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In Vitro Activation of Human T Lymphocytes by Haemophilus influenzae Type b Capsular Polysaccharides
Author(s) -
PEETERS C. C. A. M.,
TENBERGENMEEKES A.M.,
HEIJNEN C. J.,
POOLMAN J. T.,
ZEGERS B. J. M.,
RIJKERS G. T.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1992.tb02844.x
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , haemophilus influenzae , polysaccharide , haemophilus , chemistry , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , antibiotics , genetics
Polyribosilribitolphosphate (PRP), the capsular polysaccharide from Haemophilus influenzae type b , is a T‐cell‐independent type 2 antigen. In vitro culture of adult peripheral blood T cells with 15 μg/ml PRP leads to induction of interleukin‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) expression on up to 10% of T cells. These cells are CD4 + and carry the αβ T‐cell receptor. PRP, at concentrations above 1–5 μg/ml, can also induce in vitro proliferation of both adult and neonatal T cells. We conclude that PRP acts as a human T‐cell mitogen. The in vitro proliferative response as well as IL‐2R expression was studied in T cells derived from adults after vaccination with native PRP, with PRP conjugated to a carrier protein, or with diphtheria toxoid. Vaccination with conjugated PRP decreased the doses of PRP required for in vitro induction of IL‐2R expression and T‐cell proliferation. This indicates that vaccination with PRP conjugated to a carrier protein improves the in vitro T‐cell response to PRP activation.