Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is crucial for immunity against intracellular pathogens and for tumor control. However, aberrant IFN-gamma expression has been associated with a number of autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This cytokine is produced predominantly by natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells as part of the innate immune response, and by Th1 CD4 and CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector T cells once antigen-specific immunity develops. Herein, we briefly review the functions of IFN-gamma, the cells that produce it, the cell extrinsic signals that induce its production and influence the differentiation of naive T cells into IFN-gamma-producing effector T cells, and the signaling pathways and transcription factors that facilitate, induce, or repress production of this cytokine. We then review and discuss recent insights regarding the molecular regulation of IFN-gamma, focusing on work that has led to the identification and characterization of distal regulatory elements and epigenetic modifications with the IFN-gamma locus (Ifng) that govern its expression. The epigenetic modifications and three-dimensional structure of the Ifng locus in naive CD4 T cells, and the modifications they undergo as these cells differentiate into effector T cells, suggest a model whereby the chromatin architecture of Ifng is poised to facilitate either rapid opening or silencing during Th1 or Th2 differentiation, respectively.

Regulation of interferon-gamma during innate and adaptive immune responses.

The cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) has received considerable attention since the discovery of a distinct CD4(+) T helper (T(H)) cell subset that produces it, known as the T(H)17 cell subset. Despite the fact that most of the recent literature describes IL-17 as a T cell-secreted cytokine, much of the IL-17 released during an inflammatory response is produced by innate immune cells. In this Review, we explore the many innate immune cell populations that are an early source of IL-17 in response to stress, injury or pathogens. These early sources have been shown to have a central role in the initiation of IL-17-dependent immune responses, even before the first CD4(+)T cell sees its cognate antigen and initiates the T(H)17 cell developmental programme.

Innate IL-17-producing cells: the sentinels of the immune system

4.2. Solid-Supported Electrolytes 2280 4.3. Solid-Supported Mediators 2282 4.4. Supported Substrate-Product Capture 2283 4.5. A Unique Electrolyte/Solvent System 2285 5. Reaction Conditions 2285 5.1. Supercritical Fluids 2285 5.1.1. Electrochemical Properties of scCO2 2285 5.1.2. Electroreductive Carboxylation in scCO2 2286 5.1.3. Electrochemical Polymerization in scCO2 2286 5.2. The Cation-Pool Method 2286 5.2.1. Generation of N-Acyliminium Ion Pools 2286 5.2.2. Generation of Alkoxycarbenium Ion Pools 2287 5.2.3. Generation of Diarylcarbenium Ion Pools 2288 5.2.4. Generation of Other Cation Pools 2289 6. Electrochemical Devices 2289 6.1. Electrode Materials 2289 6.2. Ultrasound and Centrifugal Fields 2290 6.3. Electrochemical Microflow Systems 2290 7. Combinatorial Electrochemical Synthesis 2292 7.1. Parallel Electrolysis Using a Macrosystem 2292 7.2. Parallel Electrolysis Using a Microsystem 2293 7.3. Serial Electrolysis Using a Microsystem 2294 8. Conclusions 2294 9. Acknowledgments 2294 10. References 2294

Modern Strategies in Electroorganic Synthesis

Natural killer T (NKT) cells constitute a conserved T cell sublineage with unique properties, including reactivity for a synthetic glycolipid presented by CD1d, expression of an invariant T cell antigen receptor (TCR) alpha chain, and unusual requirements for thymic selection. They rapidly produce many cytokines after stimulation and thus influence diverse immune responses and pathogenic processes. Because of intensive research effort, we have learned much about factors promoting the development and survival of NKT cells, regulation of their cytokine production, and the means by which they influence dendritic cells and other cell types. Despite this progress, knowledge of the natural antigen(s) they recognize and their physiologic role remain incomplete. The activation of NKT cells paradoxically can lead either to suppression or stimulation of immune responses, and we cannot predict which will occur. Despite this uncertainty, many investigators are hopeful that immune therapies can be developed based on NKT cell stimulation.

Toward an understanding of NKT cell biology: progress and paradoxes.

The innate immune system provides many ways to quickly resist infection. The two best-studied defenses in dendritic cells (DCs) are the production of protective cytokines-like interleukin (IL)-12 and type I interferons-and the activation and expansion of innate lymphocytes. IL-12 and type I interferons influence distinct steps in the adaptive immune response of lymphocytes, including the polarization of T-helper type 1 (Th1) CD4+ T cells, the development of cytolytic T cells and memory, and the antibody response. DCs have many other innate features that do not by themselves provide innate resistance but are critical for the induction of adaptive immunity. We have emphasized three intricate and innate properties of DCs that account for their sentinel and sensor roles in the immune system: (1) special mechanisms for antigen capture and processing, (2) the capacity to migrate to defined sites in lymphoid organs, especially the T cell areas, to initiate immunity, and (3) their rapid differentiation or maturation in response to a variety of stimuli ranging from Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands to many other nonmicrobial factors such as cytokines, innate lymphocytes, and immune complexes. The combination of innate defenses and innate physiological properties allows DCs to serve as a major link between innate and adaptive immunity. DCs and their subsets contribute to many subjects that are ripe for study including memory, B cell responses, mucosal immunity, tolerance, and vaccine design. DC biology should continue to be helpful in understanding pathogenesis and protection in the setting of prevalent clinical problems.

https://www.springer.com/cda/content/document/cda_downloaddocument/9783540326359-c1.pdf?SGWID=0-0-45-315593-p136755233

Dendritic Cells: Translating Innate to Adaptive Immunity

α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) is a glycolipid that stimulates natural killer T cells to produce both T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cytokines. This property enables α-GalCer to ameliorate a wide variety of infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune diseases; however, its effectiveness against any one disease is limited by the opposing activities of the induced Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Here, we report that a synthetic C-glycoside analogue of α-GalCer, α-C-galactosylceramide (α-C-GalCer), acts as natural killer T cell ligand in vivo, and stimulates an enhanced Th1-type response in mice. In two disease models requiring Th1-type responses for control, namely malaria and melanoma metastases, α-C-GalCer exhibited a 1,000-fold more potent antimalaria activity and a 100-fold more potent antimetastatic activity than α-GalCer. Moreover, α-C-GalCer consistently stimulated prolonged production of the Th1 cytokines interferon-γ and interleukin (IL)-12, and decreased production of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 compared with α-GalCer. Finally, α-C-GalCer's enhanced therapeutic activity required the presence of IL-12, which was needed to stimulate natural killer cells for optimal interferon-γ production, but did not affect IL-4. Overall, our results suggest that α-C-GalCer may one day be an excellent therapeutic option for diseases resolved by Th1-type responses.

/pdf/superior-protection-against-malaria-and-melanoma-metastases-1z8ikz4dcx.pdf

Superior Protection against Malaria and Melanoma Metastases by a C-glycoside Analogue of the Natural Killer T Cell Ligand α-Galactosylceramide

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/anie.200454215

The C-Glycoside Analogue of the Immunostimulant α-Galactosylceramide (KRN7000): Synthesis and Striking Enhancement of Activity

The synthesis of 2-deoxyglycosides : 1988-1999

α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) is the prototype compound for studying the presentation of glycolipids on CD1d molecules to natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes. A single i.v. dose of glycolipid triggers a cascade of events involving the production of several cytokines over the course of a day, a short-lived activation of NKT and natural killer (NK) cells, and a more prolonged adaptive T cell immune response if certain antigens are given together with α-GalCer. We find that a recently described analogue, α-C-galactosylceramide (α-C-GalCer), more potently induces these innate and adaptive immune responses in mice. α-C-GalCer acts as a more effective trigger for IL-12 and IFN-γ production, although it minimally elicits IL-4 and TNF-α release into the serum. Also, α-C-GalCer better mobilizes NKT and natural killer cells to resist B16 melanoma. To help understand these effects, we find that α-C-GalCer binds more stably to dendritic cells than α-GalCer and that dendritic cells loaded with α-C-GalCer induce larger and more long lasting NKT cell responses in vivo. When glycolipid is targeted to dendritic cells in spleen together with antigens in dying cells, such as irradiated tumor cells, α-C-GalCer is active as an adjuvant for T cell-mediated immunity at lower doses, just 20 ng per mouse, where it is also able to up-regulate the required CD40L costimulatory molecule on NKT cells. Therefore, α-C-GalCer represents a glycolipid that binds more stably to dendritic cells and acts as a more effective link between innate and adaptive immunity in vivo.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/103/30/11252.full.pdf

Glycolipid α-C-galactosylceramide is a distinct inducer of dendritic cell function during innate and adaptive immune responses of mice

Infection with influenza A virus represents a major public health threat worldwide, particularly in patients with asthma. However, immunity induced by influenza A virus may have beneficial effects, particularly in young children, that might protect against the later development of asthma, as suggested by the hygiene hypothesis. Herein, we show that infection of suckling mice with influenza A virus protected the mice as adults against allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity (AHR), a cardinal feature of asthma. The protective effect was associated with the preferential expansion of CD4–CD8–, but not CD4+, NKT cells and required T-bet and TLR7. Adoptive transfer of this cell population into allergen-sensitized adult mice suppressed the development of allergen-induced AHR, an effect associated with expansion of the allergen-specific forkhead box p3+ (Foxp3+) Treg cell population. Influenza-induced protection was mimicked by treating suckling mice with a glycolipid derived from Helicobacter pylori (a bacterium associated with protection against asthma) that activated NKT cells in a CD1d-restricted fashion. These findings suggest what we believe to be a novel pathway that can regulate AHR, and a new therapeutic strategy (treatment with glycolipid activators of this NKT cell population) for asthma.

/pdf/influenza-infection-in-suckling-mice-expands-an-nkt-cell-7n5vytmifu.pdf

Richard W. Franck

Papers

Superior Protection against Malaria and Melanoma Metastases by a C-glycoside Analogue of the Natural Killer T Cell Ligand α-Galactosylceramide

The C-Glycoside Analogue of the Immunostimulant α-Galactosylceramide (KRN7000): Synthesis and Striking Enhancement of Activity

The synthesis of 2-deoxyglycosides : 1988-1999

Glycolipid α-C-galactosylceramide is a distinct inducer of dendritic cell function during innate and adaptive immune responses of mice

Influenza infection in suckling mice expands an NKT cell subset that protects against airway hyperreactivity