Rhinovirus-specific T cells recognize both shared and serotype-restricted viral epitopes.
To characterize rhinovirus (RV)-specific T cells, RV16- and RV49-specific CD4 T cells were cloned from peripheral blood, and cytokine secretion and serotype specificity were defined. Each RV-specific clone secreted high levels of interferon-gamma, and several also produced interleukin-4 and -5. To test serotype specificity, each clone was incubated separately with five different RV serotypes. Although 2 of 31 clones proliferated only in response to the virus used in cloning, the rest had significant proliferation in response to 2-5 different serotypes. Thus, RV-specific T cells can be activated by either serotype-specific or shared viral epitopes, raising the possibility that repeated activation of T cells by shared viral determinants in vivo could induce potent recall T cell responses. It is likely that enhanced T cell responses to shared viral epitopes contribute to antiviral activity, airway inflammation, or both.
Gern
J E
JE
Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison 53792-4108, USA.
Dick
E C
EC
Kelly
E A
EA
Vrtis
R
R
Klein
B
B
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*
D016207:Cytokines; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor