Protection against tuberculosis by passive transfer with T-cell clones recognizing mycobacterial heat-shock protein 65.
We have previously shown that mice vaccinated by injection with J774 macrophage-like tumour cells that expressed Mycobacterium leprae heat-shock protein (hsp) 65 as a transgene had acquired a remarkably high degree of protection against subsequent challenge with virulent M. tuberculosis. We show here that antigen-specific T cells cloned from spleens of such vaccinated animals can transfer a high level of protection to non-vaccinated recipients. The most efficient cells were of T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta+ and CD4- CD8+ type and specifically lysed mycobacteria-infected macrophages. These findings are consistent with the importance for protective immunity of engaging the endogenous antigen-presenting pathway to bias the immune response towards a cytolytic action against a mycobacterial antigen that is expressed at the surface of infected macrophages. TCR gamma delta+ and TCR alpha beta+ cells interacted synergistically.
Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
C L
CL
Silva
M F
MF
Silva
R C
RC
Pietro
D B
DB
Lowrie
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018833:Chaperonins / Q000276:immunology*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C074119:heat-shock protein 65, Mycobacterium; D018833:Chaperonins