F Bazan

Bio: F Bazan is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Antigen & CD8. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 1268 citations.

The CD40 Antigen and its Ligand

Abstract: CD40 is an integral membrane protein found on the surface of B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, follicular dendritic cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells, epithelial cells, and carcinomas. It is a 45-50 kDa glycoprotein of 277 aa, which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. The CD40 gene maps to human chromosome 20q11-2-q13-2. CD40 binds to a ligand (CD40-L) which is an approximately 35 kDa glycoprotein of 261 aa, a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. The CD40-L gene maps to human chromosome Xq24. This CD40-L is expressed on activated T cells, mostly CD4+ but also some CD8+ as well as basophils/mast cells. The CD40-L is defective in the X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome. Cross-linking of CD40 with immobilized anti-CD40 or cells expressing CD40-L induces B cells to proliferate strongly, and addition of IL-4 or IL-13 allows the generation of factor-dependent long-term normal human B cell lines and the secretion of IgE following isotype switching. Addition of IL-10 results in very high immunoglobulin production with limited cell proliferation. IL-10 induces naive B cells to produce IgG3, IgG1, and IgA1, and further addition of TGF beta permits the secretion of IgA2. Several evidences suggest that CD40-dependent activation of B cells is important for the generation of memory B cells within the germinal centers: (i) CD40 activated germinal center B cells cultured in the presence of IL-4 acquire a memory B cell phenotype, (ii) CD40 activated B cells can undergo isotype switching, (iii) the deficit of CD40-L results in the hyper-IgM syndrome characterized by lack of germinal centers in secondary lymphoid organ follicles and lack of IgG, IgA, and IgE, and (iv) CD40-L positive T cells are present in secondary follicles. Thymic epithelial cells, activated monocytes, and dendritic cells express CD40 antigen which may be involved in an enhanced cytokine production by these cells, allowing an amplification of T cell proliferation. Finally, as other members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family have been shown to bind several ligands, it is possible that CD40 may bind other ligands that may trigger CD40 on different cell types such as hematopoietic cells or epithelial cells.

Mice transgenic for BAFF develop lymphocytic disorders along with autoimmune manifestations.

Abstract: The cause of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases is unresolved, although dysregulated production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family members appears to be important in many cases. BAFF, a new member of the TNF family, binds to B cells and costimulates their growth in vitro. Mice transgenic for BAFF have vastly increased numbers of mature B and effector T cells, and develop autoimmune-like manifestations such as the presence of high levels of rheumatoid factors, circulating immune complexes, anti–DNA autoantibodies, and immunoglobulin deposition in the kidneys. This phenotype is reminiscent of certain human autoimmune disorders and suggests that dysregulation of BAFF expression may be a critical element in the chain of events leading to autoimmunity.

Long-term acceptance of skin and cardiac allografts after blocking CD40 and CD28 pathways.

Abstract: THE receptor–ligand pairs CD28–B7 and CD40–gp39 are essential for the initiation and amplification of T-cell-dependent immune responses1,2 CD28–B7 interactions provide 'second signals' necessary for optimal T-cell activation and IL-2 production3–5, whereas CD40–gp39 signals co-stimulate B-cell, macrophage, endothelial cell and T-cell activation6–12 Nonetheless, blockade of either of these pathways alone is not sufficient to permit engraftment of highly immunogenic allografts13–15 Here we report that simultaneous but not independent blockade of the CD28 and CD40 pathways effectively aborts T-cell clonal expansion in vitro and in vivo, promotes long-term survival of fully allogeneic skin grafts, and inhibits the development of chronic vascular rejection of primarily vascularized cardiac allografts The requirement for simultaneous blockade of these pathways for effective inhibition of alloimmunity indicates that, although they are interrelated, the CD28 and CD40 pathways are critical independent regulators of T-cell-dependent immune responses

Activation of human dendritic cells through CD40 cross-linking.

Abstract: Dendritic cells, the professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) involved in T cell priming, express CD40, a molecule which triggering plays a key role in B cell growth and differentiation as well as monocyte activation. Herein we demonstrate that dendritic Langerhans cells (D-Lc) generated by culturing cord blood CD34+ progenitor cells with granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) express functional CD40 at a density higher than that found on B cells. Culturing D-Lc on CD40-ligand (CD40L) transfected L cells allowed D-Lc survival as 50 +/- 15% of seeded cells were recovered after 4 d while only 5% survived over control L cells. CD40 activation induced important morphological changes with a reduction of cytoplasmic content and a remarkable increase of dendrite development as well as an altered phenotype. In particular, CD40 triggering induced maintenance of high levels of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens and upregulation of accessory molecules such as CD58, CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2). CD40 engagement also seems to turn on D-Lc maturation as illustrated by upregulation of CD25, a molecule usually expressed on interdigitating dendritic cells of secondary lymphoid organs. Finally, CD40 activated D-Lc secreted a limited set of cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8, and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha [MIP-1 alpha]) whereas a similar activation induced elutriated monocytes to secrete IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and MIP-1 alpha. As D-Lc activated T cells upregulated CD40L, it is likely that CD40 activation of D-Lc observed herein with a fibroblast cell line stably expressing CD40L, mimics physiological interactions between dendritic cells and T cells.

CD40-CD40 ligand.

Abstract: CD40 is a cell surface receptor that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor-R (TNF-R) family, and that was first identified and functionally characterized on B lymphocytes. Its critical role in T cell-dependent humoral immune responses was demonstrated by patients with the hyper-IgM syndrome, as well as by gene targeting in mice. However, in recent years it has become clear that CD40 is expressed much more broadly, including expression on monocytes, dendritic cells, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells. In addition, the CD40-ligand (CD40-L/CD154), a member of the TNF family, is also expressed more widely than activated CD4+ T cells only. Therefore it is now thought that CD40-CD40-L interactions play a more general role in immune regulation. Collectively these studies have culminated in pre-clinical and clinical studies that are in progress. This article reviews recent developments in this field of research, with main emphasis on (1) structure and expression of CD40 and its ligand; (2) CD40 signal transduction; (3) in vitro function of CD40 on different cell types; and (4) in vivo functions of CD40/CD40-L interactions.

Maintenance of Serological Memory by Polyclonal Activation of Human Memory B Cells

Abstract: Production of antibodies can last for a lifetime, through mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Here, we show that human memory B lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells in response to polyclonal stimuli, such as bystander T cell help and CpG DNA. Furthermore, plasma cells secreting antibodies to recall antigens are produced in vivo at levels proportional to the frequency of specific memory B cells, even several years after antigenic stimulation. Although antigen boosting leads to a transient increase in specific antibody levels, ongoing polyclonal activation of memory B cells offers a means to maintain serological memory for a human lifetime.