Gamma delta T cells participate in the immune response against activated, myelin basic protein-specific, human T cells.
gamma delta T cells are over-represented in some multiple sclerosis (MS) parenchymal lesions and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of individuals with early MS. In this investigation we studied the T cell-T cell interactions between human, myelin basic protein-reactive T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from MS and control subjects. We detected brisk proliferation by PBMC in response to activated, but not resting, MBP-specific T cells. The magnitude of proliferation approached that induced by superantigens and was distinctly greater than the response to standard recall antigens. Examination of the responding T cells revealed predominant expansion of T cells using gamma delta rather than alpha beta T cell receptors. This finding suggests that the accumulation of gamma delta T cells noted in some MS parenchymal lesions may represent recruitment by activation markers expressed by other T cells in these lesions. The response to activated but not resting MBP-specific T cells may parallel observations that protective T cell vaccination in experimental encephalomyelitis is more effective using activated rather than resting, myelin-specific T cells.
Burns
J
J
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Neurovirology Research, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Bartholomew
B
B
Littlefield
K
K
D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*
D009185:Myelin Proteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta