Functional analysis of T-cell antigen 4-1BB in activated intestinal intra-epithelial T lymphocytes

Immunol Lett. 1994 Jul;41(2-3):177-84. doi: 10.1016/0165-2478(94)90129-5.

Abstract

The 4-1BB antigen has been recently demonstrated to be a 30 kDa inducible T-cell antigen and is expressed on the cell surface of activated splenic T cells and thymocytes. This novel T-cell antigen also associates physically with the T cell-specific protein tyrosine kinase, p56lck. We show here that the inducible T-cell antigen 4-1BB is expressed on activated intestinal intra-epithelial T lymphocytes (IEL). After activation, or in the presence of IL-2, the activated IELs showed higher levels of 4-1BB. Functional studies revealed that the activated IELs triggered with anti-4-1BB monoclonal antibody could enhance the level of IEL cytotoxicity against anti-CD3-secreting hybridoma cells. Cross-linking of anti-4-1BB antibody also enhanced the proliferation of IELs. These results suggest that the inducible antigen 4-1BB has broad biological functions which not only play a role in activated splenic T cells and thymocytes but also in the mucosal immune system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology*
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • CD3 Complex / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Immunoblotting
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Perforin
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • CD3 Complex
  • Interleukin-2
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • Perforin