4-1BB co-stimulation enhances human CD8(+) T cell priming by augmenting the proliferation and survival of effector CD8(+) T cells.
Interactions between 4-1BB and its ligand, 4-1BBL, enhance CD8(+) T cell-mediated antiviral and antitumor immunity in vivo. However, mechanisms regulating the priming of CD8(+) T cell responses by 4-1BB remain unclear, particularly in humans. The 4-1BB receptor was undetectable on naive or resting human CD8(+) T cells and induced in vitro by TCR triggering. Naive cord blood cells were therefore primed in vitro against peptides or cellular antigens and then co-stimulated with 4-1BBL or agonistic antibodies. Co-stimulation enhanced effector function such as IFN-gamma production and cytotoxicity by augmenting numbers of antigen-specific and effector CD8(+) T cells. OKT3 responses also showed reduced cell death and revealed that the proliferation of CD8(+) T cells required two independently regulated events. One, the induction of IL-2 production, could be directly triggered by 4-1BB engagement on CD8(+) T cells in the absence of accessory cells. The other, expression of CD25, was induced with variable efficacy by accessory cells. Thus, suboptimal accessory cells and 4-1BB co-stimulation combined their effects to enhance IL-2 production and proliferation. Reduced apoptosis observed after co-stimulation in the presence of accessory cells correlated with increased levels of Bcl-X(L) in CD8(+) T cells, while Bcl-2 expression remained unchanged. Altogether, 4-1BB enhanced expansion, survival and effector functions of newly primed CD8(+) T cells, acting in part directly on these cells. As 4-1BB triggering could be protracted from the TCR signal, 4-1BB agonists may function through these mechanisms to enhance or rescue suboptimal immune responses.
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015703:Antigens, CD; D017209:Apoptosis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9
D015703:Antigens, CD; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505714:TNFRSF9 protein, human; D053261:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 9; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens