Lipoproteins from Borrelia burgdorferi applied in liposomes and presented by dendritic cells induce CD8(+) T-lymphocytes in vitro.
Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is the tick-borne etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis, which has many aspects of autoimmune diseases. Bb is unable to recycle synthesized membrane lipids and lipoproteins. Consequently, a large amount of liposome-like vesicle (Bb-blebs) is shed from the outer bacterial membrane. The influence of Bb-blebs on the cellular immune response is not yet known. As a Bb-blebs model, we established standardized Bb-liposomes, produced from freshly extracted lipids and lipoproteins of live Bb. Bb-liposomes were incorporated via nonendocytotic mechanisms by different human cell types, namely dendritic cells (DC), lymphocytes, and fibroblasts, as visualized by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Bb-liposomes were localized in the cytosol and in the nucleus of the cells. With this in mind, we generated in vitro Bb-specific T-cells from nonadherant peripheral blood mononuclear cells by use of Bb-liposomes loaded autologous DC. More than 95% of those T-cells were CD8(+) and they killed autologous Bb-liposome-loaded T-cell blasts. These results suggest that Bb-blebs may be responsible for the autoimmune-like appearance of Lyme disease.
Beermann
C
C
Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Wunderli-Allenspach
H
H
Groscurth
P
P
Filgueira
L
L
D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001692:Biological Transport; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000276:immunology; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000276:immunology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008081:Liposomes; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D006046:Gold