Limited T-cell receptor beta-chain diversity of a T-helper cell type 1-like response to Mycobacterium leprae

Infect Immun. 1992 Nov;60(11):4542-8. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.11.4542-4548.1992.

Abstract

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) is the standard measure of T-cell responsiveness to infectious organisms. For leprosy, the Mitsuda reaction, a local immune response to cutaneous challenge with Mycobacterium leprae, is considered to represent a measure of DTH against the pathogen. We analyzed the diversity of the T-cell receptor beta-chain repertoire in Mitsuda reactions to determine the breadth of the mycobacterial antigens involved. The polymerase chain reaction was used to compare V beta usage in the Mitsuda reaction T-cell lines established and unstimulated peripheral blood. These molecular analyses revealed a skewed T-cell receptor V beta gene usage in the Mitsuda reaction and in T-cell lines from lesions. To examine the reactivity of T cells from these lesions, T-cell lines were tested against the available native and recombinant antigens of M. leprae. T-cell lines derived from Mitsuda reactions responded more strongly to the 10-kDa M. leprae antigen, a homolog of GroES in Escherichia coli, than to other M. leprae proteins. T-cell lines were also shown to proliferate strongly in response to the 17- and 3-kDa proteins. The pattern of the lymphokine mRNA of these cells was reminiscent of the pattern of murine TH1 cells, positive for interleukin-2 and gamma interferon and weakly positive for interleukin-4. These data indicate that a limited array of T cells, perhaps recognizing stress proteins, secrete a type 1 lymphokine profile in the DTH response to mycobacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor*
  • Humans
  • Leprosy, Tuberculoid / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Lymphokines / physiology
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mycobacterium leprae / immunology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Lymphokines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta