title: Asp f I CD4+ TH2-like T-cell lines in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
abstract: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity lung disease caused by bronchial colonization with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) characterized by elevated serum total and Af-specific IgE levels and eosinophilia. In order to examine T-cell reactivity to Af antigens, six T-cell lines were established from the peripheral blood of patients with ABPA to Asp f I, an 18 kd protein purified from Af extracts. The Asp f I-specific T-cell lines, analyzed by flow cytometry, were 100% CD3+ CD4+. Lymphoproliferative responses of the T-cell lines were specific for Asp f I stimulation, 28,999 cpm (stimulation index = 12.2), and showed no response to tetanus toxoid stimulation, 2178 cpm (stimulation index = 1.1) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, Asp f I-stimulated lymphoproliferation was inhibited in two experiments by monoclonal anti-interleukin (IL)-4 antibody in a dose-response fashion, 78% and 84% inhibition at 5% concentration of anti-IL-4. In contrast, anti-IL-2 antibody did not inhibit Asp f I-stimulated proliferation. Asp f I-stimulated T-cell lines synthesized predominantly IL-4 (mean, 21.5 ng/ml) after 48 hours of culture, and nondetectable quantities of interferon-gamma and IL-2. In summary, Asp f I-specific T-cell lines established from patients with ABPA were characterized as being CD4+ TH2-like in their cytokine synthesis pattern, and secreted IL-4 behaved in an autocrine fashion, stimulating proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Research Institute, St. Louis University Medical Center, MO 63104.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Knutsen
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chouhan
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Slavin
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000276:immunology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C081947:ASPF1 protein, Aspergillus fumigatus; D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D016207:Cytokines; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4