Characterization of Haemophilus ducreyi-specific T-cell lines from lesions of experimentally infected human subjects.
Haemophilus ducreyi is the etiologic agent of chancroid, a sexually transmitted genital ulcer disease that facilitates the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus. In the human model of infection, the histopathology of infected sites in part resembles a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. In this study, T cells were isolated from skin biopsy specimens obtained from 24 subjects who were infected for 7 to 14 days. One clone and 12 lines that responded to H. ducreyi antigens were obtained from 12 of the subjects. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis showed that the antigen-responsive lines and clone were predominantly CD3(+) and CD4(+). The lines and clone responded to H. ducreyi antigen in a dose-dependent manner and produced gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) alone or IFN-gamma and interleukin-10 (IL-10) but no IL-4 or IL-5 in response to H. ducreyi. Proliferation of T cells was dependent on the presence of autologous antigen-presenting cells. The lines showed little response to antigens prepared from other members of the Pasteurellaceae and responded to different fractions of H. ducreyi separated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We conclude that T cells that recognize H. ducreyi antigens are recruited to sites experimentally infected with the organism. The lack of cross-reactivity to the Pasteurellaceae and the response of the lines to different antigen fractions suggest that subjects are sensitized to H. ducreyi during the course of infection.
Gelfanova
V
V
Departments of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
Humphreys
T L
TL
Spinola
S M
SM
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002602:Chancroid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D006191:Haemophilus ducreyi / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015661:Pasteurellaceae / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial