title: Interferon-gamma production by human T cells and natural killer cells in vitro in response to antigens from the two intracellular pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Leishmania major.
abstract: Acquired resistance to both mycobacteria and Leishmania is primarily mediated by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which triggers mechanisms leading to the death of the microorganism in macrophages. In this study, cell activation and IFN-gamma production was investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from individuals previously sensitized to tuberculin and without known exposure to Leishmania parasites. Immune staining for intracellular IFN-gamma and surface markers allowed flow cytometric identification of the cellular sources of IFN-gamma in cell cultures incubated with purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) and Leishmania antigens. It was found that IFN-gamma was produced in response to both PPD and Leishmania stimulant by T cells in the cultures. Activation of IFN-gamma producing natural killer (NK) cells was demonstrated only in some cultures, and only with concomitant T cell activation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Parasitology at RHIMA Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hviid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kharazmi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kemp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D017252:CD3 Complex; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D014373:Tuberculin; D007371:Interferon-gamma