Immunity to mycobacteria: possible role of alpha/beta and gamma/delta T lymphocytes.
Immunity to pathogenic mycobacteria is mediated by T lymphocytes. The possible contribution of CD4 alpha/beta T cells, CD8 alpha/beta T cells and gamma/delta T cells as well as the possible role of interleukin-mediated macrophage activation and target cell lysis through direct cell contact is discussed. Furthermore, attempts to define mycobacterial antigens for T lymphocytes with particular emphasis on heat shock proteins are described. The data currently available suggest complex interactions between different T-cell types in immunity to mycobacteria.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ulm, FRG.
M E
ME
Munk
A J
AJ
Gatrill
B
B
Schoel
H
H
Gulle
K
K
Pfeffer
H
H
Wagner
S H
SH
Kaufmann
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000145:classification*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell