Autoreactive T cell clones of MHC class II specificities are produced during responses against foreign antigens in man.
Although the existence of autoreactive T cells has been widely reported in mice and in guinea pigs, a similar phenomenon is poorly documented in man. Here we report the study of three human autoreactive T cell clones isolated during immunization of HLA-DRw13 donors either against influenza A/Texas virus or against allogeneic cells. These clones are specific for autologous HLA-class II specificities either common to all HLA-DRw13 molecules or restricted to the HLA-DR products specific for the DW19 subtype of HLA-DRw13. They are also cytotoxic and they have the same specificity when tested for lytic activity or in proliferation assays. Furthermore, they are also able to help autologous B cells to polyclonally produce Ig. The possible implication of such clones in regulatory mechanisms involving HLA-class II molecules is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens