D Gilat's research while affiliated with Weizmann Institute of Science and other places

Inflammation is the clinical expression of chemical mediators such as the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-)-alpha produced by macrophages and other cells activated in the immune response. Hence, agents that can inhibit TNF-alpha may be useful in treating arthritis and other diseases resulting from uncontrolled inflammation. We now report that the cleavage of heparin by the enzyme heparinase I generates sulfated disaccharide (DS) molecules that can inhibit the production of TNF-alpha. Administration of nanogram amounts of the sulfated DS molecules to experimental animals inhibited delayed-type hypersensitivity to a skin sensitizer and arrested the joint swelling of immunologically induced adjuvant arthritis. Notably, the sulfated DS molecules showed a bell-shaped dose-response curve in vitro and in vivo: decreased effects were seen using amounts of the DS molecules higher than optimal. Thus, molecular regulators of inflammation can be released from the natural molecule heparin by the action of an enzyme.

Whether the chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (MIP-1 beta) and regulated on activation normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES), which interact specifically with glycosaminoglycans and thus mediate the recruitment, attachment, and migration of leukocytes to vascular endothelia and extracellular matrix, are also involved in interactions between CD4+ murine T lymphocytes and keratinocytes was examined. We have previously observed that depending on the local pH, a mammalian extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme, endo-beta-D glucuronidase (heparanase), which cleaves heparin sulfate proteoglycans, can function wither as an enzyme or as an adhesion molecule for CD4+ T lymphocytes. Herein, the involvement of heparanase in T cell-keratinocyte interactions was also probed. At 37 degree C and pH 7.2, radioactively labeled MIP-1 beta, RANTES, and heparanase bound to confluent layers of resting keratinocytes in a saturable and an heparan sulfate- or heparin-dependent manner, and thereby induced the adhesion of resting CD4+ T cells to keratinocytes. At a relatively acidic pH characteristic of inflammatory milieu, enzymatically active heparanase did not bind to the keratinocytes but, rather, inhibited the binding of MIP-1beta, RANTES, and the enzymatically quiescent heparanase to keratinocytes. These results suggest that certain chemokines and heparanase may function to restrict passing leukocytes, notable T lymphocytes, in the cutaneous micro-environment, a site which is continuously challenged with antigens. These keratinocyte-bound lymphocytes can serve as a reservoir of immediate responders to immunological stimuli.

Following immunological insult, T cells migrate from blood vessels to inflammatory sites through the extracellular matrix (ECM). This movement is regulated by signals provided by proinflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and ECM-degrading enzymes. Here, Dalia Gilal and colleagues discuss the interactions

T-cell-mediated immune responses are impaired in patients with chronic renal failure. The migration, proliferation, differentiation, biological functioning, and interaction with other T cells are mediated by cell surface adhesion proteins, which include integrins. To elucidate how uraemia can impair T-cell-mediated responses in vivo, the effects of sera from uraemic patients on T-cell proliferation and adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) components were examined. Preincubation of human CD4+ T cells with sera from undialysed and dialysed (haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) uraemic patients inhibited the capacity of the cells to be stimulated by phytohaemmagglutinin and by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody plus immobilized fibronectin (FN). Sera from uraemic and dialysed patients, but not from healthy individuals, inhibited significantly, and in a dose-dependent fashion, human CD4+ T cell adhesion to immobilized FN and laminin (LN). The degree of inhibition of adhesion was similar whether the sera were continuously present, even during the adhesion assay, or removed by washing. The adhesion inhibiting capacity of the uraemic sera was not due to modification of the expression of beta 1 integrins on the surfaces of the T cells. These results suggest that uraemia can impair the proliferative capacity and adhesion of immune cells, and thus may affect normal immune processes and contribute to the overall immune deficiency observed in patients with renal failure.

The activation of T cells by antigens or mitogens leads to the secretion of cytokines and enzymes that shape the inflammatory response. Among these molecular mediators of inflammation is a heparanase enzyme that degrades the heparan sulfate scaffold of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Activated T cells use heparanase to penetrate the ECM and gain access to the tissues. We now report that among the breakdown products of the ECM generated by heparanase is a trisulfated disaccharide that can inhibit delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice. This inhibition of T-cell mediated inflammation in vivo was associated with an inhibitory effect of the disaccharide on the production of biologically active tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by activated T cells in vitro; the trisulfated disaccharide did not affect T-cell viability or responsiveness generally. Both the in vivo and in vitro effects of the disaccharide manifested a bell-shaped dose-response curve. The inhibitory effects of the trisulfated disaccharide were lost if the sulfate groups were removed. Thus, the disaccharide, which may be a natural product of inflammation, can regulate the functional nature of the response by the T cell to activation. Such a feedback control mechanism could enable the T cell to assess the extent of tissue degradation and adjust its behavior accordingly.

Migration of lymphocytes into inflammatory sites requires their adhesion to the vascular endothelium and subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM). The ensuing penetration of the ECM is associated with the expression of ECM-degrading enzymes, such as endo-beta-D glucuronidase (heparanase), which cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans. We now report that, depending on the local pH, a mammalian heparanase can function either as an enzyme or as an adhesion molecule. At relatively acidified pH conditions, heparanase performs as an enzyme, degrading HS. In contrast, at the hydrogen ion concentration of a quiescent tissue, heparanase binds specifically to HS molecules without degrading them, and thereby anchors CD4+ human T lymphocytes. Thus, the local state of a tissue can regulate the activities of heparanase and can determine whether the molecule will function as an enzyme or as a proadhesive molecule.

Migration of lymphocytes into inflammatory sites requires their adhesion to the vascular endothelium and subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM). The ensuing penetration of the ECM is associated with the expression of ECM-degrading enzymes, such as endo-beta-D glucuronidase (heparanase), which cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans. We now report that, depending on the local pH, a mammalian heparanase can function either as an enzyme or as an adhesion molecule. At relatively acidified pH conditions, heparanase performs as an enzyme, degrading HS. In contrast, at the hydrogen ion concentration of a quiescent tissue, heparanase binds specifically to HS molecules without degrading them, and thereby anchors CD4+ human T lymphocytes. Thus, the local state of a tissue can regulate the activities of heparanase and can determine whether the molecule will function as an enzyme or as a proadhesive molecule.

Chemokines, a superfamily of 8- to 11-kDa mediators of inflammation, affect the attachment of immune cells to vascular endothelia by binding to cell surface glycosaminoglycans. We analyzed whether chemokines are also involved in interactions between CD4+ T lymphocytes and the subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM). Soluble mediators, such as MIP-1 beta and RANTES, induced the binding of resting human CD4+ T cells to ECM in an integrin-dependent manner. Both MIP-1 beta and RANTES bound to intact ECM and retained their adhesive properties, and moreover, ECM-bound RANTES and MIP-1 beta prolonged the time course of interactions between the CD4+ T cells and the ECM. Because the adhesive effect of these chemokines was restricted by an inhibitor of GTP-binding proteins, the adhesive effect of ECM-bound RANTES and MIP-1 beta, which requires an intact cytoskeleton, seems to involve activation of a G protein-linked receptor. MIP-1 beta and RANTES exert their pro-adhesive effects through interactions with glycosaminoglycans, because heparinase-treated ECM did not bound chemokines and because the chemokines ability to induce T cell adhesion was abrogated if: 1) either of the chemokines is pretreaed with heparin or heparan-sulfate (HS), 2) HS is removed from intact ECM by heparinase, an HS-specific endoglycosidase, or 3) the ECM-bound chemokines are released by pretreatment with heparinase. Hence, the adhesive effects of immobilized chemokines is not restricted to T cells interacting with endothelial cells, but also affects the migration of immune cells which reside and function in the context of ECM.

The ECM is composed of various cell-adhesive glycoproteins, such as, fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), and different types of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. These building blocks of the ECM are linked together to form a dense and complex tissue that fills the interstitial spaces and comprises the boundaries between cells and tissues. The ECM is the major milieu in which immune cells function during inflammatory processes (Shimizu and Shaw, 1991; Yamada, 1991). Recognition of ECM-glycoproteins by immune cells is mediated by very late activation (VLA) receptors, also referred to as integrins of the β1-subfamily (Hynes, 1992). A prerequisite of lymphocyte-ECM interactions is activation of the cells by mitogens, or via their CD3-T cell receptor complex, either of these types of activation modulates the affinity of otherwise inactive β1-integrins (Shimizu, et al., 1990). © 1994 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.

Although cells of the immune system often function under feverish conditions, the effects of elevated temperatures on T cells have not been fully elucidated. Herein, the effects of a 1-hr exposure to 41 degrees of CD4+ human T cell were studied. Heat-shock treatment of activated CD4+ T cells reduced their adhesion to fibronectin and laminin, the major adhesive glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by 25-40%. This decrease was partially due to a minor decrease in the surface expression of beta 1 integrins, which specifically interact with fibronectin and laminin. In contrast, the capacities of heat-stressed T cells to proliferate and to secrete tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were increased upon cell activation. In vivo, heat-treated antigen-primed murine T cells, injected directly into the antigen challenging site, induced a more severe delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response than those not exposed to elevated temperatures. In contrast, the same heat-treated cells inoculated intravenously did not induce DTH, suggesting that these cells were impaired with respect to penetration of blood vessel walls. Thus, the effects of heat shock on key cellular functions are expressed in different manners: T-cell-ECM adhesiveness and subsequent extravasation are impaired, whereas their abilities to proliferate and to secrete TNF-alpha are augmented.