<p>Antibodies, passively administered or actively produced, regulate immune responses to the antigen they recognize. This phenomenon is called antibody-mediated feedback regulation. Feedback regulation can be positive or negative, resulting in >1000-fold enhancement or >99% suppression of the specific antibody response. The outcome depends on size, structure, dose, and route of administration of the antigen as well as on class and subclass of the regulating antibody. This thesis investigates the role of T cells in antibody-mediated feedback enhancement, using both<i> in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> approaches. IgE-antibodies enhance antibody responses to small soluble proteins. This effect is entirely dependent on the low-affinity receptor for IgE, CD23, and most likely depends on increased antigen presentation by CD23⁺ B cells. Strengthening this hypothesis, we show that IgE-mediated CD4⁺ T cell proliferation<i> in vitro</i> required the presence of CD19⁺ CD43^- CD23⁺ B cells. CD23 has also been shown to negatively regulate immune responses. Transgenic mice overexpressing CD23 are known to have impaired responses to antigens in alum. We here demonstrate that they are normal regarding IgE-mediated enhancement. IgG3 enhances antibody responses, and previous data suggested involvement of complement. We found that IgG3-mediated enhancement works well in mice lacking the only Fc-receptor known to bind IgG3, CD64. Although IgG3 could enhance antibody responses it had no major effect on T cell responses. Complement-receptors 1/2 (CR1/2) are required for the initiation of normal antibody responses. Although mice lacking CR1/2 had impaired antibody responses after immunization with sheep erythrocytes, their specific T cell responses were unaffected. The presented data do not support the idea that increased complement-mediated antigen presentation is a major mechanism behind the involvement of complement in antibody responses. They support the hypothesis that antigens forming complement-containing immune complexes may activate specific B cells by co-crosslinking BCR and CR1/2.</p>

Antibodies have the ability to influence the antibody response against the very antigen they are specific for, in a process called antibody feedback regulation. Depending on the nature of the antigen, the antibody response can be either enhanced or almost completely inhibited. This thesis focuses on the underlying mechanisms of antibody feedback regulation in vivo. Antigen-specific IgG can inhibit the antibody response to a particulate antigen. Based on its ability to inhibit B cell activation, the inhibitory FcγRIIB (low affinity receptor for IgG) has been suggested to be involved. Here we show that although FcγRIIB is required for efficient suppression in vitro, it is not required in vivo. Therefore, even though FcγRIIB can inhibit antibody responses, other mechanisms (such as epitope masking and enhanced antigen clearance) play a more dominant role in vivo. The antibody response to soluble antigen is greatly enhanced when it is introduced to the immune system in complex with antigen-specific IgG or IgE. We found that FcγRIIB attenuates the magnitude of IgG-mediated enhancement. In mice lacking FcγRIIB, IgG enhanced the antibody response much more efficiently than in normal mice. Since B cells require CD4+ T cell help in order to become antibody-producing cells, we examined the CD4+ T cell response to immune complexes in vivo. Using an adoptive transfer strategy with transgenic ovalbumin (OVA)-specific CD4+T cells, we could show that the enhanced OVA-specific IgG response to IgG2a/OVA and IgE/OVA complexes was preceded by a potent OVA-specific CD4+ T cell response. IgG2a-mediated enhancement was dependent on activating Fcγ receptors, whereas IgE-mediated enhancement was dependent on CD23, the low affinity receptor for IgE. We identified CD23+ B cells as the responsible effector cells for IgE-mediated enhancement in vivo. Taken together, these results show that Fc receptor-mediated antigen presentation is a major mechanism underlying antibody feedback enhancement.

Antibodies, passively administered or actively produced, regulate immune responses to the antigen they recognize. This phenomenon is called antibody-mediated feedback regulation. Feedback regulation can be positive or negative, resulting in &gt;1000-fold enhancement or &gt;99% suppression of the specific antibody response. The outcome depends on size, structure, dose, and route of administration of the antigen as well as on class and subclass of the regulating antibody. This thesis investigates the role of T cells in antibody-mediated feedback enhancement, using both in vivo and in vitro approaches. IgE-antibodies enhance antibody responses to small soluble proteins. This effect is entirely dependent on the low-affinity receptor for IgE, CD23, and most likely depends on increased antigen presentation by CD23+ B cells. Strengthening this hypothesis, we show that IgE-mediated CD4+ T cell proliferation in vitro required the presence of CD19+ CD43- CD23+ B cells. CD23 has also been shown to negatively regulate immune responses. Transgenic mice overexpressing CD23 are known to have impaired responses to antigens in alum. We here demonstrate that they are normal regarding IgE-mediated enhancement. IgG3 enhances antibody responses, and previous data suggested involvement of complement. We found that IgG3-mediated enhancement works well in mice lacking the only Fc-receptor known to bind IgG3, CD64. Although IgG3 could enhance antibody responses it had no major effect on T cell responses. Complement-receptors 1/2 (CR1/2) are required for the initiation of normal antibody responses. Although mice lacking CR1/2 had impaired antibody responses after immunization with sheep erythrocytes, their specific T cell responses were unaffected. The presented data do not support the idea that increased complement-mediated antigen presentation is a major mechanism behind the involvement of complement in antibody responses. They support the hypothesis that antigens forming complement-containing immune complexes may activate specific B cells by co-crosslinking BCR and CR1/2.

No description available.

Antibodies can enhance or suppress the immune responses against their specific antigens. This phenomenon is known as antibody-mediated feedback regulation. We have studied the mechanisms underlying IgE-, IgM-, and IgG3-mediated enhancement of immune responses in mouse models using intravenous immunization. We attempted to answer the following questions: 1) Which cell type presents IgE-complexed antigens to CD4+ T cells? 2) Is complement activation required for specific IgM to enhance antibody responses? 3) Does IgM enhance CD4+ T-cell responses? 4) How are IgG3-antigen complexes transported into B-cell follicles? We found that CD23+ B cells transporting IgE-antigen complexes into B-cell follicles were not required to prime the antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in vivo, whereas CD11c+ cells were indispensable. After examining the three most common subpopulations of CD11c+ cells in the spleen, we determined that it was CD8α- conventional dendritic cells migrating into the T-cell zone following immunization that presented IgE-complexed antigens to CD4+ T cells. Next, we showed that specific IgM from Cµ13 mice, which is unable to activate complement, failed to enhance either antibody or germinal center responses whereas wild-type IgM enhanced both responses. Therefore, specific IgM must activate complement to enhance humoral responses. In addition, wild-type IgM did not up-regulate CD4+ T-cell responses. Finally, we showed that IgG3-antigen complexes were transported by marginal zone B cells into B-cell follicles via binding to complement receptors 1 and 2 (CR1/2) on those cells. The immune complexes were captured by follicular dendritic cells as early as 2 h after immunization. Germinal center responses were also enhanced by IgG3. Using bone marrow chimeric mice, we found that CR1/2 expression was required on both marginal zone B cells and follicular dendritic cells to provide an optimal enhancement of antibody responses.

Long-term protective immunity depends on proper initiation of professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Autoimmune disorders and certain infections can cause disease through modulation of APCs and thereby affecting the outcome of these diseases. This work aimed to investigate the behaviour of different APC subsets during conditions known to cause improper immune responses. In Paper I, the effects of an anti-inflammatory compound called Rabeximod, intended for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis were investigated on different subsets of APCs. The results showed that Rabeximod affected the differentiation and behaviour of inflammatory subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages while no effects were observed on anti-inflammatory subsets. Our findings suggest that Rabeximod acts by inhibiting the functionality of inflammatory subsets of APCs. In Paper II, the effects of different malaria derived stimuli such as hemozoin (Hz) and infected red-blood cells (iRBCs) on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) were investigated. Both stimuli triggered activation and migration of MoDCs. MoDCs exposed to iRBCs induced allogeneic T-cell proliferation while those exposed to Hz did not. These results indicate that different malaria derived stimuli may differently affect DCs and that this could lead to improper and inefficient T-cell activation. In Paper III, innate aspects of malarial immunity were compared in children from two sympatric ethnic groups. We observed decreased activation of APCs and severely supressed TLR responses in Dogon children as compared to Fulani. This may indicate an important role for TLR and APC activation in the Fulani, known to be better protected against malaria than the Dogon. In summary, detailed knowledge of APC activation will be helpful in the understanding of specific effector immune responses. This could in turn, improve treatment of inflammatory disorders as well as the generation of efficient vaccines against infectious diseases.

No description available.

As células dendríticas (DCs) são as principais células apresentadoras de antígeno do sistema imune. No entanto, trabalhos têm demonstrado seu envolvimento na manutenção da tolerância imunológica. As células T CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ possuem a capacidade de suprimir respostas imunes. Neste estudo avaliamos as alterações ocorridas na população de células T CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ após co-cultura de células de linfonodo com DCs. Nossos resultados demonstram que após a co-cultura há um aumento da população de células CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ de maneira independente do estado de ativação das DCs ou da presença de antígenos exógenos. No entanto, o aumento observado é maior quando DCs imaturas são incubadas com antígenos exógenos. Notamos ainda que há presença de TGF-ß em todas as condições experimentais em que observamos aumento da população de células CD4+CD25+Foxp3+. Nossos dados sugerem ainda que este aumento se deve à proliferação das células T CD4+CD25+Foxp3+. / Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. However, DCs have also been implicated in maintaining immunologic tolerance. CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T lymphocytes are known as cells with regulatory properties. In this study we evaluated the changes in the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cell population after co-culture of lymph-node cells with DCs. Our results show an increase in the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cell population after co-culture and occurs regardless of the activation state of DCs and the presence of exogenous antigens; however it is greater when immature DCs are previously pulsed with exogenous antigen. We also noticed that TGF-? is present in all cultures conditions in which the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cell population increases. Our data also suggests that the increase of the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cell population may be due to the proliferation of these cells.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The function of major histocompatability complex (MHC) class II molecules is to present antigenic peptides to CD4+ T cells. Typically, MHC class II molecules present peptides derived from exogenous sources. Yet, certain endogenous antigens (Ags) have been found to be presented by class II molecules. Studies suggest that specific heat shock protein family members may play a role in Ag processing and subsequent class II presentation. The studies presented here using B lymphoblasts demonstrate the importance of HSP90α, HSP90β, and possibly HSP70 in selectively regulating MHC class II presentation. Inactivation of HSP90 function using pharmacological inhibitors inhibited class II presentation of exogenous and endogenous GAD, but did not perturb the presentation of several other intra- and extracellular Ags. Individual knockdown of HSP90 isoforms using isoform specific siRNA selectively inhibited GAD Ag presentation. These results demonstrate a requirement for HSP90α and HSP90β in regulating MHC class II presentation of select Ags. Studies to explore mechanistically the roles of HSP90α and HSP90β in regulating GAD Ag presentation were pursued. The pathways of exogenous and endogenous MHC class II presentation of GAD Ag are distinct yet converge with shared terminal processing of GAD within endosomal/lysosomal vesicles. The effect of HSP90 manipulation on various shared components of the MHC class II pathway was examined. The studies presented here suggest that HSP90α and HSP90β regulate MHC class II presentation of GAD Ag at discrete steps most likely involving HSP90 binding to GAD Ag rather than perturbing overall MHC class II function. vi Studying the role of HSP90 in MHC class II presentation in B cells revealed the potential requirement for HSP70 in the presentation of select Ags. The studies presented here demonstrate a possible role for HSP70 in the presentation of Ags such as SMA or Ig kappa by MHC class II molecules. Also included in this work is a study of a rare case of diabetes caused by type B insulin resistance due to development of insulin receptor autoantibodies during the treatment of hepatitis C with interferon alpha and ribavirin. Clinical and laboratory findings in the case are presented.

No description available.