TWEAK ist ein zu der TNF-Superfamilie (Tumor Necrosis Factor) zugehöriges Zytokin, welches in Form löslicher und membranständiger Moleküle vorkommt. Beide Formen des Liganden können an den Rezeptor (Fn14) binden. Viele verschiedene intrazelluläre Signalwege werden durch den Fn14 aktiviert, beispielweise Erk1/2, JNK, Jun und STAT3, vor allem jedoch das NFkB. Lösliches und membranständiges TWEAK zeigen eine ähnliche Aktivierungseffizienz bezüglich des alternativen NFkB-Signalwegs, wohingegen membranständiges TWEAK weit besser als lösliches TWEAK den klassischen NFkB-Signalweg aktiviert. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde zunächst die TWEAK-vermittelte Induzierbarkeit von verschiedenen Zielgenen des NFkB-Systems untersucht. Lösliches TWEAK zeigte einen weit schwächeren aktivierenden Effekt auf den klassischen NFkB-Signalweg als TNF, das ein sehr guter Aktivator des klassischen NFkB-Systems ist (Abb. 5, 6). Nichtsdestotrotz war TWEAK imstande eine stärkere TRAF1-Induktion als TNF herbeizuführen (Abbildung 7, 8). TRAF1 ist ein durch NFkB-System stark reguliertes Gen. Um posttranskriptionelle TRAF1-Modifikationen als Ursache für die unerwartet gute TRAF1-Induktion durch lösliches TWEAK auszuschließen, wurde die TRAF1-Expression nach Proteasom- und Caspasen-Inhibition untersucht (Abbildung 9). Dies ergab keinen Hinweis auf einen Einfluss dieser Prozessen auf der TRAF1-Expression. Mittels des IKK2-spezifischen Inhibitor TPCA-1 wurde die TWEAK-vermittelte TRAF1-Induktion Zelltyp-abhängig gehemmt, wohingegen die TNF-vermittelte Induktion von TRAF1 in allen Zelllinien vollständig inhibiert wurde (Abbildung 13). Versuche mit dem NEDD8-aktivierenden Enzym (NAE) Inhibitor MLN4924, resultierten in einer totalen Inhibition der TRAF1-Expression in allen TWEAK- und TNF-stimulierten Zellen (Abbildung 14). Diese Befunde sprechen dafür, dass bei der TWEAK-vermittelten TRAF1-Expression beide Zweige des NFkB-Signalwegs Zelltyp-abhängig beteiligt sind. Die Oligomerisierung der Liganden der TNF-Familie verstärkt oft ihre Aktivität. Oligomerisiertes TWEAK imitiert die biologische Aktivität von membranständigem TWEAK. Lösliches TWEAK wurde mit einem anti-Flag Antikörper oligomerisiert und die TRAF1-Induktion durch den alternativen NFkB-Signalweg wurde analysiert Oligomerisiertes TWEAK aktivierte Zelltyp-unabhängig den klassischen NFkB-Signalweg stärker als lösliches TWEAK, wohingegen kein Effekt auf die TRAF1-Induktion oder auf die Aktivierung den alternativen NFkB-Signalweg festgestellt wurde (Abbildung 11, 12). TWEAK ist imstande die TRAF2-vermittelte CD40-Induktion des klassischen NFkB-Signalwegs zu hemmen (Abbildung 16, 17). Um den Beitrag von TWEAK-Induziertem TRAF1 zur CD40-Inhibition zu herauszufinden, wurden TRAF1-stabil transfizierte 786O- und U2OS-Zellen hergestellt (Abbildung 19). Die CD40-Induzierte IkBa-Degradation und IL8/6 Produktion war in den TRAF1-Transfektanten als auch in mit löslichem TWEAK vorbehandelte Zellen stark inhibiert (Abbildung 21, 22), wobei die CD40-Expression und CD40/CD40L-Interaktion unverändert blieb (Abbildung 20). Diese Ergebnisse sprechen für einen wichtigen Beitrag des Adaptorprotein TRAF1 in der TWEAK-vermittelte Inhibition der CD40-induzierte Aktivierung des klassischen NFkB-Signalwegs. / The multifunctional cytokine TWEAK belongs to the TNF-Superfamily. As typically for the members of this family TWEAK occurs in a membrane-associated and a soluble form. Both forms of TWEAK are able to bind their cognate receptor Fn14, but they differ in their capability to activate Fn14. The TWEAK/Fn14 axis activates various intracellular signaling pathways leading to the activation of Erk1/2, JNK, Jun or STAT3, but above all the two NFkB-pathway. A superiority of membrane TWEAK over soluble TWEAK to activate the classical NFkB pathway is well known, but both TWEAK forms show no significant difference in the activation of the non-canonical NFkB pathway. Soluble TWEAK was compared with TNF, a typical and strong inducer of classical NFkB in this work and showed a inferior ability in the production of IL8 and degradation of IkBa (Figure 5, 6) two hallmarks of the classical NFkB pathway. Nevertheless, soluble TWEAK induced more powerful than TNF the expression of TRAF1, a NFkB-controlled protein participating in the signal transduction of several inflammatory signaling pathways (Figure 7). Experiments using proteasom- and caspase-inhibitors were perfomed and showed no significant contribution of these processes to the differential TRAF1-expression by TNF and soluble TWEAK (Figure 9). The IKK2 inhibitor TPCA-1 blocked TNF-induced TRAF1 expression in all cell lines investigated. Contrary, soluble TWEAK-induced TRAF1 expression was only inhibited by TPCA-1 in a subset of cell lines (Figure 13). Experiments blocking both NFkB pathways, performed with the NEDD8-activating enzyme inhibitor MLN4924, revealed a total inhibition of TWEAK- and TNF-induced TRAF1 expression (Figure 14). In sum, these results suggests that both NFkB signaling pathways are able to induce TRAF1. Oligomerisation of ligands from the TNF-family often results in strong enhancement of their biological activity. Oligomerization of soluble Flag-tagged TWEAK with an anti-Flag antibody produced ligand complexes which mimics the biological features of membrane TWEAK. These complexes showed neither enhanced TRAF1 induction nor a stronger activation of the alternative NFkB pathway compared to soluble TWEAK (Figure 11). However, oligomerized Flag-TWEAK revealed a strongly increased capability to trigger the activation of the classical NFkB pathway. TWEAK-priming can inhibit TRAF2-mediated CD40-induction of the classical NFkB pathway (Figure 16, 17). In order to establish the contribution of the TWEAK-induced TRAF1 to this effect, TRAF1 stable transfectants were generated (Figure 19). CD40-induced degradation of IkBa as well as CD40-associated production of IL8/6 were strongly inhibited in TWEAK-primed cells and TRAF1 transfectants (Figure 21, 22), although expression of CD40 and CD40/CD40L interaction were not affected (Figure 20). These results indicate a contribution of the adaptor protein TRAF1 to TWEAK-mediated inhibition of CD40-induced NFkB activation.

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a childhood disease leading to coronary arteritis. Elevated numbers of CD40L+ platelets in circulation is correlated with risk of heart damage. CD40L is a tumor necrosis family member that binds to CD40 and αIIbβ3, receptors which are also expressed on platelets. A single injection of Lactobacillus casei Cell Wall Extract (LCWE) induces a disease similar to KD in mice, where LCWE superantigen (SAg) reactive T-cells persist in the coronary artery. This phenotype is inconsistent with the fate of SAg-stimulated cells and is likely mediated by co-stimulation. This work shows that stimulation with a SAg induces platelet activation and CD40L expression in vitro. Furthermore, enhanced survival of SAg-reactive T-cells is demonstrated following antibody-mediated CD40L cross-linking. This effect is mediated via inhibition of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. In addition, CD40 cross-linking is also reported to enhance SAg-reactive T-cell survival by enhancing CD86 expression on APCs and CD28 co-stimulation.

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a childhood disease leading to coronary arteritis. Elevated numbers of CD40L+ platelets in circulation is correlated with risk of heart damage. CD40L is a tumor necrosis family member that binds to CD40 and αIIbβ3, receptors which are also expressed on platelets. A single injection of Lactobacillus casei Cell Wall Extract (LCWE) induces a disease similar to KD in mice, where LCWE superantigen (SAg) reactive T-cells persist in the coronary artery. This phenotype is inconsistent with the fate of SAg-stimulated cells and is likely mediated by co-stimulation. This work shows that stimulation with a SAg induces platelet activation and CD40L expression in vitro. Furthermore, enhanced survival of SAg-reactive T-cells is demonstrated following antibody-mediated CD40L cross-linking. This effect is mediated via inhibition of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. In addition, CD40 cross-linking is also reported to enhance SAg-reactive T-cell survival by enhancing CD86 expression on APCs and CD28 co-stimulation.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important enteric disease of broiler chicken primarily caused by a-toxin (Cpa) secreted by C. perfringens type A. Mice immunized with recombinant C-terminal domain of Cpa (CpaCD) had transient and fewer localized lesions upon challenge with C. perfringens type A. These results demonstrate the usefulness of CpaCD as an immunogen for vaccine development against NE for chickens. Chicken CD40 (chCD40) is mainly expressed on the surface of chicken antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and the interaction of chCD40 and chCD40L (natural ligand for chCD40) provides crucial activation signals for chicken B-cells. A hypothesis was proposed that in ovo vaccination with an adenovirus-vectored CpaCD vaccine capable of targeting immunogen to APCs through the CD40 pathway will improve protection against NE in chickens. One agonistic monoclonal anti-chCD40 antibody (designated 2C5) was produced and characterized. 2C5 not only detected expression of chCD40 on chicken APCs, but also induced NO synthesis in chicken HD11 macrophages and enhanced proliferation of serum-starved chicken DT40 B-cells. This demonstrated substantial functional equivalence of 2C5 with chCD40L. The potential of 2C5 as an immunological adjuvant was further assessed by targeting a hapten to chicken APCs in hopes of enhancing an effective IgG response. Seven-week old chickens were immunized subcutaneously once with a complex consisting of 2C5 and peptide, and relative quantification of the peptide-specific IgG response showed that this complex was able to elicit a strong IgG response as early as four days post-immunization. This demonstrates that CD40-targeting antigen to chicken APCs can significantly enhance antibody responses and induce immunoglobulin isotype-switching. An agonistic anti-chCD40 single-chain variable fragment (designated DAG1) was combined with an adenoviral delivery system to create a vaccine, Ad-(DAG1-Cp aCD-FLAG), for in ovo administration. The efficacy of in ovo vaccination of broilers with Ad-(DAG1-Cp aCD-FLAG) in controlling NE was evaluated by C. perfringens type A challenge at 18 days post-hatch. Neither statistically significant IgA / IgG response nor protection against C. perfringens type A challenge was found in the vaccinated birds. These preliminary data suggest that a super-optimal dose of Ad-(DAG1-Cp aCD-FLAG) may be the main issue, because Cpa-specific B-cells may undergo apoptosis through the CD40 pathway.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thèse (Ph. D.)--Université Laval, 2007. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 5 mai 2008). Bibliogr.

The interaction between CD40 ligand (CD154) expressed on activated T cells and its receptor, CD40, has been shown to play a role in the onset and maintenance of autoimmune inflammation. Recent studies suggest that CD154+T cells also contribute to the regulation of atherogenesis due to their capacity to activate CD40+cells of the vasculature, including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The present study evaluated the signalling events initiated through CD40 ligation which culminate in VSMC chemokine production. CD40 ligation resulted in the phosphorylation/activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), and p38, but not c-jun N-terminal kinase. Inhibition of both ERK1/2 and p38 activity abrogated CD40 stimulation of IL-8 and MCP-1 production. CD40-mediated induction of chemokines also showed dependence on the Src family kinase activity. The Src kinase inhibitor, PP2, was found to inhibit CD40-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 as well as activation of IκB kinase. An evaluation of Src kinases that may be important in CD40 signalling identified Lyn as a potential candidate. These data indicate that CD40 signalling in VSMC activates a Src family kinase-initiated pathway that results in the induction of MAPK activities required for successful induction of chemokine synthesis.

L’immunité humorale, que les lymphocytes B chapeautent via la production d’anticorps, fournit à l’organisme des armes solubles et spécifiques permettant de combattre une infection en cours, et d’en conserver une mémoire immunologique. Traditionnellement, on associe la réponse des lymphocytes B naïfs à la première apparition d’un antigène et celle des cellules mémoires à l’apparition subséquente d’un antigène déjà rencontré. Ces deux sous-populations, pouvant être distinguées par l’expression différentielle de la molécule CD27, circulent simultanément en périphérie chez l’humain. Au cours de ce projet de doctorat, la réponse in vitro des lymphocytes B naïfs (CD27) et mémoires (CD27+) isolés du sang a été étudiée, dans un système exploitant l’interaction CD40-CD154, normalement médiée par les lymphocytes T, en présence de facteurs solubles. Cette étude a mis en évidence la réponse distincte des cellules naïves et mémoires lorsque stimulées séparément, reflétant la disparité de leurs besoins. La comparaison de leur stimulation simultanée ou séparée a mis au jour une possible interaction entre les cellules B naïves et mémoires, suggérant une vision nouvelle de l’initiation de la réponse primaire in vivo. De plus, cette étude a permis l’identification d’une sous-population de cellules mémoires distinctes en périphérie, au phénotype CD27-IgG+, remettant en question l’utilisation du CD27 comme marqueur de cellules B mémoires chez l’humain. La comparaison des populations stimulées suggère qu’un rôle régulateur pourrait être associé à ces cellules mémoires, pouvant contribuer à contenir la réponse des cellules naïves une fois l’infection prise en charge. En bout de ligne, ce projet a permis de modéliser la réponse humorale primaire et secondaire en tenant compte de cette nouvelle sous-population mémoire, ainsi que des interactions entre cellules B pouvant intervenir in vivo. / Humoral immunity, managed by B lymphocytes and their antibody production, provides to the body soluble and specific weapons to clear current infections and to preserve an immunological memory. Traditionally, naive B cell response is associated with the first encounter with an antigen, while memory cell response is related to its subsequent appearance. Both populations, circulating in human peripheral blood, can be distinguished by the differential expression of the CD27 molecule. During this project, the in vitro response of peripheral naive (CD27) and memory B cells (CD27+) was studied, in a system exploiting CD40-CD154 interaction, normally provided by T cells, in the presence of soluble factors. This study highlighted a distinct response from naive and memory cells when separately stimulated, reflecting their different requirements. Comparison between their stimulation, together and separately, also underlined possible B-B cell interactions, suggesting a new vision of primary response initiation in vivo. Furthermore, this study conducted to the identification of a distinct memory cell subset in periphery, displaying a CD27IgG+ phenotype, which questions the use of CD27 as a memory B cell marker in humans. A potential regulatory role has also been suggested for the CD27-IgG+ memory subset, presumably aimed to suppress naive cell response once the infection is controlled. Overall, this project supports the elaboration of a model for primary and secondary humoral responses, taking into account the new memory subset identified and the interactions among B cells that likely occur in vivo.

Bien que plus de 40 millions d'individus aient été infectés depuis la description du virus en 1983, aucun vaccin efficace n'a encore été développé contre l'agent étiologique du syndrome d'immunodéficience acquise (SIDA). Les échecs encourus lors des essais cliniques antérieurs résultent, entre autres, de la présence de réservoirs viraux, de la grande diversité du virus de l'immunodéficience de type 1 (VIH-1) et de sa capacité à s'évader de la réponse immunitaire. Mon projet de recherche vise à analyser la capacité d'une nouvelle préparation vaccinale à générer une réponse humorale anti-VIH. Cette stratégie est basée sur l'utilisation de pseudoparticules virales (VLPs, Virus-like particles) du VIH-1 constituées des polyprotéines virales Gag et Pol, de la protéine d'enveloppe virale, la gpl20 et de la protéine d'origine humaine CD40 ligand (CD40L). Le concept de cette nouvelle stratégie vaccinale est fondé sur des études antérieures démontrant l'efficacité de la molécule CD40L, lorsqu'additionnée au virus de l'immunodéficience simienne, à stimuler la production d'anticorps neutralisants et la sécrétion d'interleukine-12 (IL-12) laquelle induit l'activation des cellules dendritiques. L'hypothèse principale de ce projet est que l'incorporation de la molécule CD40L à la surface des VLPs du VIH-1 induit une réponse immunitaire spécifique plus forte contre le virus que les préparations vaccinales utilisant des pseudoparticules virales classiques. Les objectifs sont de produire efficacement des VLPs de VIH-1 ayant incorporées, ou non, le CD40L et d'analyser la capacité de ces différents types de pseudoparticules virales à stimuler les lymphocytes B. Malgré que la théorie sur laquelle est basé le projet supporte l'idée que les VLPs porteuses de CD40L stimulent efficacement la voie humorale de l'immunité en activant les lymphocytes B, les résultats obtenus n'ont pas permis de supporter cette hypothèse. En effet, les VLPs produites par transfection calcium-phosphate en cellules 293T n'ont pas incorporé de façon optimale la molécule CD40L à leur surface vu un assemblage intracellulaire déficient probable et n'ont subséquemment pas permis une stimulation efficace des lymphocytes B.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) develop hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), have increased inflammatory monocytes (MC) and 10-times higher cardiovascular mortality than the general population. Here, we investigated HHcy-related MC differentiation in CKD. Twenty seven CKD and CVD, and 14 healthy subjects were recruited. CD40 was selected as a CKD-induced MC activation marker by mining for CKD-MC-mRNA screen database. We found that CD14++CD16+ MC, often denoted as inflammatory subset, soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), and TNFα/IL-6 levels were augmented in CVD and CKD subjects. CD40hiCD14++CD16+ MC, plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) levels were increased in CVD and further elevated in CKD subjects. In cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, CKD patient serum, Hcy, CD40L and TNFα/IL-6 induced CD40hiCD14++CD16+ MC differentiation, which was prevented by Hcy-lowering folic acid and neutralizing antibodies against TNFα and IL-6. Interestingly, CD14++CD16+ and CD40hiCD14++CD16+ MCs were negatively correlated with plasma S-adenosylmethionine/SAH (SAM/SAH) ratios, an indicator of methylation status, in CKD and CVD subjects. In white blood cells (WBC) isolated from CKD and CVD subjects with lower SAM/SAH ratios, hypomethylation was identified on the CG pair of NFκB consensus element in the core promoter located at the CpG island of CD40 gene by DNA methylation mapping using bisulfite converting pyrosequencing. Moreover, Hcy inhibited DNA methyltransferase-1 activity in cultured human blood MC. In conclusion, HHcy induces CD14++CD16+ and CD40hiCD14++CD16+ MC differentiation, at least in part, via sCD40L induction and CD40 DNA hypomethylation in CKD and CVD subjects. To study the role of CD40 in the development of kidney pathology and vascular disease, we then established mouse model of CKD-induced CVD (5/6 nephrectomy CKD model plus left carotid artery ligation) in CD40-/- mice. Bone marrow (BM)-derived cells were traced by the transplantation of BM cells from enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic CD40+/+ mice after sublethal irradiation of the recipient CD40-/- mice. We demonstrated here that CKD accelerated carotid artery atherosclerosis, exacerbated metabolism, increased spleen weight and circulating CD40+ inflammatory MC, and further increased differentiation of mononuclear phagocytic cells (MPC); CD11b+F4/80- MC, CD11b+F4/80+ macrophage (Mϕ) and CD11c+CD11b+F4/80+ bone marrow-derived dendritic cell in the kidney and aorta, which were abolished by CD40-/- mice. We also found that CKD kidney elevated CD40 expression and induced MC chemotactic signals; CCL2, CCL12, and CCL5 chemokines, which were abolished in CD40-/- mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that CD40 induction in the chronic kidney disease mediates kidney chemokine production, which in turn contributes to acceleration of myeloid cell infiltration, MPC differentiation, and carotid artery atherosclerosis. / Pharmacology