Preferential expansion of autoreactive T lymphocytes from the memory T-cell pool by IL-7.
We have developed a new technique that allows us to quantify antigen-specific T cells, and to determine their functional phenotype and origin from naive versus memory populations. Using this methodology, we have characterized a total of 286 T-cell lines specific for myelin basic protein (MBP) and influenza hemagglutinin from 16 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and nine healthy donors. Our data support the notion that MBP-specific T cells undergo in vivo activation in MS patients and indicate a presence of immune dysregulation that renders MS patients prone to develop autoimmunity. Our methodology offers a way to study antigen-specific T-cell characteristics as a surrogate marker in immunotherapy trials.
Bielekova
B
B
Cellular Immunology Section, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Muraro
P A
PA
Golestaneh
L
L
Pascal
J
J
McFarland
H F
HF
Martin
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002455:Cell Division; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers; D015851:Interleukin-7; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens