A mycobacterial heat-shock protein-responsive gamma delta T cell clone also responds to the homologous human heat-shock protein: a possible link between infection and autoimmunity.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells respond to a variety of stress conditions by increasing the synthesis of a family of proteins collectively known as heat-shock proteins (HSP). One of these, a 65-kDa HSP that is highly conserved in many bacteria, is a major target of the immune response to mycobacteria. A gamma delta T cell clone from a healthy donor that recognizes not only the 65-kDa mycobacterial HSP but also the recombinant human homologue of this HSP protein was raised. Like alpha beta T cell clones, which recognize mycobacterial HSP, the clone requires antigen-presenting cells for antigen-induced proliferation and can also be directly activated via receptor cross-linking through CD3 or the delta chain of the gamma delta T cell receptor. These data suggest that the induction of a gamma delta T cell response by bacterial antigens could lead to the expansion of cells that respond to autologous proteins and, therefore, may result in the development of autoimmunity.
Haregewoin
A
A
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Singh
B
B
Gupta
R S
RS
Finberg
R W
RW
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002999:Clone Cells; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011994:Recombinant Proteins