Ligation of cell surface CD4 inhibits activation-induced death of human T lymphocytes at the level of Fas ligand expression

Cross-linking of cell surface CD4 molecules by anti-CD4 mAb or HIV-1 gp120/anti-gp120 Ab primes resting T lymphocytes for activation-induced cell death (AICD) triggered via the CD3/TCR complex. In striking contrast, we demonstrate here that preincubation of activated human CD4(+) T cells with anti-CD4 mAb consistently inhibited AICD triggered via anti-CD3 mAb or Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A superantigen. Inhibition of AICD of CD4(+) T cell clones was also observed with F(ab')(2), but not with Fab, of anti-CD4 mAb. Moreover, soluble HIV-1 gp120, but not rIL-16, inhibited AICD stimulated by S. aureus enterotoxin A. In susceptible clones, CD4 ligation prevented the up-regulation of Fas ligand mRNA and cell surface expression in response to anti-CD3 mAb or superantigen stimulation. CD3/TCR-dependent protein tyrosine phosphorylation and cytokine production were also prevented by preceding CD4 ligation. The inhibition of AICD due to the prevention of Fas ligand up-regulation reveals a novel immunoregulatory consequence of CD4 ligation that might play a role in HIV infection and in the therapeutic application of anti-CD4 mAb.