The KT3 monoclonal antibody reacts with mouse CD3ε, a 20 kDa transmembrane cell-surface protein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. CD3ε is one of five polypeptide chains that combine to form the TCR complex. CD3ε is expressed on T lymphocytes, NK-T cells, and to varying degrees on developing thymocytes. CD3 plays roles in TCR signaling, T lymphocyte activation, and antigen recognition. The KT3 antibody has been shown to induce T lymphocyte activation via binding and stimulating the TCR.

INVIVOMAB ANTI-MOUSE CD3Ε (CLONE: KT3)

Reuter, A., et al. (2015). “Criteria for dendritic cell receptor selection for efficient antibody-targeted vaccination.” J Immunol 194(6): 2696-2705. PubMed

Ab-targeted vaccination involves targeting a receptor of choice expressed by dendritic cells (DCs) with Ag-coupled Abs. Currently, there is little consensus as to which criteria determine receptor selection to ensure superior Ag presentation and immunity. In this study, we investigated parameters of DC receptor internalization and determined how they impact Ag presentation outcomes. First, using mixed bone marrow chimeras, we established that Ag-targeted, but not nontargeted, DCs are responsible for Ag presentation in settings of Ab-targeted vaccination in vivo. Next, we analyzed parameters of DEC205 (CD205), Clec9A, CD11c, CD11b, and CD40 endocytosis and obtained quantitative measurements of internalization speed, surface turnover, and delivered Ag load. Exploiting these parameters in MHC class I (MHC I) and MHC class II (MHC II) Ag presentation assays, we showed that receptor expression level, proportion of surface turnover, or speed of receptor internalization did not impact MHC I or MHC II Ag presentation efficiency. Furthermore, the Ag load delivered to DCs did not correlate with the efficiency of MHC I or MHC II Ag presentation. In contrast, targeting Ag to CD8(+) or CD8(-) DCs enhanced MHC I or MHC II Ag presentation, respectively. Therefore, receptor expression levels, speed of internalization, and/or the amount of Ag delivered can be excluded as major determinants that dictate Ag presentation efficiency in setting of Ab-targeted vaccination.

Sathe, P., et al. (2014). “Lymphoid tissue and plasmacytoid dendritic cells and macrophages do not share a common macrophage-dendritic cell-restricted progenitor.” Immunity 41(1): 104-115. PubMed

The relationship between dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages is often debated. Here we ask whether steady-state, lymphoid-tissue-resident conventional DCs (cDCs), plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), and macrophages share a common macrophage-DC-restricted precursor (MDP). Using new clonal culture assays combined with adoptive transfer, we found that MDP fractions isolated by previous strategies are dominated by precursors of macrophages and monocytes, include some multipotent precursors of other hematopoietic lineages, but contain few precursors of resident cDCs and pDCs and no detectable common precursors restricted to these DC types and macrophages. Overall we find no evidence for a common restricted MDP leading to both macrophages and FL-dependent, resident cDCs and pDCs.

Thawer, S. G., et al. (2014). “Lung-resident CD4(+) T cells are sufficient for IL-4Ralpha-dependent recall immunity to Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection.” Mucosal Immunol 7(2): 239-248. PubMed

Immunity to Nippostrongylus brasiliensis reinfection requires pulmonary CD4(+) T-cell responses. We examined whether secondary lymphoid recruited or pre-existing lung CD4(+) T-cell populations coordinated this immunity. To do this, we blocked T-cell egress from lymph nodes using Fingolimod (FTY720). This impaired host ability to resolve a primary infection but did not change effectiveness of recall immunity. Associated with this effective recall immunity was the expansion and T helper type 2 polarization of a pre-existing pulmonary CD4(+) T-cell population. LTbetaR-Ig (lymphotoxin beta-receptor fusion protein)-mediated disruption of stromal cell organization of immune cells did not disrupt this recall immunity, suggesting that protection was mediated by a pulmonary interstitial residing CD4(+) T-cell population. Adoptive transfer of N. brasiliensis-experienced pulmonary CD4(+) T cells from FTY720-treated wild-type or T-cell interleukin (IL)-4Ralpha-deficient mice demonstrated protection to be IL-4Ralpha dependent. These results show that pre-existing CD4(+) T cells can drive effective recall immunity to N. brasiliensis infection independently of T-cell recruitment from secondary lymphoid organs.

Tone, Y., et al. (2014). “Gene expression in the Gitr locus is regulated by NF-kappaB and Foxp3 through an enhancer.” J Immunol 192(8): 3915-3924. PubMed

Glucocorticoid-induced TNFR (Gitr) and Ox40, two members of the TNFR superfamily, play important roles in regulating activities of effector and regulatory T cells (Treg). Their gene expression is induced by T cell activation and further upregulated in Foxp3+ Treg. Although the role of Foxp3 as a transcriptional repressor in Treg is well established, the mechanisms underlying Foxp3-mediated transcriptional upregulation remain poorly understood. This transcription factor seems to upregulate expression not only of Gitr and Ox40, but also other genes, including Ctla4, Il35, Cd25, all critical to Treg function. To investigate how Foxp3 achieves such upregulation, we analyzed its activity on Gitr and Ox40 genes located within a 15.1-kb region. We identified an enhancer located downstream of the Gitr gene, and both Gitr and Ox40 promoter activities were shown to be upregulated by the NF-kappaB-mediated enhancer activity. We also show, using the Gitr promoter, that the enhancer activity was further upregulated in conjunction with Foxp3. Foxp3 appears to stabilize NF-kappaB p50 binding by anchoring it to the enhancer, thereby enabling local accumulation of transcriptional complexes containing other members of the NF-kappaB and IkappaB families. These findings may explain how Foxp3 can activate expression of certain genes while suppressing others.

Moffat, J. M., et al. (2013). “Hepatitis B virus-like particles access major histocompatibility class I and II antigen presentation pathways in primary dendritic cells.” Vaccine 31(18): 2310-2316. PubMed

Virus-like particles (VLPs) represent high density displays of viral proteins that efficiently trigger immunity. VLPs composed of the small hepatitis B virus envelope protein (HBsAgS) are useful vaccine platforms that induce humoral and cellular immune responses. Notably, however, some studies suggest HBsAgS VLPs impair dendritic cell (DC) function. Here we investigated HBsAgS VLP interaction with DC subsets and antigen access to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigen presentation pathways in primary DCs. HBsAgS VLPs impaired plasmacytoid DC (pDC) interferon alpha (IFNalpha) production in response to CpG in vitro, but did not alter conventional DC (cDC) or pDC phenotype when administered in vivo. To assess cellular immune responses, HBsAgS VLPs were generated containing the ovalbumin (OVA) model epitopes OVA(257-264) and OVA(323-339) to access MHCI and MHCII antigen presentation pathways, respectively; both in vitro and following immunisation in vivo. HBsAgS VLP-OVA(257-264) elicited CTL responses in vivo that were not enhanced by inclusion of an additional MHCII helper epitope. HBsAgS VLP-OVA(257-264) administered in vivo was cross-presented by CD8(+) DCs, but not CD8(-) DCs. Therefore, HBsAgS VLPs can deliver antigen to both MHCI and MHCII antigen presentation pathways in primary DCs and promote cytotoxic and helper T cell priming despite their suppressive effect on pDCs.