Open AccessIdentification of mycobacterial HSP70 reactive human T cell clones discriminating between M. tuberculosis and M. leprae
Author(s) -
Oftung Fredrik,
Lundin Knut E.A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1998.tb01121.x
Subject(s) - tuberculosis , antigen , biology , mycobacterium leprae , mycobacterium tuberculosis , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , t cell , human leukocyte antigen , immunology , immune system , leprosy , medicine , pathology
M. tuberculosis reactive CD4 + T cell clones were established from a BCG vaccinated donor and tested for proliferative responses against complex mycobacterial antigens like M. tuberculosis , M. leprae , and PPD, as well as the recombinant M. tuberculosis HSP70 and HSP65 antigens from both M. tuberculosis and M. leprae . This screening permitted the identification of T cell clones specifically recognizing the mycobacterial HSP70 or HSP65 antigen. All HSP65 reactive T cell clones were cross‐reactive for M. tuberculosis and M. leprae , whereas three HSP70 reactive T cell clones only recognized M. tuberculosis . In addition, HLA typing and blocking experiments with anti‐HLA antibodies revealed that antigen presentation to all M. tuberculosis reactive T cell clones was restricted by HLA‐DR3 molecules. We have thereby demonstrated the presence of human T cell specificities directed against the mycobacterial HSP70 antigen that are able to discriminate between M. tuberculosis and M. leprae .