The cellular immune response to heat shock proteins.
T lymphocytes, which are central to almost every immune response, frequently recognize microbial hsp60. Such cells could provide an early defense mechanism against pathogenic microbes. However, T cells also recognize epitopes of hsp60 shared by microbe and host. Not only conventional alpha/beta T cells respond to hsp60; gamma/delta T cells do so, as well. In fact, certain gamma/delta T cells seem to have a particular preference for this molecule. Recognition of stressed host cells expressing hsp60 could facilitate the scavenger function of the T cell system. On the other hand, such recognition could be involved in autoimmune disease.
Kaufmann
S H
SH
Department of Immunology, University of Ulm, Germany.
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta