title: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen costimulation influences T-cell activation in response to Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: The kinetics of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression on T cells responding to Cryptococcus neoformans and its role in regulating the T-cell response were examined. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with encapsulated or acapsular C. neoformans we showed that (i) the encapsulated strain augmented CTLA-4 expression on the T-cell surface while the acapsular strain was a weaker modulator, (ii) CTLA-4 molecules were rapidly up-regulated after the addition of encapsulated C. neoformans, (iii) CTLA-4 was up-regulated predominantly in CD4+ T cells responding to C. neoformans, and (iv) blockage of CTLA-4 with (Fab')2 of monoclonal antibody to CTLA-4 induced T-cell proliferation that paralleled the enhancement of interleukin-2 and gamma interferon production. These results suggest that capsular material, the major virulence factor of C. neoformans, promotes synthesis and expression of CTLA-4 molecules predominantly in CD4+ T cells. CTLA-4-mediated deactivation is due not to lack of costimulation but to specific recognition of CTLA-4 for B7 molecules. This appears to be a new mechanism by which C. neoformans may elude the host immune response.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietrella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perito
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bistoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchiarelli
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007376:Interleukin-2; D000069594:Abatacept; D007371:Interferon-gamma