title: Recognition of Leishmania donovani antigens by murine T lymphocyte lines and clones. Species cross-reactivity, functional correlates of cell-mediated immunity, and antigen characterization.
abstract: Studies in man and experimental animals suggest that cell-mediated immunity is of primary importance in limiting the pathogenesis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. In an attempt to determine, more directly, the role of T lymphocytes and the nature of the antigens that activate them, we have propagated antigen-specific murine T lymphocyte lines and clones that proliferate in response to antigens present on the membrane of intact Leishmania donovani promastigotes. One such line cross-reacts with membrane antigens on seven other Leishmania species and, to a lesser extent, with antigens on African procyclic trypanosomes. T lymphocyte clones that also exhibited a broad range of species cross-reactivity were isolated. About 40% of these clones had highly restricted specificity, whereas 60% were more extensively cross-reactive. The parent line and some clones passively transferred footpad DTH when injected locally, and some secreted a lymphokine activity that elicited intracellular killing of amastigotes within infected macrophages. Although the proliferative response of most clones was H-2 restricted, two clones appeared to be reactive in the presence of allogeneic antigen presenting cells. The majority of the clones appeared to recognize carbohydrate containing antigens, and absorption with solid substrate-bound lectins indicated that these antigens contained both mannose and galactose ligands. The antigenic activity was also absorbed using either of two extensively cross-reactive anti-parasite monoclonal antibodies.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000939:Epitopes; D008222:Lymphokines; D016215:Macrophage-Activating Factors