Publisher Summary Studies of cytotoxicity by human lymphocytes revealed not only that both allogeneic and syngeneic tumor cells were lysed in a non-MHC-restricted fashion, but also that lymphocytes from normal donors were often cytotoxic. Lymphocytes from any healthy donor, as well as peripheral blood and spleen lymphocytes from several experimental animals, in the absence of known or deliberate sensitization, were found to be spontaneously cytotoxic in vitro for some normal fresh cells, most cultured cell lines, immature hematopoietic cells, and tumor cells. This type of nonadaptive, non-MHC-restricted cellmediated cytotoxicity was defined as “natural” cytotoxicity, and the effector cells mediating natural cytotoxicity were functionally defined as natural killer (NK) cells. The existence of NK cells has prompted a reinterpretation of both the studies of specific cytotoxicity against spontaneous human tumors and the theory of immune surveillance, at least in its most restrictive interpretation. Unlike cytotoxic T cells, NK cells cannot be demonstrated to have clonally distributed specificity, restriction for MHC products at the target cell surface, or immunological memory. NK cells cannot yet be formally assigned to a single lineage based on the definitive identification of a stem cell, a distinct anatomical location of maturation, or unique genotypic rearrangements.

Biology of natural killer cells.

We have identified and purified a novel cytokine, NK cell stimulatory factor (NKSF), from the cell-free supernatant fluid of the phorbol diester-induced EBV-transformed human B lymphoblastoid cell line RPMI 8866. NKSF activity is mostly associated to a 70-kD anionic glycoprotein. The purified 70-kD protein, isolated from an SDS-PAGE gel, yields upon reduction two small species of molecular masses of 40 and 35 kD, suggesting that this cytokine is a heterodimer. When added to human PBL, purified NKSF preparations induce IFN-gamma production and synergize with rIL-2 in this activity, augment the NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity of PBL preparations against both NK-sensitive and NK-resistant target cell lines, and enhance the mitogenic response of T cells to mitogenic lectins and phorbol diesters. The three activities remain associated through different purification steps resulting in a 9,200-fold purification, and purified NKSF mediates the three biological activities at concentrations in the range of 0.1-10 pM. These data strongly suggest that the same molecule mediates these three activities, although the presence of traces of contaminant peptides even in the most purified NKSF preparations does not allow us to exclude the possibility that distinct biologically active molecules have been co-purified. The absence of other known cytokines in the purified NKSF preparations, the unusual molecular conformation of NKSF, the high specific activity of the purified protein, and the spectrum of biological activities distinguish NKSF from other previously described cytokines.

https://rupress.org/jem/article-pdf/170/3/827/1099552/827.pdf

Identification and purification of natural killer cell stimulatory factor (NKSF), a cytokine with multiple biologic effects on human lymphocytes.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the important discovery that virus-specific cytotoxic T cells are dually specific for virus and for a self cell surface antigen encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The initial work was carried out on the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus system but it soon became evident that the same phenomenon applied to many other viruses. In addition, the same principle has been found to hold for other antigenic systems, such as trinitrophenyl coupled to cells, minor histocompatibility antigens, and the H-Y model. Graft rejection and the need for genetically homogeneous inbred mouse strains for cancer research led to the development of transplantation immunology and immunogenetics. The result is that the gene complex coding for major transplantation antigens is one of the better understood mammalian genetic regions. Cytotoxic T-cell specificity is comparable to serological specificity. Because quantification of specificity or cross-reactivity is difficult, and because of the technical limitations of these cytotoxic T-cell assays, results are interpreted with great reservation. MHC restriction reflects the fact that the effector function of T cells is determined by the kind of Self-H recognized together with the foreign antigen on cell surfaces: K and D are receptors for lytic signals, I determinants are receptors for cell differentiation signals that are delivered antigen-specifically by T cells.

MHC-restricted cytotoxic T cells: studies on the biological role of polymorphic major transplantation antigens determining T-cell restriction-specificity, function, and responsiveness.

The idea that glycosphingolipids (or, briefly, glycolipids) are ubiquitous components of plasma membrane and display cell type-specific patterns perhaps stemmed from the classical studies on glycolipids of erythrocyte membranes.(1,2) Subsequently, plasma membranes of various animal cells were successfully isolated and analyzed; all were characterized by their much higher content of glycolipid than was found in intracellular membranes.(3–8) It is generally assumed that glycolipids are present at the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane bilayer, although this assumption is based only on experiments with surface-labeling by galactose oxidase-NaB[3H]4 of intact and lysed erythrocyte membranes and inside-out vesicles.(9,10) Obviously, further extensive studies of the organization of glycolipid in other eukaryotic cell membranes are necessary. Interestingly, the majority of neutral glycolipids present in plasma membranes are cryptic (see Section 4.2.1).

Glycosphingolipids in Cellular Interaction, Differentiation, and Oncogenesis

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the histopathologic, serologic, lymphocytic, virological, hormonal, and genetic characteristics of murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying murine SLE are highly complex, apparently well-programmed genetically, but still diverse and their bases not as yet well defined. Significant serologic and cellular experimental data support the statement that the final immunopathologic perturbation in murine (and human) SLE is a B lymphocyte hyperactivity with corresponding enhancement of serum antibodies and autoantibodies, particularly IgG, and consequent formation of pathogenic antigen–antibody ICs. On the basis of the available data, it appears that this B cell hyperactivity is polyclonal but not necessarily panclonal in nature, because not only antibodies against a wide array of autoantigens but also antibodies against incidental antigens, such as haptens, can be detected. The presence of autoantibodies and of their idiotypes in some recombinant lupus x normal murine lines expressing the normal partner's V genes, normal mice in which an exogenous or endogenous (Ipr gene) immunostimulator has been introduced, and unmanipulated normal mice indicate that lupus mice are not unique in their structural genetic Ig elements, whose presence determines the development of their autoimmune disease. The cause of B cell hyperactivity in lupus has not yet been fully elucidated. Autonomous B cell maturation does not appear likely, because B cell proliferation and differentiation in lupus mice was found to be dependent on the same number of accessory signals as in normal mice.

Murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The lymphokine interleukin-2 (IL-2; also termed T-cell growth factor) causes the proliferation of activated T-cell clones1,2. Effector T-cell lines exhibiting suppressor, helper and cytotoxic activities have been established by growth of appropriately stimulated cells in IL-2-containing medium3,4. In addition, IL-2 has been shown to provide requisite T-cell ‘help’ in a number of in vitro immune response assays, including the generation of cytotoxic T cells from thymocyte (and nude spleen cell) cultures5 and the induction of erythrocyte-specific antibody in T cell-deficient populations6. We report here a further activity of IL-2, one previously attributed solely to interferon—the ability to augment the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells. This conclusion was reached from the observation that preparations of IL-2, which lacked interferon, caused a rapid increase in NK cell activity. This ability to augment cytotoxity was removed from IL-2 preparations, not only by absorption with IL-2 receptor bearing cells, but also by precipitation with a monoclonal antibody directed against IL-2.

Interleukin-2 augments natural killer cell activity.

Murine NK cell cultures: effects of interleukin-2 and interferon on cell growth and cytotoxic reactivity.

The BCG-induced NK cell activity of murine peritoneal exudate cells was abolished by preincubation of effector cells with anti-ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide (anti-asialo GM1) and C but not with other anti-glycolipid antibodies, anti-ganglioside GM1, anti-globoside, and anti-ganglio-N-triosylceramide (anti-asialo GM2). In contrast, the cytotoxic activity of alloimmune T cells was not affected by treatment with anti-asialo GM1 antisera. These findings suggest that asialo GM1 display may be characteristic of NK cell populations and aid in the isolation of this population of cytotoxic cells.

Identification of ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide as a new cell surface marker for murine natural killer (NK) cells.

Interleukin 2 (IL 2) has been shown to be a potent stimulator of natural killer (NK) cells. In the present studies, partially purified mouse and human IL 2 preparations were also found to induce interferon (IFN) from mouse spleen cells. By the criteria of sensitivity to treatment at pH 2 and failure to be neutralized by a potent anti-alpha, beta IFN serum, the species of IFN produced was of type gamma. Cooperation between two types of cell, a macrophage and an NK-like cell, was required for IFN production by murine spleen cells treated with IL 2. The requirement for macrophages could be replaced with supernatant obtained by incubating macrophages for 24 hr with lymphokine preparations containing IL 2. Interestingly, mature T cells apparently played no role in the process. Furthermore, the beige (bg/bg) mutation, which severely impairs NK cell lytic activity, had no effect on the ability of NK-like cells to participate in IFN production. Cell fractionation experiments revealed no dissociation between the requirements for augmentation of NK cytotoxic activity and for IFN production, and it is concluded that at least a portion of the NK boosting induced by IL 2-containing preparations is mediated through gamma-IFN.

Interleukin 2 induces gamma-interferon production: participation of macrophages and NK-like cells.

The capacity of exogenous IL 2 to induce the growth of antigen-activated T lymphocytes in vivo was evaluated The in vivo growth of adoptively transferred T lymphocytes that had been previously cultured long-term with IL 2 was initially examined, because in vitro such T cells are exquisitely dependent upon exogenous IL 2 for proliferation and survival Daily administration of IL 2 in vivo, beginning on the day of cell transfer, induced these IL 2-dependent long-term cultured T lymphocytes to proliferate in vivo, and the magnitude of in vivo growth was proportional to the dose of IL 2 administered The capacity of IL 2 to induce the in vivo growth of antigen-activated T cells not previously exposed in vitro to exogenous IL 2 was similarly studied T lymphocytes from the spleens of immune mice, activated by 5-day culture with tumor antigen before transfer, survived poorly in vivo when injected with antigen alone, but demonstrated marked proliferation in vivo in response to antigen and exogenous IL 2 By contrast, immune spleen cells transferred with antigen, but without prior culture, proliferated without supplementary exogenous IL 2 Moreover, the growth of noncultured donor T cells was not augmented by the administration of exogenous IL 2, implying that noncultured spleen cells immune to tumor antigens can produce sufficient amounts of endogenous IL 2 in vivo to sustain maximal T cell growth over the time period examined Importantly, the ability of exogenous IL 2 to induce donor T cell growth in vivo correlated with its ability to function in vivo to augment the anti-tumor efficacy of specifically immune donor T cells in models for the adoptive therapy of disseminated antigenic murine leukemia Thus, the current studies highlight the potential of exogenous IL 2 to induce T cell growth in vivo and suggest that the administration of IL 2 in vivo may be useful for augmenting T cell responses that are relatively deficient in the production of endogenous IL 2

Christopher S. Henney

Papers

Interleukin-2 augments natural killer cell activity.

Murine NK cell cultures: effects of interleukin-2 and interferon on cell growth and cytotoxic reactivity.

Identification of ganglio-N-tetraosylceramide as a new cell surface marker for murine natural killer (NK) cells.

Interleukin 2 induces gamma-interferon production: participation of macrophages and NK-like cells.

Interleukin 2 administered in vivo induces the growth of cultured T cells in vivo.