Cell-mediated immunity to mycobacteria: a double-sided sword?
Mycobacteria are intracellular pathogens capable of replicating in resting macrophages. Specific helper T lymphocytes which activate antimycobacterial capacities in infected macrophages represent an important constituent of acquired resistance. In addition, cytolytic T lymphocytes may contribute to resistance. On the other hand, lysis of infected host cells may also comprise autoaggressive consequences. Recent evidence suggest that T cells with specificity for mycobacterial heat shock proteins are involved in the antimycobacterial immune response. Heat shock proteins are evolutionarily highly conserved and cross-reactivity between microbial and mammalian molecules may occur on the B-cell and T-cell level. Thus, T cells directed against shared epitopes of mycobacterial and autologous origin could initiate autoimmune reactions.
Kaufmann
S H
SH
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ulm, Federal Republic of Germany.
Flesch
I E
IE
Munk
M E
ME
Wand-Württenberger
A
A
Schoel
B
B
Koga
T
T
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma