Humans and mice with genetic deficiencies that lead to loss of signaling through common gamma-chain (gammac)-containing cytokine receptors have severe defects in B and T lymphocytes. In humans, these deficiencies lead to a complete absence of T cells, whereas in mice, small thymuses give rise to normal numbers of peripheral T cells. We have examined the first wave of developing T cells in Jak3-/-, IL-7-/-, and IL-7Ralpha-/- fetal mice, and have found a near absence of thymic progenitor cells. This deficiency is highlighted by the complete inability of Jak3-/- progenitor cells to reconstitute T cell development in the presence of competing wild-type cells. These data clearly demonstrate a strong common basis for the T cell deficiencies in mice and humans lacking gammac/Jak3 signaling pathways.

E710.2.3 is a murine thymic lymphoma cell line with an immature phenotype (CD4-CD8-) that proliferates in response to thymocytes or PMA when cultured at low density and proliferates spontaneously when grown at high density. To identify functional molecules on this cell line, we screened for mAbs that could block its proliferation. A hamster mAb, DMF10.62.3, inhibited the spontaneous, thymocyte-induced, and PMA-stimulated proliferation of E710.2.3 in vitro and induced these cells to undergo apoptosis. The mAb also caused homotypic aggregation of E710.2.3, which was inhibited by cytochalasin B, trifluoperazine, a combination of sodium azide and 2-deoxyglucose, EDTA, incubation at 4 degrees C, or treatment with paraformaldehyde. The DMF10 62.3 mAb stained a number of immortalized murine and human cell lines and, where tested, blocked their proliferation and caused death to varying extents by apoptosis. The molecule recognized by the mAb DMF10.62.3 was expressed on day 14 fetal thymus Thy1.2-positive cells. However, it was not detected on adult murine thymocytes, splenocytes, or bone marrow cells or on splenic LPS-activated B cells or Con A-activated T cells. The Ab immunoprecipitated a 40-kDa molecule from E710.2.3 that was not glycosylphosphatidylinositol linked. The data suggest that the molecule recognized by DMF62.3 is a novel cell surface molecule that may be involved in cell proliferation and/or cell death.

Jak3, a member of the Janus family of tyrosine kinases, participates in signaling through cytokine receptors that contain the common gamma-chain, including the receptors for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15. Jak3- and gamma c-deficient mice have pleiotropic defects that can be attributed to their inability to respond to multiple specific cytokines. A great deal of recent work has focused on the T cell defects in these mutant mice. Specifically, Jak3- and gamma c-deficient mice have small thymuses revealing a defect in T cell development, and in addition, have functionally unresponsive peripheral T cells with an activated/memory cell phenotype. The thymic defect in these mutant mice strongly resembles that seen in IL-7 and IL-7 receptor knockout mice, suggesting that the lack of IL-7 receptor signaling accounts for this defect in Jak3-/- and gamma c- mice. To characterize this defect further, we have examined the earliest stages of T cell development in adult and fetal Jak3-/- thymuses. These studies identify two discrete developmental defects at the CD4-CD8- stage of T cell maturation. Analyses of peripheral T cells in Jak3-/- and gamma c- mice have also revealed a number of abnormalities. All of the T cells in these mutant mice have an activated phenotype and a large fraction of them are proliferating in vivo. In addition, Jak3-/- and gamma c- T cells are more prone to undergo apoptosis than wild-type T cells. Together, these features account for the decreased IL-2 secretion by in vitro-stimulated Jak3-/- T cells. Overall, many of the lymphoid defects of Jak3- and gamma c-deficient mice can be accounted for by the lack of IL-7R and IL-2R signaling; however, other cytokine systems must also be involved in maintaining peripheral T cell homeostasis.

To investigate the role of B cells as APCs in acquired tolerance induced by low dose soluble protein Ags, normal and B cell-deficient adult mice were injected i.v. with repeated low doses (10 microgram) of deaggregated OVA, then challenged with OVA in CFA. In animals treated with deaggregated OVA, the in vitro proliferative responses of lymph node T cells to OVA were significantly reduced, and production of the Th1 cytokine, IFN-gamma, in response to OVA was reduced to undetectable levels. This occurred in both normal and B cell-deficient treated animals. B cells were also unnecessary for self tolerance of T cells to the transgenic self Ag, hen egg lysozyme, in a strain with a very low serum lysozyme concentration. Partial low zone tolerance induced by deaggregated, low dose OVA was selective for T cell responses as measured by in vitro proliferation and IL-2 and IFN-gamma production, because Ab responses of B cell-sufficient mice to this T cell-dependent Ag were largely unaffected. Both treated and untreated animals produced equivalent titers of anti-OVA Abs, predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG2b isotypes, following challenge with OVA in CFA.

This thesis investigates the role of B cells as antigen-specific antigen-presenting cells (APC) in self tolerance to low concentrations of soluble self proteins and in acquired tolerance to low doses of soluble foreign protein antigens. Experiments were performed in normal and B cell-deficient animals, and tolerance induction was measured by T cell proliferation assays. T cell proliferation was reduced in B cell-deficient mice, indicating that B cells may be involved in efficient activation of naive T cells in response to protein antigen both in vivo and in vitro. To study acquired tolerance induced by low doses of soluble foreign protein antigen, normal and B cell-deficient adult mice were injected intravenously with repeated low doses (10 μg) of deaggregated ovalbumin (OVA), and then challenged with OVA in complete Freund's adjuvant. In animals treated with deaggregated OVA, the in vitro proliferative responses of LN T cells to OVA were significantly reduced, and production of the Th1 cytokine, IFN-γ, in response to OVA was lost. This occurred in both normal and B cell-deficient treated animals, indicating that B cell antigen presentation was not required for this phenomenon. B cells were also unnecessary for self tolerance of T cells to the transgenic self antigen, hen egg lysozyme (HEL), in a transgenic mouse strain with very low serum lysozyme concentration. Partial low zone tolerance induced by deaggregated, low-dose OVA was selective for the Th1 response, as measured by in vitro proliferation and IL-2 and IFN-γ production, because antibody responses of normal mice to this T cell-dependent antigen were largely unaffected. Both treated and untreated animals produced equivalent titers of anti-OVA antibodies, predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG2b isotypes, following challenge with OVA in complete Freund's adjuvant. Tolerance to low levels of the transgenic HEL self protein in mice expressing different MHC molecules was also addressed. Transgenic mice that were H-2b/b in the class II region were not tolerant to the transgenic self protein, whereas transgenic mice of the H-2b/k were tolerant.