title: Human dermal fibroblasts present tetanus toxoid antigen to antigen-specific T cell clones.
abstract: Cultured human dermal fibroblasts treated with immune interferon express HLA-DR antigens. We report here that DR-positive fibroblasts present tetanus toxoid (TT) to autologous TT-specific monoclonal helper T cells vigorously depleted of monocytes by passage over Sephadex G10 columns followed by treatment with the monoclonal antibodies (mAb) OKM1 and Leu M1 plus complement. The extent of T cell proliferation in response to TT presented by DR-positive fibroblasts was similar to that elicited using monocytes as antigen-presenting cells. The proliferative response was TT dependent, antigen specific, depended upon DR expression by fibroblasts, appeared MHC restricted, and was completely blocked by mouse mAb to HLA-DR but not by mAb to HLA-A,B, or DQ. DR-positive fibroblasts pulsed with TT were similarly effective in antigen presentation. In summary, immune interferon-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts can substitute for classical antigen-presenting cells in antigen-specific proliferative responses. Since fibroblasts are a ubiquitous cell type in the body, they may play a significant role in the immunobiology of the host.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Umetsu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pober
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Jabara
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fiers
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Yunis
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Burakoff
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Reiss
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Geha
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D007371:Interferon-gamma