Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.6 (RNA polymerase)
34,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been found to mediate protection in vivo against certain virus infections. CTL also may play an important role in control of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV), but no CTL epitopes have yet been defined in any HCV protein. The nonstructural protein with homology to RNA polymerase should be a relatively conserved target protein for CTL. To investigate the epitope specificity of CTL specific for this protein, we used 28 peptides from this sequence to study murine CTL. Mice were immunized with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the HCV nonstructural region corresponding to the flavivirus NS5 gene (RNA polymerase), and the primed spleen cells were restimulated in vitro with peptides. CTL from H-2d mice responded to a single 16-residue synthetic peptide (HCV 2422 to 2437). This relatively conserved epitope was presented by H-2d class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules to conventional CD4- CD8+ CTL but was not recognized by CTL restricted by H-2b. Moreover, exon shuffle experiments using several transfectants expressing recombinant Dd/Ld and Kd demonstrated that this peptide is seen in association with alpha 1 and alpha 2 domains of the Dd class I MHC molecule. This peptide differs from the homologous segments of this nonstructural region from three other HCV isolates by one residue each. Variant peptides with single amino acid substitutions were made to test the effect of each residue on the ability to sensitize targets. Neither substitution affected recognition. Therefore, these conservative mutations affected peptide interaction neither with the Dd class I MHC molecule nor with the T-cell receptor. Because these CTL cross-react with all four sequenced isolates of HCV in the United States and Japan, if human CTL display similar cross-reactivity, this peptide may be valuable for studies of HCV diagnosis and vaccine development. Our study provides the first evidence that CD8+ CTL can recognize an epitope from the HCV sequence in association with a class I MHC molecule.
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PMID:Induction of cytotoxic T cells to a cross-reactive epitope in the hepatitis C virus nonstructural RNA polymerase-like protein. 137 66

Expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes exhibits unique tissue and developmental specificity. In an effort to study molecular mechanisms of MHC class I gene regulation, an in vitro transcription system has been established. In B cell nuclear extracts a template DNA containing the mouse H-2Ld promoter sequence accurately directed RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription of a G-free cassette. A conserved class I regulatory complex previously shown to moderately enhance promoter activity in vivo enhanced transcription in vitro by 2-3 fold. Much of this enhancement was accounted for by a 40 bp fragment within the complex, which was capable of activating a basal H-2Ld promoter in either orientation. Farther downstream, another element called site B was identified, which independently activated MHC class I transcription in vitro by 2-4 fold. Site B bound a specific nuclear factor(s) through an NF-1 binding site but not through a neighboring CCAAT site. The functional significance of site B in vivo was demonstrated in transfection experiments in which site B enhanced MHC class I promoter activity to a degree comparable to that seen in vitro. With the identification of the two upstream activators, MHC class I genes may serve as a model to study roles of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins in transcription in vitro.
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PMID:Two upstream elements activate transcription of a major histocompatibility complex class I gene in vitro. 159 11

The transforming protein of Simian virus 40 (SV40), large T-antigen, regulates transcription both positively and negatively during the productive infection cycle. We have isolated a number of cellular genes which are expressed at elevated levels in SV40-transformed cells and have used these to study the mechanism or mechanisms by which the viral transforming protein regulates cellular gene expression. Small RNAs homologous to the mouse B2 repetitive sequence family are found at higher levels in transformed cells than in normal cells and we have shown that pure large T-antigen stimulates transcription of such repeats by RNA polymerase III. A class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene is also activated as a result of SV40 transformation and we have used DNA-mediated gene transfer to study how this gene is regulated by large T-antigen.
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PMID:The regulation of cellular transcription by Simian virus 40 large T-antigen. 286 21

Infection of human or murine cells with murine leukemia viruses rapidly increases the expression of a number of genes that belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily and are involved in T-lymphocyte activation, including the class I major histocompatibility complex antigens. We have reported recently that the long terminal repeat (LTR) of Moloney murine leukemia virus encodes a trans activator which induces transcription and expression of class I major histocompatibility complex genes and certain cytokine genes. The portion of the LTR responsible for trans activation was mapped by deletions to lie within the U3 region. We demonstrate here that a transcript is initiated within the U3 region and that its presence correlates with the trans-activating activity. Analysis of the LTR region reveals a potential internal promoter element for RNA polymerase III transcription within the U3 region. Studies with polymerase inhibitors suggest that this LTR transcript, designated let (LTR-encoded trans activator), is a product of RNA polymerase III. The mechanisms whereby RNA leukemia viruses cause lymphoid neoplasia after a long latent period have been extensively studied but are only partially understood. The region of the LTR identified here as being important in trans activation has recently been shown to be a critical determinant of the leukemogenicity and latency of Moloney murine leukemia virus. These findings suggest a novel mechanism of retrovirus-induced activation of cellular gene expression, potentially contributing to leukemogenesis.
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PMID:A transcript from the long terminal repeats of a murine retrovirus associated with trans activation of cellular genes. 747 25

The response of mouse T cells to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) requires 1000-fold higher concentrations compared to human T cells. In order to develop a sensitive model for SEA studies in mice, the immunopharmacology has been studied in T-cell receptor (TcR) V beta 3 transgenic (TGV beta 3) and non-transgenic (non-TG) C57Bl/6 mice. The frequency of SEA-responsive T cells in the TGV beta 3 mice exceeded 90%, whereas a 10-fold lower frequency was seen in normal C57Bl/6 mice. Nanograms of SEA injected intravenously into TGV beta 3 mice induced strong cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity against SEA-coated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+ B-lymphoma cells, whereas administration of 1000-fold higher amounts of SEA to non-TG littermates or normal C57Bl/6 mice induced only a moderate response. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that the CTL activity was more rapidly detectable in TG mice, but substantial levels were seen 2 days after SEA injection in both TGV beta 3 and non-TG mice. The cytotoxic T-cell response induced by SEA in TGV beta 3 and non-TG mice was completely MHC class II dependent, as SEA-coated MHC class II-transfected syngeneic B16 melanoma cells but not untransfected B16 cells were sensitive to lysis. Large amounts of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) accumulated in serum of TGV beta 3 mice after injection of 10 ng SEA, whereas only marginal amounts were recorded in non-TG even after injection of 100 micrograms SEA. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis demonstrated that SEA-induced TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA reached maximal levels 1 hr after SEA administration in TGV beta 3 mice, whereas peak serum levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma proteins were recorded after 2 hr. Comparison of the mRNA levels of a panel of cytokines in the TGV beta 3 and non-TG mice revealed that almost similar amounts of interleukin-1 (IL-1) were induced in both strains, whereas IL-4 was only detected at significant levels in the TGV beta 3 mouse. The results suggest that TGV beta 3 mice are suitable for studying in vivo immune responses to superantigens at concentrations comparable to the potent effects elicited in humans. Moreover, this model is useful for detailed studies on the dynamic regulation of T-cell activation and anergy induced by superantigens.
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PMID:Immunopharmacology of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A in T-cell receptor V beta 3 transgenic mice. 769 31

Among diabetes-susceptibility genes in NOD mice, only Idd-1 has been clearly assigned: Idd-1 could be a gene complex composed of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, I-A beta and I-E. Employing restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and nucleotide sequencing, we revealed that ILI and CTS mice, which are nondiabetic but are derived from the same Jcl-ICR mice as NOD mice, share the same class II MHC genes with NOD mice suggesting that both ILI and CTS mice also possess susceptible Idd-1 genotype. This was supported by a breeding study. To compare the usage of T cell receptor (TCR) V beta genes in NOD mice with that in ILI mice, we employed quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) which revealed that TCR V beta usages of these mice were indistinguishable. RT-PCR method also revealed that the V beta transcript of T cells infiltrating into pancreas of NOD mice was not restricted but was rather diverse. Since NOD and ILI mice share the same class I and II MHC antigens, we performed lymphocyte transfer experiments between these mice to examine the mechanism by which ILI mice do not develop insulitis. The results of reciprocal transfer of lymphocytes from NOD to ILI-nu/nu mice or from ILI to young NOD mice suggest that ILI mice exhibit autoantigens responsible for the development of insulitis but do not possess T cells reacting with islets. Of the diabetes-susceptibility genes, only in the case of Idd-1 is there any evidence for the identity of the gene products. ILI mice should provide more information on the products of the other diabetes-susceptibility genes of NOD mice.
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PMID:Molecular analysis of the pathogenesis of autoimmune insulitis in NOD mice. 780 6

Activated human and rat T cells as well as mouse T-cell clones have been reported to synthesize and express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. However, the capacity of class II+ antigen (Ag) presenting T cells to induce proliferation of Ag-specific cloned T cells has been controversial. We analysed whether the failure of some T-cell clones to proliferate in response to Ag presented by class II+ T cells is because of a lack of costimulatory cytokine production by the antigen-presenting cells (APC). As a model system the mouse class II+ cloned BI/O4.1 T cells were used as APC in order to activate the T cell clone KIII5. This T-helper 1 (Th1) type, GAT (synthetic copolymer of L-glutamic acid, L-alanine and L-tyrosine)-specific clone is characterized by an efficient downregulation of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) with time following antigenic stimulation. KIII5 cells respond to GAT-presenting splenic antigen-presenting cells (APC) by IL-2 production, IL-2R upregulation and proliferation. When BI/O4.1 T cells were used as APC, KIII5 cells produced IL-2, but did not proliferate. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed a lack of IL-12 production by BI/O4.1 cells. Addition of IL-12 to a coculture of Ag-presenting BI/O4.1 cells and KIII5 cells fully reconstituted a proliferative response. IL-12 in synergy with IL-2 upregulated IL-2R alpha chain expression and enhanced proliferation of KIII5 cells. Our data suggest, that class II+ T cells are not functional in inducing Ag-mediated expansion of resting Th1 cells owing to their failure to produce IL-12, but rather that they play a role in amplification loops during an ongoing immune response.
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PMID:Costimulatory signalling potential of murine MHC class II-positive T-clone cells. 895 51

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was assessed in mice immunized with DNA plasmids containing the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 envelope (pTMIgp120) or p55gag (pTMIgag) gene regulated by the bacteriophage T7 promoter. Immunization with either plasmid resulted in CTL activity against class I major histocompatibility complex-restricted viral epitopes when coadministered with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the T7 RNA polymerase protein (T7 RNAP) but not a control vaccinia virus. Recombinant vaccinia-T7 RNAP virus (VTF7-3) could be replaced with a noninfectious source of T7 RNAP. A three-component vaccine consisting of pTMIgag, a recombinant subunit T7 RNAP protein, and a plasmid (pT7T7) encoding T7 RNAP under the control of its own promoter induced gag-specific CTL activity. Intramuscular immunization with the pTMIgag plasmid delivered with either the T7 RNAP protein or pT7T7 plasmid alone also induced HIV-1-specific CTL. Thus, there is adventitious expression of the pT7T7 plasmid in vivo, and enough T7 RNAP is produced to result in production of p24gag protein from the pTMIgag plasmid. The results demonstrate that regulated expression of genes in vivo is possible with this T7-based expression system, and may be useful in vaccine settings where short-term cytoplasmic expression of protein in antigen presenting cells is desired.
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PMID:Virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity elicited by coimmunization with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genes regulated by the bacteriophage T7 promoter and T7 RNA polymerase protein. 931 70

It has previously been shown that a single intravenous injection of freshly heparinized donor-specific blood transfusion (DST) before transplantation significantly prolongs the survival of fully allogeneic ACI (RT1a)-to-LEW(RT1(1)) rat hepatic allografts. Additionally, we have shown that pretreatment of LEW rats with PVG.r1 blood, which shares only the RT1.A major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region with ACI, significantly prolongs the survival of ACI hepatic allografts. In this study, we report the cellular identity of hepatic allograft leukocyte infiltrates following transplantation. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis revealed that CD4+ T cells infiltrating liver allografts could be divided into two subsets, CD45RC- CD4+ and CD45RC+ CD4+ T cells, and that the ratio of CD45RC- CD4+/CD45RC+ CD4+ T cells was significantly higher in hepatic allografts of recipients pretreated with DST or PVG.r1 blood as compared to untreated allografts. Further, CD8+ T cells that accumulated in the liver grafts could be similarly divided into two subsets, and the ratio of CD45RC- CD8+/CD45RC+ CD8+ T cells was also significantly higher in hepatic allografts of recipients pretreated with DST or PVG.r1 blood. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that CD45RC- CD4+ T cells harvested from hepatic allografts pretreated with PVG.r1 blood expressed interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), but not interleukin-2 (IL-2) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). In contrast, CD45RC- CD8+ T cells from hepatic allografts pretreated with PVG.r1 blood expressed IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-lambda, but not IL-2. These results indicate that the CD45RC leukocyte common antigen could be used to differentiate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells following pretreatment with DST or PVG.r1 blood. Persistent infiltration of CD45RC- CD4+ and CD45RC- CD8+ T cells, capable of secreting Th2-type cytokines may prevent allograft rejection by causing immunologic unresponsiveness.
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PMID:Infiltrating CD45RC- T cells are associated with immunologic unresponsiveness induced by donor class I major histocompatibility complex antigens in rats. 969 11

Livers transplanted across major histocompatibility complex (MHC) barriers in mice are normally accepted without recipient immune suppression, and induce a state of functional tolerance. However, markedly increasing functional dendritic cells (DC) in the 'passenger leucocyte' population by donor pretreatment with the hematopoietic growth factor Flt3-ligand (Flt3L; 10 microg/day for 10 days) results in acute allograft rejection. In this study, molecular, immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analysis of donor cell traffick into recipient lymphoid tissue 24 h after liver transplantation (C57BL/10 [H2b]-->C3H [H2k]) was performed. In addition, the capacity of donor-derived cells in these tissues to stimulate host T cell proliferation was examined. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed increases in donor genomic DNA in both thymi and spleens of mice given livers from Flt3L-treated donors compared to controls. Donor MHC class II+ (IAb+) cells in spleens were strikingly elevated (10-fold) in the former group. Two-colour flow cytometry revealed a similar increase in donor-derived H-2Kb+/I-Ab+ cells, and in the incidence of donor leucocytes expressing CD40, CD80, and CD86. CD11c+ DC comprised approximately 40% of the I-Ab+ cells in spleens of mice given livers from Flt3L-treated donors. These changes were associated with the presence, in spleens, of potent allostimulatory activity for naive recipient strain T cells, that was not observed in normal liver recipients. Elicitation of allograft rejection, associated with enhanced trafficking of stimulatory donor antigen-presenting cells (APC), in particular DC, suggests that normal liver graft survival and tolerance induction may be linked to failure/counter-regulation of APC-driven stimulation of effective anti-donor T cell responses.
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PMID:Trafficking of APC from liver allografts of Flt3L-treated donors: augmentation of potent allostimulatory cells in recipient lymphoid tissue is associated with a switch from tolerance to rejection. 1037 78


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