Human myelin basic protein specific T cell lines display differential cytotoxicity against astrocytes, but are consistently cytotoxic against monocytes.
In experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) myelin basic protein (MBP) specific T cells differ in their encephalitogenic potential. To investigate the functional diversity of human MBP specific T cell lines, we analysed their cytotoxic activity against human astrocytes and monocytes. Five out of 14 MBP specific T cell lines killed astrocytes in the presence of MBP. Nevertheless, all lines lysed blood derived monocytes. T cell lines that lysed astrocytes efficiently in the presence of MBP, recognized peptide aa 80-99/86-105 in context with HLA-DRB5 * 0101, peptide aa 50-69/61-83 in context with HLA-DRB1 * 1501 and peptides aa 139-153, and aa 148-162 in context with HLA-DRB1 * 0101. There was no correlation of MBP-mediated lysis of astrocytes with TCR-Vbeta usage, HLA-restriction and the production of tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), lymphotoxin (LT) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Different lysis of astrocytes, however, revealed a functional heterogeneity of MBP specific T cells, which was not observed by using monocytes as targets.
Weber
F
F
Department of Neuroimmunology, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Martinsried, Germany. fweber@med.uni-goettingen.de
Huber
S
S
Aloisi
F
F
Meinl
E
E
D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000502:physiology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D006680:HLA Antigens; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010455:Peptides; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta