Thesis (Ph. D.)--Case Western Reserve University, 2006. / [School of Medicine] Department of Pathology. Includes bibliographical references. Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

To detect viral infections and tumors, CD8 T lymphocytes monitor cells for the presence of antigenic peptides bound to MHC class I molecules. The majority of MHC class I-presented peptides are generated from the cleavage of cellular and viral proteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Many of the oligopeptides produced by this process are too long to stably bind to MHC class I molecules and require further trimming for presentation. Cytosolic aminopeptidases such as leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), which is IFN-inducible, Bleomycin Hydrolase (BH), and puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) can trim precursor peptides to mature epitopes and have been thought to play an important role in antigen presentation. To examine the role of these aminopeptidases in generating MHC class I peptides in vivo, we generated mice deficient in LAP or PSA, as well as cell lines deficient in LAP, PSA, or BH. LAP mutant mice and cells are viable and grow normally, whereas PSA mutant mice are smaller than their wild-type and heterozygote littermates, are subfertile as adults, and are subviable as embryos. The trimming of peptides in LAP-deficient cells is not reduced under basal conditions or after stimulation with IFN. Similarly, there is no reduction in presentation of peptides from precursor or full length antigen constructs or in the overall supply of peptides from cellular proteins to MHC class I molecules, even after stimulation with IFN. After viral infection, LAP-deficient mice generate normal CTL responses to seven epitopes from three different viruses. Similarly, PSA deficient mice and BH deficient mice generate normal CTL responses to viral epitopes. These data demonstrate that LAP, BH, and PSA are not essential enzymes for generating most MHC class I-presented peptides and reveal redundancy in the function of cellular aminopeptidases in most cell types.

Os fibrócitos foram inicialmente identificados pelo seu recrutamento rápido para os tecidos lesionados e por atuar diretamente na resposta imune através do reconhecimento, apresentação antigênica e produção de citocinas e quimiocinas. Segundo Grab (2004) fibrócitos podem participar da resposta imune na leishmaniaose e por isso no presente estudo propomos analisar a resposta celular e apresentação antigênica dos fibrócitos na infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis. Para os experimentos in vivo camundongos C57BL/6 e knockout para o receptor TLR-2 foram inoculados na derme auricular com 105 formas promastigotas de L. (L.) amazonensis e 1, 7, 15 dias após a infecção as regiões de inóculo e os linfonodos foram retirados e processados para citometria de fluxo. Para os experimentos in vitro fibrócitos foram obtidos de mononucleares do sangue periférico de camundongos C57BL/6. Os fibrócitos foram avaliados quanto às suas características morfológicas e fenotípicas, infecção, expressão de MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 e ativação de linfócitos T CD4+. As análises na região de inóculo mostraram o aumento no percentual de fibrócito na derme de camundongos após 15 dias de infecção tanto em animais C57BL/6 quanto em animais KO TLR-2. Neste sítio, os fibrócitos produziram citocinas e expressaram MHC-II, B7-1 e B7-2 podendo participar da resposta imune. As análises no linfonodo mostraram a existência de um alto percentual de fibrócitos nos animais controle, contudo, após infecção este percentual foi reduzido. Após infecção verificamos que os fibrócitos de animais WT C57BL/6 foram capazes de produzir as citocinas IL-4, IL-10 e IFN- durante o primeiro dia. Entretanto, na ausência de TLR-2 os fibrócitos presentes no linfonodo produziram TNF-α e IFN- que podem estar relacionadas com a ativação celular e aumento da capacidade de apresentação antigênica destas células durante a infecção. No linfonodo verificamos que os fibrócitos podem participar da apresentação antigênica após a infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis. Contudo, nos linfonodos de animais WT C57BL/6 observamos a redução significativa no percentual destas células expressando MHC-II e B7-1, o que pode estar relacionada a presença do TLR-2. Nos ensaios in vitro fibrócitos de camundongos C57BL/6 apresentaram alta capacidade endocítica, eliminaram os parasitas nas primeiras 24 horas de infecção, expressaram MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 e foram capazes de ativar linfócitos T CD4+. Com isso, nossos resultados sugerem que os fibrócitos podem atuar na resposta celular e na apresentação antigênica durante a infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis, contudo estas funções podem ser moduladas pela participação do TLR-2 e pelo microambiente onde estes se encontram. / Fibrocytes were initially identified by their fast recruitment to the injured tissues and by acting directly on the immune response through recognition, antigen presentation and production of cytokines and chemokines. According to Grab et al., 2004 fibrocytes may participate in the immune response to leishmaniasis and therefore, in this study we propose to examine the cellular response and antigen presentation of fibrocytes in infection by L. (L.) amazonensis. In vivo experiments C57BL/6 and knockout receptor TLR-2 animals were inoculated in the ear dermis with 105 promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis and 1,7, 15 days after infection ears and lymph nodes were removed and processed for flow cytometry. For in vitro experiments peripheral blood fibrocytes from C57BL/6 mice were evaluated for their morphological and phenotypic, MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 expression and ability to activate CD4+ T cells. The analyses in the inoculum region showed significant increase in the percentage of fibrocyte in the C57BL/6 and TLR-2 knockout mice after 15 days of infection. At this site fibrocytes part of the immune response by cytokines production and MHC-II, B7-1 and B7-2 expression. The analyses in the lymph node showed the existence of a high percentage of fibrocytes in the control animals, however, after infection, this percentage was reduced. After infection it was verified that the fibrocytes of C57BL/6 were able to produce cytokines IL-4, IL-10 and IFN- during the first days. However, in the absence of TLR-2 fibrocytes in the lymph produced TNF-α and IFN- that may be related to cell activation and increased antigen presentation capacity of these cells during infection. In the lymph node it was found that fibrocytes may participate in antigen presentation after infection with L. (L.) amazonensis. However, in lymph nodes of mice C57BL/6 it was observed the significant reduction in the percentage of those cells expressing MHC-II, B7-1, which can be related to the presence of the TLR-2. In vitro fibrocytes of C57BL/6 showed high endocytic capacity, eliminating the parasites within the first 24 hours after infection, and expressed MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 being were able to activate CD4 + T cells. Thus, our results suggest that fibrocytes may act in cellular response and antigen presentation during infection by L. (L.) amazonensis, however these functions can be modulated by the involvement of TLR-2 and the in microenvironment.

Os fibrócitos foram inicialmente identificados pelo seu recrutamento rápido para os tecidos lesionados e por atuar diretamente na resposta imune através do reconhecimento, apresentação antigênica e produção de citocinas e quimiocinas. Segundo Grab (2004) fibrócitos podem participar da resposta imune na leishmaniaose e por isso no presente estudo propomos analisar a resposta celular e apresentação antigênica dos fibrócitos na infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis. Para os experimentos in vivo camundongos C57BL/6 e knockout para o receptor TLR-2 foram inoculados na derme auricular com 105 formas promastigotas de L. (L.) amazonensis e 1, 7, 15 dias após a infecção as regiões de inóculo e os linfonodos foram retirados e processados para citometria de fluxo. Para os experimentos in vitro fibrócitos foram obtidos de mononucleares do sangue periférico de camundongos C57BL/6. Os fibrócitos foram avaliados quanto às suas características morfológicas e fenotípicas, infecção, expressão de MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 e ativação de linfócitos T CD4+. As análises na região de inóculo mostraram o aumento no percentual de fibrócito na derme de camundongos após 15 dias de infecção tanto em animais C57BL/6 quanto em animais KO TLR-2. Neste sítio, os fibrócitos produziram citocinas e expressaram MHC-II, B7-1 e B7-2 podendo participar da resposta imune. As análises no linfonodo mostraram a existência de um alto percentual de fibrócitos nos animais controle, contudo, após infecção este percentual foi reduzido. Após infecção verificamos que os fibrócitos de animais WT C57BL/6 foram capazes de produzir as citocinas IL-4, IL-10 e IFN- durante o primeiro dia. Entretanto, na ausência de TLR-2 os fibrócitos presentes no linfonodo produziram TNF-α e IFN- que podem estar relacionadas com a ativação celular e aumento da capacidade de apresentação antigênica destas células durante a infecção. No linfonodo verificamos que os fibrócitos podem participar da apresentação antigênica após a infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis. Contudo, nos linfonodos de animais WT C57BL/6 observamos a redução significativa no percentual destas células expressando MHC-II e B7-1, o que pode estar relacionada a presença do TLR-2. Nos ensaios in vitro fibrócitos de camundongos C57BL/6 apresentaram alta capacidade endocítica, eliminaram os parasitas nas primeiras 24 horas de infecção, expressaram MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 e foram capazes de ativar linfócitos T CD4+. Com isso, nossos resultados sugerem que os fibrócitos podem atuar na resposta celular e na apresentação antigênica durante a infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis, contudo estas funções podem ser moduladas pela participação do TLR-2 e pelo microambiente onde estes se encontram. / Fibrocytes were initially identified by their fast recruitment to the injured tissues and by acting directly on the immune response through recognition, antigen presentation and production of cytokines and chemokines. According to Grab et al., 2004 fibrocytes may participate in the immune response to leishmaniasis and therefore, in this study we propose to examine the cellular response and antigen presentation of fibrocytes in infection by L. (L.) amazonensis. In vivo experiments C57BL/6 and knockout receptor TLR-2 animals were inoculated in the ear dermis with 105 promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis and 1,7, 15 days after infection ears and lymph nodes were removed and processed for flow cytometry. For in vitro experiments peripheral blood fibrocytes from C57BL/6 mice were evaluated for their morphological and phenotypic, MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 expression and ability to activate CD4+ T cells. The analyses in the inoculum region showed significant increase in the percentage of fibrocyte in the C57BL/6 and TLR-2 knockout mice after 15 days of infection. At this site fibrocytes part of the immune response by cytokines production and MHC-II, B7-1 and B7-2 expression. The analyses in the lymph node showed the existence of a high percentage of fibrocytes in the control animals, however, after infection, this percentage was reduced. After infection it was verified that the fibrocytes of C57BL/6 were able to produce cytokines IL-4, IL-10 and IFN- during the first days. However, in the absence of TLR-2 fibrocytes in the lymph produced TNF-α and IFN- that may be related to cell activation and increased antigen presentation capacity of these cells during infection. In the lymph node it was found that fibrocytes may participate in antigen presentation after infection with L. (L.) amazonensis. However, in lymph nodes of mice C57BL/6 it was observed the significant reduction in the percentage of those cells expressing MHC-II, B7-1, which can be related to the presence of the TLR-2. In vitro fibrocytes of C57BL/6 showed high endocytic capacity, eliminating the parasites within the first 24 hours after infection, and expressed MHC-II/B7-1/B7-2 being were able to activate CD4 + T cells. Thus, our results suggest that fibrocytes may act in cellular response and antigen presentation during infection by L. (L.) amazonensis, however these functions can be modulated by the involvement of TLR-2 and the in microenvironment.

Após a resposta imune, a expansão dos linfócitos T CD4 é seguida de uma fase de retração chamada Morte Celular induzida por Ativação (AICD), para que a homeostasia seja reestabelecida. Nosso grupo demonstrou que DCs estimuladas com LPS produzem PGE2 que inibe a expressão de FASL e bloqueia a AICD dos linfócitos T CD4. Nossa hipótese é que a apresentação de antígenos em contexto de infecção tenha um impacto na expressão de FASL e na sobrevivência das células T CD4, de maneira dependente de TLRPGE2. Para comprovar nossa hipótese nós estudamos a apresentação de OVA in vitro e in vivo. Observamos que a adição de LPS durante a apresentação de OVA aumenta a ativação e proliferação das células T CD4 específicas. O pré-tratamento dos camundongos com Indometacina, um inibidor da enzima COX, reduz a frequência das células específicas através do aumento na expressão de FASL e da apoptose, mas sem interferir com a proliferação. Nós sugerimos que a PGE2 produzida em resposta ao LPS regule a sobrevivência dos linfócitos T CD4 durante a persistência do estímulo antigênico. / After immune response, expansion of antigen-specific CD4 T cells is followed by a contraction phase due to Activation-Induced Cell Death (AICD) to reestablish homeostasis. Our group demonstrated that LPS stimulated-DCs produce PGE2 that protects CD4 T cells from AICD by preventing TCR/CD3-mediated FASL upregulation. Our hypothesis is that antigen presentation in the context of infection impacts on FASL expression and survival of CD4 T cells, dependently on TLR-mediated PGE2 release. To approach our hypothesis we studied OVA presentation in vitro and in vivo. We observed that the addition of LPS during OVA presentation increased specific CD4+ T cells activation and proliferation. Pretreatment of mice with indomethacin, an inhibitor of COX enzyme, reduces the frequency of specific T cells by increasing FASL expression and apoptosis, but did not interfere with proliferation. We suggest that PGE2 produced in response to LPS regulates the survival of CD4 T lymphocytes during persistent antigen stimulation.

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-04-06T16:41:38Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) 2011-tese-WanúziaKeylaMirandaMoreira.pdf: 4609405 bytes, checksum: 9cc969ee66d9060546cf0a2611ca597b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-06T16:41:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) 2011-tese-WanúziaKeylaMirandaMoreira.pdf: 4609405 bytes, checksum: 9cc969ee66d9060546cf0a2611ca597b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-15 / As lesões pré-neoplásicas e neoplásicas do colo uterino induzidas pelo Papilomavírus humano (HPV) estão relacionadas a falhas nos mecanismos imunes de apresentação antigênica. Ciente que alterações na expressão das proteínas do sistema HLA constituem um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento do câncer de colo uterino, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a expressão da proteína HLA-DRB1 nas células de Langerhans em portadoras de lesões intraepiteliais cervicais, relacionando-a aos tipos de HPV. Esteestudo foi realizado no Centro Especializado de Diagnóstico do Câncer do estado da Paraíba, no período de janeiro de 2009 a janeiro de 2010 e aprovado pelo comitê de ética. Neleforam incluídas 123 portadoras de lesão de baixo grau e 105 de lesão de alto grau, confirmadas histologicamente depois de submetidas à colposcopia com biópsia e coleta de amostra para PCR. Obtiveram-se três secções histológicas: uma para diagnóstico histopatológico e duas para imuno-histoquímica usando-se o S100 e HLA-DRB1. A imunoexpressão foi quantificada por morfometria através de software específico e relacionadas ao tipo de HPV usando-se o teste U de Mann-Whitney. Para relacionar as atipias epiteliais ao tipo de HPV usou-se o teste qui-quadrado. Nestetrabalho, apenas tipos virais de alto risco foram identificados predominando o 16 (48,1%), 18 (24,6%) e 31 (19,3%), inclusive em lesões intraepiteliais de baixo grau. Constatou-se menor imunoexpressão da HLA-DR que da S100. As portadoras do HPV 31 mostraram redução estatisticamente significativa da expressão de HLA-DRB1, contudo,não houve diferença estatísticamente significativa na expressão de HLA-DRB1 entre lesões intraepiteliais de baixo e alto grau. As portadoras de lesão intraepitelial com PCR negativas igualmente apresentaram expressão de HLA-DRB1. O presente estudo possibilitou observar que a expressão da proteína HLA-DRB1 nas células de Langerhans se mostrou reduzida nas lesões intraepiteliais induzidas pelo HPV 31. / Cervical intraepithelial lesions induced by Human papillomavírus are related to failure in antigen presentation mechanisms. Aware that changes in HLA protein expression is a risk factor for the development of cervical cancer, the aim of this study is to evaluate the HLA-DRB1 expression on Langerhans cells in women with intraepithelial lesions and oncogenic HPV types. ThisstudywasconductedatSpecializedCenterforCancerDiagnosisofParaíba, during January 2009 still January 2010andapprovedbytheethicscommittee. Were included 123 patients with low grade SIL and 105 with high-grade SIL, histopathologically confirmed after undergoing colposcopy with biopsy and PCR collects. Three histological sections were obtained: one for histolopathologic diagnostic and two for immunohistochemistry using S100 and HLA-DRB1. The immunostaining was quantified by morphometry using specific software and related to HPV type by U Mann- Whitney test. To relate HPV type with epithelial atypia was used qui-square test. In thiswork,only high-risk HPV were identified, predominantly 16(48,1%), 18(24,6%) e 31(19,3%), even in low grade intraepithelial lesions. The immunoexpression of S100 was higher than HLA-DRB1. There was no difference on HLA-DRB1 expression between low and high grade intraepithelial lesions. The bearers of intraepithelial lesions with negative PCR also demonstrated HLA-DRB1 expression. Patients with 31 HPV showed a significantly lower expression of HLA-DRB1. Thus, thisstudyallowedobserving that the expression of HLA-DRB1 showed to be reduced in cervical lesions induced by 31 HPV.

Pneumocystis species are opportunistic fungal pathogens that cause severe pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts, including AIDS patients. Pneumocystis species have a biphasic life cycle consisting of single-nucleated trophic forms and ascus-like cysts. Both stages live within the host, and, thus, must contend with threats from the host immune system. The cyst cell wall β-glucans have been shown to stimulate immune responses in lung epithelial cells, dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages. Little is known about how the trophic life forms, which do not have a fungal cell wall, interact with immune cells. In this study, the immune response to the life cycle stages of Pneumocystis murina was evaluated. Here, we report differences in the immune response of immunocompetent mice to the trophic and cystic life cycle stages of P. murina. Upon infection with purified trophic forms, wild-type adult mice developed a delayed innate and adaptive immune response compared to inoculation with the normal mixture of trophic forms and cysts. Cysts, but not trophic forms, stimulated Th1-type responses in the lungs of infected mice. Surprisingly, trophic forms are sufficient to generate protective adaptive responses, leading to clearance in immunocompetent mice. We report that CD4+ T cells primed in the presence of trophic forms are sufficient to mediate clearance of trophic forms and cysts. In addition, primary infection with trophic forms is sufficient to prime B cell memory responses capable of clearing a secondary infection with Pneumocystis following CD4+ T cell depletion. While trophic forms are sufficient for initiation of adaptive immune responses in immunocompetent mice, infection of immunocompromised RAG2-/- mice with trophic forms in the absence of cysts does not lead to the severe weight loss and infiltration of innate immune cells associated with the development of Pneumocystis pneumonia. Dendritic cells screen the alveolar spaces for pathogens, and are in a prime position to initiate the immune response against lung pathogens, including Pneumocystis. Our data demonstrate that trophic forms broadly dampen the ability of dendritic cells to respond to pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were stimulated with trophic forms, a mixture of trophic forms and cysts, and various other inflammatory materials, including β-glucan. Trophic forms inhibited multiple components involved in antigen presentation by dendritic cells, including secretion of inflammatory cytokines and expression of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules on the cell surface. Furthermore, trophic forms suppressed or failed to induce the expression of multiple genes related to activation and maturation in dendritic cells. Dendritic cells silenced by trophic forms are unable to induce CD4+ T cell responses. These data suggest that immune evasion by trophic forms is dependent on the suppression of innate responses, and the development of adaptive immunity represents a “point of no return” at which the trophic forms are no longer able to escape clearance.

Crosspresentation allows antigen presenting cells to present peptides from exogenously derived antigens onto MHC Class I for presentation to CD8+ T cells. Though this pathway shares key players with the Classical Class I and Class II pathways, several questions remain. A genomewide siRNA screen was performed to look for genes that selectively affected the crosspresentation or the Class II pathways. Among the genes identified in the screen was the Rab GTPase Rab39a. Rab39a was required for efficient crosspresentation but was dispensable for the presentation of endogenously expressed antigen. Both TAP-dependent and independent antigen required Rab39a for efficient presentation. Rab39a localized to late endosomes and phagosomes, though interestingly it was not required for the Class II pathway. Analysis of phagosomes from Rab39a KO or rescued cells has shown that in the presence of Rab39a, phagosomes were enriched for the open form of MHC Class I as well as TAP1, a member of the peptide loading complex. The enriched open form of MHC-I was peptide receptive, suggesting that it could contribute to crosspresentation. Phagosomes from Rab39a positive cells had reduced degradative capability and had increased levels of Sec22b, a SNARE protein reported to deliver ER-golgi sourced cargo to phagosomes. Furthermore, inhibition of ER-golgi transport via brefeldin A abolished the phenotype conferred by Rab39a. Thus, we hypothesize that Rab39a mediates the delivery of ER-golgi derived cargo to the antigen containing phagosome. This delivery allows peptide receptive MHC-I, as well as the peptide loading complex to reach the antigen, thereby facilitating crosspresentation.

Confinement of the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis to a membrane-bound vacuole, termed an inclusion, within infected epithelial cells neither prevents secretion of chlamydial antigens into the host cytosol nor protects chlamydiae from innate immune detection. However, the details leading to chlamydial antigen presentation are not clear. By immunoelectron microscopy of infected endometrial epithelial cells and in isolated cell secretory compartments, chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the inclusion membrane protein A (IncA) were localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and co-localized with multiple ER markers, but not with markers of the endosomes, lysosomes, Golgi nor mitochondria. Chlamydial LPS was also co-localized with CD1d in the ER. Since the chlamydial antigens, contained in everted inclusion membrane vesicles, were found within the host cell ER, these data raise additional implications for antigen processing by infected uterine epithelial cells for classical and non-classical T cell antigen presentation.

Presentation of antigenic peptides on MHC-II molecules is essential for induction of tolerance to self and for effective immunity against foreign pathogens. The non- classical MHC-II molecule DO (HLA-DO in humans, H2-O in mice) functions in selection of MHC-II epitopes by competitively inhibiting the peptide exchange factor DM. Previous studies have suggested a role for DO in development of autoimmunity and in the immune response to retroviral infection, presumably via modulation of the MHC-II peptidome, but the precise effect of DO has been difficult to discern. Through characterization of the full spectrum of peptides from DO-sufficient and DO-deficient cells, we demonstrate that DO functions to broaden the diversity of peptide species presented on MHC-II. DO is regulated differently from other components of the MHC-II processing machinery, with expression limited to B cell and dendritic cell subsets, as well as thymic epithelial cells, suggesting a role for DO in mediating central tolerance. In a mouse model lacking DO, we show that selection of T regulatory cells (Tregs) is increased and that DO- deficient Tregs are more activated and exert greater suppressive capacity. Despite augmented Treg function, mice lacking DO display enhanced susceptibility to autoimmunity, with altered germinal center (GC) Tregs and B cells indicative of an aberrant GC reaction. These data suggest that DO expression serves to fine-tune the immunopeptidome in order to promote self-tolerance to a wide spectrum of epitopes and to select a Treg population with appropriate specificity for self- antigens.