Early appearing gamma/delta-bearing T cells during infection with Calmétte Guérin bacillus.
To search for a potential role of TCR gamma/delta T cells in host-defense against mycobacterial infection, we analyzed the kinetics, repertoire, specificity, and cytokine production of gamma/delta T cells in the peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), lymph node (LN) cells and spleen cells during an i.p. infection with a sublethal dose (5 x 10(5) of viable Bacillus Calmétte-Guérin (BCG) in mice. In the PEC on day 7 after infection, approximately 26% of the CD3+ cells were CD4-CD8-, most of which expressed TCR gamma/delta on their surface. However, the PEC on day 28 contained an increased number of alpha/beta T cells that were CD4+8- or CD4-8+ and the proportion of gamma/delta T cells in the PEC reciprocally decreased to 18% of the CD3+ cells. The kinetics of gamma/delta and alpha/beta T cells in the LN during BCG infection showed in much the same pattern as that seen in the PEC. When purified CD4-CD8- cells in the LN on day 7 after BCG infection were cultured with sonicated BCG lysate, PPD derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis or recombinant 65 kDa heat shock protein derived from Mycobacterium bovis, the gamma/delta T cells on this stage significantly proliferated and secreted IL-2 in response to sonicated BCG lysate and PPD but not to 65 kDa heat shock protein. V gene segment usage analysis with PCR method revealed that purified protein derivative-reactive gamma/delta T cells preferentially used V gamma 1/2/V delta 6, whereas gamma/delta T cells polyclonally expanded in response to the BCG lysate. These results suggest that gamma/delta T cells specific for mycobacterial antigens preceding alpha/beta T cells in appearance during infection may serve as a first line of defense against mycobacterial infection.
Inoue
T
T
Department of Immunology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Yoshikai
Y
Y
Matsuzaki
G
G
Nomoto
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007133:Immunoglobulin Joining Region / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D007133:Immunoglobulin Joining Region; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D012313:RNA