Enhanced CD4 T Cell Responsiveness in the Absence of 4-1BB1
http://www.100md.com
免疫学杂志 2005年第11期
Abstract
The 4-1BB (CD137) is a member of the TNFR superfamily, and is expressed on several cell types, including activated T cells. Although 4-1BB ligation by agonistic Ab or 4-1BB ligand-expressing APCs can costimulate T cells, the physiological significance of 4-1BB expression in vivo during T cell responses is still being elucidated. In this study, we have addressed the impact on CD4 T cell priming when 4-1BB is absent after gene targeting. Surprisingly, 4-1BB–/– mice generated more enhanced effector CD4 T cell responses to OVA protein in adjuvant, even though Ab responses in 4-1BB–/– mice were normal. Using an adoptive transfer system with OT-II TCR transgenic CD4 T cells, we found that 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells responding in a 4-1BB-sufficient environment had enhanced cell division compared with wild-type cells and displayed augmented clonal expansion during the primary response. This was not due to a developmental defect as 4-1BB-deficient CD4 cells could respond normally to Ag in vitro. These results demonstrate that the absence of 4-1BB can make CD4 T cells hyperresponsive to protein Ag in vivo, suggesting a new unappreciated negative regulatory role of 4-1BB when expressed on a T cell.
Introduction
T cells need costimulation for activation, proliferation, and survival, which prevents the induction of tolerance and induces T cell immunity (1). Costimulatory molecules can be divided into two main groups: the Ig superfamily and the TNFR superfamily (2, 3). The 4-1BB (CD137), a member of the TNFR superfamily, was originally found on activated T cells, but has since been identified on other immune cells, including NK cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DC)3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). The 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) is largely expressed on APCs, such as B cells, macrophages, and DC (8, 10).
The interaction of 4-1BB with 4-1BBL was proposed to preferentially costimulate CD8 T cells (11), but a number of studies have demonstrated that it also might play a role in CD4 T cell responses. Engaging 4-1BB on naive CD4 T cells with 4-1BBL-transfected fibroblast cells promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression and suppressed apoptosis (12). The 4-1BBL augmented primary responses of CD4 T cells in the absence of CD28 signaling, and 4-1BB agonistic Ab enhanced CD4 T cell responses in vitro and in vivo (13, 14). Moreover, 4-1BB ligation by single-chain Fv fragments of anti-4-1BB Ab on tumor cells promoted enhanced tumor rejection in a CD4 T cell-dependent manner (15). These results have therefore indicated a positive costimulatory role for 4-1BB on CD4 T cells. In contrast, it has been reported that 4-1BB ligation has either no specific role or even a negative role in regulating CD4 T cells. For example, 4-1BBL–/– mice generated normal CD4 T cell responses after lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and influenza infection, although CD8 T cell responses were down-regulated in those mice (16, 17). In addition, 4-1BB agonistic Ab treatment unexpectedly led to suppressed pathogenic CD4 T cell responses in several autoimmune disease models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, lupus, and collagen-induced arthritis (18, 19, 20, 21). Thus, the role of 4-1BB, especially in vivo, appears to be quite complex and may vary depending upon the inflammatory conditions.
The 4-1BB–/– mice develop normally, but were observed to generate decreased CTL responses, although normal Ab responses, following vesicular stomatitis virus infection (22). However, interestingly, splenocytes from 4-1BB–/– mice displayed greater proliferation to mitogens in vitro compared with splenocytes from wild-type mice (22), suggesting again a potential dichotomy between CD4 and CD8 cells. To extend this study, we have specifically addressed the role of 4-1BB in CD4 T cell responses to protein Ag in vivo by first examining T cell priming in a 4-1BB-insufficient environment, and then isolating the 4-1BB defect to the responding CD4 cells. The 4-1BB–/– mice generated primary effector CD4 T cell responses that were significantly higher than those in wild-type mice. Furthermore, adoptively transferred Ag-specific 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells showed enhanced division and expansion during priming when responding in a 4-1BB-sufficient environment. Overall, these results reveal a new unappreciated role for 4-1BB on a CD4 T cell and suggest that 4-1BB ligation can function as a rate-limiting step during the initial phases of activation of CD4 T cells in vivo.
Materials and Methods
Flow cytometry
Ag-activated OT-II TCR transgenic CD4 T cells were stained with anti-CD4 Cy, anti-V2 FITC, anti-V5 PE, and anti-CD44 allophycocyanin (BD Pharmingen). For 4-1BB detection, cells were stained with anti-4-1BB biotin (Biolegend), followed by streptavidin-PE (Molecular Probes). Analysis was performed on a FACSCalibur with CellQuest software (BD Biosciences), and flow data were analyzed with FlowJo software (Treestar).
Results
The 4-1BB–/– mice generate enhanced CD4 T cell responses to Ag in adjuvant
The 4-1BB ligation in vitro with agonist Ab, or 4-1BBL expressed artificially, can promote CD4 T cell responses, including proliferation, cytokine secretion, and survival, suggesting that 4-1BB can be costimulatory for CD4 T cells (12, 13). However, results from 4-1BBL–/– mice have suggested that 4-1BB ligation may not be necessary to generate CD4 T cell responses especially against viral infections (16, 17). To determine the physiological role of 4-1BB in CD4 T cell responses in vivo, we immunized 4-1BB–/– mice with OVA and addressed the priming of effector CD4 T cells. OVA was administered either with CFA or with Alum to elicit Th1 and Th2 effector responses, respectively. Surprisingly, regardless of the adjuvant, 4-1BB–/– mice generated higher CD4 T cell responses than wild-type mice. The 4-1BB–/– mice showed enhanced OVA-specific Th1 and Th2 responses in the spleen, which were determined by ELISPOT assays 8 days after immunization (Fig. 1). It is interesting to note that OVA immunization with Alum in 4-1BB–/– mice could generate elevated numbers of IFN--secreting cells, comparable to that seen in wild-type mice immunized with CFA (Fig. 1A).
The 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells display enhanced division and clonal expansion in vivo
Because 4-1BB can be expressed on a number of cell types, including T cells, we wanted to determine whether enhanced CD4 responsiveness was T cell intrinsic or possibly due to the lack of 4-1BB on other cell types that could regulate T cell priming. We therefore generated OT-II TCR transgenic mice on the 4-1BB–/– background and then adoptively transferred 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells into wild-type (4-1BB-expressing) mice. First, we determined whether wild-type OT-II CD4 T cells expressed 4-1BB under the priming conditions used. The 4-1BB expression was detected on OT-II cells in draining LN at 18 h after immunization with OVA in adjuvant (Fig. 4, A and B), and the level of expression was increased at 70 h (Fig. 4, C and D). Although both regimens induced 4-1BB on OT-II cells, immunization with CFA induced higher expression. These levels were similar to those previously described for T cells in vivo (27).
Previous reports showed that 4-1BB ligation enhanced cell cycle progression of CD4 T cells in vitro (12, 13). To compare early cell division between wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells, transferred cells were labeled with CFSE, and dilution of this dye was determined at day 3 after immunization. Unexpectedly, 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells underwent stronger division than wild-type cells. This occurred under both priming conditions, although it was more apparent after immunization with OVA in Alum (Fig. 4, E and F). Next, we determined the overall level of expansion of wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells by tracking based on expression of CD4/V2/V5 and high levels of CD44 to identify activated TCR transgene-positive cells. There was no difference in the homing of naive 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells to spleen or LN after adoptive transfer (data not shown). The number of 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells generated was 2-fold and 3-fold higher than that of wild-type OT-II cells at day 5 after immunization with OVA in CFA and OVA in Alum, respectively (Fig. 5, A and B). The difference in cell numbers remained constant through to day 8, although absolute numbers decreased due to contraction (average number after immunization with OVA in Alum, OT-II, 2.54 x 105 vs 4-1BB–/– OT-II, 5.28 x 105; OVA in CFA, OT-II, 3.21 x 105 vs 4-1BB–/– OT-II, 6.54 x 105).
We also examined in vivo apoptosis between 4-1BB–/– and wild-type OT-II cells using annexin V staining, but did not find any significant difference at days 5 and 8 (data not shown), suggesting that the difference in cell accumulation observed was related to increased division. When effector responses of wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells were examined by recall assay in vitro after stimulation with OVA323–339 peptide, splenocytes from mice receiving 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells displayed significantly enhanced proliferative responses (Fig. 5, C and D) and production of IL-2 (Fig. 5, E and F). Overall, these enhanced responses were directly proportional to the number of OVA-induced CD4 T cells in those mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the absence of 4-1BB expression on CD4 T cells in vivo resulted in a significantly enhanced ability to clonally expand to protein Ag in adjuvant, characterized by a greater propensity to proceed through multiple cell divisions.
The 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells can display normal responsiveness to Ag
To assess whether 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells had intrinsic hyperresponsiveness, we stimulated wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells with OVA323–339 peptide-loaded splenic DC. The 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells normally expressed activation markers such as CD44, CD25, and OX40, but not 4-1BB (data not shown). Moreover, 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells displayed in vitro responses, such as cell division (Fig. 6A), proliferation (Fig. 6B), and cell survival/expansion over time (Fig. 6C), which were equivalent to those of wild-type cells. Similarly, when stimulated with PMA and ionomycin, 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells proliferated in an identical manner to wild-type cells (data not shown). These results demonstrate that CD4 T cells from 4-1BB–/– mice are not intrinsically hyperresponsive due to a developmental abnormality, and suggest that the in vivo exaggerated response in the absence of 4-1BB reflects a true unappreciated negative regulatory role for 4-1BB in CD4 priming.
Discussion
Since 4-1BB was identified as a T cell costimulatory molecule, a number of studies have shown that the interaction between 4-1BB and 4-1BBL can enhance T cell responses in vitro and in vivo (reviewed in Refs. 2 , 3 , and 9). Studies with 4-1BBL–/– mice have also supported the notion of a positive regulatory role of 4-1BB in CD8 and some CD4 T cell responses (16, 17, 27, 28). However, the role of 4-1BB in vivo appears to be quite complex, potentially on several levels. For example, 4-1BB agonistic Ab treatment unexpectedly has been shown to inhibit immune responses in several autoimmune disease models (18, 19, 20, 21), even though in other cases it can lead to augmented CTL generation and improved immunity against tumors and viruses (29, 30, 31, 32). In this study, we now demonstrate another facet of 4-1BB biology, in that the absence of 4-1BB in vivo led to the generation of enhanced Th1 and Th2 effector CD4 T cell responses following immunization with a model protein Ag in several adjuvants. Moreover, this did not result from a developmental defect, and was at least in part explained by a direct requirement for 4-1BB to be expressed on the responding CD4 cells, which limited their clonal expansion. Our results strongly suggest that physiologically 4-1BB can play a negative regulatory role in CD4 T cell responses in addition to its apparent positive role.
Our results complement and extend data gained from the initial description of 4-1BB-deficient mice, in which it was shown that 4-1BB–/– splenocytes were hyperresponsive with regard to proliferation when stimulated in vitro with plate-coated anti-CD3 (22). We now show that enhanced responses in vivo in 4-1BB–/– mice appear to stem from the hyperresponsiveness of 4-1BB-deficient CD4 T cells because adoptively transferred 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells accumulated to a greater extent than wild-type OT-II cells when responding in a 4-1BB-sufficient environment. At least part of the action can be explained by a faster rate of division when 4-1BB cannot be expressed by the responding T cells. There was a possibility that CD4 T cells derived in a 4-1BB-deficient environment possessed an intrinsic hyperresponsiveness to Ag/MHC stimulation, leading to the conclusion that our observations in vivo were developmentally associated. However, the in vitro analyses showed that under standard conditions of Ag presentation, 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells could respond and proliferate equivalently to wild-type cells, arguing against such intrinsic hyperresponsiveness.
What then might account for an augmented T cell response when 4-1BB cannot be expressed? One possibility is the absence of self-regulating signals that might be delivered through the interaction with 4-1BBL, either transmitting a negative signal to the T cell or a negative or modulating signal to the APC-bearing 4-1BBL. However, this idea is questionable because 4-1BBL–/– mice have not shown any apparent signs of enhanced T cell responses in vivo. Rather, the data derived from studies of viral infection have demonstrated reduced T cell priming, consistent with 4-1BB/4-1BBL interactions being costimulatory (16, 17). Furthermore, a recent study using highly complementary systems to those described in this work showed that wild-type OT-II CD4 cells when responding in 4-1BBL-deficient mice following immunization with OVA in LPS were actually impaired in dividing and expanding, again consistent with 4-1BBL positively regulating T cells (27).
There are several other possibilities that might account for enhanced T cell responses in 4-1BB-deficient mice. First, recent reports have shown that 4-1BB is constitutively expressed on some DC (7, 8) and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (33), and it is possible that 4-1BB might negatively modulate these cells, then leading to an increased overall suppressive effect. Second, two reports have shown that 4-1BB ligation with agonist Ab can generate CD8 effector T cells that are regulatory and can suppress CD4 T cell responses, either through production of TGF- (34), or IFN- and subsequent induction of idoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in CD11b+CD11c+ cells (21). Thus, it is also possible that 4-1BB-controlled CD8 T cells constitutively regulate Ag-induced responses, and in the absence of 4-1BB these cells would be lost, leading to enhanced Ag responsiveness. It certainly is feasible that these types of negative regulation in the intact animal modulate CD4 priming, and hence might have played a role when immunizing 4-1BB-deficent mice.
Another, possibly distinct, action might have accounted for the fact that 4-1BB-deficient CD4 T cells responded more strongly in a wild-type environment in which 4-1BB could be normally expressed. This stems from recent observations made with another TNFR family molecule herpes simplex virus entry mediator (HVEM). The major ligand for HVEM has been thought to be LIGHT (a cellular ligand for HVEM and lymphotoxin receptor), and a number of studies have suggested that the LIGHT-HVEM interaction is costimulatory for T cell responses (35, 36). However, recent data with HVEM-deficient cells have also demonstrated hyperresponsiveness (K. Potter and C. Ware, unpublished observations), somewhat similar to the phenotype we describe in this study with 4-1BB. HVEM has now been shown to also bind the ITIM-containing molecule B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) that is expressed on both activated T cells and APC, and can transmit a negative signal, at least in part by recruiting the phosphatase Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-2) (37, 38). This is the first example of an Ig superfamily member binding a TNFR family member, and in many respects resembles the interactions of B7-1/B7-2 with CD28 or CTLA4 (39). Thus, there are at least two examples of receptors that can bind both stimulatory and inhibitory ligands. It is an intriguing notion that the hyperresponsiveness of 4-1BB-deficient T cells reported in this work is explained through 4-1BB possessing another as yet undiscovered ligand that might provide a negative modulatory influence similar to BTLA and CTLA4.
In summary, we have provided new and novel data to indicate that 4-1BB can play a modulatory role on CD4 T cells distinct from its described action as a costimulatory molecule. This results in suppressing CD4 T cell proliferation and limiting the extent of clonal expansion to Ag. In the future, it will be important to understand how this action is brought about to fully realize the influence of 4-1BB on CD4 T cell priming and the extent to which 4-1BB biology contributes to immune function. Moreover, it remains to be addressed whether the absence of 4-1BB on CD8 T cells also leads to hyperresponsiveness, or whether fundamental differences exist between the control of CD8 vs CD4 T cells.
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 funded by National Institutes of Health Grant AI42944 to M.C. This is manuscript 689 from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology.
2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Michael Croft, Division of Molecular Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, San Diego, CA 92121. E-mail address: mick{at}liai.org
3 Abbreviations used in this paper: DC, dendritic cell; 4-1BBL, 4-1BB ligand; Alum, aluminum hydroxide; HVEM, herpes simplex virus entry mediator.
Received for publication January 25, 2005. Accepted for publication March 23, 2005.
References
Chen, L.. 2004. Co-inhibitory molecules of the B7-CD28 family in the control of T-cell immunity. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 4: 336-347.[
Croft, M.. 2003. Costimulation of T cells by OX40, 4-1BB, and CD27. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 14: 265-273.
Croft, M.. 2003. Co-stimulatory members of the TNFR family: keys to effective T-cell immunity?. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 3: 609-620.
Kwon, B. S., S. M. Weissman. 1989. cDNA sequences of two inducible T-cell genes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 1963-1967.
Wilcox, R. A., K. Tamada, S. E. Strome, L. Chen. 2002. Signaling through NK cell-associated CD137 promotes both helper function for CD8+ cytolytic T cells and responsiveness to IL-2 but not cytolytic activity. J. Immunol. 169: 4230-4236.(Seung-Woo Lee*, Anthony T)
The 4-1BB (CD137) is a member of the TNFR superfamily, and is expressed on several cell types, including activated T cells. Although 4-1BB ligation by agonistic Ab or 4-1BB ligand-expressing APCs can costimulate T cells, the physiological significance of 4-1BB expression in vivo during T cell responses is still being elucidated. In this study, we have addressed the impact on CD4 T cell priming when 4-1BB is absent after gene targeting. Surprisingly, 4-1BB–/– mice generated more enhanced effector CD4 T cell responses to OVA protein in adjuvant, even though Ab responses in 4-1BB–/– mice were normal. Using an adoptive transfer system with OT-II TCR transgenic CD4 T cells, we found that 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells responding in a 4-1BB-sufficient environment had enhanced cell division compared with wild-type cells and displayed augmented clonal expansion during the primary response. This was not due to a developmental defect as 4-1BB-deficient CD4 cells could respond normally to Ag in vitro. These results demonstrate that the absence of 4-1BB can make CD4 T cells hyperresponsive to protein Ag in vivo, suggesting a new unappreciated negative regulatory role of 4-1BB when expressed on a T cell.
Introduction
T cells need costimulation for activation, proliferation, and survival, which prevents the induction of tolerance and induces T cell immunity (1). Costimulatory molecules can be divided into two main groups: the Ig superfamily and the TNFR superfamily (2, 3). The 4-1BB (CD137), a member of the TNFR superfamily, was originally found on activated T cells, but has since been identified on other immune cells, including NK cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DC)3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). The 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) is largely expressed on APCs, such as B cells, macrophages, and DC (8, 10).
The interaction of 4-1BB with 4-1BBL was proposed to preferentially costimulate CD8 T cells (11), but a number of studies have demonstrated that it also might play a role in CD4 T cell responses. Engaging 4-1BB on naive CD4 T cells with 4-1BBL-transfected fibroblast cells promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression and suppressed apoptosis (12). The 4-1BBL augmented primary responses of CD4 T cells in the absence of CD28 signaling, and 4-1BB agonistic Ab enhanced CD4 T cell responses in vitro and in vivo (13, 14). Moreover, 4-1BB ligation by single-chain Fv fragments of anti-4-1BB Ab on tumor cells promoted enhanced tumor rejection in a CD4 T cell-dependent manner (15). These results have therefore indicated a positive costimulatory role for 4-1BB on CD4 T cells. In contrast, it has been reported that 4-1BB ligation has either no specific role or even a negative role in regulating CD4 T cells. For example, 4-1BBL–/– mice generated normal CD4 T cell responses after lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus and influenza infection, although CD8 T cell responses were down-regulated in those mice (16, 17). In addition, 4-1BB agonistic Ab treatment unexpectedly led to suppressed pathogenic CD4 T cell responses in several autoimmune disease models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, lupus, and collagen-induced arthritis (18, 19, 20, 21). Thus, the role of 4-1BB, especially in vivo, appears to be quite complex and may vary depending upon the inflammatory conditions.
The 4-1BB–/– mice develop normally, but were observed to generate decreased CTL responses, although normal Ab responses, following vesicular stomatitis virus infection (22). However, interestingly, splenocytes from 4-1BB–/– mice displayed greater proliferation to mitogens in vitro compared with splenocytes from wild-type mice (22), suggesting again a potential dichotomy between CD4 and CD8 cells. To extend this study, we have specifically addressed the role of 4-1BB in CD4 T cell responses to protein Ag in vivo by first examining T cell priming in a 4-1BB-insufficient environment, and then isolating the 4-1BB defect to the responding CD4 cells. The 4-1BB–/– mice generated primary effector CD4 T cell responses that were significantly higher than those in wild-type mice. Furthermore, adoptively transferred Ag-specific 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells showed enhanced division and expansion during priming when responding in a 4-1BB-sufficient environment. Overall, these results reveal a new unappreciated role for 4-1BB on a CD4 T cell and suggest that 4-1BB ligation can function as a rate-limiting step during the initial phases of activation of CD4 T cells in vivo.
Materials and Methods
Flow cytometry
Ag-activated OT-II TCR transgenic CD4 T cells were stained with anti-CD4 Cy, anti-V2 FITC, anti-V5 PE, and anti-CD44 allophycocyanin (BD Pharmingen). For 4-1BB detection, cells were stained with anti-4-1BB biotin (Biolegend), followed by streptavidin-PE (Molecular Probes). Analysis was performed on a FACSCalibur with CellQuest software (BD Biosciences), and flow data were analyzed with FlowJo software (Treestar).
Results
The 4-1BB–/– mice generate enhanced CD4 T cell responses to Ag in adjuvant
The 4-1BB ligation in vitro with agonist Ab, or 4-1BBL expressed artificially, can promote CD4 T cell responses, including proliferation, cytokine secretion, and survival, suggesting that 4-1BB can be costimulatory for CD4 T cells (12, 13). However, results from 4-1BBL–/– mice have suggested that 4-1BB ligation may not be necessary to generate CD4 T cell responses especially against viral infections (16, 17). To determine the physiological role of 4-1BB in CD4 T cell responses in vivo, we immunized 4-1BB–/– mice with OVA and addressed the priming of effector CD4 T cells. OVA was administered either with CFA or with Alum to elicit Th1 and Th2 effector responses, respectively. Surprisingly, regardless of the adjuvant, 4-1BB–/– mice generated higher CD4 T cell responses than wild-type mice. The 4-1BB–/– mice showed enhanced OVA-specific Th1 and Th2 responses in the spleen, which were determined by ELISPOT assays 8 days after immunization (Fig. 1). It is interesting to note that OVA immunization with Alum in 4-1BB–/– mice could generate elevated numbers of IFN--secreting cells, comparable to that seen in wild-type mice immunized with CFA (Fig. 1A).
The 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells display enhanced division and clonal expansion in vivo
Because 4-1BB can be expressed on a number of cell types, including T cells, we wanted to determine whether enhanced CD4 responsiveness was T cell intrinsic or possibly due to the lack of 4-1BB on other cell types that could regulate T cell priming. We therefore generated OT-II TCR transgenic mice on the 4-1BB–/– background and then adoptively transferred 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells into wild-type (4-1BB-expressing) mice. First, we determined whether wild-type OT-II CD4 T cells expressed 4-1BB under the priming conditions used. The 4-1BB expression was detected on OT-II cells in draining LN at 18 h after immunization with OVA in adjuvant (Fig. 4, A and B), and the level of expression was increased at 70 h (Fig. 4, C and D). Although both regimens induced 4-1BB on OT-II cells, immunization with CFA induced higher expression. These levels were similar to those previously described for T cells in vivo (27).
Previous reports showed that 4-1BB ligation enhanced cell cycle progression of CD4 T cells in vitro (12, 13). To compare early cell division between wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells, transferred cells were labeled with CFSE, and dilution of this dye was determined at day 3 after immunization. Unexpectedly, 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells underwent stronger division than wild-type cells. This occurred under both priming conditions, although it was more apparent after immunization with OVA in Alum (Fig. 4, E and F). Next, we determined the overall level of expansion of wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells by tracking based on expression of CD4/V2/V5 and high levels of CD44 to identify activated TCR transgene-positive cells. There was no difference in the homing of naive 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells to spleen or LN after adoptive transfer (data not shown). The number of 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells generated was 2-fold and 3-fold higher than that of wild-type OT-II cells at day 5 after immunization with OVA in CFA and OVA in Alum, respectively (Fig. 5, A and B). The difference in cell numbers remained constant through to day 8, although absolute numbers decreased due to contraction (average number after immunization with OVA in Alum, OT-II, 2.54 x 105 vs 4-1BB–/– OT-II, 5.28 x 105; OVA in CFA, OT-II, 3.21 x 105 vs 4-1BB–/– OT-II, 6.54 x 105).
We also examined in vivo apoptosis between 4-1BB–/– and wild-type OT-II cells using annexin V staining, but did not find any significant difference at days 5 and 8 (data not shown), suggesting that the difference in cell accumulation observed was related to increased division. When effector responses of wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells were examined by recall assay in vitro after stimulation with OVA323–339 peptide, splenocytes from mice receiving 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells displayed significantly enhanced proliferative responses (Fig. 5, C and D) and production of IL-2 (Fig. 5, E and F). Overall, these enhanced responses were directly proportional to the number of OVA-induced CD4 T cells in those mice. Taken together, these results suggest that the absence of 4-1BB expression on CD4 T cells in vivo resulted in a significantly enhanced ability to clonally expand to protein Ag in adjuvant, characterized by a greater propensity to proceed through multiple cell divisions.
The 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells can display normal responsiveness to Ag
To assess whether 4-1BB–/– CD4 T cells had intrinsic hyperresponsiveness, we stimulated wild-type and 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells with OVA323–339 peptide-loaded splenic DC. The 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells normally expressed activation markers such as CD44, CD25, and OX40, but not 4-1BB (data not shown). Moreover, 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells displayed in vitro responses, such as cell division (Fig. 6A), proliferation (Fig. 6B), and cell survival/expansion over time (Fig. 6C), which were equivalent to those of wild-type cells. Similarly, when stimulated with PMA and ionomycin, 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells proliferated in an identical manner to wild-type cells (data not shown). These results demonstrate that CD4 T cells from 4-1BB–/– mice are not intrinsically hyperresponsive due to a developmental abnormality, and suggest that the in vivo exaggerated response in the absence of 4-1BB reflects a true unappreciated negative regulatory role for 4-1BB in CD4 priming.
Discussion
Since 4-1BB was identified as a T cell costimulatory molecule, a number of studies have shown that the interaction between 4-1BB and 4-1BBL can enhance T cell responses in vitro and in vivo (reviewed in Refs. 2 , 3 , and 9). Studies with 4-1BBL–/– mice have also supported the notion of a positive regulatory role of 4-1BB in CD8 and some CD4 T cell responses (16, 17, 27, 28). However, the role of 4-1BB in vivo appears to be quite complex, potentially on several levels. For example, 4-1BB agonistic Ab treatment unexpectedly has been shown to inhibit immune responses in several autoimmune disease models (18, 19, 20, 21), even though in other cases it can lead to augmented CTL generation and improved immunity against tumors and viruses (29, 30, 31, 32). In this study, we now demonstrate another facet of 4-1BB biology, in that the absence of 4-1BB in vivo led to the generation of enhanced Th1 and Th2 effector CD4 T cell responses following immunization with a model protein Ag in several adjuvants. Moreover, this did not result from a developmental defect, and was at least in part explained by a direct requirement for 4-1BB to be expressed on the responding CD4 cells, which limited their clonal expansion. Our results strongly suggest that physiologically 4-1BB can play a negative regulatory role in CD4 T cell responses in addition to its apparent positive role.
Our results complement and extend data gained from the initial description of 4-1BB-deficient mice, in which it was shown that 4-1BB–/– splenocytes were hyperresponsive with regard to proliferation when stimulated in vitro with plate-coated anti-CD3 (22). We now show that enhanced responses in vivo in 4-1BB–/– mice appear to stem from the hyperresponsiveness of 4-1BB-deficient CD4 T cells because adoptively transferred 4-1BB–/– OT-II cells accumulated to a greater extent than wild-type OT-II cells when responding in a 4-1BB-sufficient environment. At least part of the action can be explained by a faster rate of division when 4-1BB cannot be expressed by the responding T cells. There was a possibility that CD4 T cells derived in a 4-1BB-deficient environment possessed an intrinsic hyperresponsiveness to Ag/MHC stimulation, leading to the conclusion that our observations in vivo were developmentally associated. However, the in vitro analyses showed that under standard conditions of Ag presentation, 4-1BB–/– CD4 cells could respond and proliferate equivalently to wild-type cells, arguing against such intrinsic hyperresponsiveness.
What then might account for an augmented T cell response when 4-1BB cannot be expressed? One possibility is the absence of self-regulating signals that might be delivered through the interaction with 4-1BBL, either transmitting a negative signal to the T cell or a negative or modulating signal to the APC-bearing 4-1BBL. However, this idea is questionable because 4-1BBL–/– mice have not shown any apparent signs of enhanced T cell responses in vivo. Rather, the data derived from studies of viral infection have demonstrated reduced T cell priming, consistent with 4-1BB/4-1BBL interactions being costimulatory (16, 17). Furthermore, a recent study using highly complementary systems to those described in this work showed that wild-type OT-II CD4 cells when responding in 4-1BBL-deficient mice following immunization with OVA in LPS were actually impaired in dividing and expanding, again consistent with 4-1BBL positively regulating T cells (27).
There are several other possibilities that might account for enhanced T cell responses in 4-1BB-deficient mice. First, recent reports have shown that 4-1BB is constitutively expressed on some DC (7, 8) and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (33), and it is possible that 4-1BB might negatively modulate these cells, then leading to an increased overall suppressive effect. Second, two reports have shown that 4-1BB ligation with agonist Ab can generate CD8 effector T cells that are regulatory and can suppress CD4 T cell responses, either through production of TGF- (34), or IFN- and subsequent induction of idoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in CD11b+CD11c+ cells (21). Thus, it is also possible that 4-1BB-controlled CD8 T cells constitutively regulate Ag-induced responses, and in the absence of 4-1BB these cells would be lost, leading to enhanced Ag responsiveness. It certainly is feasible that these types of negative regulation in the intact animal modulate CD4 priming, and hence might have played a role when immunizing 4-1BB-deficent mice.
Another, possibly distinct, action might have accounted for the fact that 4-1BB-deficient CD4 T cells responded more strongly in a wild-type environment in which 4-1BB could be normally expressed. This stems from recent observations made with another TNFR family molecule herpes simplex virus entry mediator (HVEM). The major ligand for HVEM has been thought to be LIGHT (a cellular ligand for HVEM and lymphotoxin receptor), and a number of studies have suggested that the LIGHT-HVEM interaction is costimulatory for T cell responses (35, 36). However, recent data with HVEM-deficient cells have also demonstrated hyperresponsiveness (K. Potter and C. Ware, unpublished observations), somewhat similar to the phenotype we describe in this study with 4-1BB. HVEM has now been shown to also bind the ITIM-containing molecule B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) that is expressed on both activated T cells and APC, and can transmit a negative signal, at least in part by recruiting the phosphatase Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-2) (37, 38). This is the first example of an Ig superfamily member binding a TNFR family member, and in many respects resembles the interactions of B7-1/B7-2 with CD28 or CTLA4 (39). Thus, there are at least two examples of receptors that can bind both stimulatory and inhibitory ligands. It is an intriguing notion that the hyperresponsiveness of 4-1BB-deficient T cells reported in this work is explained through 4-1BB possessing another as yet undiscovered ligand that might provide a negative modulatory influence similar to BTLA and CTLA4.
In summary, we have provided new and novel data to indicate that 4-1BB can play a modulatory role on CD4 T cells distinct from its described action as a costimulatory molecule. This results in suppressing CD4 T cell proliferation and limiting the extent of clonal expansion to Ag. In the future, it will be important to understand how this action is brought about to fully realize the influence of 4-1BB on CD4 T cell priming and the extent to which 4-1BB biology contributes to immune function. Moreover, it remains to be addressed whether the absence of 4-1BB on CD8 T cells also leads to hyperresponsiveness, or whether fundamental differences exist between the control of CD8 vs CD4 T cells.
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 funded by National Institutes of Health Grant AI42944 to M.C. This is manuscript 689 from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology.
2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Michael Croft, Division of Molecular Immunology, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, San Diego, CA 92121. E-mail address: mick{at}liai.org
3 Abbreviations used in this paper: DC, dendritic cell; 4-1BBL, 4-1BB ligand; Alum, aluminum hydroxide; HVEM, herpes simplex virus entry mediator.
Received for publication January 25, 2005. Accepted for publication March 23, 2005.
References
Chen, L.. 2004. Co-inhibitory molecules of the B7-CD28 family in the control of T-cell immunity. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 4: 336-347.[
Croft, M.. 2003. Costimulation of T cells by OX40, 4-1BB, and CD27. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 14: 265-273.
Croft, M.. 2003. Co-stimulatory members of the TNFR family: keys to effective T-cell immunity?. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 3: 609-620.
Kwon, B. S., S. M. Weissman. 1989. cDNA sequences of two inducible T-cell genes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 1963-1967.
Wilcox, R. A., K. Tamada, S. E. Strome, L. Chen. 2002. Signaling through NK cell-associated CD137 promotes both helper function for CD8+ cytolytic T cells and responsiveness to IL-2 but not cytolytic activity. J. Immunol. 169: 4230-4236.(Seung-Woo Lee*, Anthony T)