In vivo longitudinal analysis of a dominant TCR repertoire selected in human response to influenza virus.
Recent studies have demonstrated biased usage of TCR V beta 17 and a high degree of diversity in J beta usage within the influenza virus matrix epitope (M.58-66)-specific CTL response. In contrast, in the course of a study on the cellular response to influenza A virus, we found preferential usage of V beta 17-J beta 2.2 rearrangement in an individual with an unexpectedly high number of CTL precursors (CTLp). We took advantage of such situation to study the longitudinal repertoire of the CD8+ T cell precursors. By limiting dilution analysis combined with the use of a clonotypic primer corresponding to the CDR3 region of this matrix-specific TCR V beta chain, the influenza-specific CTLp were shown to be stable for a period of 6 years. Overall, our results show that virus-specific CTLp can be directly monitored in vivo by molecular fingerprinting without in vitro restimulation. These findings might be extremely important for evaluation of the specific immune response to a given human pathogen.
Prevost-Blondel
A
A
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recharche Médicale, Unit 445, Paris, France. armelle.prevost_blondel@icgm.cochin.inserm.fr
Lengagne
R
R
Letourneur
F
F
Pannetier
C
C
Gomard
E
E
Guillet
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; C031540:M-protein, influenza virus; C048842:NP protein, Influenza A virus; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins