Dual antigenic recognition by cloned human gamma delta T cells.
The function of gamma delta T cells is still elusive. The nature of the antigens that they recognize and the mode of presentation of these antigens are largely unknown. The majority of human peripheral gamma delta T cells bear a V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cell receptor, and display nonclonal reactivity to mycobacteria, without restriction by MHC. It is unknown whether these cells have clonal antigenic specificity as well. Here we describe rheumatoid arthritis-derived V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cell clones, displaying dual antigenic recognition: a nonclonal, MHC-unrestricted recognition of mycobacteria, and a clonal recognition of a short tetanus toxin peptide presented by HLA-DRw53, a nonpolymorphic class II MHC molecule associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis. This is the first evidence that V gamma 9/V delta 2 T cells can recognize nominal antigenic peptides presented by class II MHC molecules. These results suggest that much like alpha beta T cells, V gamma 9/V delta 2 cells may contribute to the immune response against foreign antigens in an antigen-specific and MHC-restricted manner. The reactivity of these gamma delta T cells to mycobacteria may represent a superantigen-like phenomenon.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0531.
J
J
Holoshitz
L M
LM
Vila
B J
BJ
Keroack
D R
DR
McKinley
N K
NK
Bayne
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006680:HLA Antigens; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013744:Tetanus Toxin; C040635:tetanus toxin fragment C