Fibronectin-binding antigen 85 and the 10-kilodalton GroES-related heat shock protein are the predominant TH-1 response inducers in leprosy contacts.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 27 healthy leprosy contacts were analyzed for lymphoproliferation and TH-1 cytokine secretion (interleukin-2 and gamma interferon) in response to heat shock proteins with molecular masses of 65, 18, and 10 kDa from Mycobacterium leprae and the 30-32-kDa antigen 85 (Ag 85) from Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Cells from 18 and 19 of 19 lepromin-positive contacts proliferated or produced TH-1 cytokines in response to the M. leprae 10-kDa protein and to Ag 85, respectively. Limiting-dilution analysis for two lepromin-positive contacts indicated that about one-third of M. leprae-reactive T cells displayed specificity to the M. leprae 10-kDa protein and Ag 85. The M. leprae 65- and 18-kDa proteins were less potent TH-1 response inducers: gamma interferon and interleukin-2 could be measured in 14 and 19 lepromin-positive contacts, respectively. In contrast, very low or undetectable proliferative and cytokine responses were found for 8 lepromin-negative contacts. Our data demonstrate that the fibronectin-binding Ag 85 and the 10-kDa GroES homolog are powerful mycobacterial TH-1 response inducers in the vast majority of lepromin-positive contacts and suggest that they might be valuable candidates for a future subunit vaccine.
Launois
P
P
Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Senegal.
N'Diaye
M N
MN
Cartel
J L
JL
Mane
I
I
Drowart
A
A
Van Vooren
J P
JP
Sarthou
J L
JL
Huygen
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D018835:Chaperonin 10 / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007916:Lepromin / Q000276:immunology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D018835:Chaperonin 10; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007916:Lepromin; C071448:antigen 85B, Mycobacterium leprae; D007371:Interferon-gamma