Dichotomy of the human T cell response to Leishmania antigens. II. Absent or Th2-like response to gp63 and Th1-like response to lipophosphoglycan-associated protein in cells from cured visceral leishmaniasis patients.
The T cell response to different Leishmania donovani antigens was investigated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Kenyans cured of visceral leishmaniasis and non-exposed Danes. Crude promastigote and amastigote antigens both induced proliferation and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production in PBMC from cured patients, while cells from non-exposed donors gave weak responses. A similar pattern was induced by lipophosphoglycan-associated protein (LPGAP). By contrast, the major surface protease of Leishmania, gp63, induced only a weak proliferative response without IFN-gamma production in five of 17 samples from cured patients. Four of the five responding cultures produced IL-4, i.e. the response to this antigen was of the Th2 type. Furthermore, sera from acutely ill visceral leishmaniasis patients contained high levels of IgG antibodies to gp63. The Th2-like response to gp63 in patients cured of visceral leishmaniasis differs from the Th1-like response to the same antigen observed in patients cured of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Kurtzhals
J A
JA
Department of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hey
A S
AS
Jardim
A
A
Kemp
M
M
Schaefer
K U
KU
Odera
E O
EO
Christensen
C B
CB
Githure
J I
JI
Olafson
R W
RW
Theander
T G
TG
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000276:immunology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C008290:lipophosphonoglycan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C055146:glycoprotein gp63, Leishmania