Quantitative analysis of the response of human T cell receptor V gamma 9+ cells to Plasmodium falciparum.
Plasmodium falciparum stimulates peripheral blood gamma delta + T cells from unexposed donors. The responding cells bear V gamma 9+ chains of the T cell receptor, the majority of which, but not all, are associated with V delta 2 chains. We have analyzed whether the precursor frequency of these V gamma 9+ cells approaches that expected of superantigens or mitogens and whether, like a superantigen, the response is major histocompatibility complex (MHC) unrestricted. Limiting dilution analyses of the response of enriched gamma delta + T cells to P.falciparum using autologous and heterologous antigen-presenting cells suggest that the response is more characteristic of an antigen-specific MHC-restricted response. The frequencies are lower than would be expected if all V gamma 9+ cells respond, and there is a dramatically reduced response when allogeneic antigen-presenting cells are used.
Goodier
M
M
Max-Planck Institut für Immunobiologie, Freiburg, FRG.
Krause-Jauer
M
M
Langhorne
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D004768:Enterotoxins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C026066:enterotoxin A, Staphylococcal