Recognition of antigenic clusters of Candida albicans by T lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons.
The fine specificity of the cellular immune response to Candida albicans (i.e., recognition of different antigenic components) between normal controls and human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in various stages of disease was compared. C. albicans-specific T cells, enriched by antigen stimulation and interleukin-2 expansion, were challenged with antigenic fractions of different molecular weight obtained by SDS-gel fractionation of C. albicans extracts in the presence of autologous mononuclear cells as antigen-presenting cells. Proliferative responses showed similar patterns of reactivity between controls and category A and B seropositive subjects. Category C patients with concurrent C. albicans infections did not give rise to C. albicans-specific T cell lines, confirming the T cell defect. Patients without clinically evident C. albicans infection had a low but broad reactivity pattern of C. albicans-specific T cells. These results suggest that depletion of C. albicans-specific T cells, independent of their fine specificity, occurs along with disease progression.
Department of Immunology, San Martino Hospital and University of Genoa, Italy. AKUNKL@SMARTINO.GE.IT
A
A
Kunkl
L
L
Mortara
M T
MT
Valle
D
D
Fenoglio
M P
MP
Terranova
A M
AM
Megiovanni
A
A
Alessandrini
G
G
Li Pira
G
G
Mazzarello
V
V
Del Bono
A
A
Canessa
D
D
Bassetti
F
F
Manca
D000328:Adult; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000946:Antigens, Fungal