Human fibroblasts can express numerous regulatory molecules that influence immune function. IL-16, a ligand for CD4, is a chemoattractant molecule expressed by lymphocytes, eosinophils, mast cells, and lung epithelium. It appears that the sole target for IL-16 is the CD4-bearing cell. Here we demonstrate that fibroblasts from several tissues can express IL-16 mRNA and protein as well as IL-16-dependent chemoattractant activity. The transcript is expressed abundantly under basal culture conditions as a 2.5-kb band on Northern analysis, similar to that observed in lymphocytes. IL-16 protein and activity are undetectable in fibroblast cultures under these same control conditions. However, when treated with proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, they express very high levels of IL-16 protein and chemoattractant activity, a substantial component of which can be blocked with IL-16-neutralizing Abs. The amount of IL-16 protein released into the medium is 3- to 4-fold greater, on a per cell basis, than that observed in lymphocytes. The induction of IL-16 protein by IL-1β can be attenuated with specific inhibition of caspase-3, which could be detected in IL-1β-treated fibroblasts. IL-1β also induces RANTES mRNA, protein, and activity, and most of the chemoattractant activity released from fibroblasts not derived from IL-16 can be attributed to RANTES. Human fibroblasts appear to be an important source of IL-16 and through expression of this molecule may have key roles in the recruitment of CD4+ cells to sites of inflammation. IL-16 expression and the mechanism involved in its regulation appear to be cell type specific.

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CCR5 and CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) are coreceptors for CD4 as defined by HIV-1 glycoprotein (gp) 120 binding. Pretreatment of T cells with gp120 results in modulation of both CCR5 and CXCR4 responsiveness, which is dependent upon p56lck enzymatic activity. The recent findings that pretreatment of T cells with a natural CD4 ligand, IL-16, could alter cellular responsiveness to macrophage-inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β) stimulation, prompted us to investigate whether IL-16 could also alter CXCR4 signaling. These studies demonstrate that IL-16/CD4 signaling in T lymphocytes also results in loss of stromal derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)/CXCR4-induced chemotaxis; however, unlike MIP-1β/CCR5, the effects were not reciprocal. There was no effect on eotaxin/CCR3-induced chemotaxis. Desensitization of CXCR4 by IL-16 required at least 10–15 min pretreatment; no modulation of CXCR4 expression was observed, nor was SDF-1α binding altered. Using murine T cell hybridomas transfected to express native or mutated forms of CD4, it was determined that IL-16/CD4 induces a p56lck-dependent inhibitory signal for CXCR4, which is independent of its tyrosine catalytic activity. By contrast, IL-16/CD4 desensitization of MIP-1β/CCR5 responses requires p56lck enzymatic activity. IL-16/CD4 inhibition of SDF-1α/CXCR4 signals requires the presence of the Src homology 3 domain of p56lck and most likely involves activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase. These studies indicate the mechanism of CXCR4 receptor desensitization induced by a natural ligand for CD4, IL-16, is distinct from the inhibitory effects induced by either gp120 or IL-16 on CCR5.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is characterized by an inflammatory lymphocytic alveolitis comprised of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Animal models suggest that HP is facilitated by overproduction of IFN-γ, and that IL-10 ameliorates severity of the disease, indicating a Th1-type response. To determine whether a Th1 phenotype in HP also exists clinically, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and peripheral blood (PB) T cells were obtained from HP individuals and analyzed for Th1 vs Th2 cytokine profiles. It was determined that soluble OKT3-stimulated BAL T cells cocultured with alveolar macrophages produced more IFN-γ and less IL-10 than PB T cells cocultured with monocytes, but no difference was observed in IL-4 production. The monocytic cells did not account for this difference, as CD80 and CD86 expressions were similar, and coculturing PB T cells with alveolar macrophages resulted in no difference in IFN-γ production. Similarly, there was no difference in IL-12 production between stimulated BAL or PB T cells; however, addition of rIL-12 significantly increased production of IFN-γ by BAL T cells, but not by PB T cells. This effect was due to a difference in IL-12R expression. High affinity IL-12R were only present in association with BAL T cells. These studies indicate that clinical HP is characterized by a predominance of IFN-γ-producing T cells, perhaps resulting from a reduction in IL-10 production and an increase in high affinity IL-12R compared with blood T cells.

The ability of HIV-1 gp120 to inhibit chemokine signaling prompted us to determine whether signaling through CD4 by a natural ligand, IL-16, could alter cellular responsiveness to chemokine stimulation. These studies demonstrate that IL-16/CD4 signaling in T lymphocytes results in a selective loss of macrophage-inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β/CCR5-induced chemotaxis. There was no effect on monocyte chemoattractant protein-2/CCR1, -2, or -3-induced chemotaxis. Desensitization of CCR5 by IL-16 required at least 10 min of pretreatment; no modulation of CCR5 expression was observed, nor was MIP-1β binding to CCR5 altered. Using murine T cell hybridomas transfected to express native or mutated forms of CD4, it was determined that IL-16/CD4 induces a p56lck-dependent signal that results in desensitization of CCR5. The desensitization process is reciprocal and again selective, as prior CCR5 stimulation, but not CCR1, -2, or -3 stimulation, completely inhibits IL-16/CD4-induced T cell migration. Of interest, while p56lck enzymatic activity is not required for IL-16-induced migration, it was required for desensitization of CCR5. These studies indicate the existence of reciprocal receptor cross-desensitization between CD4 and CCR5 induced by two proinflammatory cytokines and suggest a selective relationship between the two receptors.