, into the Kb molecule. A Kb MHC tetramer with a single substitution M228T had greatly reduced binding to COS7 cells expressing high levels of CD8 compared with wt Kb tetramer (data not shown). Therefore, we did not continue studies with the single substitution. We created a D197G/K198D double substitution and a D197G/K198D/M228T triple substitutions in the Kb molecule and made affinity measurements. The double substitution did not lead to a detectable gain of affinity. Remarkably, however, a Kb molecule with the triple T18d substitutions displayed a relatively high avidity KD of 0.2 μM for CD8 (Fig. 3B).
To formally demonstrate that the gain of affinity of the D197G/K198D/M228T Kb molecule was unique for CD8 and not for CD8, we stained CD8 lymph node cells from a wt mouse. wt T18d and Kb tetramers, as well as T18d and Kb triple mutant tetramers, were unable to stain CD8 lymph node T cells (Fig. 4). In contrast, Kb triple mutant tetramers were able to stain IEL, though the staining was less bright than wt T18d tetramers (Fig. 4). This observation demonstrates that the increase in avidity of the mutated Kb tetramers for CD8 is not restricted to cell lines but also applies for ex vivo isolated lymphocytes.
FIGURE 4. Triple mutant H-2Kb tetramers are able to stain IEL. Representative flow cytometry data showing the binding of T18d, Kb, and Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T tetramers to IEL and lymph node cells (LN) isolated from a C57BL/6 animal. Staining was performed at 20°C for 30 min with tetramers at 10 μg/ml. MFI of the positively stained cells (defined with the marker) is in the upper right corner. Lymphocytes were gated by scatter analysis.
The same subset of TL residues is critical for TL function
To test the functional consequences of the mutated 3 domains, we used an in vitro system that is diagrammed in Fig. 5. The experiment measured the stimulation of a CD8-expressing T cell hybridoma, B3Z-CD8, when activated by its cognate OVA peptide, SIINFEKL (OVAp) bound to Kb. Hybridoma activation can be measured by an enzymatic assay, as the cells have been transfected with a LacZ reporter gene under the control of an IL-2 promoter element (22). As APCs, we used a H-2b haplotype lymphoma cell line, RMA-S that is deficient for the TAP gene. Because of this deficiency, only a low level of MHC class I protein can be detected on the cell surface. By adding exogenous peptide, however, cell surface MHC class I-peptide complexes can be stabilized (24). In contrast to classical MHC class I Ag-presenting molecules, T18d expression is TAP-independent (8). We previously showed that the IL-2 promoter activity and protein expression are increased when the B3Z-CD8 hybridoma is activated by OVAp loaded on Kb APC transfectants that express T18d (16).
FIGURE 5. Loss of function of the mutated TL proteins. B3Z-CD8 hybridoma cells were activated with OVAp (5 μg/ml) loaded, untransfected RMA-S cells, RMA-S cells transfected with wt T18d or RMA-S cells transfected with the indicated T18d mutant proteins. The activation of the B3Z-CD8 cells was analyzed for LacZ by spectrophotometry. For each condition, the OD in the absence of OVAp has been subtracted and measures were done in triplicate. Difference between T18d-198 and T18d-197/198/228 was statistically significant (p = 0.018, Student’s t test). One representative experiment of three is shown.
We generated stable RMA-S transfectants expressing surface T18d molecules bearing the same mutations as the recombinant proteins presented in Fig. 3. The level of surface expression of the mutated T18d constructs in the RMA-S cell transfectants was approximately similar (Fig. 6A). As expected, B3Z-CD8 activated with OVAp loaded RMA-S/T18d transfectants substantially increased the IL-2 promoter activity when compared with OVAp loaded untransfected (parental) RMA-S cells (Fig. 5). In accordance with the avidity measurements (Fig. 3B), RMA-S-expressing T18d with three Kb substitutions (G197D/D198K/T228M) displayed the most severe reduction in IL-2 promoter activity. Despite this reduction, the level of activation was still higher than the one observed with untransfected RMA-S (parental) cell line. In conclusion, the amino acid substitutions in T18d that most affected the binding to CD8 also affected the ability of the T18d-CD8 interaction to modulate immune function.
FIGURE 6. Surface expression of transfectants with wt and mutant class I molecules. A, RMA-S cells transfected with wt and mutated T18d molecules (Fig. 5). Open histograms correspond to the staining of untransfected RMA-S cells. B, P815 cells transfected with wt Kb and the Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant (Fig. 7A). Open histograms correspond to the staining on untransfected P815 cells. C, RMA-S cells transfected with T18d12/wt Kb3 and T18d12/mut Kb3 (Fig. 7B). Open histograms correspond to the staining on untransfected RMA-S cells. D, RMA-S cells transfected with wt Kb and mutant Kb (Fig. 7C). Open histograms correspond to the staining on untransfected RMA-S cells. MFI is in the upper right corner of each flow cytometry profile.
We also tested the mutated Kb molecules for a parallel gain of function. Three approaches were chosen. In the first approach, diagrammed in Fig. 7A, we used the P815 mastocytoma cell line as APC. This cell line is of the d haplotype, and consequently is unable to present OVAp to the B3Z-CD8 hybridoma. We generated P815 transfectants with wt Kb or the Kb triple mutant (Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T). Expression levels of the two transfectants were similar, as shown in Fig. 6B. The capacity of the two P815 transfectants to activate B3Z-CD8 in the presence of different concentrations of OVAp was evaluated. Untransfected control P815 cells were unable to activate B3Z-CD8 (Fig. 7A). wt Kb and Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T-transfected P815 cells were able to activate B3Z-CD8, although B3Z-CD8 activation was stronger at every concentration of OVAp in the presence of the Kb-D197G/K198D/M228T-transfected P815 cells compared with the wt Kb transfectant (Fig. 7A). This result is consistent with the notion that mutated Kb strongly interacts with CD8 on the surface of the B3Z hybridoma, and that this interaction led to an increase in IL-2 promoter activity.
FIGURE 7. Gain of function of the triple mutant H-2Kb protein. A, B3Z-CD8 hybridoma cells were stimulated with untransfected P815 (mock), P815 transfected with a construct encoding wt Kb or a Kb molecule bearing mutations at positions 197, 198, and 228 (Kb-197/198/228). APC were loaded with the indicated concentrations of peptide. A schematic outline of the experimental design is shown at the left of the figure. Measurement of the activation of the hybridomas cells was as described above. One experiment representative of three is shown. B, B3Z-CD8 hybridoma were stimulated with RMA-S cells that have been transfected with constructs encoding two different T18d12Kb3 chimeric molecules: one with a wt Kb 3 domain (T18d12/Kb3) and one with a Kb 3 domain bearing mutations at position 197/198 and 228 (T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228). Untransfected and transfected RMA-S cells were loaded with the indicated concentrations of OVAp and B3Z-CD8 hybridoma activation was measured as described above. One experiment representative of three is shown. C, 30NX-CD8 hybridoma cells specific for the Db-restricted SVL9 peptide were activated with RMA-S APC transfected with a construct encoding wt Kb or Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant. wt Kb and Kb-197/198/228 transfected RMA-S cells were loaded with the indicated concentrations of SVL9 peptide and 30NX-CD8 hybridoma activation was measured. One experiment representative of three is shown.
One caveat of this experimental setting is that the same transfected mutated Kb molecule, in addition to interacting with CD8, could simultaneously present OVAp to the B3Z-CD8 TCR. Therefore, one cannot exclude the possibility that the simultaneous interaction of mutated Kb with the TCR and CD8 could lead to a different outcome than for TL, which only interacts with CD8 and not with conventional TCRs. To exclude this possibility, we used a second approach in which RMA-S cells were transfected with a chimeric construct encoding either T18d12/Kb3 or a T18d12/Kb3 mutant with substitutions in positions D197G, K198D, and M228T of the Kb 3 domain (T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228). Expression levels of the transfectants are depicted in Fig. 6C. The presence of the T18d12 domains in these two chimeric molecules renders them unable to present OVAp to B3Z-CD8 cells. OVAp can still be presented to the B3Z-CD8 hybridoma, however, through endogenously expressed Kb molecules produced by the RMA-S cells and stabilized on the cell surface by exogenous peptide. Therefore, as diagrammed in Fig. 7B, in this experimental setting the TCR and CD8 interactions are mediated by different MHC class I molecules. Endogenously expressed Kb will present OVAp to the TCR and the T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228 chimeric class I molecule should interact with CD8, whereas the T18d12/Kb3 chimera should not.
Analysis of B3Z-CD8 activation showed that RMA-S cells expressing T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228 induced an activation level comparable to the one measured with RMA-S-expressing T18d (Fig. 7B). By contrast, RMA-S cells expressing the T18d12/Kb3 chimera induced a level of activation comparable to the untransfected RMA-S cells (parental). This result demonstrated that the T18d12/Kb3-197/198/228 chimeric molecule can recapitulate the ability of T18d to deliver a signal through CD8, and moreover, it highlights the importance of the 197, 198, and 228 amino acids in the 3 domain with regard to the high affinity interaction with CD8.
Because chimeric T18d/Kb molecules were used as a T18d surrogate molecule, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that amino acids in the T18d 1 and 2 domains participate in the interaction with CD8, and that we are therefore measuring a cumulative effect of CD8 interactions with the T18d12 domains in addition to the Kb3 domain mutated at positions 197, 198, and 228. To investigate this possibility, we used a third approach in which native Kb molecules bearing amino acid substitutions at positions 197/198/228 were not involved in Ag presentation. RMA-S cells were transfected with constructs encoding either wt Kb or the Kb-D197G-K198D-M228T 3 domain triple mutant. A low level of Kb expression could be detected on the surface of transfected RMA-S cells, even in absence of exogenous peptide (Fig. 6D). This probably reflects the overall increased level of Kb mRNA expression in the transfected RMA-S cells, compared with their endogenous level of Kb, perhaps combined with inefficient TAP-independent loading of peptides.
To measure the function of wt Kb vs the Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant in delivering a signal through CD8 without involving the TCR, we used a CD8-expressing T hybridoma, 30NX/B10–1 (or 30NX), specific for the SVL9 peptide (SSVVGVWYL), derived from the H13 minor histocompatibility locus presented by Db (25). Similar to B3Z, the 30NX hybridoma expresses the LacZ reporter construct. As schematically described in Fig. 7C, the SVL9 peptide is presented to the 30NX hybridoma by endogenously expressed Db molecules stabilized on the surface of the RMA-S cells by the added peptide, whereas the CD8 interaction and signaling should be provided separately by the Kb-D197G-K198D-M228T mutant MHC class I molecule. wt Kb-transfected RMA-S cells were used as a control, and they did not deliver a high affinity signal through CD8. Activation of the 30NX hybridoma cells with RMA-S cells transfected with the Kb-197/198/228 triple mutant protein was increased compared with the control RMA-S cells transfected with wt Kb as measured by IL-2 promoter activity (Fig. 7C).
Discussion
The TL Ag is a mouse, MHC-encoded, nonclassical class I molecule with an unusual structure, expression pattern, and function. The function of this class I molecule is defined not by Ag presentation, but rather by its relatively high affinity binding to CD8 compared with CD8 (16). The interaction of the TL Ag with CD8 homodimers has an important influence on the behavior of different categories of T lymphocytes. Given the importance of this interaction for T cell biology, we set out to identify the molecular basis for the preferential binding of the TL Ag to CD8.
We demonstrated that the 3 domain of the TL Ag is required for the relatively high avidity binding to CD8, and that amino acids 197 and 198 on the AB loop, and 228 on the CD loop, carry much of the specificity of TL Ag binding. There is less influence of the 2 domain or other portions of the class I molecule. This is demonstrated most clearly by the ability of tetramers of the Kb molecule with T18d substitutions at positions 197, 198, and 228 to bind to CD8-expressing cells with an avidity similar to the intact T18d molecule itself. Tetramers of the HLA-A2/T18d chimera bound CD8 less avidly than T18d, indicating that the 12 domains play a minor role.
The importance of a few amino acids in the 3 domain for preferential CD8 binding is consistent with several previous reports. Mutations in CD8 amino acids contacting the 3 domain that greatly reduced binding of CD8 to classical class I molecules also greatly reduced CD8 binding to TL (26). Based on this, we concluded that CD8 likely contacted the 3 domain of Kb and TL in a similar manner. This was confirmed by x-ray diffraction analysis of TL-CD8 cocrystals, which demonstrated that the contacts of Kb for CD8 are conserved in TL, and therefore that subtle changes in the TL 3 domain might be responsible for the strengthened interactions of TL with CD8 (9).
The existence of a human homologue for the TL Ag remains unresolved. Substantial numbers of human peripheral blood T cells express CD8 homodimers in the absence of CD8 expression (27) or coexpressed CD4 and CD8 (28), as do some human IEL. Moreover, biochemical evidence indicates that CD8+ T cells also can coexpress CD8 homodimers, especially when they are activated (Ref.29 , and H. Cheroutre and M. Kronenberg, unpublished data). Therefore, it is plausible that a human homologue of the TL Ag adapted for preferential CD8 binding exists. One potential candidate is HLA-G, which has a restricted expression pattern and which binds to CD8 (30), but has unusual substitutions at positions 197 (tyrosine for histidine) and 228 (valine for threonine). Moreover, HLA-G has been reported to influence T cell function by binding to CD8 (31–37). Despite these similarities, HLA-G does not bind human CD8 with an exceptionally high affinity (33). Another potential candidate for a functional human homologue of the TL Ag is the gp180 molecule, expressed on the intestinal epithelial cells, which interacts with CD8 when gp180 is associated with the nonclassical MHC class I molecule CD1d (34). The CD1d-gp180 complex activates the CD8-associated kinase p56lck. Interestingly, interaction of the CD1d-gp180 complex with CD8 is mediated by gp180 and not by CD1d molecule (35). Therefore, gp180 could be a functional homologue of TL in humans, although it is not a structural homologue.
The set of nonclassical class I molecules have a strikingly diverse set of functions despite sharing a similar fold. In addition to recognition by TCRs and NK cell receptors, their functions include roles in iron transport, Ig transport, and Ig serum half life, and they may function as molecular chaperones (36). This functional plasticity encompasses the more membrane proximal 3 domain, which has an Ig fold, as well as the 1 and 2 domains, which fold to form the Ag-binding groove. In this study, we demonstrate that small changes in the highly conserved 3 domain can alter the selective binding for the different isoforms of CD8.
Disclosures
The authors have no financial conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We thank Stéphane Sidobre for help in isotherm binding data analysis, Peter Jensen for the bacterial T18d construct, Carrie Micelli for providing the BI-CD8 hybridoma, and Praveena Kasarabada for secretarial assistance.
Footnotes
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
1 This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants DK54451 and AI50263 (to H.C.), AI40617 (to M.K.), GM56008 (to J.-h.W.), and CA048115 (to P.K.), and by the Swiss Foundation for Medical-Biological Grants (to A.A). This is manuscript number 664 from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology.
2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Paula Kavathas, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, TAC, S641A, New Haven, CT 06520-8011. E-mail address: paula.kavathas{at}yale.edu
3 Abbreviations used in this paper: TL, thymic leukemia; IEL, intraepithelial lymphocytes; 2m, 2-microglobulin; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity; wt, wild type; BI, beef insulin.
Received for publication September 9, 2004. Accepted for publication December 28, 2004.
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