title: Selective generation of CD8+ T-cell clones from the peripheral blood of patients with cutaneous reactions to beta-lactam antibiotics.
abstract: The presence, phenotype, and functional characteristics of peripheral blood penicillin-specific T lymphocytes in individuals with cutaneous allergic reactions to penicillin were investigated using in vitro long-term culture techniques. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from two penicillin-allergic patients were stimulated in vitro with penicillin, and T-cell blasts were clonally expanded by limiting dilution. Seven T-cell clones were derived, all of which were CD3+ CD4- CD8+ HLA-DR+, and produced IL-2 and IFN-gamma upon stimulation. T-cell proliferation required the presence of antigen and autologous, but not allogeneic, antigen-presenting cells. In addition to the parent compound, the T-cell clones also developed a proliferative response to penicilloyl, the major metabolite of penicillin. The cloned T-cell lines were found to exhibit marked suppressor activity for Con A mitogenesis. The observed suppressor activity required cell-to-cell contact, as supernatants from these T-cell clones had no comparable inhibitory effect. These findings indicate that there is a predominance of penicillin-specific CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of individuals sensitized to beta-lactam antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hertl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geisel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boecker
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Merk
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D047090:beta-Lactams; D007371:Interferon-gamma