Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 production by human T cells recognizing Leishmania donovani antigens separated by SDS-PAGE.
Crude preparations of Leishmania donovani proteins were separated by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fractions of separated proteins were recovered by electroelution directly from the gel into separate chambers. The isolated protein fractions were tested for induction of proliferation and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from individuals who had recovered from visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. donovani. The release of interleukin-4 (IL-4) by PBMC stimulated with the isolated L. donovani antigen fractions was measured after treatment with phorbol-myristate-acetate and ionomycin. The cells proliferated in response to all protein fractions with molecular weights in the range < 12 kDa to 85 kDa. In general, IFN-gamma was secreted in response to stimulation with all the protein fractions, whereas IL-4 production was infrequently observed. The results show that T cells from individuals who have been cured of visceral leishmaniasis recognize and respond to a wide range of leishmanial antigens. There was no evidence of particular fractions constantly giving either IFN-gamma or IL-4-producing responses.
Bahrenscheer
J
J
Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kemp
M
M
Kurtzhals
J A
JA
Gachihi
G S
GS
Kharazmi
A
A
Theander
T G
TG
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma