We reported that complement cascade (CC) becomes activated in bone marrow (BM) during granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and demonstrated that while the third CC component (C3)-deficient mice are easy mobilizers, the fifth CC component (C5)-deficient mice mobilize very poorly. To explain this, we postulated that activation/cleavage of CC releases C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins that differently regulate mobilization. Accordingly, C3a, by enhancing responsiveness of HSPCs to decreasing concentrations of stromal-derived growth factor-1 (SDF-1) in BM, prevents mobilization and promotes their BM-retention. As such, we focused on the mobilization-enhancing role of C5a herein. We found that C5a receptor (C5aR) is not expressed on the surface of HSPCs, and C5a-mediated pro-mobilization effects are mediated by stimulation of granulocytes. Overall, our data support a following model. First C5aR+ granulocytes are chemoattracted by plasma C5 cleavage fragments, being the first wave of cells leaving BM. This facilitates subsequent egress of HSPCs. In the next step, after leaving the BM, granulocytes undergo degranulation in response to plasma C5a and secrete some cationic peptides (cathelicidin, β-defensin) that as demonstrated here for a first time highly enhance responsiveness of HSPCs to plasma SDF-1 gradient. In conclusion, our data reveal the underappreciated central role of innate immunity in mobilization where C5 cleavage fragments via granulocytes orchestrate this process.

TGF-beta 1 regulates cell growth, differentiation, and adhesion and is a potent immunosuppressant, in part through its well-recognized growth-inhibitory effects. However, certain T cell subsets, particularly of naive phenotype, can instead be costimulated to proliferate by TGF-beta 1. We have previously demonstrated that naive murine CD8+ T cells, TCR activated by platebound anti-CD3 Ab or SEB superantigen, are growth stimulated by TGF-beta 1, acquire a memory phenotype, express elevated IL-10 and TGF-beta 1, and cause T cell growth inhibition as effector CD8+ T cells. TGF-beta 1 causes growth among certain nonlymphoid cells in part by inducing or mimicking integrin activation. The present studies thus addressed mediation of TGF-beta 1-dependent growth and survival of anti-CD3-triggered CD8+ T cells via beta 1 integrins. TGF-beta 1 reduced anti-CD3-activated alpha 4 beta 1 integrin expression and constitutive adhesion to fibronectin, while initial alpha 5 beta 1 expression was heightened and adhesive function sustained. Fibronectin-based RGD peptides that bind alpha 5 beta 1 integrins and alpha 5 or beta 1 integrin chain-specific Abs blocked TGF-beta 1-dependent proliferation, while connecting segment-1 peptide that binds alpha 4 beta 1 integrin and alpha 4 chain-specific Abs had no effect. Cross-linked alpha 5- but not alpha 4-specific Ab mimicked TGF-beta 1 function by costimulating CD8+ T cell growth. TGF-beta 1 also caused RGD peptide-sensitive CD8+ T cell aggregation. Additionally, TGF-beta 1-costimulated proliferation correlated with TGF-beta 1 protection of CD8+ T cells from anti-CD3-induced apoptosis. RGD peptides and alpha 5 integrin-specific Ab abolished TGF-beta 1 prevention of activation-induced apoptosis. Therefore, TGF-beta 1 costimulates CD8+ T cell growth via activation of the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin and/or its ligand and supports sustained growth at least in part by alpha 5 beta 1-mediated protection from activation-induced apoptosis.

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