title: Human T cell responses to beta-galactosidase.
abstract: The peripheral blood of most normal individuals has been shown to contain T cells that respond to beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal), presumably as a result of natural priming. Three T cell clones (clones 1,2,4) specific for beta-Gal were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after pretreatment with leucine methyl ester (LeuOMe); a fourth clone from the same individual was isolated from untreated cells. All four clones were CD4+ CD8- alpha beta TcR+ and clone 1 was additionally shown to be cytotoxic. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B cell lines were derived from LeuOMe-treated or untreated PBMC and used to study the efficiency of presentation of beta-Gal to one of the clones. The results indicated that B cells transformed after LeuOMe treatment presented beta-Gal at lower concentrations than untreated controls. beta-Gal would therefore appear to be a highly suitable model antigen for studies of immunoregulation in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Oxley
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rayfield
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Shepherd
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000941:Antigens; C030365:leucine methyl ester; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D007930:Leucine