title: Development and characterization of Histoplasma capsulatum-reactive murine T-cell lines and clones.
abstract: Experimental studies have suggested that antigen-specific T lymphocytes are important mediators of resistance to infection with the pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulation. To gain a better understanding of the role of T lymphocytes, we developed murine T-cell lines and clones that recognized Histoplasma antigens. These T cells were of the helper/inducer phenotype (Thy-1.2+ Lyt-1+ L3T4+ Lyt-2-) and exerted multiple immunological functions. T-cell lines and 12 clones proliferated vigorously in response to histoplasmin; the T-cell lines and 6 clones also were reactive with heterologous fungal antigens prepared from either Blastomyces dermatitidis or Coccidioides immitis. Recognition of antigen by T cells was H-2 restricted; in the absence of antigen, four clones demonstrated alloreactivity. All T-cell clones conferred local delayed-type hypersensitivity responses when injected with antigen into footpads of mice. Ten of 12 T-cell clones released interleukin-2 after stimulation with antigen, and all clones tested secreted interferon. Moreover, culture supernatants from antigen-stimulated clones armed peritoneal macrophages to inhibit intracellular growth of H. capsulatum yeast cells. All clones assayed exerted nonspecific help. Thus, development of T-cell clones should facilitate analysis of the regulatory properties of Histoplasma-specific T cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000939:Epitopes; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma