skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Reduction of myeloid suppressor cell derived nitric oxide provides a mechanistic basis of lead enhancement of alloreactive CD4{sup +} T cell proliferation

Journal Article · · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Rochester, NY (United States)

The persistent environmental toxicant and immunomodulator, lead (Pb), has been proposed to directly target CD4{sup +} T cells. However, our studies suggest that CD4{sup +} T cells are an important functional, yet indirect target. In order to identify the direct target of Pb in the immune system and the potential mechanism of Pb-induced immunotoxicity, myeloid suppressor cells (MSCs) were evaluated for their ability to modulate CD4{sup +} T cell proliferation after Pb exposure. Myeloid suppressor cells regulate the adaptive immune response, in part, by inhibiting the proliferation of CD4{sup +} T cells. It is thought that the mechanism of MSC-dependent regulation involves the release of the bioactive gas, nitric oxide (NO), blocking cell signaling cascades downstream of the IL-2 receptor and thus preventing T cells from entering cell-cycle. In mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), increasing numbers of MSCs suppressed T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and this suppression is strikingly abrogated with 5 {mu}M lead (Pb) treatment. The Pb-sensitive MSC population is CD11b{sup +}, GR1{sup +}and CD11c{sup -} and thus phenotypically consistent with MSCs described in other literature. Inhibition of NO-synthase (NOS), the enzyme responsible for the production of NO, enhanced alloreactive T cell proliferation in MLC. Moreover, Pb attenuated NO production in MLC, and exogenous replacement of NO restored suppression in the presence of Pb. Significantly, MSC from iNOS-/- mice were unable to suppress T cell proliferation. An MSC-derived cell line (MSC-1) also suppressed T cell proliferation in MLC, and Pb disrupted this suppression by attenuating NO production. Additionally, Pb disrupted NO production in MSC-1 cells in response to treatment with interferon-{gamma} (IFN-{gamma}) and LPS or in response to concanavalin A-stimulated splenocytes. However, neither the abundance of protein nor levels of mRNA for the inducible isoform of NOS (iNOS) were altered with Pb treatment. Taken together these data suggest that Pb abrogates an MSC-dependent suppression of alloreactive T cell proliferation by inhibiting the function, but not the expression of iNOS.

OSTI ID:
21140848
Journal Information:
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 229, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2007.12.011; PII: S0041-008X(07)00562-5; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

L-glutamine is a key parameter in the immunosuppression phenomenon
Journal Article · Fri Sep 07 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications · OSTI ID:21140848

Lead enhances CD4{sup +} T cell proliferation indirectly by targeting antigen presenting cells and modulating antigen-specific interactions
Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology · OSTI ID:21140848

Pam2 lipopeptides systemically increase myeloid-derived suppressor cells through TLR2 signaling
Journal Article · Fri Feb 13 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications · OSTI ID:21140848